Tuesday, February 18, 2020
I have a love/hate relationship with list articles.
The content is easy to digest (and easy to create), but can lack “flavor” and seem a little sterile at times.
So…
I’ll create a list article based on this imaginary scenario:
“You want to lose weight and can only add 10 different foods to your shopping cart. Which foods do you choose and why?”
My choices are slanted towards filling foods.
In 1995 a study tested 38 different foods for how filling they were per 240 calorie serving. Here’s the satiety index (opens in new window) of these 38 foods.
Most of the foods that made my list score high.
…but depending upon your tastes, you will probably have a slightly different list of 10.
Here’s my list in no particular order.
2019 Update: I now follow a low-fat high carb diet since it is much easier to stay lean when you limit fats. My list would be slightly different if I made it today.
1. Boneless Chicken Breasts
In my opinion, it’s hard to beat the flexibility of boneless skinless chicken breasts as a protein source.
A lot of people favor steak over chicken.
…especially since the Paleo movement.
Here’s where chicken breasts come out ahead.
- 150 grams of protein from chicken breasts is about 700 calories.
- 150 grams of protein from steak is closer to 1,300 calories.
I’m NOT saying that beef is unhealthy.
I get it.
…but for weight loss, chicken breasts make it easier to create a calorie deficit.
Beef gives a lot less wiggle room for extra calories in your diet.
May I suggest this bass guitar focused 80’s synth-pop song to go along with your boneless chicken breast?
2. Eggs
Eggs are a cheap and flexible protein source.
I typically keep a carton or two in my fridge.
My bachelor cooking skills include endless variations of Huevos Rancheros.
Here’s the recipe:
- 4-5 eggs
- Literally ANY leftover food
- A bunch of salsa on top
Heat a large pan on medium, throw in some butter. Mix in any random leftovers along with the eggs.
Serve on a plate and drench with salsa.
Note: I realize that this isn’t legitimate Huevos Rancheros, it just makes my strange egg and salsa concoction sound MUCH fancier than what it is.
3. Potatoes
Potatoes are a pretty badass food.
In fact…
I wrote an article about a while ago about The Potato Hack, which is a diet where you eat nothing but potatoes.
The low carb’ers aren’t fans of potatoes.
BUT
Per calorie, potatoes are one of the most filling foods.
What I like to do is bake 5-6 Russet potatoes in the oven on Sunday night.
Throughout the week, I’ll pull one out of the fridge and slice up and fry in a pan of coconut oil to make fries to go along with my chicken breasts.
If I want to go a little more low-cal?
I’ll slice up the cooked potato and sprinkle with pepper, then broil in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
In my opinion, avoiding potatoes is a MISTAKE.
4. Coconut Oil | Butter
Yes, I realize two items are listed here.
Either will work for cooking.
I COULD get by with just one.
The most important thing to remember about fats is this:
Processed foods have an unhealthy ratio of OMEGA 6 fats.
Omega 6 fats aren’t unhealthy on their own…
It’s just that we are getting 10-20 times the amount nature intended if we eat a lot of processed foods.
If you cook with vegetable oil, you are adding to this problem.
Go with butter or coconut oil instead.
Note: If you can’t stand the taste of coconut, look for refined coconut oil. I assumed unrefined meant healthier… refined is just as healthy and has a higher smoke point (with very little flavor).
5. Bags of Frozen Vegetables | Salad
Why do I choose bags over fresh vegetables?
For me, there is less waste with frozen vegetables.
Half the time when I buy fresh, a lot of it goes bad before I get to it.
When they are fresh, it feels like the vegetables are pressuring me. “Cook us or we are going to die!”
Fresh Vegetable Bullying <— the struggle is real.
With frozen vegetables, a serving for me is half of a bag. I can eat half and leave the rest in the freezer.
Bags of salad are just about convenience.
I can dump a full bag into a large bowl and eat along with my dinner.
The chef highly recommends this MTV music video from 1983 to add a little flavor to your salad.
6. Quinoa
The pronunciation of this word irritates me.
ALMOST as irritating as the correct pronunciation of ORANGUTAN (they need to add a “G” to the end of this word).
I fully believe there is an alternate universe where this word is spelled ORANGUTANG.
I’m from that universe and somehow wound up here.
So why did quinoa get added to my list?
I’m a steamed rice addict.
I could easily eat 3,000 calories of steamed rice each and every day.
Quinoa is simply a slightly healthier alternative to steamed rice… and I have better self-control with quinoa.
If steamed white rice was lower in calories, I’d eat it with every meal.
Maybe it IS low-cal in the alternate Orangutang Universe.
These poor animals just want their “G” back.
7. Greek Yogurt
I have a sweet tooth, and certain brands of Greek yogurt have a lot of protein per calorie.
I buy quart-sized containers of Dannon Light & Fit Greek Vanilla.
You get 30 grams of protein per 300 calories.
That is a great protein ratio for a snack.
Here’s why…
In this alternate universe condiments simply appear in my fridge and in the cupboards.
I swear I never buy salsa, but I never run out.
I somehow MANIFEST vinegar dressing, pepper, and sriracha.
This stuff just appears in my life.
Possibly a message from the orangutanG dimension.
Cheers,
Source: https://visualimpactfitness.com/filling-foods-weight-loss/