Are You Eating Enough of These 9 Diet Foods? |
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Diets get boring, spice it up with these 9 foods
Anyone who has been on a diet has probably dealt with the usual evils that come with the territory. Feeling hungry and deprived, eating tasteless, unsatisfying foods and craving the savory goodies you usually indulge in, and sometimes even binges. This all adds up to a roller coaster effect of up and down success and failure, on and off again dieting and near-constant cheating. Worst of all, it can lead to an ever-present obsession with food and a battle between what we should be eating as opposed to what we want to be eating.
Give yourself a break. While there are certainly foods that are immediately on the no-no list (fast food, fried food, and butter and cream-laden entrées), there is an entire world of delicious foods that are completely within the guidelines of most diets. Armed with the right grocery shopping list, it is well within anyone’s reach to fill their pantry with diet-friendly options that can satisfy your culinary desires in a pinch.
The Magnificent Nine Diet Foods
- Almonds - Whole, raw almonds contain good fats; that is, unsaturated and unaltered ones that your body both needs and uses. Consumption of almonds has been shown to actually lower blood cholesterol levels, and they are an excellent source of magnesium. The benefit for dieters? Almonds are a quick and easy snack that requires no preparation and give the satisfying crunch that you may be used to getting from chips. They taste great and can be munched on by themselves, or they can be used to top a salad or other entrée. They are high in calories, though, so don’t eat the whole bag in one sitting.
- Tuna - This seemingly mundane food is full of protein and fabulous omega-3 fats. Again, these are good fats associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and improved memory. Its benefit to dieters is its flexibility. Tuna salad can be dressed up with non-fat mayonnaise, veggies, and as many spices as you can imagine. For those on a carb-conscious diet, it can be enjoyed on top of a leafy salad or plain. Other dieters can eat it on a slice of whole-grain bread with a slice of low-fat cheese broiled for a delicious grilled cheese alternative. The adventurous can even try a spiced-up version with hot sauce mixed right into the salad.
- Granola - Those looking for a healthy granola will have to seek out a baked variety with no added sugar. Some of the varieties you will find at your grocery store are packed with added sugar, and therefore, calories. But the baked sugar-free varieties are filled with whole grains, oats, and sometimes dried fruit. They provide an excellent source of fiber and vitamins, a sweet crunch that can rarely be found in healthful foods, and are a great portable snack.
Six Other Diet Friendly Foods
- Salsa - Underrated as a salad dressing.
- Avocados - Read more about avocados and four addition diet foods.
- Sushi
- Turkey breast
- Hummus - It’s great for dipping your carrot sticks in, just remember that you can’t use it to attack a mayor (inside joke for Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans)
- Fruit (try kinds you don’t usually buy - mango, pomegranate, maybe even acai berries)
Remember two keys to enhancing your diet experience. First, binging on anything is unhealthy. For this reason, vary your snacks. If you’ve already had an avocado-tuna fish salad and still feel hungry, switch to some apple slices or slices of turkey breast. You’ll get the nutritional benefits of a varied diet without going overboard on any one item. Second, utilize your spices! Spices usually contain a negligible amount of calories but can add intense and adventurous flavors to something you would usually find bland or boring.
Photo Credit: pigpog s
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This post deals with:almonds, avacados, blood cholesterol levels, diet foods, good fats, omega 3 fats, salsa, sushi, tuna salad, turkey
... and focuses on:Great Foods, Nutrition
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Great article. Salsa is one of my favorite salad dressings especially in Taco Salad. Plus, hummus makes a great base for a vegetarian sandwich. Put on the hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, etc, and I’m in sandwich heaven………..:)
July 30th, 2008 at 2:34 am
ooooh YES I AM!!
finally a list I can say yes to.
too many others have the I CAN NOT GET INTO EATING EM peppers on there…of all colors.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:07 am
[...] Lazy Man and Health blogs Are You Eating Enough of These 9 Diet Foods? [...]
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
[...] just sit you down and say here – these are the foods you need to be eating? You could look up these nine foods, but you might want more variety. Well, if you need more, the book 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, [...]