The foods that you put into your mouth play a big role in how quickly you can lose weight. If you’re not eating the right foods, you may feel hungry all the time, especially if you’re limiting calories. Fortunately, by choosing to eat foods that help your weight-loss efforts rather than hinder them, you’ll be able to lose weight without being hungry.
Vegetables
Vegetables often have a high fiber content and very few calories, which means that you can fill up without ruining your diet. Try slicing carrots, celery or cucumbers when you want a healthy afternoon snack or fixing a salad with low-calorie dressing to eat before your meal. Consider eating a salad at breakfast as well–a spinach and strawberry salad can be a great start to the day.
Smoothies
Smoothies are an ideal breakfast for those who usually rush out of the house without eating anything. Eating breakfast quells your appetite for the rest of the day, so it’s important to get something into your belly. Keep your smoothie low-calorie by using water or a juice-and-water mixture as the base of the smoothie. Adding tofu or protein powder adds protein, which can keep you full longer. Change the fruits that you use so that you’re never bored.
High-Fiber Cereal
A high-fiber cereal, either cold or hot, can also keep you full in the morning. Use skim milk when preparing the cereal, and add some fresh fruit for a bit of sweetness.
Eggs
Eggs are high in protein and low in calories if you don’t prepare them with a lot of fat–you should boil them or use a nonstick spray in place of butter or oil. If you make one or two for your breakfast, you can feel full until lunch.
Spaghetti Squash
If you want some pasta but not the high calories that come with a big pasta dish, try spaghetti squash. Simply cut it the squash in half, and bake it in your oven for about 45 minutes at 350 degrees. When you scrape it out of its shell, it resembles spaghetti and you can add whatever sauce you would normally put on spaghetti for a low-calorie meal.
Grapes
If you’re craving something sweet, eat some grapes instead of a candy bar. Grapes are high in sugar, which gives you the sweetness you want, but they are also low in calories. Try putting them in the freezer for a frozen treat.
Nuts
Nuts are high in calories, so you have to be careful that you don’t overeat, but a handful of nuts in the afternoon can help you get by until dinner.
