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Meal planning for weight loss doesn’t always seem straight-forward. With some diets emphasizing high-fiber foods, and others cutting out carbohydrates altogether, it can be perplexing to know *exactly* what to put in your body for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you’re trying to lose weight. Just tell me what to eat! you say? You got it. We spoke to leading weight loss physician Dr. Amy Lee about the best lean proteins you can plan your every meal around for safe and effective fat loss. Focusing on complete proteins, aka foods with the nine essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce on their own, as well as basic foods you can work into a variety of recipes, Dr. Lee outlines exactly what you can eat this week to drop pounds.
Without further ado:
Ocean-Caught Fish
“High levels of omega 3 fatty acids help with serving the body a good amount of antioxidants,” she advises.
Lean Poultry, Chicken Breast
Lean poultry contains less fat compared to dark chicken meat and also has complete amino acids and can help maintain the daily damages of inflammation of every day life, Dr. Lee says.
Protein Powder
“Use protein powder to make smoothies!” Dr. Lee advises, either derived from milk or nuts or vegetables. “It is easily absorbed and be bioavailable for lean mass maintenance.” she states.
Eggs And Egg Whites
"These are considered a complete protein with all 20 amino acids," Dr. Lee says. Though they contain some cholesterol, they are still relatively beneficial for the use for lean weight maintenance, she explains.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt with no added sugar is one of Dr. Lee's recommended foods for weight loss. Like eggs, they are also considered as complete protein and have "powerful probiotics that improve gut health." These probiotics can actually control one’s hungers and appetite!
