These RD-approved picks will help you lose weight fast this fall season.
By Perri O. Blumberg
Wouldn’t it be cool to live with a health and nutrition expert? My ex-roomie sure thinks so. Determined not to gain weight even though it’s sweater season, she still asks me every fall which rapid weight loss foods she should make for dinner. And lunch. And breakfast. Oh, and what about her post-workout shake?
Fortunately for her, there are many crisp-weather foods to enjoy once the leaves turn—and each one blasts fat with the perfect combination of fiber, protein and heart-healthy nutrients. Read on for the nutritionists’ top picks, load up on that pumpkin and get ready to spoon up some seriously delectable dinners. And to live your happiest and healthiest life ever—summer, spring, winter or fall—don’t miss these essential 100 Ways to Live to 100!
- Pumpkin Seed Pesto
“Blend [pumpkin seeds] with basil, parm and garlic for a twist on a nut-free pesto,” suggests Rebecca Lewis, RD for HelloFresh, a leading healthy meal kit delivery service. Or, you can toast them and sprinkle onto salads in lieu of toppings. Lewis also suggests adding them to soups for a dose of added protein.
- Green Tea
“Just as the cool weather is coming, if you can drink 4-5 cups a day you may actually not only warm up but speed up your metabolism and even burn more calories (and fat, including belly fat!) in your sleep, thanks to its polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG,” explain The Nutrition Twins, Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, and authors of The Nutrition Twins’ Veggie Cure. “It also contains the amino acid theanine that brings on a mental alertness and calmness that helps you to make rational decisions, so you can turn down fatty, caloric foods that you’d normally eat due to stress.” Editors at Eat This, Not That! found this to be true: Test panelists on The 7-Day Flat-Belly Tea Cleanse lost up to 10 pounds in one week!
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts
The perfect meld of delectably crispy and bright with fresh flavor, this cruciferous veggie is one of our favorite superfoods. “Roast them with spices and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast,” suggests Julieanna Hever, MS, RD, CPT, a plant-based dietitian and author of The Vegiterranean Diet and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition. “They’re excellent weight loss foods because they are loaded with fiber and detoxifying glucosinolates.”
- Beet Hummus
“Blend into hummus to turn it a pretty pink,” suggests Lewis. “When boiling beets, add two tablespoons of lemon juice to help them keep their beautiful vibrant color.” Then, when you add them to your chickpea, tahini and olive oil mixture for hummus, you’ll get a stunning, hot pink shade for your final spread. Also, try sneaking beets into your favorite brownies or pancake recipe. “Your kids will have NO idea they are there!” For other sneaky ways to melt fat fast, don’t miss these 20 Weight Loss Tricks You Haven’t Tried!
To Be Continued
