Yep. Unfortunately, that time of year is rolling around again. That time of year when you need to start thinking about looking decent in springtime shorts and skirts, followed by those summertime tanks and bikinis.
And, if you are like me, your body has likely been hibernating for a few, wintery months. So, in order to jump start your journey-back-to-bikinis, I decided I’d blog about a few of my favorite belly burning foods:
Popcorn
Can you believe it?! Popcorn can be an awesome flat-belly snack — as long as you choose the air-popped version, no ingredients added. It’s actually cheaper to buy just the kernels at the store instead of the microwavable bags, too. So, it’s a win-win. (Just make it on your own on the stove top.) You can eat a 3-cup portion for only 100 calories! It’s also a whole grain, so it’s a good snack if you portion it well.
Nonfat Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is higher in filling protein than regular yogurt. It is also filled with good bacteria known as probiotics, which can help with reducing belly bloating. An ideal serving is about 6 oz. You can pair it with granola, fruit or eat it plain.
Green Beans
These are actually one of my favorite veggies — next to asparagus. Green beans are an awesome belly-flattening food because they are fairly low in calories, but high in filling fiber! So, this helps to fill you up and slim the waistline. Also, who doesn’t love a good crunchy green bean? Now I am not talking about canned green beans, those are filled with preservatives and sodium. Fresh green beans are the best way to go!
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale and arugula, are the most significant vegetables in any diet, and are important when trying to achieve a flat stomach. They all have essential minerals that are important for your body, including calcium. If you consume at least 1,000 mg of calcium per day, you can help avoid fat storage and may even boost your metabolism. Leafy greens can be added to many dishes that you make every day. You may also try taking calcium in a supplement form as well.
Fish
Fish is very high in omega-3 and omega-6, which are good fats. Types of fish that are particularly rich in good fats are salmon, tuna, trout, and herring. Not only do these types of fat help heart health, they also increase metabolism, which helps to burn belly fat.
What are some of your favorite slimming foods to nosh on during springtime? Add a comment below!
Photo Credits: “popcorn” by calamity_sal is licensed under CC BY 2.0; “kale” by Tuscanycious is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Tags: belly burning foods, belly flattening foods, belly weight loss, flat belly diet, flat belly foods, foods that reduce belly fat, how to lose your stomach, low calorie foods, low calorie snacks, weight loss foods, weight loss snacks
