To lose weight or build muscle, it’s important to eat healthy Eating healthy isn’t just the key to weight loss and building muscle; it’s also one of the most important things you can do for your overall health and well-being. Our food choices play a vital role in how our bodies function, so whether you want to lose fat or build lean muscle mass, eating healthy foods has a huge impact on how well you perform physically. What are the best foods to eat to lose weight or build muscle? Read on to learn more!
Choose Protein at Every Meal Protein is a nutrient that helps keep you feeling full for longer. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s especially important that your meals are high in protein—and most of us don’t get enough. Start each meal with a lean protein like fish or chicken and top with an unlimited amount of non-starchy vegetables (squash, zucchini, broccoli, etc.). Two servings of low-fat dairy per day are also great options. While you’re at it—try swapping meat for fish once a week.
Eat More Vegetables If you’re looking to shed pounds and keep them off, eating more vegetables is a good place to start. You’ll not only gain nutrients that help your body function at its best but also get in plenty of filling fiber. To up your veggie intake, consider snacking on sliced bell peppers or carrots with hummus—or roast some eggplant when you make your favorite pasta dish. Low-cal meals like these will fill you up while not putting much of a dent in your calorie total for the day.
Carbs Are Fine in Moderation Eating carbohydrates isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They help with endurance and performance when consumed before exercise. And whole-grain carbs help to support your overall well-being while also helping you feel full longer. Just make sure they’re coming from quality sources, like vegetables and fruits. When possible, opt for fresh instead of canned produce; frozen is fine if fresh isn’t available (it won’t be on sale anyway). In general, avoid processed foods as much as possible—frozen dinners are perfectly acceptable (and can often be cheaper than takeout), but don’t go overboard by buying boxes of frozen food labeled meals or easy just because they’re easy and convenient.
Dress Up Your Salad If you’re trying to lose weight but still want to maintain your strength and energy levels, a good way to go about it is by choosing nutritious foods that won’t weigh you down. A great example of such a food is leafy greens. A salad isn’t just lettuce; there are many other low-calorie and nutrient-rich additions you can make. Fresh spinach, kale, arugula, broccoli and cucumber can all be easily added into your next salad with minimal effort. Try some new varieties of leafy greens like lamb’s quarters or chard; they taste great in salads (and other dishes) and will help you get more nutrients while losing those extra pounds!
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