Kelsey
Weight-Loss Superfoods
Despite what you may feel when you embark on a new weight loss program, food is not the enemy. You heard me! Learning to love food for its healthy and beneficial properties instead of how good it tastes is not only part of losing weight, but also maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I am going to give you a little insight about how to eat delicious food and stay full without all the guilt. Check out these weight-loss super-foods that you probably have in your fridge or pantry. Your worst enemy is now your new best friend!
Apple Cider vinegar: The newly found benefits of Apple cider vinegar are amazing. It is shown to make you feel fuller when adding a few teaspoons of vinegar to whatever you are eating. According to apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com, ACV also helps lower your glucose levels in food, boost your metabolism and helps destroy cancer causing free radicals. For weight loss purposes this vinegar is a Jack-of-all-trades! Replace those fatty, processed salad dressings you find in the store with this quick and easy recipe you can use on a variety of dishes.
Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing:
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¾ olive oil
1tbsp chopped shallot
Salt and pepper to taste
*Mix in bowl or jar, keep for up to 1 month in the refrigerator. Serve over a salad of mixed greens, sliced apples, toasted walnut, and fresh tarragon.
Broccoli: Broccoli is a huge super-food! It’s not only rich in vitamins and nutrients, but it’s also amazing antioxidants. Because broccoli has protein, vitamin A and C, and Omega 3 fatty acids, it is a great food to incorporate into your diet when trying to lose weight. You will boost your energy, help stabilize your mood, and keep yourself full just by munching on this hearty, tasty veggie. The best way to reap the most benefits of broccoli is to eat it raw, steamed, or blanched….don’t fry it!
QUINOA: As a whole grain the benefits are obvious but quinoa is packed with a ton of flavor, you can buy a few types like white, red, and black. They are all similar in flavor and rich in nutrients that are key to weight loss. There is upwards of 8 grams of protein in just 1 cup, loads of fiber, zinc, and vitamins, also quinoa is a complex carbohydrate so the nutrients and sugars are released slowly in the body throughout the day, making this grain key for weight loss since it keeps you feeling fuller longer. To make your add some more flavor to the nutty tasting Quinoa, cook it in low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth.
Grapefruit: Grapefruit is flavorful and refreshing, but can also help kick start weight loss for the day. It is also shown to ward off type 2 Diabetes and contain powerful antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Grapefruit helps regulate blood glucose levels which help the body work more efficiently to use food for energy rather than store it. Grapefruit is also a high-satiety fruit so you get full quicker and stay full longer.
Pumpkin: Pumpkin is a wonder source of fiber and vitamin A with virtually no calories. This is a great vegetable to add to any salad, soup, or as a side….it’s not just for pie anymore.
Green tea: Green tea has so many purposes: It is an amazing antioxidant, boosts your metabolism, and suppresses your appetite! Green tea is one of the key ingredients in SENSA QUENCH, which has thermogenic properties to keep you burning calories and energized throughout the day. Plus QUENCH tastes AWESOME! Take the QUENCH QUIZ on Facebook to see which fruit flavor best fits your personality and get a coupon for QUENCH.
Herbs: Herbs have a lot more going for them that you would think. Parsley can help support your kidneys and urinary track…helping to relieve water retention. You can use herbs to flavor all of your food and there are almost no calories. Use herbs to spice up your food, rev up your metabolism, and add essential vitamins and minerals to your diet.
Steak: This has been shown to help burn off the calories as well. Studies show that eating a balanced diet that includes a lean cut of steak can help you burn fat and build muscle. Try to stick with organic lean cuts of meat whenever possible. Have a petit filet with 6 spears of grilled asparagus for only 250 calories.
Here is a quick recipe to make at the beginning of the week, to take for a healthy lunch at work.
Quinoa salad:
2 cups cooked quinoa 1 cup sliced snap peas
¼ cup feta cheese crumbled 2 tbsp chopped parsley
½ chopped tomato ¼ cup sliced green or red onion
1/3 cup chopped raw broccoli 2 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to taste
Toss everything together serve over arugula or your favorite lettuce. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
So now that you’re no longer frenemies with your pantry, go ahead make yourself a delicious dinner tonight, you don’t have to feel guilty anymore! And remember always sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle….
XO,
Chef Kelsey
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