In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be difficult to find healthy meals to lose weight. In this article, you’ll learn how to avoid the pitfalls of yo-yo dieting and fast-food temptation so you can feel full and still lose weight. These healthy meals, lunch ideas and dinner ideas are good for the whole family so you can get fit together!
Healthy Breakfast to Lose Weight
If you avoid breakfast, it’s just two-hundred or so less calories you’ll have to eat that day, right? Not necessarily. When you skip breakfast in the hope cutting calories will help you lose weight, you’re actually doing yourself and your diet plan a big disservice.
By mid-morning, you’ll be starved and ready to binge on just about anything. Any hope you’ll be able to avoid the temptation of the donut cart or a quick fast-food run is lost. When you don’t eat breakfast, you’re actually starving yourself for 15-20 hours. The next time you do sit down to a meal, your body won’t produce enough enzymes needed to metabolize fat.
Instead of skipping breakfast and putting your body into starvation-mode, opt for healthy meals instead. For example, if you don’t have the time to prepare a whole meal, try something simple.
A banana or apple dipped in almond butter or peanut butter is a great way to get healthy sugar and necessary protein. Breakfast shakes are also an ideal way to have a quick meal on the run. Avoid pre-mixed shakes, however. Many contain food preservatives and additives that can actually hinder your weight-loss goals.
Another way to get a healthy breakfast that’s weight-loss friendly is the breakfast platter. Whether you’re looking for gluten-free, chocolate-lovers or even vegan options, breakfast platters are a great way to add a little variety to your diet so you’re never bored with meals.
Healthy Snacks to Lose Weight
It’s tempting to reach for “diet-food” snacks that promise they’re only 100 calories or less. The real story is it doesn’t really matter how little calories they have. The problem with these types of pre-packed diet foods is they are filled with empty calories you need to watch out for. These foods contain additives and preservatives such aspartame, high fructose corn syrup and food dyes that do nothing to nourish your system.
If you feel hungry between meals, reach for these whole-food options instead:
- Fresh Fruit with Organic Almond or Peanut Butter
- Nuts (Walnuts, Pecans, etc.)
- Yogurt (Avoid Yogurt with Aspartame or High Fructose Corn Syrup)
- Cheese (Believe it or not, cheese is diet-friendly!
For more examples, check out these ten budget healthy snacks for weight loss.
Healthy Lunch to Lose Weight
Skipping lunch isn’t any better than skipping breakfast. Lunch doesn’t have to be anything fancy. These lunch ideas only take a short time to prepare and eat:
- Fresh Salad
- Whole-Food Shake
- Protein Bar
- Vegetables and Hummus
Eating lunch keeps your metabolism up so you won’t be tempted to binge-eat later on in the evening.
Healthy Dinner to Lose Weight
You’ve reached dinnertime, you’re almost there. If you’ve been eating and snacking healthy all day, dinner should be a breeze. Those with a hectic schedule may be tempted to serve frozen dinners or fast food, but that will only interfere with your weight-loss goals. Instead, serve fresh, healthy meals and save processed food for a once-in-the-while treat.
Healthy, whole-food dinners include:
- Organic meat, fish or poultry
- Fresh salads, steamed vegetables or greens
- Fresh fruits
- Brown rice, potatoes, fresh beans
- Whole-grain or gluten-free rice pasta and sauce
The trick is to become a label-reader. Avoid foods and condiments containing unhealthy additives and make vegetables a strong part of the meal. Dark, leafy greens contain fiber that improve your digestive health and help you lose weight naturally.
Also, dinner doesn’t have to be a big production. If you don’t have the time to cook every night, cook on the weekends and freeze meals to serve during the week!
There are plenty of healthy recipes out there for healthy meals to lose weight.
When you’re trying to lose weight, one of the best rules you can follow is this: If you’re hungry, eat. Your body is trying to tell you it needs food. How much you eat is not as important as what you eat. Stay away from processed foods, eat whole foods, drink plenty of pure water and get some exercise each day and you’ll be well on your way to your goal.
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