Losing weight is a process and this process has 3 parts…eating fewer calories, exercising to burn calories and the mindset for staying motivated to make healthy decisions.
While exercise will do a lot to help you lose unwanted weight, it is the will to meet your goals that will be your biggest motivator to lose weight.
It is this will that will keep you going when you have days where you make poor choices. It will keep you going when you decide to skip your workout.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our policies for more details.
And it can help you pull through days that are overwhelming. But along with the will to change, you will have to reduce the number of calories you consume.
When it comes to weight loss, not all foods are created equal. Some foods are better at burning fat. And some foods will add fat very easily.
What Are Fat Burning Foods?
Simply put, fat burning foods are foods that can increase your metabolism and burn more fat. There are other ways to burn fat as well.
Sometimes supplements are used, but they can be unpredictable and are not always considered safe.
Exercise is one of the best ways to burn fat. Strength training can be done with free weights, resistance bands or weight machines.
Exercise also makes you feel good. But this is about the foods that can help you burn fat and lose weight.
Eggs
For many years, eggs got a bad rap. It was thought that they were high in cholesterol. But eggs are packed with nutrition.
Eggs are a great source of high-quality protein. They fill you up and will help fight hunger.
Eggs can be eaten for any meal of the day. Hard-boiled eggs make a great snack. You can’t go wrong with eggs 3 times a week. Add eggs to your list of fat burning foods.
Berries
Not only are berries good for you, but they are also tasty as well. In addition to being packed with nutrients, are high in fiber and loaded with antioxidants. The keto diet, which is strict when it comes to fruit, allows berries.
Eating berries can fight inflation and may help control blood pressure spikes. Whether it is blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, they make a great dessert.
If you are trying to eat less sugar, you cannot go wrong by substituting a bowl of berries. Mix a small number of berries in with a cup of creek yogurt and you have the perfect breakfast (or dessert).
Almonds
Despite being high in fat, nuts still offer a number of health and weight loss benefits. So they should be part of a healthy diet for losing weight.
Almonds are packed with nutrients, healthy fats and protein. Nuts are a recommended item for low carb diets since many types of nuts have less than 2 grams of digestible carbs.
Nuts are versatile. They can be added to many salads for added flavor or just thrown in a baggy and thrown in a backpack for a quick power-packed snack (1).
Almonds, additionally, can help control your blood sugar levels and are high in vitamin E. Almonds can assist in blood pressure and cholesterol control.
If you are looking for an easy snack for a weight loss plan, you can’t go wrong with a handful of almonds.
Salmon
Salmon not only tastes great and can be prepared hundreds of ways, but it is also packed full of health benefits that you can fix it quickly.
Salmon is best known for its Omega fatty acids that can reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and decrease risk factors for disease.
Salmon is high in vitamin B. It is also packed full of potassium, protein and selenium. It also contains antioxidants and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Got inflammation? Eat some salmon. Salmon is also a great food for any weight loss plan. Try to lose weight? Salmon is the perfect diet food.
Grapefruit
The popular breakfast makes a perfect food for losing weight. Not only is grapefruit low in calories, it is high in nutrients.
If appetite control is your goal, eat a grapefruit. Trying to lose weight? You guessed it, eat a grapefruit.
Grapefruit has antioxidants and may also provide a number of other health benefits including, aiding in the prevention of insulin resistance and improving heart health.
Grapefruit may take an acquired taste, but it will grow on you.
Green Tea
Whether you are looking for an afternoon beverage or a morning pick-me-up, you can’t go wrong with green tea. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that promote cell health and brain function.
Would you like to increase fat burning? And improved physical performance? Have a cup of green tea a few times a day.
The antioxidants in green tea may lower your risk of cancer. It may lower your risk of old age brain-related diseases, such as; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Green tea can also fight bacteria, lower your risk for infection and improve your dental health. Reducing your risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes are also benefits of green tea.
There is just something zen about sipping on a green tea. And you can improve your health too…you can’t beat that.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is another food that is great for weight loss. It is packed with protein to make you feel full leading to a reduced appetite.
It also has calcium that promotes bone health. Being filled with probiotics, yogurt is a great food to promote gut health.
Yogurt also can reduce many of the disorders caused by obesity, such as; high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
Greek yogurt can be prepared in creative ways…smoothies, desserts, condiments, snacks and breakfasts are just a few things you can make with greek yogurt.
Spinach
Green leafy vegetables are in a class all of their own and spinach sits in the front row. Spinach makes a great side dish and salad.
You can also make a quick meal by throwing it in a blender with a variety of fruits and other vegetables. You can also add yogurt.
Some of the benefits of spinach are all the vitamins and minerals…vitamins A, C and K, magnesium, iron and manganese.
Reduced blood pressure and reduced stress are 2 other benefits of eating spinach.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a great spice that can be added to a lot of foods, but did you realize it has health benefits beyond its taste?
Cinnamon is actually made from the inner bark of a tree. It is loaded with antioxidants (notice a pattern here) as well as having anti-inflammatory properties.
One of cinnamon’s biggest superpowers is lowering blood sugar levels as well as having a strong anti-diabetic effect.
Cinnamon also has a number of other health benefits, that can benefit the heart and brain.
Olive Oil
There is a lot of discussion about how good oil is for you, but olive oil has been determined to be a healthy food. Olive oil is chalked full of healthy monounsaturated fats.
Like most of the other foods on this list, olive oil has plenty of antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
Olive oil may help prevent strokes and it is also connected to heart and brain health.
The best part is you do not have to be concerned with olive oil causing weight gain. Risk of cancer, arthritis and type 2 diabetes can be reduced by olive oil.
If you enjoy food prepared with oil, olive oil is the way to go.
Final Thoughts on Fat Burning Foods
When it comes to weight loss and eating healthy, not all foods are created equal. But getting to and maintaining a healthy lifestyle does not have to be complicated.
If you are looking for a way to burn fat, consider adding the above foods to your diet.
Challenge yourself to be creative and learn to embrace these foods in new and interesting recipes. You can’t go wrong with these fat-burning foods.