When many of us think about foods for weight loss, the usual suspects pop into our heads: fruits, veggies, nuts, or even tiny bags of low-calorie chips. However, there’s a whole world of healthy, tasty foods out there that you can munch on while still burning calories and crushing your weight loss goals—including a few you may not have thought of.
To discover some unexpectedly healthy snacks that will help you stay satiated, satisfied, and not bored to death by celery sticks, we spoke to Rachel MacPherson, exercise nutritionist and CPT of Garage Gym Reviews. She told us that pickles and dark chocolate are two fantastic options. Read on to learn more!
Pickles
When you think of weight loss snacks, you likely think about crisp veggies like broccoli, carrots, and perhaps cucumber. But one conclusion you may not come to is the fact that the pickled form of cucumbers can be equally good for you—in fact, MacPherson says pickles make a fantastic option for anyone trying to lose weight.
"Pickles and other sour foods help with cravings and hunger," she tells us. "They are low calorie, crunchy, salty, and refreshing. Whether you like traditional pickles, other types of pickled veggies like carrots, beets, or even sauerkraut, pickled foods are brimming with nutrients and help stave off hunger and cravings." Who knew?! We're going to go grab a jar of pickle spheres to snack on ASAP.
Dark Chocolate And Cocoa
Despite contrary belief, chocolate isn't always bad for you. While you definitely shouldn't overindulge in Snickers bars every day, MacPherson tells us that dark chocolate can have incredible health benefits in moderation.
"Chocolate and cocoa are packed with polyphenols, healthy compounds that fight inflammation and obesity," she says, explaining that because of this, "Chocolate reduces in inflammation, fights the stress hormone cortisol (which can make weight loss more difficult), reduces hunger, and boosts weight loss." Additionally, "Cocoa has also been shown to greatly reduce cravings." That means that munching on a few pieces of healthy dark chocolate every now and then may actually help you slim down. Hallelujah!
So, there you have it: losing weight doesn't have to mean starving yourself or eating cauliflower all day long. Next time your stomach's grumbling before dinner and you want a healthy snack, why not reach for some pickles or dark chocolate? We just wouldn't recommend eating them together—but, hey, to each their own!
