Veg Out! 10 More Flavorful Recipes That Aren’t Salads

You’re always asking us how to work more vegetables into your diet without having to eat endless heads of lettuce. We hear you. As delicious as some salads can be, eating them for lunch and dinner, day in and out, can get tiresome. That’s why we created this roundup of incredibly delicious veggie dishes that serve as the perfect nutrient-packed side to your main meal. Want even more flavorful recipes that aren’t salads? No problem.

Here are 10 more flavorful recipes to pump veggies into your day:

1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Mustard Glaze >

This may become your new favorite of our flavorful recipes and your go-to way to eat Brussels sprouts: The touch of sweetness in the balsamic and bite of the mustard make an amazing glaze for these earthy veggies. All you have to do is saute the sprouts in margarine until the edges become golden brown, then add the vinegar and mustard and toss. A pinch of black pepper finishes the delicious dish.

2. Simple Pumpkin Soup >

It’s as easy to make as the name implies: Bring broth, pumpkin puree, ginger, curry and other tasty seasonings to a boil, simmer, stir in milk, simmer a little longer and done. You’ll enjoy the rich flavor of pumpkin in each creamy spoonful. Make a bunch and freeze the extra so you cozy up to a warm bowl when the weather gets cold. On the Nutrisystem program, this soup counts as one SmartCarb and one Extra.

The Super Spiralizer: 6 Veggie Noodle Recipes You Need to Try

Read More

3. Zucchini Fritters with Soy Dipping Sauce >

These little delights pack salty and sweet in each crispy bite. The fritters are made from grated zucchini, scallions and sesame seeds and crisped to a golden brown. The sauce combines soy, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil and chili garlic paste. And together the flavor is fantastic. Dip two fritters into a tablespoon of sauce for just 133 delicious calories.

4. Broccoli Slaw with Cranberries and Lime >

This is a far cry from your standard slaw: Broccoli and jicama make up the veg, cranberry and honey add in sweetness, and lime and cilantro bring some tang to this nutritious side dish that’s pleasing to every palate! On Nutrisystem, one serving counts as one SmartCarb and one Vegetable.

11 Instant Pot Recipes You Need to Try This Instant

Read More

5. Sesame Soy Cucumber “Pasta” Salad >

Whip out your spiralizer to transform beautiful cucumbers into “noodles” for this super fresh “pasta” salad. Add in colorful bell peppers and green onions, toss with a decadent homemade dressing of sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and chili flakes, and top with sesame seeds. It’s simple to make and refreshing to eat. It’s packed with vitamins and perfect as a side or main meal. And it’s only 40 calories per serving.

6. Zesty Tomato Soup >

Simmer together a can of diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, onion and garlic to create this classic veggie soup. To thicken it up, add a little almond milk. To enhance the flavor, toss in a bay leaf. And to make it pretty, top it with chopped basil. The effort is minimal, and the taste is awesome.

Veg Out! 6 Simple Ways to Sneak in More Veggies

Read More

7. Crispy Carrot Fries >

Carrots are good for your eyes, have lots of filling fiber and make a great healthy stand-in for fast food fries. Just cut the carrots into fry-like strips, coat them in heart healthy olive oil, sprinkle them with some salt, pepper and savory rosemary, and bake until crispy. One cup counts as one Vegetable and two Extras on your Nutrisystem meal plan. If you love your fries with ketchup, feel free to dunk: One tablespoon counts as one Extra.

8. Easy Instant Pot Herb Roasted Potatoes >

This is one of our flavorful recipes classics, and if you don’t have an Instant Pot, this recipe may convince you to get one. That’s because this amazing kitchen tool allows you to make perfectly roasted, soft and delicious potatoes in just seven short minutes. Just toss in some colorful fingerlings or baby potatoes, olive oil and Italian seasonings, and let the pot work its magic. Serve these tasty spuds with your favorite chicken dish, or enjoy them as a snack. Each serving is only 99 calories.

