Joy Bauer's 5 Skinny Foods for Weight Loss

I’m a firm believer that dieting and losing weight doesn’t mean you have to subsist on bland, boring cardboard.  With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of strategic sliming eats, each of which has its own unique way of satisfying your taste buds while blunting your appetite.  I encourage you to peruse my list and use these tasty bites to your calorie-burning advantage!

-- by Joy Bauer, MS, RD, CDN

 

1. Shrimp Cocktail: At around 8 calories apiece, shrimp are a fabulous source of lean protein, which helps rev your metabolism and keeps you feeling full for hours.  Next time you dine out, start your meal with a shrimp cocktail appetizer.  When you’re eating at home, dunk your shrimp in this

Try This: Classic Shrimp cocktail on ice with lemon wedges and Joy's could-not-be-easier cocktail sauce recipe: simply combine 1 tablespoon ketchup with 1 teaspoon bottled horseradish (add a squeeze of lemon or a splash of hot sauce for extra zing).

 

2. Fiery Chicken Salad: Adding a few dashes of fiery hot sauce to your food slows down your eating big time so you’re less likely to eat past the point of fullness. 

Try This: For a simple lunch, whip up a chicken salad with diced chicken breast, 1 to 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayo, hot sauce -- we recommend Sriracha -- to taste, and any diced veggies on hand.  Serve over a bed of lettuce (and have a glass of water handy!).


 

3. Pumpkin Pudding:  Decadent, creamy pudding for less than 150 calories—and it helps you lose weight!   The pumpkin bulks up the yogurt—already a protein-rich, nutrient-packed food—and adds a hefty dose of fiber.  This winning combo of protein and fiber expands in your stomach, keeping you full long after you finish, so you’re not looking for more munchies an hour later.

Try This: Just combine a 6-ounce container of nonfat vanilla yogurt with ½ cup canned 100% pure pumpkin puree and a dash of cinnamon.

 

4. Cucumber-Tomato-Onion Salad:  My low-cal version of the classic Mediterranean salad has less than 150 calories!  Thanks to their high percentage of water (95%!), cucumbers are low-calorie, high volume, and top-notch for weight loss! 

Try This:   Slice up one whole cucumber, one tomato, and half a red onion, then toss all the vegetables with light vinaigrette or unlimited vinegar (balsamic or red wine is best) plus 1 teaspoon olive oil.

 

5. Ginger Green Tea: Nursing a warm mug of tea is a soothing, calorie-free way to de-stress after a long day without falling prey to emotional eating.  As an added bonus, research suggests that regularly drinking green tea may give your metabolism a slight boost.  Steep your tea with a thin slice of fresh ginger root for an extra punch of flavor.

Try This: Steep green tea with a thin slice of fresh ginger root for an extra punch of flavor. 

Contact Us