by SkinnyMs.
Losing weight and keeping it off is about more than simply changing eating habits for a few weeks—it’s about making permanent changes to the way you eat and live. Get started by stocking a forever weight loss pantry, complete with the clean eating foods that will help you look and feel like a new and improved version of yourself.
Clean eating means making the lifestyle decision to eat non- or minimally processed foods, in order to avoid flooding the body with excess salt, sugar, fat, and chemical preservatives. It can seem overwhelming to make a lifestyle change like this, so begin with baby steps by choosing one category to swap out of the pantry each week. For example, start by switching out white flour for whole wheat flour. Next week, switch out processed sweeteners, such as white sugar, for unrefined sweeteners, like honey. Weekly transitions will help you and the family ease into new, healthier habits—and it may be easier on your budget.
As you shop for clean eating foods to support weight loss, always read nutrition labels. Foods that appear healthy may have added salt or sugar. For instance, beans are an excellent healthy food choice, but some canned varieties have added sugar. Instead, choose dry beans or canned varieties with no sugar added.
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FLOUR
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
WHOLE GRAIN FOODS
Ditch white rice, white pasta, and other overly-processed foods, and instead nourish your body with nutrient-rich, fiber-filled whole grains.
Brown and/or Wild Rice
Oats
Quinoa – New to this superfood? Here are 40 Quinoa Recipes You’ll Love.
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Wheat Pasta
BEANS
Beans provide a ton of nutritional bang for your dollar, making them smart foods to support weight loss.
Black Beans – When it comes to clean eating foods, you can’t beat this staple. Try these in Skinny Quinoa with Black Beans.
Cannellini Beans
Chickpeas
Kidney Beans – Another clean eating pantry gotta-have, they’re a good source of plant-based protein. Check out this tasty Slow Cooker Monday Beans and Chicken.
Pinto Beans
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SWEETENERS
Use unrefined sweeteners in moderation during weight loss and after you reach your ideal weight.
Coconut Palm Sugar – Made from the sap of the coconut palm, this natural sweetener is a low-glycemic index food, which means it helps keep blood sugar levels more balanced. Try it in Chewy Oatmeal Cookies.
Honey
Molasses
Stevia – This is a no-calorie, plant-derived sugar substitute.
SNACKS
Processed snacks are often a prime culprit for creating too much jiggle around your middle—or anywhere else for that matter! Toss them out of your pantry, and choose clean eating foods instead.
Air-Popped Organic Popcorn or Popping Corn– Use popping corn in these Healthy Popcorn Recipes.
Dried Fruit – Choose no-sugar-added fruit for a nutritious snack or salad topping.
Nuts – No-salt, no-added-oil nuts, like almonds, walnuts, and pecans, are healthy clean eating snack choices. They taste great on their own or as part of a homemade trail mix. If you’re buying nuts in bulk, it’s better to store them in the fridge so they don’t become rancid.
Raisins, Dark or Golden – This type of dried fruit is a clean eating snack staple, but it’s also a smart addition to anything from oatmeal to salad.
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SEEDS
Seeds are an easy way to incorporate nutrients into your healthier eating habits. Mix them into salads, sprinkle them into Greek yogurt, snack on them, or use the seeds in baking recipes.
Chia Seeds
Flax Seeds – Get your day off to a healthful start with Flax and Apple Raisin Oatmeal.
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
CLEAN EATING CONDIMENTS/TOPPINGS
Balsamic Vinegar– You’ve got to try this Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Dressing.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Peanut Butter (all natural)
Red Wine Vinegar
SPICES
Chances are you’ve already got a drawer or cabinet full of spices, but you might want to make sure you have these, which are frequently used in recipes with clean eating foods. Also check out 10 Spices for Weight Loss.
Basil – Make your own healthy Italian meals, like this Basil & Spinach Pesto.
Black Pepper
Cinnamon
Chili Powder – Spice up your meal planning with delicious Taco Chili.
Cumin – Another favorite in Mexican-inspired dishes, try it in healthy Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Soup.
Crushed Red Pepper
Dried Parsley
Ginger
Kosher and/or Sea Salt – Use sparingly.
Rosemary
Thyme
Once the pantry is filled with foods to support weight loss, check out The Forever Weight Loss Fridge.
Now put these clean eating foods to good use! Like our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterest for yummy recipes, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.
Get fan-favorite recipes at your fingertips with The SkinnyMs. Recipe Collection. It offers our top recipes in a convenient e-book format.
