The Best (And Easiest) Superfoods for Weight Loss

Eating superfoods can make losing weight easy and a lot more enjoyable! But a lot of them are strange and expensive and generally not suited to the tastes, budgets, and lifestyles of anyone other than a health nut. So here is my list of the top superfoods for college students and fitness beginners to eat:

Apples have antioxidants that can help you cut down on belly fat. Also, studies have found that people who snack on apples before meals eat less than with any other snack!

Eggs are known for being bad for diets, but the opposite is true. Their protein will keep you full and kill your appetite. Go for egg whites when possible, but don't be scared of the yolk!

Salmon is another superfood that controls insulin with its omega-3 fatty acids. Stock up and try it on the grill, baked with vegestables, or even make burgers with it.

Blueberries may be the best type of berry to eat, with the highest antioxidant content and over 3.5g of fibre in a cup.

Small but powerful!

Chiles are one of the most flavourful (and hot!) ways to trim down! Chiles contain capsaicin which instantly revs up your metabolism and causes you to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat it, studies show. Try finding ways to add fresh chiles to your dishes to get the most out of them.

I burn calories and your tongue.

Avacados are known to be high in fat, but also to be extremely healthy. Both are true! The key is that avacadoes contain monounsaturated fat which is good for your heart and also helps you feel fuller longer. Do watch your portions though. Use avacadoes as a spread on sandwiches or make a healthy guacamole to use as a dip.

Olive oil is just like avacado in that it contains healthy fat that keep you feeling ful.. It should be your staple oil if it isn't already. The easiest way to get your fix is simply to cook with it! Also drizzle salads with it for extra benefit.

I'll keep you from reaching for a snack later!

Brown rice is extremely filling yet low in calories. Ditch white rice for it whenever possible to easily slim down. It also contains a special type of starch named resistant starch which is a metabolism booster and fat burner.

Simple Tips For Eating Out

Dining out seems to be something I can't avoid between constant invitations from friends, cousins, family, and colleagues. Everyone loves eating at restaurants, but it can be difficult to navigate eating healthy while surfing menus of various restaurants. So here's a list of simple tips for dining out:

1.       Research ahead, when possible. If you know where you're going, look it up ahead of time and try to get nutritional information so you can pick the healthiest dishes on the menu.

Go online for nutrition facts!

2.       Be aware of portions. Ever notice how huge the portions are at restaurants? Offer to split entrées and appetizers with your friends and family. Ask for a small plate and put your food on that so you can see your  portion clearly.

3.       Analyze how food is prepared. How food is cooked is the most important aspect. Avoid fried and breaded – instead, look for foods that are grilled, steamed, baked, stir-fried, or roasted.

Yummy, and healthily prepared!

4.       Eat vegetables! Vegetables are a sure-fire way to get needed nutrients and lower the calories in your meal. Whenever you can, get vegetable side dishes instead of fries or baked potatoes, especially if your entrée is carb-rich.

5.       Be wary of condiments. Yummy condiments and toppings like cheese, sour cream, and creamy gravies and sauces can quickly blow the calorie and fat count of your meal into the stratosphere. Avoid and lessen them when possible – and even better, get them on the side so you can control how much is on your meal.

We're out to get you!

6.       Drink water, milk, and fruit juice. Avoid sugary sodas, alcohol, hot chocolate, etc. which are often empty calories.

The 5 Healthiest Foods to Eat at Timmy's

I was telling my sister about my last blog and my discovery of how bad in general the food there is for you (Ironically while stuffing our faces with fried shrimp at Red Lobster - but it was her birthday!). She inspired me to write this post because she asked, "So what is there to eat at Timmy's?" So here I present to you the 5 best foods to eat at Tim Horton's:

1. Chicken wraps: 190 calories each and relatively low-fat (4.5 - 6g depending on the dressing). Save more calories and fat by requesting less dressing.

Yummy AND one of the healthiest choices on the menu!

2. Oatmeal: For breakfast only, but the only breakfast item that's trans-fat free. Around 220 calories per serving. A little higher in sugar, but you can request less maple or berries on top to save some sugar.

3. Soups: Stick to soups with clear broth rather than cream-based soups - most of these have trans fat. Chicken noodle, minsestrone, and hearty vegetable are all good choices that are under 120 calories and low-fat.

Remember, avoid the cream-based!

4. Garden vegetable sandwich: This is the only sandwich I eat at Timmy's. Get it with swiss cheese to eliminate the trans fat. Around 320 calories.

5. Drinks: Coffee, lattes, and cappucinos are all under 100 calories. Try iced lattes instead of iced capps - 11g of sugar in a small vs. 32g in a small iced capp. Also, if you must have hot chocolate or french vanilla, try requesting it with half coffee to halve the sugar.

Hope this helps! Again, check out Tim Horton's nutritional info for further information.