6 Veggies That Make Ridiculously Good Chips

Read More

9. Spicy Sriracha Slaw >

Instead of using fatty mayo to coat the shredded green and red cabbage, these powerhouse veggies are mixed in a dressing made from nonfat plain greek yogurt, lemon juice and sriracha or hot sauce. The kick is surprising, so is the cilantro, which adds another layer of flavor. Take this dish to your next potluck BBQ for a guaranteed invite back.

10. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup >

With its smooth texture and rich, sweet flavor of butternut squash, you’ll be sampling this soup before it makes it to your bowl. Carrots and onions add flavor and non-fat milk makes it creamy, without added calories or fat. Double this healthy recipe—you’ll want leftovers. On Nutrisystem, one serving counts as one SmartCarb, half of a Vegetable and one Extra.

The post Veg Out! 10 More Flavorful Recipes That Aren’t Salads appeared first on The Leaf.

from The Leaf https://ift.tt/2pHJ7xG

7 Delicious Fruits You Never Knew Existed

You know that fresh fruit is one of the foundations of a healthy diet and it can often satisfy a craving for sweets between meals and at dessert time. Good news: You have lots of choices of fruit to enjoy beyond the old stand-bys, apples and oranges. In fact, here are seven tasty fruits you may never have heard of that are loaded with flavor and nutrients.

STAR FRUIT
Carambola, or star fruit, has light-green to yellow skin and juicy pulp that can be sweet or slightly tart, depending on the variety. It makes a dramatic addition to a dessert tray or salad because when it is sliced the pieces are shaped like stars.

Nutrition highlights: One half-cup serving has 31 calories and 2.8 grams of fiber. The fruit is a good source of vitamin C and potassium, and it’s rich in flavonoids, plant-specific nutrients that help prevent diseases.

Prime time: Winter into early spring.

Try it: You may find a few small seeds inside, but they tend to be tiny and they’re edible. You can eat the fruit raw, make chutney or jam with it, or add it to stir-fries with chicken or seafood.

MANGOSTEEN
Despite its name, mangosteen is not related to mangoes. But this tropical fruit’s heady fragrance and tangy, sweet flavor have made it the most popular fruit in southeast Asia, where it is grown. Inside the fruit’s tough purple outer skin are up to 10 soft and juicy, snow-white triangular segments like those found inside an orange.

Nutrition highlights: You get just 63 calories with a half-cup serving of mangosteen, along with 1.8 grams of fiber and no cholesterol.

Prime time: Summer

Try it: The white seeds inside the fruit can be bitter, so remove those before eating. Mix mangosteen segments with pineapple, papaya, and watermelon for a sweet and refreshing medley.

JACKFRUIT
The largest tree-born fruit–some have reached up to 80 pounds–jackfruit is a relative of figs and mulberries with a starchy texture and a flavor that is reminiscent of pineapple, mangoes and bananas. The outer surface is covered with rough nubs, but inside are orange-yellow “bulbs,” which consist of sweet flesh enclosing a smooth, oval, light-brown seed. A single jackfruit may have 50 or more of the edible bulbs inside.

Nutrition highlights: A half-cup serving has 95 calories, 1.5 grams of fiber and substantial amounts of vitamin C and essential minerals, including iron and magnesium. Jackfruit is also a healthy source of micronutrients, such as carotene and lutein.

Prime time: Summer

Try it: Jackfruit segments mixed with banana slices, grated coconut, and honey is a beloved dessert served on festive occasions in India. You can also bake the segments into crunchy chips.

SAPODILLA
The fruit’s brownish outside color may not be the most inviting, but inside the sapodilla you’ll find soft, yellow-orange flesh that tastes like a caramelized pear. The fruit is about the same size as large grapes and may contain up to 10 shiny black seeds inside. The native of Mexico and Central America is sometimes sold as sapota or chikoo.

Nutrition highlights: You get 83 calories in a half-cup serving of sapodilla, along with 5.3 grams of fiber. The fruit is also high in tannins, nutrients that act as antioxidants and reduce inflammation.

Prime time: Winter into early spring

Try it: Unripe sapodilla can be bitter, so be sure the fruit you choose is soft enough that you can indent it with your thumb. Sapodilla adds sweet flavor and bulk to smoothies.

