Why Clean Dieting Isn’t As Boring As You Think
Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming bodybuilding event, cutting some weight to compete in a specific weight class, or just wanted to tighten your waist, slashing the calorie off your diet can be a daunting task.
Slight discomfort is to be expected when you eat below your maintenance level, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer from a bland diet. There’s no doubt that a clean diet consist of whole-foods is the best method to lose weight, but there are plenty of low-calorie dressing and other creative alternatives to prevent boredom. Follow the tips below and even the cleanest diet plan can turn into something delectable.
Spice It Up!
Condiments, herbs, spices, and seasonings can add flavour into your meals with minimal calories. Low-sodium soy cause & low fat vinegar are just some of the examples that you can use to marinade, moisture, or splash over your meal.
Spices like red pepper extract and sriracha sauce have the additional advantage of increasing your metabolism rate, and they are the perfect addition to those dull cardboard meals.
Chicken breast tastes too bland? Opt for non-sweetened ketchup instead. Sugar-free ketchup can be applied on basically every single meal that you’re taking, be it meat, veggies, or plain pasta.
But what about your drinks? No fret, as stevia can change the flavour with just one tablespoon. This is a diabetic-friendly sweetener to be added into your hearty breakfast, as stevia fits perfectly into your bowl of oatmeal and coffee.
Ditch Those Liquids Calories!
If you drink a bottle of Coca-Cola (240kcal) with your meal, you’ll have consumed the same amount of calories as you would have had you chosen those foods listed in the above image.
The foods recommended in the picture are not only low in calories, they are often packed with essential nutrients needed to make your life healthier.
Volume eating helps promoting satiety while you’re on a caloric restricted diet, which is great as it makes you feel satisfied without actually eating less foods. To achieve this goal, it’s recommended that you include foods high in soluble fiber, which moves through your intestine at a slower pace.
Gelatin is another great alternative to curb a sweet tooth and keeping you full with minimal calories. It may not be as tasty as other sugar-laden treats, but the low amount of calories per serving means you don’t have to worry about not being able to stick to your diet plan.
Preparation Methods
Smart food preparation can not only stretch your diet further, it can also provide the diversity needed to keep you sane when there are limited choices available. For example, instead of eating steamed chicken breast (gross!) every day, you can bake, grill, or ground the meat and make meatballs or patty.
You’ll be surprised at how different preparation and combination can make a world of difference with the same ingredient. People will only feel downhearted when they’re eating the same food in the same manner as they did yesterday, not because of the ingredients itself.
Lastly, think of some unconventional ways to add flavours into your meals. Who says your meals need to be savoury, not sweet? After all, the rules are not carved in stone. Go ahead & replace your regular dressing with sugar-free maple syrup, stevia, or unsweetened applesauce. Definitely unusual, but this gives you an idea to banish boredom from your kitchen.
