In order to get a flatter tummy, you have to lose weight. In order to lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you burn. There are many low-calorie foods out there that can help you accomplish this. Here are 10 of my favorites.
1. Strawberries
Berries of any sort are way lower calorie than you would expect for the sweetness and volume. Strawberries are just my favorite — blackberries too. A full 100g serving of berries yields 30-40 calories, tons of fiber, and antioxidants. You could eat a full pound of berries for less than 150 calories. They’ll curb your sweet tooth too.
2. Popcorn (unbuttered)
Movie theater popcorn is one of the worst possible things you could eat while dieting. A large bag of popcorn at your average theater puts you down upwards of 1000 calories. The problem is the butter. Getting completely unbuttered popcorn is ridiculously low-calorie in comparison and very high volume to keep you full. It’s an excellent salty snack to kick yet another craving while trying to lose the belly fluff.
3. Zucchini
Zucchini is actually quite versatile when it comes to dieting. Boasting only about half the calories of the same amount of berries (only about 17 calories per 100g), it will keep you ridiculously full. It’s an excellent tool for big eaters. You can split your zucchini down the middle and use it as pizza crust for low-carb zucchizza. You can even grate up your zucchini and throw it into your oats to double (or even triple) the volume. Trust me, you won’t taste them. I was skeptical at first too. I’ve come to find it’s one of the most awesome tricks to help you eat more food while consuming fewer calories.
4. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is another versatile, high-volume food for fewer calories. It has the added benefit of being extra high protein too. In comparison to carbs and fats, protein burns the most calories while digesting so you get an extra metabolic boost. Throw some berries into your greek yogurt for a low-cal, high-protein, extremely filling, sweet snack.
5. Egg Whites
Remember what I just said about protein having the highest metabolic calorie-burn? Well, egg whites are one of the few foods out there that is almost 100% protein. Lean meats are close, but they typically have more fat than egg whites. It’s important to eat enough protein so that your muscles don’t shrink. This helps you decrease your body fat percentage as you lose weight and will make your stomach appear flatter and more defined. I like my egg whites with a little garlic and hot sauce.
6. Oatmeal
Yes, carbs are on the list. You need carbs to fuel your workouts and you should definitely be working out if you want to see the best results. Oats are one of the best options because they are slow-digesting and contain B-vitamins to give you prolonged energy throughout the day. I usually eat my oats about an hour before my workouts. If you need an extra protein kick, try mixing in a scoop of protein powder into them! For extra volume, throw in some grated zucchini to make zoats!
7. Grilled Chicken
Grilled chicken is a staple in most bodybuilding diets. That’s because it is one of the leanest meats out there and provides a whopping 25-30g of protein per 4 oz piece. Sure, it’s not as good as fried chicken — just remember the goal you’ve set for yourself. Fried chicken sandwiches are great, but grilled chicken sandwiches are pretty darn good too. Throw on some honey mustard and you’re golden.
8. Unsweetened Almond Milk
Almond milk is an excellent low-calorie, low-carb alternative to regular dairy milk. I prefer skim milk myself, but almond milk boasts only about 1/3 of the calories skim milk does. For those looking to cut back on the calories, almond milk is definitely a good option for your cereals and even as a mix in for some tasty drinks. Some people even use it for baking.
In order to see the best results, you should also implement an exercise routine. You can find a list of over 100 5-minute core workouts you can do at home without a gym membership here.
Cardio is also important to increase calorie burn and see results faster. Implement 2 or 3 20-30 minute cardio sessions weekly to speed up your results.
That said, stay consistent and be patient. Change takes time. If you stick to your guns with the proper nutrition and exercise, your results will be amazing.
