8 Items You Need In Your Pantry If You Are Trying To Lose Weight
Losing weight has become a huge challenge in 2020. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the gyms have been closed and everyone has been encouraged to stay home. This has led to an increase in boredom eating or picking up cooking as a new hobby, which has probably caused a little unwanted weight gain. Not to fear though! These 8 pantry weight-loss items are sure to help you kick start your diet. These items are satisfying, flavorful, and will positively impact the overall state of your health. If you swap out one of your current go-to foods with a weight-loss pantry item from this list, it is guaranteed that you will feel fuller longer and feel healthier too! A good weight-loss pantry item requires some research and digging, but I have done all of the hard work for you and now all that is left for you to do is head to the store and purchase them.
1. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are an amazing weight-loss pantry item because they are full of fiber. In fact, two tablespoons of chia seeds provide you with 40% of the recommended daily fiber intake. High-fiber diets are linked to weight loss since they help to make you feel fuller longer. Chia seeds are an easy addition to your bowl of yogurt or oatmeal. It might seem like a small addition but it is sure to make a big difference in your satiety throughout the day, which will ultimately help you to shed those unwanted pounds without the pesky side-effect of hunger pains.
2. PB Fit
If you are anything like me, you are a sucker for peanut butter. Peanut butter, however, is highly caloric and full of added sugar meaning that it is not very conducive for weight-loss. You would think that this would mean that having to eliminate peanut butter from your diet for as long as you want to lose weight, but then you would be wrong. Thankfully, a company called PB Fit has created a healthy peanut butter option so that we peanut butter lovers do not have to say good-bye to our beloved salty and sweet treat! Normally, a normal serving size of regular peanut butter is 190 calories for two tablespoons, but PB Fit offers the great taste of peanut butter for more than half the amount of calories. PB Fit is only 70 calories for tablespoons! It also contains no artificial ingredients, as it is made up of only peanuts, coconut palm sugar, and salt. This swap will allow you to save some calories without having to give up what you love.
3. Steel-Cut Oats
Steel-cut oats are a great weight-loss pantry item similar to the reason chia seeds are. They offer such a high level of satiety after its consumption that it will make you feel full for nearly the entire day. The reason steel-cut oats are different from other types of oatmeal is that they are a type of whole food. Whole foods are known to keep you full for long periods of time, they are healthy for you, they taste great, and they are completely natural. Steel-cut oats are versatile too in that you can flavor them in any way.
4. Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices are essential for your weight-loss journey since, let’s face it, a lot of healthy foods can lack flavor. More than that though, it is important that your pantry is stocked full of herbs and spices because they are full of antioxidants and contain many anti-microbial properties. Different spices also hold different benefits. For instance, cinnamon helps to maintain blood-sugar levels and cayenne diminishes appetite. Just be careful with salt as it can make you retain water!
5. Rice Cakes
Rice cakes come in a variety of flavors such as caramel, chocolate, plain, sour cream and onion, cheddar, and much more! It is versatile and it is a great option for those who love bread. Although it does not have the same texture nor the same flavor as bread, it performs the same function. It provides the base for your selected topping for less than half the usual calories as bread while still keeping you full. You can top it with cream cheese, hummus, deli meat, sliced bananas, you name it! Choose your flavor, choose your topping, feel satisfied, and still lose weight with this simple weigh-loss pantry item.
6. Canned Beans
This may seem like an odd item to list as one of the best weigh-loss pantry items, but beans are amazing sources of fiber that aid in helping you feel full throughout the day without the added calories. Make beans your go-to side dish instead of mashed potatoes or fries and you will begin to see the inches from your waist-line fade. You can even add beans to your soups and salads so that you can eliminate the possibility of future hunger later on in the day.
7. Canned Fish
Canned fish is full of omega-3’s, good fats, and protein. By replacing red meat for the lean meat of fish, you will be decreasing your cholesterol and your calorie consumption. Eating canned fish is one of the best changes you can possibly make for your health. Pop some fish on a slice of whole-grain bread, put some in a salad, or eat it on its own, whatever way you decide to eat it, it is a great weight-loss meal!
8. Skinny Pop
Skinny Pop is a great alternative to regular popcorn and chips. It is non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut-free, tree-nut free, preservative-free, has no artificial flavors, contains zero trans-fat, and is a good source of fiber! So, basically, it is the creme de la creme of the healthy snack world. A normal serving size which is a whopping 3 3/4 cups is only 150 calories, meaning you can eat until your heart’s content without experiencing a guilty conscience afterward.
These weight-loss pantry items are sure to kick-start your fitness journey and shed inches off your waist whilst also giving you plenty of energy to get you through your day! Which weight-loss pantry item will you try first? Let us know in the comments below!
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