With summer and swimsuit season just around the corner, everyone is slimming down whether it is through cold laser or dieting. Fortunately, spring is here, which means plenty of fresh, healthy spring fruits and veggies to add to your diet. Here are some of the best slim down foods the season has to offer.
1. Leafy Greens
From tender, young lettuce to baby spinach, spring is the perfect time to enjoy leafy greens. Chock full of vitamins and other goodies, greens typically take more calories to consume and metabolize than they actually contain. From watercress salad to steamed spinach, there are also a ton of ways to enjoy them without adding too much fat, sugar or salt.
2. Peas
Whether you prefer snow peas with their pods on or fresh garden peas without the pods, spring is the best time of year to enjoy peas. They are one of the season’s first crops and are best when small and young. Peas are full of fiber and naturally sweet protein that can kill your hunger for a couple of hours. Eating raw garden peas can also satisfy the crunchy munchies without the fat, salt, and artificial ingredients of chips or other crispy snacks.
3. Spring Onions
Need to add a little kick to a salad or stir fry? Want a nice healthy crunch full of flavor, vitamins, and nutrients? Whether you call them scallions, green onions, or spring onions, these little green and white veggies pack a lot into a little body. They are a good source of sulfur, which helps burn fat before it can be stored in your body.
4. Mushrooms
They may not be the prettiest things in the produce market, but they sure are good for you. Spring typically sees them at their freshest and least expensive. Mushrooms are good for weight loss because they contain natural carb-burning proteins that ramp up your natural metabolism.
5. Peppermint
The smell and taste of peppermint act on the part of the brain that tells your body it’s full and should stop eating. Adding even a tablespoon of fresh mint leaves to a meal can help you cut back on your consumption. Sipping peppermint tea—hot or cold—can also stave off afternoon or evening cravings while keeping your breath pleasantly fresh.
Spring is a time of wonder and freshness as the earth comes back to life after a long, cold winter. Enjoy the bounties of the season and revive your weight loss efforts in the process.
