If you thought that there was no such thing as carbs for weight loss, think again! Carbs are often thought of as the top food group to avoid when you’re trying to lose weight, but I’m here to tell you it’s not so. There are actually quite a few carbs that you can and should eat when you’re on a weight loss plan to give you energy, fill you up with nutrients and give you a variety of good-for-you foods to eat. Eating nothing but one food group gets boring fast! With that said, consider adding some of these top carbs for weight loss to your meals and watch the pounds drop.
1 Brown Rice
One of the more obvious carbs for weight loss is brown rice. Some people just can’t get past the chewy texture of brown rice, but it’s really good and just takes some getting used to. Brown rice contains fiber to keep you full longer, as well as lots of nutrients such as selenium, manganese, antioxidants and phytonutrients, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
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2 Oatmeal
Oatmeal is one of the foods for weight loss that I personally love. Especially now that it’s getting colder, it’s the perfect way to start off your day! Oatmeal is a low-cal food, weighing in at around 130 calories a cup. It’s also full of fiber, protein and removes bad cholesterol. Add some fruit and you’ve got a super healthy, low-calorie breakfast in minutes.
3 Quinoa
I’ll admit, I didn’t quite know what to make of quinoa when I first tried it, but now I love it. Quinoa is really easy to make and it tastes great. The best part is, it’s packed with protein, fiber, iron and magnesium. It's also known to be an “energy dense” food, which means that it has fewer calories for the same volume of food.
4 Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole wheat pasta is another one of the tasty foods for weight loss to try. I know, it looks different and it’s a little chewy, but believe me, it’s worth the sacrifice! Whole wheat pasta contains nutrients that help our bodies with muscle recovery, promote stronger bones, boost our immune system and help with digestion. Try it the next time you make pasta. You can always do ½ regular and ½ whole wheat pasta to get used to it!
5 Beans
Beans often get equated for making us feel bloated and gassy, but there’s so much more to them! Beans make an awesome weight loss food because they contain lots of fiber, protein and iron. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who eat beans have a 23% lower risk of obesity. Try eating hummus, making turkey chili or adding some beans to salads and other dishes. Just make sure you get low sodium beans!
6 Lentils
Lentils, the incredible, edible pulse. Lentils remind me of beans, but they’re actually a type of legume. Either way, eating lentils does wonders for your health and can aid in weight loss due to their low-calorie and low-fat content. Lentils also stabilize blood sugar, promote a healthy heart and digestive system and help increase your energy.
7 Air-popped Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn is better for us than we thought! While it’s not as healthy as the other foods on this list, it’s an ideal snack when you don’t add a ton of butter, oil or salt. It's a great alternative to chips when you want something crunchy and salty, yet it contains much less salt and fat. Popcorn is rich in antioxidants and fiber and many kinds are minimally processed.
Did you know that these carbohydrates were good for weight loss? I’m looking forward to finding new ways to try these nutritious foods and fill up on less fat and calories. Are any of these foods part of your weight loss plan?
