10 Foods That Are Making You Fat
Many times people ask me what foods are good substitutes while they are trying to lose weight. I have many substitutes, but here are a few you may want to try if you are trying to lose weight or simply want to maintain your weight:
- Sugar, Butter or Oil – Use applesauce to replace more calorie-laden ingredients such as sugar, butter or oil in baking. It is not only an excellent replacement, but very healthy as it is loaded with vitamin C, pectin and fiber.
- Mayonnaise – Avocados are not just for dips. Use mashed avocados to replace mayonnaise in sandwiches. This fruit will not only add full richer texture, but its healthy monounsaturated fat will help burn belly fat and create optimal health.
- Pasta – Craving spaghetti? Try Shirataki noodles! These noodles are guilt-free, gluten free, very low carbohydrate, low calorie noodles that are the perfect replacement for traditional high carbohydrate noodles. Shirataki Noodles are made from the root of a very special type of plant and can be used in virtually every dish that calls for pasta.
- Cream – Instead of using cream or high carbohydrate flour to thicken soups or stews, Simply steam or soften squash, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, or mushrooms, just to name a few, then throw them in a food processor or blender. An excellent way to add more veggies to your diet.
- English Muffins – Processed white flour is full of calories but they are empty calories that create low-level inflammation. These muffins are void of nutrients and fiber. White flour spikes blood sugar and triggers insulin. Insulin is your fat storage hormone and likes to keep it there. Swap a white flour English muffin for a whole grain English muffin full of fiber and nutrients to balance your blood sugar. This choice will keep your hunger and cravings at bay.
- Sour Cream – Use yogurt for sour cream or mayonnaise. For a number of meals, plain yogurt makes a great sour cream substitute; simply add the same amount of yogurt as you would sour cream.
- Steak – If you normally have beef a few times a week, change one meal to fish instead. A 75-g serving of grilled steak has 230 calories and 14 g of fat. Compare that to the same-size serving of grilled cod at just 80 calories and 1 g of fat.
- Potato Chips – If you like the crunch of potato chips, you’ll love Beanitos (or bean chips)! They are made with beans and are a healthy alternative to unhealthy snack chips and crackers. They are loaded with fiber, balance blood sugar, low-glycemic and healthy fats.
- Nuts – Tired of the same old nuts? Try adding Pine Nuts. Not only are they high in protein, Pine nuts contain Pinolenic Acid, a naturally occurring fat that stimulates cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), both powerful hormones that alert the brain that the stomach is full. Add them to dishes or just eat them as is!
- Red Meat – Crimini Mushrooms or mini-Portobello mushrooms have a delicious meaty flavor. Blending Crimini mushrooms with ground turkey is an excellent way to cut half the fat without losing taste. These mushrooms are not only low in calories, but high in immune system support and the very important vitamin B-12. This mushroom mix works well for any meat-based dish, like tacos, meat sauce, hamburgers and more.
So you see, we really do have choices! Remember, anywhere you can make a change, no matter how small, will result in better health and weight loss for you!