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Eating a well-balanced diet and a variety of foods in moderation is the key to maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding sicknesses and vitamin deficiencies. But, let’s be honest: There are some foods that you can indulge in just a bit more than other foods.
When it comes to making good food choices, these five foods won’t fail you. They’re high in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and relatively low in calories, or have an ideal ratio of calories to protein to carbs. Eat these five foods (in moderation, of course!) and they’ll never cause weight gain — plus, they’ll deliver amazing health benefits!
Eggs
One egg has 70 calories, six grams of protein, and five grams of fat — plus a wealth or selenium, iron, and vitamins like vitamin B12 (which is difficult to get and so important in your diet). But if you're consuming eggs with weight loss or weight maintenance in mind, remember: how you prepare you eggs matters.
Registered Dietitian Tony Stephan told Women's Health you can't beat a hard-boiled egg when it comes to health benefits with no added fat or carbs.
"You can’t add any extra calories simply boiling an egg in water," he explained. "It’s an egg in its natural form."
Lean Beef
Many of us have been trained to believe all red meat is bad. But lean, grass-fed beef contains less saturated fat than other red meat and is a rich source of protein, iron, vitamin B12, zinc, and linoleic acid, a fatty acid found to have anti-carcinogenic properties. Lean beef can even decrease your risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
When choosing lean cuts of beef, opt for top round, eye round, mock tender steak, and ground beef that's 90 percent lean or higher.
Celery
Celery has very few calories and is high in fiber, water content, and vitamin K, which prevents blood from clotting. Munching on one cup of celery sticks provides just 16 calories — feel free to dip celery into protein-rich hummus for a more complete snack.
Salmon
With its high omega-3 fatty acid content, salmon is the miracle food you probably already know about. When it comes to helping you with weight loss or maintenance, a three-ounce serving of salmon has less than 200 calories and is packed with protein and vitamins and minerals like vitamin D.
According to Medshape Weight Loss Clinic, salmon "won’t help you in losing weight unless it’s just one part of a decreased calorie diet and regular exercise, but salmon does have some qualities that can help you lose extra pounds. Its nutrient-dense calories are easy to work with your daily goals, and it’s stuffed with protein. The added advantage of salmon is omega-3 fatty acids that may help in losing weight."
Spinach
Spinach is one of those amazing antioxidant-rich leafy greens that is incredibly low in calories, but also nutrient dense. With omega-3's, folate, and more protein than most veggies, a serving of spinach (even if eaten daily) is great for your health and weight maintenance.
For more tips on low-calorie foods, check out 8 Low-Calorie Proteins You Should Start Eating To Get Rid Of Belly Fat and 8 Low-Calorie Snacks To Help Keep You Full Between Meals & Lose Weight on SHEFinds.com.
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