5 Health foods to eat in moderation when trying to loose weight
People who are watching their weight aim to eat healthy, whole foods, rather than processed foods. This is great as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and healthy proteins will help you stay satiated longer, which means you’ll have fewer cravings for unhealthy foods. Ultimately, eating whole foods (foods in their natural form) is part of a healthy lifestyle that is sustainable in the long run.
However, since certain healthy foods can also be high in calories, you need to keep in mind what your goal is. Are you trying to lose weight, or are you simply hoping to maintain your weight? Eating healthy foods doesn’t necessarily allow you to eat unlimited amounts of these foods without some weight gain.
Here are a few healthy foods you need to eat in moderation if you are trying to avoid weight gain:
- Dried fruit
It’s called nature’s candy for a reason. Although dried fruit is a completely natural whole food, it is also more calorie-dense than regular fresh fruit. Fresh fruits are a better choice because they offer a greater volume compared to the same amount of calories as dried fruits. This means that you will feel more satiated after eating a fresh fruit with the same amount of calories as a serving of dried fruit. You can easily overeat yourself on dried fruits. If you do eat dried fruit, eat only a small portion that fits in the palm of your hand.
2. Nuts
Nuts are a healthy snack, or ingredient in a meal, but they are very high in calories. Although healthy fats and nuts do help reduce heart problems, you should still not eat too many of them if you are trying to lose weight as they are high in calories.
3. Restaurant smoothies
Homemade smoothies made from plain yogurt, nuts, fruits and vegetables are very healthy and can be used as a meal replacement. However, the smoothies you buy in restaurants or have as a take-away, are mostly full of sugar, additives and bad fats. People sometimes buy a smoothie as a snack and if you are keeping an eye on your weight, it can prevent you from losing weight. If you do buy a ready-made smoothie, make sure of its content and do not order the largest one.
4. Whole grain bread and pastries
Whole grain bread is healthier than white bread, but whole grain flour contains the same amount of calories as white flour. So don’t fool yourself and think you can eat more bread and whole grain products just because it is healthier than white flour is.
5. Avocado
Although avocados are packed with healthy nutrients and fats, they still contain a lot of calories. A medium-sized avocado pear contains about 320 calories. Therefore, nutritionists recommend that you do not eat more than half an avocado pear daily.