20 Foods to Help You Stay Slim This Summer!

Summer is in full swing, but that doesn't mean it's too late to get that bikini body! If you are still trying to keep that summer bod that you have been perfecting all winter and spring, then here are 20 sure foods to help you on your mission to stay slim!

Oats

Rich in fiber and contain resistant starch, that lovable carb boosts your metabolism and shreds fat.

Cinnamon

This spice has zero calories and burns fat. It also helps energy levels and keeps you alert. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on those oats to give you an extra boost for your morning jog!

Sweet potatoes

High in dietary fiber and water content and low in calories, sweet potatoes are a great addition to anyone’s weight loss plan. Even indulging in sweet potato fries when dining out is a healthier option to regular French fries or a baked potato.

Apples

An apple a day keeps you less hun-gray. Okay, so it doesn’t rhyme, but it’s still true. Apples are high in fiber and keep you fuller longer!

Blueberries

These little fruits are really big in keeping you full too. One cup gives you just enough fiber to keep your waistline tiny.

Grapefruit

Or should we call it Superfruit? Grapefruit can really help you to shed the pounds and is even more of a plus for people who have diabetes. In one clinical trial, obese individuals who ate half a grapefruit before each meal lost an average of 3½ pounds over a course of 12 weeks. That means, even if you change nothing else about your diet, half a grapefruit a day is enough to shed some of those unwanted pounds.

Hot peppers

Probably the only spicy fruit you know of (peppers are actually not a vegetable), they increase body heat production and oxygen consumption. This means your peppers are burning extra calories for you with every bite.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate can slow down digestion, make you feel fuller longer, suppress the appetite, and kickstart your metabolism to burn calories. It also curbs cravings for salty and sweet snacks. Come to the dark side and leave that milk chocolate alone.

Wine

Where my wine lovers at? Don’t feel guilty when you’re downing a glass. It helps burn those calories for a good twenty minutes after consumption. Wine also contains the antioxidant found in grapes called Resveratrol that halts fat storage. (21 and over please!)

Greek yogurt

Yogurt is good for the waistline. Studies show that yogurt, out of all foods, is most closely associated to weight loss.

Avocados

I know what you’re thinking — “But avocados are a fatty food!” But this is the type of fat that you WANT to have in your body. They have oleic acid, which is a compound monosaccharide (MUFA) that suppresses hunger. Just a quarter of an avocado a day and you will see your belly start to shrink. Plus, this fruit is also packed with protein and fiber.

Salmon

A better choice than red meat, salmon is full of MUFAs and the protein that 50% of women ages 18 to 50 are not getting enough of. 

Black Beans

One cup of black beans contains 15g of protein and no saturated fat.

Green Tea

Green tea is full of antioxidants that help you burn fat and calories. One particular study shows that five cups a day can help you lose twice as much weight, mostly around your stomach. Plus, it is hydrating.

Brown rice

Full of fiber, brown is a better choice than white for rice. You only need half a cup to get nearly 2g of resistant starch which will burn that fat away. To top that off, this low-energy-density food is heavy and filling without the calories. 

Almonds

We all know nuts are good for you, but almonds, specifically, can help keep you slim. If you switch out a serving of crackers for a serving of almonds, you’re likely to see the difference in your waistline over time.

Eggs

Rich in protein, eggs can keep you full throughout the day and fight the hunger urges you would be feeling hours later had you had a bowl of cereal instead.

Spinach

This king of greens produces iron, calcium, plenty of antioxidants, and many more compounds to help you stay slim. It’s also filling and an extremely low-calorie food. So next time you make yourself a salad, use spinach leaves instead of romaine or iceberg lettuce.

Soup

Broth-based soups (as opposed to cream-based soups), at 100 to 150 calories a bowl, fill you up and keep you full for hours. 

Cantaloupe

Who knew something so low-calorie could be so sweet? In fact, your body burns more calories digesting cantaloupe than the cantaloupe actually contains, so making this fruit a daily snack is a no-brainer!

(Photo via WENN)

- Bianca Stitch, YH Staff