Lots of people struggle with their diet but you don’t necessarily have to. If you know the right natural foods to eat, you can indulge without having to bother with all of that tedious calories counting. Sound good? We thought it might. So here are seven plant-based foods that you can try out – well one of them, you might argue is not a food, but it’s a great source of protein – you’ll see.
Straightening things out before we get down to business
But before we go any further, there is one thing that we ought to get straight if you’re serious about managing your weight. You’re going to need to ditch processed foods which are full of junk, and anything that contains added sugar. Any refined foods, like refined grains, and anything fried will have to go too. But don’t worry; the foods were going to suggest you try, are not only full of healthy nutrition; their wonderfully tasty too. Okay, lecture over; let’s get down to business.
Plant based weight management food # 1 – Chickpeas
Anyone who has ever tried Hummus will agree that it’s a great dish. Its main ingredient is Chickpeas, and they are great at helping you to manage your weight. They are not only an excellent source of protein, but they’re chock-full of B-vitamins too; great for getting your metabolism motoring.
Chickpeas are also an awesome source of fiber, so they help to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and as you probably know, fiber is great for cleaning out your gut and keeping you regular.
Chickpeas taste great too. They have a slightly sweet, nutty sort of flavor, and are superb when added to salads. You can also put them into soups, make Hummus with them of course, and you can even bake them in your oven until they’re crispy, to make a sin-free snack when you’re peckish.
Although Chickpeas are a member of the bean family, they have less starch than most other beans, which is just what you want in a food for helping you to manage your weight. You can buy them in cans or jars, and if you do, make you sure there is no added salt ,and that they’re not floating in oil. For the ultimate Chickpea, buy the dried variety and boil them at home. Here is a link to a great warm salad recipe that uses Chickpeas.
Plant based weight management food # 2 – Kale
Kale is dark green leafy vegetable that is superb for helping you to manage your weight. It’s full on great nutrients including:
- Chlorophyll
- Fiber
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
This list of nutrients helps to maintain a healthy immune system, regulate your blood sugar, and gives you energy too. It also helps to balance your body chemistry, and keep the balance more alkaline than acid; which serves to minimize inflammation. Kale is very versatile. You can add it to salads, use it as an ingredient in a smoothie (it’s particularly good in green smoothies), add it to soups; and you can even make a brilliant risotto with it. Click here for the recipe.
Plant based weight management food # 3 – Berries
Berries are amazing for promoting heart health, and for helping you to manage your weight. When compared to the majority of other fruits, berries are relatively low in fructose (fruit sugar), and have a higher fiber content. As well as helping you to manage your blood sugar levels, they also enhance your digestive health. They are of course renowned for their anti-oxidant content to help to kill off those rogue free radicals; Blueberries especially. They also serve to minimize inflammation.
Berries are a great treat when you get a craving for sugar. The low fructose content gives them that sweetness you need. Try some of the newer berries which are now hitting the headlines – Acai berries, and Goji berries. They’re a little more expensive than other berries, but full of great health benefits.
Plant based weight management food # 4 – Oatmeal
Oatmeal is superb at filling up your tummy and making you feel satisfied, and it’s also a wonderful way of stabilizing your blood sugar. Amongst the grain family, oatmeal is higher in protein than many others, and it is also a key source of complex carbohydrates, which release their energy slowly. Oatmeal a great way to start your morning and will fuel your energy levels throughout the day.
One of the carbohydrates that Oatmeal contains is Beta-glucans which actually helps to prevent your body storing fat. It also helps to absorb excess fat from your bloodstream, so it’s great for keeping your cholesterol levels in check. For an extra treat, try drizzling a little Manuka honey on top of your oatmeal at breakfast.
Plant based weight management food # 5 – Organic Vegan Protein Powder
This is the one that we told you about a little earlier, that you may not consider it to be a food as such. Vegan Protein Powder is an awesome way of getting tons of protein into your diet without the associated calories. It’s great when you are in a rush, and makes an excellent ingredient to include in your smoothies. If you decide to try vegan protein powder, make sure that you choose one that has no added sugar, and that provides approximately 100/130 calories for every 15 grams of protein.
Some Vegan Protein Powders have added fiber which is also useful. One of the coolest things about this powder is that it requires energy to be digested, which means that it helps you to burn more fat via your metabolism. If you’re looking to build muscle tone and keep slim, Vegan Protein Powders are a must.
Plant based weight management food # 6 – Lentils
Lentils are another veggie food that is full of fiber. Fiber is great for weight management because it contains absolutely no calories at all, and once consumed, just passes straight through your body. It gives you a double whammy because not only is it calorie free, but because your digestive system attempts to digest it, but can’t, it uses energy trying to do so, and burns body fat in the process. The fiber in lentils is also great for stabilizing your insulin levels, which is important for weight loss, because insulin stores fat. The fact that you are controlling insulin levels means that you are controlling fat levels too.
Lentils are a really important part of any vegetarian or vegan diet as they are a wonderful source of protein and iron, and contain absolutely no fat at all.
Plant based weight management food # 7 – Quinoa
Quinoa seeds are essential for both weight management and overall health and well-being. As well as being a rich source of fiber, they also contain many other essential nutrients, including the B vitamins, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, and Protein. This combination of nutrients, not only supports weight management, but is a great energy, fuel too. It’s an excellent choice breakfast food.
Managing your weight is all about constructing a healthy well-balanced diet. You need to include a minimum of 4 to 5 cups of dark leafy vegetables for green vegetables every day, in addition to the natural weight management foods we discussed above.
Managing your weight, means managing your diet and your exercise regime
Achieving health means managing your weight and eating fresh natural unprocessed foods will set you on the right road. Your diet is absolutely key to the success of any weight management aspirations you may have, but don’t forget that it’s important to take a little light cardiovascular exercise too, at least three or four times per week.
