Weight Loss Power Foods for 2011

Someone once told me that every time I eat I need to make sure my plate looks like a vibrant color palette.  At mealtime I pretend that my body is the canvas and the food I am about to eat is like my paint.  I choose a variety of the most beautiful, vibrant colors that I will use to make my canvas stand out from the rest.

This analogy may sound silly, but think about it… a canvas filled with all bland and starchy whites is so boring.  But a canvas filled with oranges, reds, greens, blues, etc. is much more appealing.  Basically, instead of filling your plate with chips, potatoes, sugars, fries, refined breads, etc., fill it with fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and lean protein.

Next time you sit down to eat, check out your plate’s color palette – what colors are you missing?  What colors could you substitute for a more vibrant color? Below are some power foods for the new year that will brighten up your plate’s color palette while aiding in health and weight loss:

Green, Orange, Brown, White, Purple:

Eat a variety of vegetables making sure to include multiple colors which signifies the different nutrients that vegetable provides. Green leafy vegetables such as dark lettuces provide folic acid and B-complex vitamins. Orange vegetables like carrots, squash or sweet potatoes give you cancer-fighting vitamins like beta-carotene and vitamins C and E. Cruciferous power vegetables of broccoli or cauliflower also fight cancer with beta-carotene and B-complex vitamins.

Red, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green, Pink:

Include tomato products to help increase the rate at which your body burns fat for weight loss. Have tomatoes, tomato sauce, salsa or anything else you like with tomatoes in it. Additionally tomatoes provide your body with vitamin C and lycopene which is best released with cooked tomatoes. . Dark fruits such as berries and grapes can help to reverse age-related disorders, reduce heart disease and keep your urinary tract healthy.

Also eat citrus fruit! Grapefruit, a super source of vitamin C, also has fiber and not too many calories. Or if you’re not into grapefruit, grab an orange or squeeze some lemon juice onto your salad. The vitamin C, potassium and folic acid found in citrus fruits can even make insulin levels more stable which decreases the chances of binge eating.

Brown, Black, White, Green, Red:

Beans have the double-whammy of protein plus fiber. Consuming protein is one of the best ways to help your body burn fat.  It gives your metabolism a boost while keeping you feeling full and energized.  Fiber and protein help you feel fuller longer and help with the absorption of fat. These power starches reduce the risk of heart disease by using potassium, folic acid, B6 vitamins, iron and zinc.

Brown, Black, Green, White,:

Incorporate nuts and seeds to recipes. These also make great snacks to take with you on the go to prevent you from eating unhealthy snacks that cause weight gain. All nuts provide fiber to help you feel full and improve your heart health as well as balance your hormones.

Pink, Red, White, Brown:

Embrace seafood, which has omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, trout and tuna are the best choices to help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer as well as your hair and nails. Flaxseed oil is also rich in omega-3 and can increase your body’s ability to burn fat.

Sources: HungryGirl.com and EHow.com