Most of us can’t be bothered with strick lists of foods that we can and cannot eat.
Keeping things simple, is a much better way to ensure you can stick with your weight loss plan long-term. And, there’s little that’s more simple than a natural, whole food diet.
So, what are the main components of a healthy diet?
1. Vegetables
You should try to include a serving of vegetables with each meal and snack.
This will not only provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals, but they also contain fiber and water, which helps you to feel satisfied between meals, so that you don’t feel hungry and overeat.
2. Protein
Protein is extremely important when you are losing weight.
It provides your body with essential amino acids, and the protein has a satiating effect, making you feel fuller for longer.
Adequate protein in your diet can also help with maintaining lean muscle mass as you lose weight. This is very important for metabolism boosting.
Some of the best sources of protein include eggs, meats, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, and natural nut butter.
3. Healthy Fats
Your body needs a certain amount of fat to function optimally. Healthy fats are monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs).
And, just like protein, they will help to satisfy your hunger levels, which can help prevent overeating.
Try having small amounts of these healthy fats throughout the day from foods such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
4. Water
It is hugely important that you are getting enough water into your body. It should actually be your drink of choice, most of the time.
Not drinking enough fluid leads to dehydration, which your body can mistake for hunger.
To avoid this, aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.