Getting healthy and losing weight are on the top of many people’s list of New Year’s resolutions. Gorging on cookies and pumpkin pie during the holiday season can do that to you. If shedding those extra pounds is your top priority for 2015, you’re not alone. However, this lofty goal not only requires discipline, but also commitment. Too many people forget that when it comes to losing weight, part of the equation is sticking to a healthy diet on top of maintaining plenty of exercise.
Good health starts with the choices you make, including what you choose to eat everyday. While it’s not a crime to treat yourself to that cupcake every once in a while (and not go crazy), the majority of your diet should consist of foods that are high in nutrients. Eating smart, combined with a weekly exercise regime, will help pave the way to a new year and a new you. Trust us, your body will reward you for consuming these 10 awesome superfoods.
1. Apples
You’ve heard the phrase, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, have you also heard that apples will also keep the extra pounds away? Apples contain plenty of fiber and pectin, making you feel full and satisfied for longer. Eating an apple before a meal or snacking on three apples a day will can encourage you to eat less.
2. Potatoes
Potatoes have unfairly gotten a bad reputation over the years due to their starch and carb content. But it turns out potatoes are actually great for weight loss because they are low in calories and high in nutrients and fiber. Eating it with the skin on and reducing your calorie intake with other food options can lead to staying full for longer. Try our delicious and versatile Dutch Yellow Potatoes in your recipes. Photo Credit: Simple Pairings.
3. Grapefruit
When it comes to grapefruit, there’s no need to get too fancy with incorporating it into your diet. Eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice helps keep blood sugar levels under control, while filling you up at meals. This pink citrus also contains a compound which was found to lower insulin, which is a fat-storage hormone.
4. Peppers
If you really want to spice up your New Year’s diet, adding peppers is your best bet. Peppers contain capsaicin, which has been have metabolism boosting properties by raising body temperature, which in turn uses more energy. While eating peppers will not directly melt the pounds away, they can help give you a minor boost.
5. Avocados
Believe it or not, it’s quite possible to fight fat with fat. Avocados are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, which your body ends up using as slow burning energy rather than stored body fat. They also contain high fiber content and protein, which greatly increases the fullness you’d feel after eating. Incorporating avocado into your breakfast can help prevent unnecessary snacking later on in the day.
6. Berries
It’s no secret that berries are packed with antioxidants. One particular antioxidant found in berries are anthocyanins, which makes it harder for your body to gain weight. Darker colored berries such as blueberries are abundant in anthocyanins. When you eat foods with lower energy density, such as berries, you can eat more and feel fuller for less calories.
If you enjoy eating hummus often, then you’re already on your way to a healthy diet. Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas, are a nutrient-dense food that is packed with plenty of health benefits. Their high protein content makes them a great alternative to higher-fat ingredients such beef or pork. And their high fiber content helps to increase satiety, keeping your appetite fulfilled for longer. Our Peeled and Steamed Garbanzo Beans are conveniently ready to use right out of the bag and can be added to salads, soups or made into hummus.
8. Chia Seeds
Let’s start with the bad news first. Chia seeds are not a magical weight loss ingredient. In fact, they make little difference on body weight. However, incorporating them into a healthy weight loss plan can help you shed pounds by boosting your fiber intake and discourage bloating. You can even use them in desserts to help satisfy your sweet tooth while adding protein and minimum calories.
9. Quinoa
Quinoa has earned its reputation as a superfood with good reason. With almost twice as much protein as rice, this ingredient is an impeccable choice for those on a diet. While it isn’t a low calorie food, it’s high fiber and protein content boosts satiety and helps fill you up faster, making you less susceptible to binging on other unhealthy meals.
10. Lentils
If you find yourself feeling hungry while on a diet, lentils will save the day. Lentils are high in fiber, which keeps you full for longer by adding bulk to your digestive track and restricting calories. And at less than a gram of fat in half a cup of lentils, lentils make a great alternative to other high protein foods, which can be higher in fat. Our Steamed Lentils make it easy to prepare a wide variety of dishes with this healthy ingredient.
Which of these superfoods is your favorite to eat? Do you have any other superfoods you like to eat for losing weight? What are your goals for the New Year?