Losing weight does not mean you have to focus strictly on avoiding certain foods. Adding more nutritious, low-fat foods to your diet provides you with enjoyment as you take off excess pounds. While making simple dietary changes, try to get in about 30 minutes of physical activity a day to burn off calories. Exercise complements the best foods to eat while losing weight.
Fruits and Vegetables
Adding more fruits and vegetables to your meals reduces your need for high-fat foods while providing your with essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Low-fat fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fiber to aid in digestion and satisfy your appetite. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables or canned and frozen fruits and vegetables without added sugar or creamy style ingredients. Enjoy steamed vegetables as much as possible while avoiding fried or breaded vegetables.
Whole Grains
Whole grains provide you with a full feeling without the disadvantage of indigestion or weight gain from high-fat foods. High-fiber whole grains work effectively during weight loss for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whole grains contain more fiber and nutrients than refined grains, such as white rice and white flour. Choose whole-wheat or whole-grain bread, pasta or crackers, whole-grain cereal, oatmeal, brown rice, barley and popcorn.
Low-Fat Protein
Decrease your intake of saturated fat for weight loss. Many healthy, protein foods contain saturated fat, but you can select low-fat varieties. Consume lean meat with all visible fat trimmed off, skinless chicken or turkey and low-fat or nonfat dairy products. Eat fish more often. Fish usually has less saturated fat than meat and poultry. Limit meat, poultry and fish to less than 6 oz. a day, the Cleveland Clinic advises. Bake, broil or grill meats, poultry and fish to allow fat to drip off. Avoid frying these foods. Substitute beans and lentils for low-fat protein, meatless meals once in a while.
Healthy Snacks
Maintain your blood sugar levels to keep your energy up by enjoying healthy snacks between meals. Eat every three to four hours to avoid overeating or giving in to high-fat snacks. Keep fresh fruit or carrot and celery sticks available for snacking or munch on fiber-rich almonds, pistachios and pecans. Enjoy low-fat yogurt or add slices of fruit to angel food cake for desserts or snacks. Choose air-popped popcorn instead of high-calorie chips. If you have an urge for sweets, avoid chocolate, which is high in saturated fats. Stick to nonfat candies, such as hard candies, red licorice or jellybeans, on occasion.
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