POMELO
A member of the citrus family, pomelo looks like a very large, greenish grapefruit. It has a very thick outer skin, but inside the pinkish segments are juicy and have a balanced sweet and tart flavor. Many find that pomelos are juicier and tastier than grapefruit.

Nutrition highlights: One cup provides 72 calories along with 1.9 grams of fiber, more than 200 percent of your RDA for vitamin C and 410 milligrams of potassium.

Prime time: Winter to early spring

Try it: Peeling the rind and eating the segments fresh is the easy way to enjoy pomelo. You can also squeeze out the juice, freeze it in ice cube trays, and use them to add flavor to refreshing drinks and mocktails.

 

CHERIMOYA
Commonly called custard apple, cherimoya has a scaly green skin and an oblong shape. Inside you’ll find soft, creamy white flesh and a handful of shiny black seeds. The fruit tastes to many like a cross between pears, bananas, and pineapple, though some people report that the flavor reminds them of bubblegum.

Nutrition highlights: An average-size cherimoya has 176 calories, 7 grams of fiber, and substantial amounts of vitamin C and B vitamins.

Prime time: Late winter into early spring.

Try it: After slicing a cherimoya in half, you can scoop out the flesh with a spoon, discarding the hard seeds as you eat. You can also use the pulp to add creaminess and flavor to pancake batter.

KIWI BERRIES
Also known as hardy kiwi or grape kiwi, these small fruits don’t have fuzzy skin like their larger cousins, but they have a similar sweet-tart taste and soft texture.

Nutrition highlights: A 3.5-ounce serving has 77 calories, no fat, more than 100 percent of your RDA for vitamin C, and 288 milligrams of potassium.

Prime time: Late summer into fall.

Try it: Because kiwi berries have no fibrous skin, you can eat them whole—no peeling necessary.

The post 7 Delicious Fruits You Never Knew Existed appeared first on The Leaf.

from The Leaf https://ift.tt/2qH2sQl

Does anyone else kinda feel frustrated that they didn't know that all they had to do to lose weight was to be in a calorie deficit?

This might sound strange, but lemme explain. When I first started my weight loss attempts in the past, all the info I read online said that "calories don't matter" and that you had to do certain things instead such as "eating healthy" and "exercising more". I followed all the advice from "drink more green tea" to "don't eat late at night" and made some weight loss progress off course because these things indirectly put me in a calorie deficit. Then at some point, the weight loss stopped and I felt hella frustrated. I didn't understand because I was following every single rule. I couldn't understand how some people can eat "unhealthy" and not gain weight. I read a lot of bullshit that lead me to believe that the reason why im not losing fat is probably because of "toxins" in the not-so-organic fruits or the white rice that I eat often.

Then I finally found out a few months ago that the one and only thing that make ya lose weight is a calorie deficit. It was so frustrating to discover this thing because all this time I was mislead about this very simple and basic thing. Like why did this have to be so shrouded in mystery all this time? Calorie counting isn't exactly the most pleasant thing but at least by doing it im certain 100% that im losing fat.

This is truly a case where the truth set me free.

submitted by /u/meowwmeowwmeow
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2WIjmeR

Day 1? Starting your weight loss journey on Tuesday, 02 April 2019? Start here!

Today is your Day 1?

Welcome to r/Loseit!

So you aren’t sure of how to start? Don’t worry! “How do I get started?” is our most asked question. r/Loseit has helped our users lose over 1,000,000 recorded pounds and these are the steps that we’ve found most useful for getting started.

Why you’re overweight

Our bodies are amazing (yes, yours too!). In order to survive before supermarkets, we had to be able to store energy to get us through lean times, we store this energy as adipose fat tissue. If you put more energy into your body than it needs, it stores it, for (potential) later use. When you put in less than it needs, it uses the stored energy. The more energy you have stored, the more overweight you are. The trick is to get your body to use the stored energy, which can only be done if you give it less energy than it needs, consistently.

