1. EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)All fats are not created equal- EVOO proves it. EVOO helps slim your belly because it contains monounsaturated fat that burn calories and fat. Bonus: This magical oil also helps lower cholesterol levels. Try our Homestyle Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary made with EVOO. 2. Almonds (with skins) This nut is packed with belly busting power. Almonds help build muscle, reduce cravings, and make a most convenient snack. Avoid salted almonds. Instead, nibble on raw almonds that still have their skin. Slow Cooker Almond Blast Oatmeal and Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce are great ways to add almonds to your diet. 3. Beans Beans get a bad rap as gas givers, but they help fire off fat, develop muscle and regulate digestion. Beans help you feel full so it’s less likely that you’ll over-indulge. Bonus: Beans help keep you regular, which minimizes the bloated belly look. Try our Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice or White Beans for Weightloss. 4. Spinach This low-calorie (only 40 calories per cup!) highly versatile food is a flat belly must-have because it helps you feel full. Spinach is also a good source of calcium which helps your muscles contract. We love our Slow Cooker Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata and Skinny Artichoke & Spinach Penne Casserole. 5. Avocados A bowl of guacamole and a bag of chips isn’t what we have in mind. But slice up a fresh avocado and you’ll get about 15g of fiber- a great way to keep hunger at bay. Plus, enjoy just ¼ cup of avocado and you’ll be rewarded with a full serving of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) which help burn belly fat. Try our Avocado Dip or a SkinnyLicious Protein Smoothie . 6. Pork Don’t overlook the power of pork. According to Purdue researchers, eating 6 ounces daily helped participants lose weight while preserving muscle. Bye-bye belly. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork and Slow Cooker Pork and Beans are great options. 7. Grapefruit Have you had your grapefruit today? Researchers found that people who ate just half a grapefruit three times a day lost weight without changing any other part of their diet. It’s possible that grapefruit’s acidity might slow digestion, which helps you feel full longer. Fresh Squeezed Grapefruit Juice and Fat Flush Water are great ways to benefit from grapefruit. 8. Apples Apples are packed with fiber, which makes your belly feel full. But the crunchy fruit also demands lots of chewing- making you think you’ve eaten more than you have. Try Clean Eating Banana & Apple Bread and Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. 9. Eggs Eggs are packed with protein power, and eating a heavy dose of the nutrient at breakfast can fend off hunger as the day progresses. Bonus: Eggs also contain vitamin B12, which helps your body break down those dreaded fat cells. Deviled Eggs and Individual Egg & Spinach Bowls are perfect ways to enjoy eggs! 10. Nut Butters Nut butters are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which helps drop persistent belly fat. Spread on your favorite nut butter and feel good about a tasty treat, but don’t overdo it. About ¼ cup is a proper portion. Try our Quinoa Protein Bars or Simple Homemade Peanut Butter . 11. Nonfat Greek Yogurt Not only is Greek yogurt full of flavor, it’s also a belly blaster because it’s higher in filling protein than regular yogurt. Bonus: Greek yogurt also contains probiotics that can work to reduce bad bacteria in the intestines and minimize belly bloating. You will love our Slow Cooker Garlic Mashed Potatoes and our Skinny Greek Turkey Wrap. 12. Mushrooms Lack of vitamin D has been associated with higher levels of belly fat. Mushrooms work like magic on belly fat because they are a natural source of Vitamin D. Enjoy mushrooms in our Black Bean Mushroom Burgers and Stuffed Mushrooms . 13. Low-Fat Chocolate Milk It’s not just for kids. Low-fat chocolate milk offers an ideal carb to protein ratio, which helps build muscle and lose fat. Slow Cooker Chocolate Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce can help you to reap some of these same benefits. 14. Tomatoes Low in calories, high in flavor and water content make the tomato a perfect belly minimizer. It’s also a natural diuretic so it helps belly boat vanish. They shine in our Heirloom Tomato Salad with Herbs and Spicy Chili with Fire-Roasted Tomatoes . 15. Turkey Turkey is a terrific belly fighter because it is super low in calories and high in protein. Your body burns more calories digesting protein than it does to digest carbohydrates. It also contains leucine, which can help maintain muscle mass while you shed weight- keeping your metabolism charged. Devour it in our Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes and Slow Cooker Turkey Stroganoff . 16. Salmon Salmon is a sensational belly reducer because it’s full of omega-3 fatty acids, which encourages fat burning by revving up your metabolism. Try our Wild Salmon Vegetable Salad with Lemon Miso Dressing and Honey Dijon Salmon with a Hint of Lemon . 17. Whole Grains Your body starts to store fat when your insulin levels rise. Whole grains help burn fat by slowly releasing their energy so insulin levels don’t spike. Whole Grain Penne Pasta with Greens & Beans and Slow Cooker Skinny Spaghetti are great dishes to incorporate whole grains into your diet. 18. Berries Berries are yummy belly blasters. Berries are full of fiber which prolongs your sense of satisfaction, and since it can’t be digested, fiber is calorie free. Bonus: Fiber cleans out your digestive tract and one cup of raspberries offer a whopping 8g fiber! Blackberry-Raspberry Mini Cobblers are a great Skinny indulgence. 19. broccoli broccoli is a belly fighter. Not only is it fat free and low calories veggie, it also packs your body with vitamins and its fiber flushes out the fat. Enjoy broccoli Tarts and Slow Cooker broccoli Cheddar Soup 20. Asparagus It’s an often over-looked veggie, but asparagus is amazing. It’s a natural fluid flusher and it also offers vitamins A and C that accelerate the fat burning process. It is also on our (Almost ) Zero Calorie Food List! Crustless Asparagus Quiche and Skinny Cream of Asparagus Soup are great recipes that include this flat belly wonder. 21. Garlic Did you know that garlic is a thermogenic? That means it boosts metabolism which helps burn off belly fat. It also maximizes fat burning for energy. Use garlic in our Marinated Mushrooms and Standing Rib Roast. 22. Soybeans Soybeans are a super belly fat fighter. Soybeans help thwart the accumulation of fats and change fats into energy. Because soybeans are easy to digest they help flush pesky belly fat. Soybeans are a great alkaline food to add to your diet. 23. Dark Chocolate Thanks to monounsaturated fats, eating dark chocolate can actually help get rid of that bothersome belly. Eating a piece of dark chocolate may also help fend off a major sweet binge, but don’t consume more than a ¼ cup per day. Try our Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters and Slow Cooker Fudge . Read more about the benefits of dark chocolate here! 24. Vinegar Vinegar is said to promote stable blood sugar levels which helps you avoid a dangerous sugar crash that results in carb overload. Kale Slaw with Toasted Walnuts and Grilled Eggplant & Zucchini Salad both incorporate vinegar. 25. Walnuts Walnuts are wonderful. Walnuts contain a hefty amount of Omega 3 fatty acids that help the body burn fat. Be sure to avoid salted walnuts- eat them all-natural instead. Our Walnut Crusted Chicken Breasts and a Chicken Salad Sandwich with Bok Choy, Red Grapes and Walnuts are perfect additions to your menu plans. Source
