Best Weight Loss Foods For People Who Don't Like Diets

The key to losing weight (and keeping it off) isn't about setting restrictions and counting calories, it's about embracing healthy habits that you can stick to. We’re not here to tell you that apple cider vinegar is the secret to fast weight loss, or that a cabbage soup diet will get you ahead - we all know that fast weight loss very rarely translates to long-term weight loss. Losing weight takes time, determination, and most importantly, sustainable change. You can’t expect to reach your goal weight if you’re not prepared to make incremental changes to your diet and lifestyle. And you can't expect to keep the weight off if you can't maintain those changes in the long-run.

The good news is that eating more plant-based foods and substituting processed foods is an easy and effective means of supporting and sustaining weight loss. Keep reading to learn about the best foods for natural weight loss that are suitable for paleo, vegan, low carb, gluten free, dairy free, and even keto diets. The best part is all of these weight loss foods can be easily integrated into smoothies - which is always a win in our book.

1. Nuts

Nuts like almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts (all of which you can expect in a Craft Smoothie box) are legendary when it comes to supporting weight loss because they're a high-protein and high-fibre snack, and an awesome source of monosaturated fats. Research indicates that regularly eating foods that are high in monounsaturated fats can support successful weight loss. Consuming almonds, in particular, is a smart way to boost your intake of essential fatty acids that are needed to maintain a healthy heart and cholesterol levels. And the health benefits don't stop there - almonds are the most nutrient dense nut and are an excellent source of vitamins E, K, B16 and B12 - just to name a few. They also contain a host of minerals, including iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, and manganese, all of which play an important role in activating energy production in the body. Nut consumption is associated with reduced appetite and increased feelings of fullness. This means that including a small handful of almonds in your daily diet can support enhanced energy levels, meaning you're less likely to resort to unhealthy snack options. 

Best weight loss recipes with nuts:

• Add a handful of nuts to your breakfast smoothies for an awesome source of plant-based protein and healthy fats for sustained energy
• For a nourishing snack or sweet treat, blend a combination of your favourite nuts with coconut, dates, cacao, coconut oil, vanilla and sea salt to make the best bliss balls
• Toast almonds and cashews in a frying pan with a sprinkle of cumin, paprika, and turmeric, plus a dash of coconut aminos or tamari for an epic superfood salad topper

2. Berries

Not only are berries potent sources of antioxidants which act like disease-fighting ninjas to protect our cells from damage, these powerhouses are brilliant low-calorie, high-fibre additions to your diet - which is good news for everyone who enjoys an antioxidant-packed superfood smoothie for brekkie! Weight loss foods like berries that are high in fibre and water content help to keep you fuller on fewer calories. Fresh berries like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries are best enjoyed in summer smoothies, but when they're out of season, you can substitute with superfoods like freeze-dried acai, goji berries or blackcurrant powder.

Best weight loss recipes with berries:

• For an easy, nutrient-dense breakfast, try these game-changing strawberry smoothie recipes from Craft Smoothie
• Add fresh or frozen blueberries or mixed berries to a chia pudding - just mix 2 tablespoons of chia seeds with 1 cup of coconut milk, a teaspoon of sweetener (like honey or maple syrup), and stir in your berries
• Make your own jam by blending 2 cups of fresh or frozen berries with 1/4 cup of chia seeds and 2 or 3 tablespoons of sweetener (honey or maple syrup both work well) 

3. Avocado

Containing almost 20 vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, avocados are one of the most nutrient-dense fruits and provide a substantial serving of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids can help manage the risk of heart disease and have the added benefit of keeping you fuller for longer, which is ideal for fighting the urge to turn to unnourishing snacks. Avocados are also loaded with fibre which promotes healthy digestion and weight management, plus they're naturally cholesterol free, and low in sugar and sodium, making them an ideal food to support weight loss. To top that off, avocados are a good source of fatigue-fighting nutrients, such as vitamin B6, folate, niacin and vitamin C - making them an energising inclusion to your morning smoothie. AND the healthy fat in avocados can help your body absorb more nutrients from other plant-based foods, which can increase the antioxidants you absorb from other ingredients in your smoothies.

