You can eat anything you want as long as you plan your calories and macro nutrients. These top 30 best foods for weight loss I list here should be included in everyone’s diet.
Your body will tell you if you are lacking nutrients. Eat a well-rounded diet and exercise at least 30 minutes 3 times a week will help you lose weight.
1.) Almonds
Almonds are a great source of dietary fats. They are a great snack to eat in moderation. 1.5 ounces of natural almonds will be about 250 calories so don’t go dive into a large serving of these as a snack. I would recommend a small hand full a day.
2.) Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to have great health benefits as well as a tasty addition to your cooking. Create some great sauces, marinades, and salad dressings with this ingredient.
3.) Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. It also helps you stay satisfied longer and regular. Apples are great and with so many types of apples out there, you’re bound to find one you like.
4.) Avocado
Another great source of healthy fats and flavor. Since avocados are dense in dietary fats, a little goes a long way since a whole avocado is around 320 calories and 29 grams of fat. There are a lot of tasty recipes and ideas for using an avocado so check them out!
5.) Bananas
Bananas are a great sweet fruit that is easy to take with you on the road. They have around 100 calories per banana, so don’t be afraid to have a couple if you are really hungry. Bananas have some carbs and sugars, but it is better to have some bananas than a soda.
6.) Beans
Beans are a great source of fiber and nutrition. Not all beans are created the same, so check out the nutritional facts to know exactly what you’re eating. Beans are cheap and easy!
7.) Beef
Beef is a staple in my diet and it should be in yours too. Beef is versatile and you can create any flavor that you need. Watch the fat and calorie intake with beef and enjoy a great steak.
8.) Blueberries
Blueberries are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants. They are tasty and can be added to oatmeal or Greek yogurt.
9.) Broccoli
Eating broccoli is a great way to get plenty of nutrition. Broccoli is great raw, steamed, or in a dish. A little butter and hot sauce on steamed broccoli is a great side dish to a healthy meal.
10.) Brown Rice
I love brown rice! Carbohydrates are okay to eat, especially when the source is one ingredient. Think: ice cream vs brown rice. Brown rice is more chewy and nutritious than white rice and has a great nutty flavor.
11.) Celery
Celery is a low-calorie, nutrient dense food that you can use in salads, dishes, and eat raw. Put a little peanut butter or cream cheese in the stalk or dip in ranch for a tasty snack with some added flavor and dietary fats.
12.) Cheese
Cheese is a way to get some healthy fats into your diet and spruce up almost anything. Eating cheese is a great source of vitamins and helps keep my cravings for sweets down.
13.) Chicken
Chicken is a lean meat and a great source of protein. Bodybuilders and fitness models eat chicken breast for a reason! Try some chicken thighs for a little extra fat in recipes.
14.) Chili Peppers
Spicy peppers have an antioxidant called capsaicin in them. Capsaicin is what makes a pepper spicy or not. This means the more spicy the pepper, the more antioxidants are in them. I love bell peppers cooked or raw, jalapenos and sometimes habanero peppers in dishes.
15.) Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a staple in my home because it is cheap, easy, and a great source of protein. Cottage cheese is full of vitamins, healthy fats, some carbs, and a good bit of slow digesting protein. Sprinkle a little pepper, hot sauce, or fresh fruit on top and you have yourself a great snack.
16.) Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice has been known to have some health benefits including helping stave off urinary tract infections as well as many other problems.
17.) Cucumber
Cucumbers are another nutrient dense food that can go with anything and can also be eaten by itself. One whole 8″ cucumber is 47 calories.
18.) Dark Chocolate
Yes I said it, dark chocolate is great for weight loss. 1 ounce of dark chocolate is about 150 calories and studies show it can lower high blood pressure. Along with health benefits, dark chocolate tastes great.
19.) Eggs
Eggs are a complete meal in a handy shell. Eggs can be made in more ways than you can imagine and they are a great source of protein, dietary fats, vitamins, and nutrients.
Eat whole eggs, they are only 80 calories and the cholesterol and fats in the egg is extremely nutritious.
20.) Garlic
Garlic is known to be one of the healthiest foods for you and offers more benefits than you can shake a stick at. Garlic is great in a lot of dishes and if your knife skills are not great, a tablespoon of minced garlic in a bottle is great and easy to use.
21.) Milk
Milk is a great source of vitamins and protein. Drink at least 2% or whole milk if you want to get the full benefits from milk.
22.) Oatmeal
Buying unflavored oatmeal is extremely cheap and will give you plenty of healthy carbohydrates to fuel your body. They are filling and with a little bit of honey mixed in, they are quite tasty.
23.) Olive Oil
1 tablespoon is about 120 calories and about 14 grams of fat, so a little bit goes a long way. Drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over a salad with a little crushed black pepper and sea salt and you have a tasty salad without soaking it in ranch.
24.) Oranges
Oranges are great because you can eat them on the run and they are very filling. If you are fighting hunger at night, eat 2 large oranges and see if that fills you up. Plenty of potassium and at about 90 calories per orange, a great choice over ice cream.
25.) Pears
Pears are a great source of vitamin C and fills you up and keeps you satisfied for a long time. A large pear is about 130 calories and goes great in a home-made fruit salad or eaten like an apple.
26.) Potatoes
Potatoes are packed with potassium and healthy carbohydrates, they are filling, and a large potato is only 283 calories. If you keep potatoes out of a deep fat fryer, they are actually good for you and can be eaten regularly during your weight loss journey. Sweet potatoes are great and offer a completely different flavor profile!
27.) Quinoa
Full of nutrients, quinoa is a great food to add into your diet. 1 cup of uncooked quinoa is 625 calories, so be sure to measure and be mindful when using this ingredient. Quinoa is a great carbohydrate source as well as packed with healthy proteins. If you’ve never tried quinoa, it is easy to prepare and there are many flavors and ways to doctor it up to your tastes.
28.) Salmon
If you read our article about signs your body is starving for nutrition, you will see that salmon is mentioned in almost all of the cases. Salmon is great fresh or canned and can be used in a lot of dishes. My favorite is a filet of fresh salmon grilled so the skin is crispy. Take mayo and some celery seed to make an amazing spread.
29.) Tomatoes
Tomatoes are another great source of antioxidants and are great in almost anything you put them in. With a large tomato being 32 calories, there is no reason to add a fresh tomato to everything you eat. There are a lot of healthy and fresh salsa recipes that you can put over eggs or a potato and have a tasty meal.
30.) Yogurt
There are a few variations of yogurt that I recommend. All yogurt is a great source of protein and is a healthy choice to artificially sweetened foods. Greek yogurt with fresh fruit is a tasty treat that I highly recommend trying if you haven’t.
Extra:
Green Tea
Green tea can have a thermogenic effect which aids in fat burning. Green tea will not melt the fat off of your body but if you replace a soda with green tea, you are going to see weight loss results.
Coffee
When running on a caloric deficit to lose weight, you are going to feel tired and run down eventually. Black coffee is great for its caffeine and the ability to keep you going when you feel like stopping. Adding creamers and sugars makes coffee more pleasant to drink so if you use them be sure to count for the extra calories.
Weight loss is not rocket science but it takes a little discipline and changing your lifestyle is going to be necessary if you want to see results. These 30 foods are great to add into your lifestyle and will help you lose weight because they are nutrient dense. When you eat something, the fewer ingredients in it, the better. Instead of buying a frozen lasagna, learn how to make one with more fresh ingredients and enjoy a healthier and more flavorful dish.
