With several health advocates making it big to social media nowadays, more and more people have become aware of the many benefits of healthy eating and nutrition. As a result, the world today has been consciously making an effort to stay healthy and become fit. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet has never run out of rhyme for people who make it a point to keep a healthy lifestyle. To help them with this journey, several diet plans and meal preparations have surfaced online recently. And most of these plans have always had a thing in common – incorporating low-fat foods in your diet.
Incorporating low-fat foods in your diet has a lot of health benefits. Aside from keeping you fit and healthy, low-fat foods can help you reduce certain health risks like heart diseases and diabetes. These are enough reasons why low-fat foods should be a staple in your daily meals.
Are you looking to follow a low-fat diet for a healthier lifestyle? Then, chancing upon this article on our website might prove to be useful for you. Here, we are going to list down ten low-fat foods that will help you keep a healthier and more balanced diet. These foods are also readily available in the market, so you can either make an easy meal with them by yourself or find a personal assistant to help you with the task.
Here is the list of ten low-fat foods that you should incorporate in your daily diet. Take a look.
1. Leafy greens
Yes, when talking about low-fat foods that you should incorporate into your diet, your leafy greens should be on top of the list.
Leafy greens are foods that contain very minimal fat but with loads of the essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for the overall function of the body. Some of these vitamins and minerals may include but are not limited to, the following: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, folate, potassium, and calcium.
The popular examples of leafy greens are kale, spinach, arugula, collard greens, and Romaine lettuce. Preparing a meal with the leafy greens may not pose so much of a challenge since they may be added to your favorite salads or mixed in your smoothie choices.
2. Fruits
Are you looking to add snack options to your low-fat daily meal? Then, throwing in some fruits in your meal plan will be smart, not to mention the delicious option.
Fruits are not only sweet and tasty options but also very nutritious since they are low in fat and are rich with antioxidants that protect your cells from any form of damage.
Aside from making fruits as snack options, any meal can be enjoyed better with fruits on the side. Fruits may also be eaten in a variety of options – either as fresh, cooked, or dried. Just like your leafy greens, fruits can be mixed in your salads and smoothies. On top of that, you can make healthy dips from your favorite fruits as well!
3. Whole wheat tortillas
Whole-wheat tortillas have increasingly become a popular meal staple for those who follow a healthy and fit lifestyle. And we can see why.
Most people have decided to replace their carbohydrate-filled bread with whole wheat tortillas and say that it is a much healthier option. And why not. Compared to bread, tortillas are made with whole grains and therefore contain the healthy kind of fats.
On top of that, whole wheat tortillas are also loaded with fiber which not only aids digestion but also helps regulate important bodily functions.
Whole wheat tortillas are high in fiber and protein but low in fat. Because of this, you might want to consider having whole wheat tortillas as part of your daily diet regimen.
4. Corn
A lot has been said about the many health benefits that corn can offer. Not only is it rich in fiber content but also loaded with important nutrients and minerals that help you promote your overall health.
Because corn is rich in fiber, it is packed with healthy fats. Aside from what has already been mentioned, corn is rich in zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.
Corn also is one of the most versatile foods to consume since it can be roasted, boiled, broiled, steamed, or grilled. Corn kernels can also be mixed in your soup and salads for them to have an extra kick of added flavor.
5. Oatmeal
If you are talking about some of the healthiest grains on earth, then oats and oatmeal should make it on your list. It is so because oats contain a rich amount of manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, and thiamine.
Oats can also help you minimize your blood sugars which will reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Aside from that, oats are also very filling, which will aid you in reducing your calories and maintain a healthy weight.
Because of its many health benefits, having oats and oatmeal for breakfast options is not a bad idea.
6. Beans and legumes
Aside from being low in fat, beans and legumes are known to be a rich source of fiber and B vitamins. Not only are they rich in fiber but also in protein which makes beans and legumes a good alternative for meat for most vegetarians.
The healthiest beans and legumes include chickpeas, lentils, peas, kidney beans, black beans, soybeans, pinto beans, navy beans, and peanuts. They contain a healthy amount of protein, fiber, folate, manganese, copper, and thiamine, among others.
Among the many health benefits that beans and legumes offer is reducing your blood sugar and improving your healthy cholesterol levels.
Beans and legumes are not only healthy but also rich in flavor so you might want to have them as excellent additions to your stews and salads.
7. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes offer you natural sugars but with fewer calories. They are also excellent sources of fiber, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, manganese, Vitamin B6, copper, niacin, and potassium.
Incorporating sweet potatoes in your daily diet may also help you reduce your risks for obesity, heart diseases, and certain kinds of diabetes.
Sweet potatoes are easy to incorporate into your diet as you can enjoy them as sweet potato chips, sweet potato fries, sweet potato toast, mashed sweet potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, and many others.
8. Mushrooms
Edible mushrooms are not only highly nutritious but can also be used for healing purposes, making many people tag this unique food as a superfood.
Mushrooms are loaded with fiber, protein, B vitamins, selenium, potassium, copper, and Vitamin D. Aside from having a rich amount of the essential nutrients and minerals, mushrooms are known to boost the immune system, improve digestion, and fight certain kinds of cancer.
Some of the most popular mushroom options include Portobello, oyster, shiitake, maitake, and reishi mushrooms. You can incorporate edible mushrooms in your diet by adding them in your soups or making them as substitutes for your meat.
9. Tofu
Tofu is rich in many health benefits as it is an excellent source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fats, manganese, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, copper, manganese, iron, and zinc.
Consuming a healthy amount of this food is also useful in reducing the risk of heart disease and certain kinds of cancer – including breast cancer, cancers of the digestive system, and prostate cancer. As it is said to be low in fat, tofu also reduces your risk of certain kinds of diabetes.
Tofu can be purchased in a variety of ways. You can have it dehydrated, freeze-dried, jarred, and even canned. These preparations will aid you in thinking of creative ways to incorporate tofu in your daily diet.
10. Tuna
Tuna fish provides a handful of health benefits. Consuming a healthy amount of this fish will reduce your risks for certain kinds of cardiovascular disorders. Aside from that, it helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Not only is this delicious fish as a dish but also very nutritious as it contains a healthy amount of protein, selenium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, potassium, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and many more.
There are several ways to prepare and enjoy a delicious tuna meal. But among the most popular is preparing it like a steak.
The takeaway
These are the ten low-fat foods that you should incorporate into your diet to help you have a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
As these foods are low in fat, they may help you decrease your weight. However, aside from weight loss, regularly consuming a healthy amount of these foods will provide you with a lot of benefits. These reasons and more should be enough to convince you in trying a low-fat diet starting today.
Author Bio
Karstine Mae Sanchez is a content marketer and a virtual personal assistant at OkayRelax. She loves writing content on business and work management, food and nutrition, and travel lifestyle. When she is not busy, you can find her at the beach, exploring different islands, seeing beautiful waves and walking in the sand.