Best Foods to Lose Holiday Weight Gain

Happy New Year

I just returned from a vacation trip to Park City, Utah, where I enjoyed great food with old friends and neighbors. At altitudes from 6,000 feet in town to 10,000 feet at the top of the mountain, I found myself a little out of breath and realized I needed to get in better shape in 2012. Part of getting in better shape means losing a few pounds, which is difficult when you write about cooking and food as a hobby.

I'm not a big diet fan because they are often very difficult to maintain, so I try to work out a little more and eat better foods, staying away from or eating less fattening foods. One might ask what are the best foods to lose weight, and I found out by reading an informative article on msn.com called The Best Superfoods for Weight Loss.

In the article, I learned some of the "so-called superfoods "¦.. that help build bones, prevent chronic diseases, improve your eyesight, and even keep your mind sharp" are also great foods for losing weight, AND some of my favorite foods, including avocados, salmon, pears, grapefruit, and wine, to name a few.

Here are a few foods mentioned in the article, but I encourage you to read the entire article to find some of your favorites and learn why they may help you lose some of those holiday pounds.

Salmon is not only one of my favorite fish, but my kids love it. It is a great source of protein and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. There are lots of ways to cook salmon, including dry roasting, grilling, pan frying, and poaching. See my recipe for Poached Salmon with Dill Sauce.

 

 

Grapefruit - my wife has been eating grapefruit in the morning for years and now I know why. According to the MSN article, "Eating half a grapefruit before each meal may help you lose up to a pound a week!" Ok, I can go along with that. Grapefruit is 90% water and a good source of protein plus it has compound that can lower your insulin, a fat storing hormone. Because they are so popular, you can find fresh grapefruit from different areas of the country at your local supermarket all year long. I will join my wife and start eating them with her every morning.

Broccoli - here's one we eat all the time at our house. My youngest loves it raw as a side dish, but the rest of us like it steamed. Easy to prepare, an antioxidant, a great source of fiber, and low cal unless you serve it with a lot of butter. Besides serving as a side dish once or twice a week, I have used broccoli in dishes like chicken and broccoli stir fry and broccoli pasta soup.

Garbanzo Beans—Beans, in general, are a great alternative source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and garbanzo beans are one of my favorites. Also known as chickpeas, I love using them in soups and salads. Garbanzo beans are also an essential ingredient in hummus.

These are just a few of the "best super foods for weight loss," and there are many more. I'm going to try to incorporate a bunch of them into my daily meal planning, especially since most of them are readily available and foods my family enjoys. Besides, who doesn't like an occasional piece of dark chocolate to "slow down your digestion" and "rev your metabolism to burn fat and calories?"