Before You Start

The very first step is calculating your calorie needs. You can do that HERE. This will give you an approximation of your calorie needs for the day. The next step is to figure how quickly you want to lose the fat. One pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. So to lose 1 pound of fat per week you will need to consume 500 calories less than your TDEE (daily calorie needs from the link above). 750 calories less will result in 1.5 pounds and 1000 calories is an aggressive 2 pounds per week.

Tracking

Here is where it begins to resemble work. The most efficient way to lose the weight you desire is to track your calorie intake. This has gotten much simpler over the years and today it can be done right from your smartphone or computer. r/loseit recommends an app like MyFitnessPal, Loseit! (unaffiliated), or Cronometer. Create an account and be honest with it about your current stats, activities, and goals. This is your tracker and no one else needs to see it so don’t cheat the numbers. You’ll find large user created databases that make logging and tracking your food and drinks easy with just the tap of the screen or the push of a button. We also highly recommend the use of a digital kitchen scale for accuracy. Knowing how much of what you're eating is more important than what you're eating. Why? This may explain it.

Creating Your Deficit

How do you create a deficit? This is up to you. r/loseit has a few recommendations but ultimately that decision is yours. There is no perfect diet for everyone. There is a perfect diet for you and you can create it. You can eat less of exactly what you eat now. If you like pizza you can have pizza. Have 2 slices instead of 4. You can try lower calorie replacements for calorie dense foods. Some of the communities favorites are cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash in place of their more calorie rich cousins. If it appeals to you an entire dietary change like Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian.

The most important thing to remember is that this selection of foods works for you. Sustainability is the key to long term weight management success. If you hate what you’re eating you won’t stick to it.

Exercise

Is NOT mandatory. You can lose fat and create a deficit through diet alone. There is no requirement of exercise to lose weight.

It has it’s own benefits though. You will burn extra calories. Exercise is shown to be beneficial to mental health and creates an endorphin rush as well. It makes people feel awesome and has been linked to higher rates of long term success when physical activity is included in lifestyle changes.

Crawl, Walk, Run

It can seem like one needs to make a 180 degree course correction to find success. That isn’t necessarily true. Many of our users find that creating small initial changes that build a foundation allows them to progress forward in even, sustained, increments.

Acceptance

You will struggle. We have all struggled. This is natural. There is no tip or trick to get through this though. We encourage you to recognize why you are struggling and forgive yourself for whatever reason that may be. If you overindulged at your last meal that is ok. You can resolve to make the next meal better.

Do not let the pursuit of perfect get in the way of progress. We don’t need perfect. We just want better.

Additional resources

Now you’re ready to do this. Here are more details, that may help you refine your plan.

• Quick Start Guide - Build your foundation!
• Loseit Compendium - Frame it out!
• FAQ - Answers to our most Frequently Asked Questions!

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2OEfIQq

I [F/24/145lbs] really can't seem to lose weight!

Background:

I'm about 5'6.5 and have generally been pretty slim for the majority of my life due to being a child athlete. I was a competitive figure skater (very, VERY in shape) for about 10 years up until I was 13, and still stayed very thin up until 18 (not sure why, maybe due to habits, metabolism, or simply just because I was a teenager). I included the fact that I was an athlete because I've heard that if your body has a history of exercise, it sort of "remembers" what it's like to get fit and does so more easily (I'm not sure how credible that is- I highly doubt that's a solid case but whatever)? Anyway, I went to college, went wild with food, and went from 110lbs to 155 lbs within 2 years. Got back down to 130, and stayed there pretty comfortably until last year. Then, I've found myself back up to 150, and now 145lbs. I have on and off anemia as well as a vitamin D deficiency.

​

Habits:

I admit I've been very stagnant for the past year. Got myself two part-time desk jobs. One of them I work from home. I basically have only been moving to go downstairs to eat or walking to my car. As for my eating habits, I still have the habit of eating 1, sometimes 2, meals a day that carried over from college. However, that never seemed to bother me much and I know that intermittent fasting is a thing? I don't drink sodas or juices, nor do I eat lots of junk food. I don't eat a lot of vegetables though lol. At home we eat a lot of chicken and fish. Occasionally we get lazy and go for pasta or rice. I know "carbs are the enemy" but I really feel like we don't eat enough to make a drastic difference? Maybe a cup of rice once a week! I absolutely don't get enough sleep.