Best weight loss recipes with avocado:

• Mash avocado with lemon or lime juice and a sprinkle of sea salt for a quick and easy guacamole, or try this creamy minted pea and avocado dip for an alternative twist
• Love hummus? Try mashing half an avo into a cup of hummus and you'll never look back!
• Add avocado to your breakfast smoothies! Or give Craft Smoothie a try to sample the best avocado smoothie recipes for optimal energy in the morning

4. Leafy Greens

In addition to being a key ingredient to supporting weight loss and detoxification, the nutrient-dense properties of leafy greens provide our bodies with a host of health benefits, including immunity support, enhanced energy levels, reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, and healthy digestion. While kale and spinach are two of the most common leafy greens, there's a large range of greens that are packed with beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre, like silverbeet, rocket, lettuces, watercress, beetroot leaves, and even microgreens. Leafy greens are the ultimate weight loss food - they instantly bulk up the nutrient-density of your meal without increasing calories, while satisfying your hunger, and supporting optimal health. The easiest way to integrate more greens into your diet is by including them in your breakfast smoothies, so you can reap their benefits on a regular basis. Try a Craft Smoothie box for some inspiration, or check out these smoothie recipes using leafy greens. 

Best weight loss recipes with leafy greens:

• Try this trusty saagwala recipe from Nadia Lim which can easily be made vegetarian or vegan - it's an easy way to hide your greens in dinner! 
• Have you tried kale pesto before? Here's a tasty vegan-friendly green pesto that subs parmesan for nutritional yeast 
• Not getting enough greens in your diet? You can't go wrong with one of these detoxifying green smoothies

5. Brocoli

Packing a punch of weight loss friendly-fibre, broccoli keeps you feeling satisfied for longer, which prevents urges to binge on not-so-nutritious snacks. This low-calorie veggie is part of the cruciferous family, alongside cauliflower and cabbage, which are well known for their cancer-preventing powers. While also being disease-fighting ninjas, cruciferous veggies are an idea option for anyone looking to shape up their eating habits. Whether raw in a salad, roasted with garlic, stir-fried in coconut oil, or blended into a soup (or smoothie), there is no shortage of ways to give your weight loss a kick in the right direction with broccoli. 

Best weight loss recipes with broccoli:

• Keep a stash of broccoli on stand-by so you can whip up this protein-packed broccoli pizza base for a seriously satisfying dish
• If you're looking for a nutrient-dense dinner option that's super quick and easy to prepare, this cleansing green soup is always a winner

 

 

6. Dark chocolate

This list wouldn't be complete without some dark chocolate love - it's the most satisfying food for curbing sweet cravings while delivering a host of health-boosting benefits. However, it's important to keep in mind that not all dark chocolate is created equal - you want to choose dark chocolate that's as minimally processed as possible to gain the maximum nutritional benefits. Opt for chocolate that's 70% cocoa or higher, ideally without milk solids or refined sugars, or any other non-natural sounding ingredients. Or even better, get your chocolate fix and all the health benefits of minimally processed cacao by making a superfood smoothie with raw cacao and ingredients like banana, avocado, nuts, and dates. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, dark chocolate or a cacao smoothie can give you an extra boost toward reaching your weight-loss goals.

Best weight loss recipes with cacao:

• When paired with avocado, cacao is an epic addition to a banana smoothie for an antioxidant-rich chocolate-fix
• If chocolate is on your mind, it's super easy to whip up your own block at home using only cacao, nut butter (or cacao butter) and sweetener (like maple syrup or honey) for a refined sugar-free and dairy-free treat

Introducing a smoothie-making ritual into your morning routine is an easy way to integrate natural weight loss foods into your diet and embrace a healthy habit you can stick to. If you want to make weight loss smoothies at home without the hassle of shopping for ingredients, give a Craft Smoothie box a try and we'll send you everything you need to DIY!