If time is of the essence, you’ll want to focus on the snacks that help you lose weight in the shortest amount of time. These weight loss foods and rituals don’t really feel like your typical diet food, but still get the job done and leave you feeling good about your choices.
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1. One Glass of Lemon Water In the Morning
Don’t underestimate the power of lemons. A glass of lemon water first thing in the morning will get your digestive system ready, can help to hydrate the body, and is linked to preventing obesity (1). You’re also taking a big chunk out of your Vitamin C requirement for the day, and doing so with an all-natural Vitamin C that your body can absorb and put to use.
You can use a glass of lemon water strategically throughout the day, whenever you need a pick me up or start to feel hungry long before your next meal.
It could be that you’re just thirsty, since hunger and thirst are the same signal. Make sure you’re legitimately hungry by meeting your water needs first.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: When you squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a class of purified water you’re getting over 35% of your Vitamin C for the day. There’s no fat or cholesterol, and less than 10 calories.[/color-box]
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2. Two Egg Whites
When you eat two egg whites you’re getting 14% of your protein needs met, while keeping your fat and cholesterol numbers very low. Whole eggs are recommended on a healthy diet if you’re not concerned with weight loss, but if you’re trying to slim down, it’s best to take a pass on the yolks until you hit your goal weight.
The beauty of egg whites is they’re very easy to make, and they have a versatility to them that makes them a go-to when you’re in a hurry and need a quick meal. Don’t go with egg substitutes, use egg whites that have been separated from the yolk. That way you can use organic eggs and you’ll know that there aren’t any other additives or chemicals used to doctor the taste, color, or texture.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: Two large egg whites are virtually fat free, cholesterol free, just 34, calories, with 7 grams of protein, and a bit of potassium.[/color-box]
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3. One Container Greek Yogurt
The popularity of Greek yogurt has been on the rise, and there’s a reason for it. It packs more protein than its conventional counterpart, and can be used in a number of ways, including as a replacement for sour cream. If you can find it, choose organic Greek yogurt, although it is not always easy to locate.
Avoid light or “lite” versions of Greek yogurt, as tempting as they may sound when you’re trying to slim down. These will often use artificial sweeteners in them to make them taste better without raising the amount of calories or sugar grams, which have been linked to weight gain (2). It’s best to stick with a whole or reduced fat version of plain Greek yogurt and add fresh organic fruit to it for flavor.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A 170g container of nonfat Greek style yogurt provides just 100 calories, with 17 grams of protein, and 18% of the calcium you need. It also provides B Vitamins and 6% of your potassium needs.[/color-box]
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4. Half of a Grapefruit
Whenever you need a snack between meals, try eating half a grapefruit. Going hungry between meals can cause you to overeat at your next meal, leading to weight gain and lethargy. Half a grapefruit is filling, and provides you with important vitamins and minerals.
Rather than sprinkling refined sugar onto your grapefruit to cut down on the sour taste, trying using a spoonful of raw, organic honey to make it taste better. More info on the honey is found below, since it is another item on our list of foods that will help you lose weight fastest. The more you can combine foods from this list together, the more compounded an effect there should be.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: In a half of a grapefruit you’re getting 64% of your Vitamin C, 28% of your Vitamin A, and 2 grams of dietary fiber, all with just 52 calories tacked on.[/color-box]
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5. One Cup Broccoli
It’s no surprise to see broccoli on a list of foods that help you lose weight as fast as healthily possible. Broccoli has a lot going for it in the nutrition department, and is a great source of fiber and important vitamins like Vitamin C that help the body click over to fat-burning mode. The fiber alone should help with weight loss, especially if you haven’t been getting enough for a long period of time.
Broccoli is known for being the nemesis on a dinner plate for many kids, as well as adults. To keep broccoli interesting and tasting great, be sure to look up broccoli recipes that show you the best way to steam it, roast it, and use it in soups and Crock Pot meals.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: One cup of chopped broccoli nets you a full day’s worth of Vitamin C, 9% of your daily fiber, 8% of your potassium, and just 31 calories.[/color-box]
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6. One Cup Spinach
Spinach is one food that you really can’t get too much of, as long as you’re still enjoying the taste. It is loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals as well as phytonutrients that act as antioxidants in the body. Getting enough antioxidants helps with weight loss by fighting off free radicals and giving you more energy to be more active.
Fresh, organic spinach is recommended. Spinach leaves are highly absorbent, so if you choose only one vegetable to go organic with, make it spinach. You’ll be avoiding a host of pesticides and herbicides that organic spinach will not have been treated with.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A cup of spinach is only 7 calories, which is why it’s great for filling up on because it doesn’t contain anything to weigh you down. With 56% of your Vitamin A and 14% of your Vitamin C needs, you can see it’s a nutritional powerhouse.[/color-box]
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7. One Teaspoon Raw Organic Honey
Try supplementing your diet with raw organic honey, especially as a substitute for refined sugars, and you should see a reduction in body weight. There are enzymes and other substances left in raw honey that just aren’t found in processed honey. Unfortunately most of the honey for sale in most supermarkets is processed and refined.
