All across the year, you look for a perfect time to lose weight. Summer: too hot for walking; Winter: too cold for walking; Fall: too windy; Spring: pollen; monsoon: RAIN!
But people who are motivated enough, find the time to control and maintain their weight, across the year. How? Well that Is the main question.
It is seen in many people that they tend to put on a few calories during Fall. Why? Well eating a lot during those Halloween and Thanksgiving parties, and then getting into your bed because it’s too damn cold and windy.
People also enjoy some sizzling hot meals in the bed like mac and cheese, which cause a lot of calories to hit your body. So maybe, fall might not be the appropriate reason to rock those denims because you know your mac and cheese will be visible on your body.
But wait, don’t be disappointed. We being you today with foods of the FALL. These foods are extremely healthy and the best part, you can eat them while being tucked in your bed. These foods are extremely cozy and provide your stomach with a satisfactory feeling for a long time.
So give up these mashed potatoes and fudge brownies and replace them with something a bit healthier. This winter, your pants might get more room to breathe than before. The following foods are designated as foods of the FALL. Take a look.
1. Apple
A medium sized apple has the same amount of calories as granola bar. i.e. around 100. But apple doesn’t fill you up with sugar, rather it supplies you with 20% of fiber. A part of fiber is also supplied in the form of pectin, that slows the digestion process, and so your need for sugar intake is slowed down too. It also supplies gut bacteria which is healthy and can play a significant role to stay fit.
For an extra kick, try the Granny Smith apples. These apples have high amounts of fiber that is non digestible and also polyphenols that keeps healthy bacteria in the tummy happy, according to the researchers at Washington State University. Don’t forget to eat the apple-peel too.
2. Pumpkin
Did you know that according to the British Journal of Nutrition, the foundation of your favorite Pumpkin Spiced Latte and your delicious pie supplies an amazing amount of carotenoids, that play a vital role in averting metabolic syndrome? Not only that, Pumpkin has amazingly low calories, i.e., just 30 calories in a cup.
Keep in mind that your calories won’t go anywhere if you’re only consuming coffee drinks and desserts of pumpkins. But try adding roasted pumpkins into your salad or even making a mixture of veggies and whole grains to stuff into small pumpkins. To shed down fat from your baked items, you can use pumpkin puree.
3. Cinnamon
Try Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon in your smoothie, or your oatmeal or even sprinkling it onto some vegetable before roasting it. Fall’s official flavor is actually Cinnamon. And good news is, the more you eat it, the less you have the 3PM cookie eating cravings. Research suggests that Cinnamon is high on polyphenols that help to keep your levels of blood sugar stable as it can better your insulin sensitivity.
Not only that, according to a Swedish study, if you add cinnamon to your food, you stomach might feel full and satisfied for longer times as it slows down the digestion process. So! Run to your spice racks.
4. Kabocha squash
You might easily find squashes like acorn and butternut all across the year. But the amazing Squash resembling an emerald pumpkin, Kabocha squash, is only available during fall. This squash has low calories and contains beta-caratone that can fight fat, just like a regular pumpkin. Like actual pumpkin, it’s low in calories and rich in fat-fighting beta-carotene. And because of its edible skin, it is an enriching source of fiber too.
Instead of roasting, try to steam it and then eat it. It tastes similar to a dessert when its sugary flesh turns custardy and creamy. A Kabocha sprinkled with cinnamon might be the perfect choice for a midnight snack.
5. Cauliflower
This white vegetable belonging to the cruciferous family is most eaten and enjoyed once the weather goes way down the scale. A Research enclosed in Nutrition & Metabolism states that Cauliflower can help you reach your ideal weight as its one cup contains 27 calories and 2-gram fiber. This veggie is also high on Vitamin C which can turn your body’s engines of fat burning, up a notch.
You can take this vegetable steamed or roasted, or even a side dish. But that isn’t the end because Cauliflower can also become alternative to foods like bread, mashed potatoes or rice which are extremely high on carbs.
6. Chai tea
Chai tea refers to the plain one and not the sweet blends available at a café around the corner. (We knew that deep down you were aware of it). Black tea, which is the foundation for chai, is a power packed, weight loss drink, similar to green tea. It is high on caffeine that boosts up your metabolism to some amount and is also a source of flavonoids, that can help keep the healthy weight stable and maintained, According to a study in BMJ magazine.
But the best part? A simple, sugary and spicy cup of chai tea, when drank straight, is extremely free of calories. Can you say that about your delicious Pumpkin Spice Latte?
7. Pecans
Talk about the amazing sweet potato casserole and the delicious pecan pie that we love at Thanksgiving dinners. Pecans are absolutely apt for fall, unlike sunflower seeds or almonds. Pecans, just like others, is a high source of healthy fats, that can help keep blood sugars steady and stable. And because of this, your sweet cravings are held at bay. Eating a handful of nuts daily leads to low body fat levels. You can take them up as snack, or even grind them to act as a healthier alternative to bread crumbs. (but be sure to not overdo the nuts).
To sum it up, these are the list of healthy fall food to ensure you are losing weight during the season. Now, you can finally wear those jeans you’ve been dying to wear and not have to buy a bigger size. At times it’s nice to take a break from eating healthy and jump into the fat goodies, but help yourself to make these foods a habit in your daily routine and help other if they are in need for a weight loss during this time of year. It can be dangerous if you’re not careful to what you’re eating. You can accidently stop eating healthy and can potentially move away from this eating style leaving you with a big belly and unable to fit into your favourite jeans.
