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The Foods to Eat When You Want to Lose Weight

Trying to lose weight is like climbing a mountain of highs and lows. Food cravings and lack of movement can get the best of you. However, eating the right foods can fuel your body and help you feel full and avoid overeating. "Ask Men" magazine recommends six small meals per day instead of three large meals to stabilize nutrient oxidization levels. The body becomes more effective at burning fat and calories. Eating smaller meals more frequently revs up the metabolism, while large meals can slow down metabolic rate and result in feeling sluggish.

  1. Celery Sticks

    • Add celery to soups and salads or just snack on celery sticks throughout the day.

      Mayo Clinic writer Donald Hensrud, M.D., recommends eating celery because it requires a lot of energy to digest, as compared with the calories it provides. Celery is high in vitamins and water and thus essential for energy and hydration. Place chopped celery on your salad or spread low-fat peanut butter on top of celery sticks.

    Spinach Salads

    • "Good Housekeeping" magazine lists spinach salads as one of their recommend foods for losing weight. Spinach is low in calories and high in fiber; vitamins A, K, and C; magnesium; calcium; and other minerals. Wash 2 cups of raw baby spinach leaves and cut half a cucumber into thin slices. Add the cucumber to your salad along with 1 tablespoon of sliced almonds and fat-free ranch dressing or another low-calorie dressing of your choice. This meal is excellent for lunch or dinner side dish.

    Spinach Veggie Burger

    • "Good Housekeeping" also recommends eating spinach veggie burgers to lose weight. This meal is high in protein and low in calories because veggie burgers are made from plant proteins. Cook your vegetable burger in the oven for 10 minutes or until crispy. Toast your bun and add mustard or other low-fat condiments. Add romaine lettuce or spinach leaves with sliced tomatoes. Eat additional spinach as a side dish.

    Smoked Salmon Dinner

    • Just be aware that frying salmon adds slightly more fat and calories.

      "Reader's Digest" magazine recommends adding smoked salmon to your diet to lose weight because there are only 66 calories in 2 ounces of salmon. The magazine recommends smoked salmon, but you can bake or steam salmon if you are not fond of smoke flavoring. Sprinkle your salmon with herbs and healthy oils, such as grapeseed or olive oil. Eat this meal with a small salad for lunch or dinner.

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