5 Filling Foods That Love Your Waistline
Our waistline often becomes a big deal during the meno years because it usually changes our shape as its measurements increase.
Weight gain
Indeed, one of the biggest challenges of midlife for Meno-She’s is weight gain. This happens for a number of reasons including our waistline storing estrogen as fat in a bid to make up for the depleted estrogen in our ovaries. You can read more about the reasons why here and here.
ERF: Eat Real Food
We personally know it’s not much fun to pack on the pounds. It’s why we always suggest swapping refined sugar and high carb foods for real foods packed with nutrients. They not only make you feel happier – seriously they act like a magic feel-good bullet – they also take the edge off hunger and make keeping your weight under control easier.
The Little Things
It’s hard making big lifestyle changes though and sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. So if you’re finding cravings getting to you here are five delicious, nutritionally good for you treats, that’ll take your not-so-good desires and kick them to the curb.
1. Extra virgin olive oil
If I want to drop a couple of kgs I always do a bout of intermittent fasting because it’s what works for me and my lifestyle. I give myself an eight-hour eating window from 10 am to 6 pm (you can read more about it here because it’s important to realise it’s not for everyone). However, initially, I can get the munchies in the mornings so I usually start my eating window with a spinach omelette or whole grain oats both drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. The complex carbohydrates (oats) or protein (eggs) mixed with the anti-inflammatory fat, rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids is super satiating. Plus it’s great for my skin and hair and joints.
2. Fresh herbs
If sometimes you feel like managing your weight is a bit ‘blah’, and it seems like you’re repeating your recipes over and over again add some punch by adding lots of fresh herbs to your victuals 😀. The intense flavours of rosemary, parsley, coriander, oregano, basil, and chives et al. have the power to take things up a notch as well as providing lots of nutritional benefits. Gotta love that!
3. Kumara (sweet potato)
You know those days where nothing seems to touch the sides? Kumara rocks. It’s incredibly nutritious, delicious and filling. Plus it’s full of fibre, which our bods love. Granted, they’re a little bit expensive in New Zealand sometimes (you ladies fair much better in Australia), but one can go a long way. I love to finely slice them with a mandolin and crispy bake them. If you don’t have a mandolin or similar slicer, cube them. They’re delicious with sea salt and whatever herbs take your fancy. Rosemary’s good. You can make these slices with pumpkin, zucchini and eggplant too.
4. 85%-90% Dark Chocolate
Blissful right? But before you run off to grab a Snickers bar come back a minute and register the 85%-90% dark chocolate bit. You need to study the ingredient list and look for the highest percentages of cacao (preferably) or cocoa because these have less sugar along with nutritional benefits like iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium and antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonols (more than blueberries!). And, btw, we’re talking a TREAT, and a couple of squares, not the entire bar though it has to be said that would be quite hard to achieve in one sitting!
5. Warm Lemon Water & Cinnamon
You may be thinking ‘that old chestnut’ but the truth is this is a bit of twist on that time honoured favourite. The cinnamon adds a bit of spice along with weight management aids. If you want to amp it up a bit swap the cinnamon for cayenne pepper for the same benefits. The temperature recommendation comes from Ayurveda, which teaches that warm water helps the body by moving the Kapha element or sluggishness that can get created in the body. “It provides less of a shock as it’s more aligned with the natural temperature of the body than cold water,” says Vandana Steadman, Ayurveda practitioner @ the Yoga Therapy Centre. “This applies to almost all drinks – smoothies, juices etc.”
Bon appetit my friends 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼
Please read ‘The Sugar Series’ also.
A big thanks to Pixabay for the gorgeous images.
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