For weight loss to occur, you have to make sure that you’re getting raw organic honey, and nothing less than that. Raw honey that isn’t organic won’t do the trick, nor will organic honey that isn’t raw. Look for both features displayed prominently on the label, as this will insure it is free of added sugar and toxic substances.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: Raw organic honey has antioxidants, digestive enzymes, is antibacterial. Filtered and processed honey has none of these and is often made with some form of fructose added.[/color-box]
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8. One Tablespoon Coconut Oil
There’s a magic to coconut oil when it comes to losing weight without a lot of effort and in the shortest time possible. It’s one of our favorite foods that help you lose weight fast, but it’s also one of the most counterintuitive products out there. Looking at its Nutritional Information leads one to believe that it will only cause weight gain.
But the saturated fat in coconut oil is not the same saturated fat that you’ve been warned about and told to avoid (3). The saturated fat in fast food hamburgers and the like is what the warnings are referencing. The saturated fat in coconut oil has been shown to do the body good.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: On paper there isn’t much to coconut oil, it appears to be just fat, and mostly saturated fat. A tablespoon is 14 grams, and 14 of those grams are fat, with 12 grams being saturated fat.[/color-box]
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9. 1/2 Cup Beans
Beans should be a part of your diet if you’re looking to lose weight in short order because they contain a nice mix of protein and fiber. Both protein and fiber will help to keep your appetite under control for longer periods of time. Protein will help build lean muscle, and fiber will help keep you regular.
Beans can easily be used in many types of cooking. They make a great side dish, can replace meat if you’re looking to keep things vegetarian, and help thicken soup and chili, giving them more texture.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A half cup serving of black beans gives you 15 grams of fiber, which is 60% of your total daily need. It also gives you 21 grams of protein, which translates to 42% of your protein needs.[/color-box]
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10. One Cup Green Tea
Green tea is a great tool to help you lose weight as quickly as possible, in a healthy way. Keep a bottle of chilled green tea near you in the warmer months to help keep cool, and a thermos full of hot green tea to warm you up in the colder months.
Why does green tea get so much more press in regards to health than other teas? It retains its green color because it is not processed the way other teas are. this leaves in place all of the antioxidants that make it a superstar when it comes to protecting the body and assisting in weight loss.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A cup of green tea is virtually zero calories, but contains a range of different antioxidants in the form of polyphenols and tannins, as well as Vitamin C and EGCG.[/color-box]
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11. One Apple
Eat an organic apple whenever you’re looking to fill the void and don’t want to turn to junk food or fast food. It’s uniquely satisfying, and should sustain you for an hour or two until your next meal. Organic apples are the only type of apple that you should choose for weight loss, as conventional apples will have been sprayed repeatedly during the growing season, and will likely have been planted using genetically modified seeds.
Apples contain pectin in their peels, a special form of fiber that helps to keep your digestive system clear and functioning properly. A clean digestive system is imperative for weight loss, and if you are overweight there is a high chance that your digestive system and colon are sluggish and in need of cleansing.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: One medium-sized apple provides you with 14% of your Vitamin C needs, and 4.4 grams of fiber representing 17% of your fiber needs.[/color-box]
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12. 3 ounces Grass-Fed Beef
A 3 ounce serving of grass-fed, organic beef can leave you feeling satisfied for a very long time, and will not make you feel like you’re on a diet. It has fat-burning fuel in the form of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) as well as a good portion of protein.
There are two big reasons why you should only eat grass-fed, organic beef while trying to lose weight and for your overall health. First, it contains more CLA than conventional beef, which will help you burn more fat. Second, it will not contain the growth hormones that are used to spur along the growth of cattle to increase profit.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A 3 ounce serving of grass-fed 90% lean beef provides you with 22 grams of protein, B Vitamins, iron, and zero carbs. You’ll also get 300-500 milligrams of CLA.[/color-box]
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13. Heaping Teaspoon of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is used in many desserts, which likely won’t help you lose weight, but you can use it without all of the fattening ingredients to help spur on weight loss. Cinnamon has antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber that will help your body shed excess weight in no time.
You don’t have to take the Cinnamon Challenge in order to get the benefits from an increased cinnamon intake. Use the spoonful throughout the day by sprinkling onto oatmeal, adding it to smoothies, or using it in your cooking and baking.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: One tablespoon of cinnamon clocks in with over 4 grams of fiber, which equates to 16% of the fiber your body needs. It does this with just 19 calories and no fat or cholesterol.[/color-box]
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14. Handful of Almonds
During the fat-free diet craze nuts earned a bad reputation because of their high fat content. But eating a handful of almonds when you’re feeling extra hungry will help stave off that hunger until mealtime. It will also provide you with protein, fiber, and healthy fat, all of which contributes to weight and fat loss.
Almonds aren’t the only nut that can help you out with fat loss. Pecans, pistachios, and hazelnuts are also recommended. Just be sure to keep your intake to a reasonable number, generally a small handful, the size of your cupped palm, and not an overflowing handful.
[color-box color=”main”]Nutritional Breakdown: A half cup of almonds provides you with 8 grams of fiber, or roughly 34% of what you need each day. It also contains 15 grams of protein, or about 30% of the protein needed daily.[/color-box]