Posted by LawtonMD on October 6, 2012
Fall has arrived, bringing with it the windy, chilly weather. Accompanying that colder weather, we traditionally see an increase in the consumption of heavy and unhealthy foods. We love to have something warm, comforting, and filling on a chilly fall evening, but that brings along the danger of increased weight gain. Fortunately for us, we live in Southern California where that weather change is not as drastic as in other parts of the US. Because of this, we are able to remain fairly active all year long. I would like to suggest starting now and building good workout habits that can sustain you through the coming months of heavy and hearty meals.
Along with that, I have five great fall foods, suggested by Self, that will give you that comfortable feeling without necessarily bringing along the weight gain.
- Apples — Studies have shown that eating apples three times a day may actually contribute to weight loss and fall is the best time to enjoy apples.
- Beans — In the fall you will find beans in everything from chili to stews. Beans are a great source of protein and fiber for relatively few calories.
- Soup — This warm comfort food is perfect for fall for more than one reason! Research shows that replacing two of your normal daily snacks with a low-calorie soup can lead to up to 50% more weight loss.
- Oatmeal — Nothing beats a warm breakfast on a cool fall morning. If you want to prevent winter weight gain, make sure to start out with a hearty breakfast, such as a bowl of oatmeal.
- Hot Chocolate — You may not think of hot chocolate as something to prevent winter weight gain, but a cup of hot chocolate made with low-fat milk may be a great lower-calorie way to satisfy a chocolate craving.
Enjoy these delicious fall foods to help yourself stay in shape, but of course, all things in moderation.