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5 foods to help you stay fit and lose weight this winter and 5 foods to avoid

Posted at 6:47 PM, Feb 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-15 18:47:22-05

It’s been about 6 weeks since many of you made a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier and lose weight and right about now, you may need some inspiration to stay on track. 

When it comes to weight loss, you need to burn more calories than you eat. But some foods are better options as they can help you stay satiated and lose weight.

There are five foods and number one is Oats.

  1. Oats are a great choice because they have soluble fiber and keep you fuller longer.
  2. Winter squash like butternut, acorn or pumpkin are all rich in vitamins and are great low-carb options to potatoes or pasta.
  3. Sauerkraut – it helps support digestion and your immune system as they contain Vitamin C and probiotics.
  4. Bone broth.  It’s all the rage right now but it can help with feeling full and boost your immunity.  
  5. Lentils and split peas.  These contain fiber and plant-based protein which helps keep hunger and cravings away.

I’d recommend you go easy on canned soup, ham, old-fashioned casseroles and juices. Many of these are high-sodium, high fat and high calorie.  

You may be surprised to learn that juices often have the healthy fiber removed.  It’s much better to eat whole fruit instead.

I am 100 percent the “Undiet” doctor. Diets simply do not work. It’s all about making lifestyle changes you can live with.  So here are my prescriptions:

  1. You want to fuel your body with real whole foods and limit processed foods.
  2. Follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time eat healthy and 20% of the time enjoy your favorite foods.
  3. I recommend a plant based diet – try eating vegetarian meals twice a week.
  4. Don’t eat mindlessly.  Pay attention to when you’re actually feeling hungry and don’t turn to junk food for stress relief.

What about bread?  Is that something we can eat in moderation?

I’d recommend you eat whole grain bread. Whole grain bread helps with appetite control because it has fiber.

Don’t fall for the term multigrain. Multigrain breads are really white bread that has a small amount of whole grains.

Be sure to look at the ingredient list – you want to see the words “whole wheat” listed there.