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We love cereal for dinner, but it does nothing for our waistlines. What you eat at the end of the day has a big impact on whether or not you can zip up your jeans the next morning. If you opt for healthy foods over sweets and junk food, then you’re already a leg ahead in the flat stomach department. Think about adding one or more of these nutrient-dense, low calorie and low sugar belly-blasting foods to your dinner menu.
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Quinoa
Quinoa is a whole grain and while it has carbs, it’s actually a “good” and “slow” carb,” says weight loss expert Dr. Rachita Reddy, MD. “It reduces belly fat and inches off the waist because it has a low glycemic index.” That means quinoa is absorbed into the blood stream at a slower pace then “bad” carbs like white pasta. Quinoa is loaded with fiber that slows sugar digestion and prevents a sugar spike. “Without the sugar spike there’s no quick release of insulin that causes sugar to convert to and be stored as fat,” she says. “Without fat storage, belly bloat is minimized and the inches can melt off your waist.” Quinoa and the next food make an awesome dinner duo.
Salmon
We know that the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon are super for heart health, but it’s also linked to reducing belly fat: it helps your body burn off fat rather than store it. Salmon also delivers much needed vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to retaining instead of burning fat. Choose wild versus farmed, advises Andrea Wise, a Chicago-based nutrition coach, because it has more omega-3s.
Eggs
They’re not just for breakfast! Seriously. Eggs are a totally healthy dinner option and one that can help your flat belly goals. We’ll prove it: they have vitamin D, which we already learned can help us burn fat instead of store it. And eggs have vitamin B12 to help your body break down fat cells. The health benefits are in the yolk, says Wise, so you need to eat the entire egg. Try a savory omelet the next time you wonder what to make for supper. Eggs happen to pair nicely with the next belly-friendly food...
Avocado
A 2013 study in the Nutrition Journal was way ahead of the avocado toast trend. Researchers found that people who ate avocados on the regular had smaller waistlines than those who didn’t. Avocados have fiber and monounsaturated fat to keep the belly feeling full, aid digestion and increase the absorption of nutrients. They’ve been linked with blood sugar and weight control.
