Weight Loss Superfoods

From MSN Women:

Foods for Weight Loss
Here are some suggestions from Sasson for meals and snacks that are loaded with the nutrients your body needs and that will keep those hunger pangs at bay.

Scrambled Eggs, Toast, and Strawberries

Fasting or skipping meals does not lead to successful, long-term weight loss. A healthy breakfast gets your body going, boosts your metabolism, and helps to regulate your appetite for the rest of the day. So scramble a few eggs, which are a great source of protein, vitamins A, B2, and B12, phosphorus, and iron.

Add some whole wheat toast and fresh strawberries for fiber, plus almost 150 percent of the RDA for vitamin C in the berries. Using a little bit of butter or margarine on the toast or for cooking the eggs will help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

Recommended Serving Size:

2 medium eggs, about 130 calories

or 1 medium egg and the egg white from 1 egg, about 80 calories

2 slices whole wheat toast, about 138 calories

1 pat butter, about 36 calories

or 1 pat of margarine, about 32 calories

1 cup of strawberries, about 49 calories

Nectarines and Almonds

Having the right midmorning snack will keep your metabolism humming and your energy levels up, and will help you avoid eating too much at lunch out of extreme hunger. A medium nectarine along with some almonds gives you fiber, protein, a variety of vitamins and minerals, and heart-healthy fat.

Recommended Serving Size:

1 medium nectarine, about 60 calories

6-8 almonds, about 40-60 calories

Colorful Spinach, Veggie, and Chicken Salad

Throw together a spinach salad with cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, cherry tomatoes, and some cooked chicken breast. Top it with an olive-oil-based vinaigrette dressing for a low-fat, low-cal, and filling lunch. Vitamin- and mineral-rich spinach provides over 50 percent of your RDA for vitamin A, plus dietary fiber and iron. As a rule, colorful vegetables are more nutritious, and this combination is rich in fiber, tons of vitamins. and the phytochemicals that may help prevent chronic disease. Finally, the protein in the chicken will keep you full until your midday snack.

Recommended Serving Size:

1 cup spinach, about 7 calories

1/2 cup sliced cucumber, about 12 calories

1/4 cup grated carrots, about 10 calories

1/2 cup red peppers, about 12 calories

6-8 cherry tomatoes, about 18-24 calories

2 oz. chicken strips, about 75 calories

2 tablespoons vinaigrette dressing (with olive or canola oil), about 90 calories

Yogurt and Grapes Snack

You'll get calcium, protein, fiber, and vitamin C from this super snack. Plus, grapes pack cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Recommended Serving Size:

6 oz. low-fat yogurt, about 160 calories

10 grapes, about 50 calories

Read the entire article...