Belly fat can be stubborn and it can take a little extra effort to make it go away. People can spend hours in the gym trying to achieve rock-hard, washboard abs, but all that effort may be for naught if they aren’t eating the right foods. It’s time to double-team the bulge around the midsection with exercise and fat-burning foods.
When it comes to eating for a flatter stomach, you have to eat foods that work to boost the metabolism and keep you feeling full. Snacking is acceptable, when you are snacking on the right foods. Chips or processed sugary snacks don’t satisfy your hunger; rather, they keep you craving more, which is why it is possible to eat an entire bag of chips and still feel hungry.
A Few Rules For A Flatter Stomach
Rules For Breakfast
Your breakfast should be between about 300-400 calories. There should also be about ten grams of protein in this breakfast. Opt for steel cut oats, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and fresh fruit, as opposed to instant oatmeal, frozen breakfast sandwiches, or other processed foods containing refined sugars.
Rules For Snacking
Eat 100-200 calories whenever your three primary meals are more than three hours apart. You should snack on things like raw nuts and seeds, or fresh fruit/vegetable sticks.
Rules For Lunch
Lunch should be about 400-500 calories and vegetables should comprise 50% or more of your entire meal. Try to avoid processed ingredients and include at least five grams of fiber.
Rules For Dinner
Like lunch, dinner should be about 400-500 calories. 50% of your meal should contain non-starchy vegetables, about 25% should be lean protein, and legumes or whole grains should not exceed 20% of your meal (the legumes and whole grains are optional). Once again, avoid processed foods and refined sugars.
If you want to do a little trimming around the midsection, incorporate the following foods into your diet.
Almonds
Almonds are rich in heart-healthy, monounsaturated fats, which help to burn belly fat. They help to keep you full and work to curb cravings. They are also rich in protein and fiber. Make sure to eat raw almonds for the best benefits.
Oatmeal
We are of course referring to rolled oats or steel cut oats, not instant oatmeal. Oats are full of fiber, protein, and just the right amount of carbs to keep you full until lunch. Oats also help to jump-start the metabolism and regulate blood sugar levels.
Pomegranates
Filled with powerful antioxidants, pomegranates work to eliminate excess toxins from the body. They also help to decrease your appetite, which means you won’t be reaching for food when you aren’t hungry.
Avocados
Eating too many avocados isn’t recommended because they do contain fat. However, an avocado or two a day is beneficial because they help to boost the metabolism and testosterone, which is responsible for weight loss in men and women. They also help to keep you full.
Olive Oil
The idea behind putting olive oil on this list is mildly based on the ketogenic diet. Olive oil, much like the avocado, is rich in healthy fats that help to satiate your body’s cravings for fat. Use olive oil or coconut oil instead of other oils for a slimmer midsection.
Other Notable Mentions
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Pears
- Dried Fruit
- Leafy Greens
- Peaches
- Cantaloupe
