Hello my fellow foodies! Chef Omi (grandma) here to share some diet foods that feel decadent. At Great Foods 4U
, we are about healthy as much as hungry. A few years ago (wow 15, where did the time go?) I began a mission to lose weight I'd gained from depression, anti-depressants (yes, both) and loss of two stillborn babies. One part of how I lost 100 pounds was by amending my eating habits. Calorie counting, intermittent fasting and portion control worked for me. But more surprising methods did too, such as periodic indulgence and eating foods that felt decadent (but aren't). Because we're also about emotional self-care, here. And constant self-deprivation helps no one. It can actually lead to obesity, when starvation or deprivation mode kicks in. Our bodies take control of the helm and store fat because they wisely know we can't be trusted to take care of ourselves and eat right. So, on with my list of foods that feel decadent that aren't.
--olives. Fermented foods are getting a lot of attention in weight loss communities for their antioxidant, probiotic, fat-burning properties. Olives are nutrient-dense, calorie forward (with fiber balancing out fat). They're loaded with antioxidants and MUFAS (monounsaturated fatty acids) that burn fat, boost metabolism, lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduce inflammation. The thing to watch out for is salt or sugar content. I rinse pickles and olives before eating to reduce sodium. Also, I eat them in moderation as I would any other treat.
--pickles and pickled vegetables. Pickled vegetables aid weight loss in similar ways. With zero calories, pickles fill you up. And by making them yourself, you can cut down on salt.
--pickled turnips and beets. Oh my, so delicious! I'm going to do a separate post on these Mediterranean diet treats!
--capers. These brined flower buds are my new obsession. They have similar fat-burning properties to olives. And they're high in quercetin and rutin which reduce inflammation and improve circulation.
--pumpkin seeds. Hulled and lightly salted, I use these in salads as a gluten-free replacement for croutons. Pepitas are high protein and a good MUFAS boost.
--sunflower butter. In place of peanut butter, sunflower butter kicks protein fat-burning into high gear. Plus it fills you up and curbs cravings. Sun Butter is my go to for weight loss. And believe it our not, lightly sweetened SunButter has more protein and fewer calories than the unsweetened kind. As always, practice portion control
-- figs, dates and dried cranberries. Dried cranberries, figs and dates are nutrient dense metabolism boosters with high fiber, potassium and good sugar. Get the Medjool dates as they taste so much better than regular. And I get the reduced sugar dried cranberries. A handful adds a nice zest to salads to offset the saltier foods. Figs and dates are great for curbing hunger and sugar cravings.
Fun Food Fact: Olives, figs and dates are part of the Jewish Seven Species of ceremonial and cultural food, along with lemons, pomegranates wheat and barley. Which brings me to..
--pomegranates and lemons. Pomegranates and other seed-dense fruits (like figs, blueberries, and raspberries) are great fat-burning fruits. The high fiber in the seeds balances out the sugar to make them calorie forward. I use lemons in cooking all the time. As lemon water, they boost weight loss in fat-burning and antioxidant vitamins.
--mushrooms. The health benefits can and have filled volumes. There are too many to list here so I'll let
UCLA list mushroom health benefits for me. We portabellas as meat substitutes in meatless dishes during Lent and on Fridays. Mushrooms are a must-have for my Lenten Kitchen.
--sprouts (broccoli, clover, alfalfa, radish, lentil, mung and wheatgrass) For the longest time, didn't buy because they were so costly. But now I make my own for cents on the dollar. I also love brussels sprouts roasted with garlic.
--ghee (clarified butter) Could anything be so addictive and still good for you?! Ghee has as high smoke point and is great for grilling but beyond that, it's lactose free and fat-forward in that its MCTs and CLAs have some fat burning properties. Ghee is a good keto fat source. Ghee should be consumed in moderation.
--smoked salmon. I cannot get enough of it. One tin gives like 26 grams protein for only 100ish calories. But be sure to get smoked salmon packed in oil. It tastes so much better.
--arugula (aka rocket salad) and other spring mix greens. I only used to buy iceberg lettuce but now I treat myself to the fancier, healthier greens. Give me that bitter crunch of arugula with a dash of avocado oil, lemon juice and cracked pepper, topped with spicy sprouts and I'm a happy girl.
All these foods were part of how I lost 100 pounds, without drugs or gastric bypass surgery. Above photo is my foods that feel decadent salad with spinach, smoked salmon, lemon juice, capers, cracked black pepper, pomegranate seeds and freshly grown sprouts!
