So all summer we have been told to be beach ready. Months have been spent getting out physique into peak condition. We’ve squatted for our swimwear and done Bokwa for our bikinis. But alas, summer time is over and our swimsuits go back into hibernation for another year.
For most, the dreaded autumn weight gain seems inevitable. Dark, cold nights and short sunless days make it all to easy to skip the gym and stuff yourself with delicious yet disastrous food choices. Nevertheless, this year can be the year you break the annual tradition of piling on the autumn pounds. Why not stay svelte until summer rolls around again?
So if you’re fighting the food battle each autumn, not to fear! I am going to tell you my top 5 favourite diet foods for this season. Also, feel free to comment below with your favourite fall recipes and share your own tips for staying slim this season. It it always great to hear personal experiences from readers.
Brussels Sprouts
Ok, I am going to put it straight out there. I know these little fairy cabbages are often a bit like Marmite for most people, yet they are an incredible food to help you stay slim! We all know how important protein is both for maintaining muscle mass when working out as well as keeping cravings at bay in your diet. Did you know that those little green cannon balls on your sunday roast have over ½ a gram of protein per sprout! Also each one is only about 10 calories. So they keep you fuller for longer but you consume less calories! Brilliant! Obviously frying them in butter with bacon isn’t going to be great for your diet. However, why not try them grilled or roasted with some thinly sliced garlic and a drizzle of olive oil? Yummy!
Pumpkin
Although everyone thinks of pumpkins with silly cut out faces and a candle stuck inside a huge percentage of people throw the pumpkin flesh (and seeds) away. Pumpkins are a great versatile autumn squash. Whether it be in soup or even sweetened, this orange beauty is not just for Halloween. As it is rich with vitamins and minerals yet low in calories pumpkin is an excellent diet food. It is also full of beta-carotene which is a very important antioxidant.
Moreover, the seeds alone are magnificently packed with nutrients. Eating these super seeds naturally raises your metabolism, therefore helping you burn fat. Just take a look at some of the nutrients these little wonder foods are full of:
- Protein
- Fibre
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Folate
- Amino Acids
Not only does garlic enhance the flavour of almost every meal but it has excellent anti bacterial qualities which help to reduce cholesterol. Also, garlic naturally suppresses your appetite. The strong smell of garlic stimulates the part of your brain responsible for feelings of hunger. The best thing is I personally can not think of one savoury dish that wouldn’t benefit from a little bit of garlic. However, if you want the garlic to be noticeable in your dish my personal recommendation is in this case a little does not go a long way. If a recipe calls for you to add one clove of garlic, add six. The only time you should ever add on clove of garlic is a recipe for “how to cook a clove of garlic”. Even then I would add two!
Chestnuts
Believe it or not, these little beauties are not just for threading a string through and bashing off one another in the playground at school. Unlike other nuts, chestnuts are an excellent source of vitamin C at a fraction of the calories. To help you stay fuller for longer they also have up to 4 grams of fiber per serving.Other benefits include promoting weight loss and controlling your blood pressure. Why not roast some up with your sprouts for an amazingly tasty side dish?
Tangerines
Obviously I had to get a fruit in the top 5 autumn diet foods. Out of all the fruits tangerines (as well as other members of the orange family) are a great staple for the autumn and winter months. Even my husband (who by no means is a nutritionist) swears by tangerines throughout the colder seasons. He eats them by the dozen to keep away cold and flu. As it seems, he’s not wrong either. As these little tasty fruits are filled with antioxidants they help to boost your immune system fighting off cold. They also help you to lose weight as at only 50 calories per fruit they can help satisfy your sweet tooth whilesuppressing your appetite.
To be fair, there are a vast amount of great diet foods available throughout the season. A great way to make the most of them is to shop locally at fruit and vegetable shops seeing what becomes available throughout the season. Sticking to soups and stews made from root vegetables with herbs and spices (to flavour rather than adding salt) is a great way to stay lean throughout the upcoming colder months. So instead of the inevitable autumn weight gain, stay fabulous in your favourite skinny jeans while keeping peak physique for when our bikinis come back.
DIET ENVY 