​

Recent Changes:

From last December to this February, I started jogging on the treadmill every other day. I'd put it on a 5.0 incline and walk half of a lap at 2.5 speed and jog the other half at 5.0 speed. I'd do that for maybe an hour. However, I was really frustrated to see that nothing was changing! I completely understand that weight loss is a journey and there are no quick fixes or overnight miracles, but I was doing this every other day for 3 months! I expected, I don't know, SOMETHING to happen? My weight didn't change, nor did my measurements or "jigglyness". It was really discouraging. Then I got really sick and basically couldn't run for all of March. I'm trying to get back to it now. In addition, I have been doing some blogilates full body workouts here and there in a feeble attempt to keep the cardio from eating what little muscle I still have left.

My dad got on this calorie counting kick about a month ago. I've been tagging along, just not as seriously. I don't really snack throughout the day so I just count main meals. I only counted religiously for one week, and from that I think I stayed on average at 1600-1800 cal per day, 2000 on special occasions? I know a lot of people say that's low, but I don't recall eating less than usual that week. Would it count as starving/ going into starvation mode if that's what my body has been used to? Just a note: I started calorie counting during March when I wasn't jogging. We typically try to stay at 2000 or below. And even though dad has lost 10 lbs, I have yet again seen no change. I think I expected to lose weight counting calories because I'd stay under 2000 calories, but from what I'm seeing, what I'm used to eating has actually been under 2000 all along.

​

Basically, I'm not sure what to do! I'm afraid that cutting more calories off a 1600-1800 cal diet would make me tired and dizzy (I'm already anemic and vitamin D deficient!), and exercising doesn't seem to be making a difference. Because I've been so sedentary over the past year, I really thought that these changes (even though they aren't horribly drastic) would have at least done something, you know? A pound or two... I really want to get back to 130lbs. I was very happy there. What do you think I can do to drop these 15lbs?

submitted by /u/SweatyAssumption
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2UfXmvf

[Daily Directory] Find your quests for the day here! - Tuesday, 02 April 2019

Welcome adventurer! Whether you're new on this quest or are towards the end of your journey there should be something below for you.

Daily journal.

• [Q&A] "I have a question."
• [Day 1] "I am starting my weight loss journey."
• [SV/NSV] "I have an accomplishment to share."
• [24hr Pledge] "Today I am going to..."

Interested in some side quests?

• [Motivation Monday] Share some motivation, get some motivation.
• [Tantrum Tuesday] Need to vent? People getting on your nerves?
• [Weigh-In Wednesday]
• [Track with Me Thursday] Did we just become best friends?!
• [Free Talk Friday] What's on your mind?

Community bulletin board!

• [Running with Loseit] Run with losers. Avoid arrows.
• [Maintenance Monday] Lost it? Work on keeping it.
• [Wecipe Wednesday] Swap and discuss recipies!

If you are new to the sub, click here for our posting guidelines

---

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2TOPsnj

Evening sabotage?

F30 5'0" 133lbs

I always make it to about 6pm eating according to my calories and meal plan, but after dinner I end up snacking out of boredom. The worst part is that I'm not even hungry. I hate that I go through the whole day being really good, eating nutritious and satisfying foods at a realistic deficit, but the scale doesn't budge because I cheat almost every night. How can I stop self sabotaging?

For some context, my TDEE is around 1600 and my calorie goal is 1300/day. For exercise, I walk for 30 minutes a day and do about 15 minutes of yoga before bed. I don't feel deprived and am completely satisfied by my meals. So why am I so weak in the evenings? Has anyone overcome the habit of evening snacking during their weight loss journey? How did you do it?

submitted by /u/s00go
[link] [comments]

from loseit - Lose the Fat https://ift.tt/2I6KCiU