Filling Foods That Won’t Fill You Out!

When on a diet, or just trying to lose a few pounds, it’s very helpful to know about the foods you can eat that will make you less hungry, and definitely the foods that it’s best to avoid!

Oatmeal

A bowl in the morning can keep you going all day. Part of the reason is all the fibre which fills you up and lets your body absorb the oatmeal’s nutrients more slowly.

That keeps your energy steady and may even help you eat fewer calories over the course of the day.

Soup

The liquid helps fill your stomach but doesn’t add many calories because it’s usually made with a lot of water.

Just be sure to go for a broth-based recipe, like vegetable soup, and avoid the cream-based soups as they have far more calories.

Salad

Part of the secret to filling up without putting on weight is to eat foods with fewer calories per bite so it’s hard to beat salad and other vegetables in that area. Along with fibre, many are loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Have a salad as your main course, or eat a small one before the meal to keep from eating too much. Just don’t add too many unhealthy extras, like cheese, croutons, and dressings.

Nuts

They’re high in fat, which gives them more calories per bite which makes us avoid them, but  their fat and protein content may prompt the body to give off hormones that help you feel full.

Plus, the fats are the unsaturated, “good” kind, which help your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, too. Just watch the portion size as about a small handful is all you need.

Avocado

Even though they’re full of fat, people who eat them in moderation tend to have less body fat. Part of the reason may be that if you eat avocados you’re more likely to eat lots of vegetables, too.

Portion size is key, though. One-third of a medium avocado has about 106 calories and delicious with nothing but a thin slice of whole-grain toast.

Eggs

If your goal is to stay full until lunch time, these are a better breakfast choice than a bowl of cereal.They have fewer calories than you might think — 78 in a large, hard-boiled egg — and lots of protein.

They’re so satisfying that they could help you eat less during the day if you have them for breakfast, especially if you’re overweight.

Cottage cheese

It’s a good substitute if eggs aren’t your thing, because it seems to have the same kind of effect on appetite.

At 163 calories in a cup, low-fat cottage cheese also has protein and is better at keeping hunger away.

Fish

It’s a healthy source of protein, which tends to make you feel fuller than carbohydrates. Plus, the omega-3 fatty acids in a lot of seafood — especially fatty fish like salmon — are particularly good at satisfying hunger.

Beans

People who eat them are often more satisfied between meals and over the long term, this may translate into less body fat and a healthier weight.

This makes sense as they’re light on calories but packed with protein and filling fibre.

Quinoa

The seeds are rich in protein, dietary fibre, B vitamins, and dietary minerals in amounts greater than in many grains which means it fills you up more.

It also has more protein and will keep you feeling full for longer than white or brown rice.

Whole milk

Full-fat dairy is usually banned from diets, but some studies say that it doesn’t seem to make you put on weight so maybe a small glass can help you feel satisfied if looking for a snack.

It may affect your cholesterol levels, though so check if you already have high levels of “bad” cholesterol, or if you don’t know your levels have a test.

Popcorn

Snacks are a danger area when dieting, but popcorn is a satisfying mix of fibre and low calories — as long as you don’t load it up with butter or sugar or syrup.

Part of the reason may be the air that puffs it up when it pops as that makes it take up more room in your belly, which may make you feel fuller.

Foods that leave you hungry

Highly processed foods like soft drinks, sweets, biscuits and even white bread have little nutrition and dump too much sugar into your blood at once.

Your body stores the extra as fat and leaves you hungry for more. Lean protein, unsaturated fats, and carbs with more fibre and nutrition (like whole grains, fruit, and vegetables) take longer to digest, satisfy your hunger, and provide a steady stream of energy.

Stick to a healthy mix

My lifetime rule when it comes to food and dieting has always been a little what you fancy does you good, and the emphasis is on little, but you can’t eat oatmeal or popcorn all day and expect to stay healthy.

Any food, however low-calorie or nutritious, is only good for you as part of a healthy, balanced diet that includes a wide variety of nutritious foods.

The missing ‘ingredients’

How full (and filled out) you get depends on more than just food. If you don’t get enough sleep, you may eat more than you need and you’re more likely to reach for snacks that have more calories and more fat.

Exercise can help you burn those calories. You should get about 30 minutes of exercise a day at least 5 days a week. Even 10 minutes at a time through the day can make a big difference in how your body uses the food you eat.

 Helpful information:

If you are struggling with hormonal weight gain, then it makes sense to pick a diet that will support both you and your hormones when trying to lose those extra pounds.

Oestrogen dominance is linked to weight gain and so you may find supporting yourself with the following diet will be helpful.

https://anna.blog.wellsprings-health.com/the-diet-to-help-beat-oestrogen-dominance/