Healthy weight loss foods are imperative to a healthy lifestyle. When I started on this journey, I didn’t realize my eating habits would be changing indefinitely.

It was clear that I had to break up with my favorite junk foods, at least until I lost the weight. In a lot of ways, it was harder to give up my favorite foods than to start exercising. I was practically a walking sugar cube topped with potato chips.

My body had become accustomed to eating the high carb foods and let’s face it, carrot sticks aren’t very appealing.

I found it easier to give up my favorite junk foods if I could replace it with something healthy AND that I could enjoy.

Weight Loss Foods that Replaced My Favorite Junk Foods

I will spare you pictures of the junk foods…after all, we really don’t need to be reminded of them, right?

For me, it is sometimes a mind/stomach trick. Of course, even after a few years I have cravings. Of course, I’m not perfect. Sometimes I give into them in a small way, but often I stick to the healthy replacement food.

The Crunchy

Sometimes you just need something with a lot of crunches, right? When choosing one of these, it is so important to already have them chopped and ready to grab. Make it as easy as possible for yourself to choose weight loss foods over junk.

Bell peppers
Apples
Celery – has to have peanut butter!
Cucumbers
Watermelon
Almonds

The Salty

Sometimes our bodies crave something salty and perhaps it is a nutrient that it is really needing. Instead of reaching for a bag of junk, give these choices a try.

Roasted peanuts in the shell. I use a teeny tiny bowl to put the shells in and when it’s full…I’m done.

I gave these healthy CHIPS by Quest a try…a friend of mine described them as turning into saw dust in your mouth. Very good description. First taste, pretty darn good. I didn’t like them very much, but Andrew thinks they are pretty good. Definitely worth a try! We tried Salt & Vinegar and Cheddar & Sour Cream.

Triscuits – sparingly
Kalamata Olives – a few of these will do the trick!

The Sweet Tooth

Oh this is a big one — well, it used to be before I was able to Kick the Sugar Addiction! There are some really great healthy weight loss foods to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The meal replacement shakes, satisfy my hunger and my sweet tooth. Great protein, veggies and keeps my energy level up. Without the meal replacement shakes, after a few days of working out, I tend to crash and it takes a day to recover.

Greek Yogurt  – I usually eat 1 a day. Add some fruit, chia seeds, Hemp Hearts and granola and you’ve got a healthy bowl of sweet goodness. Be careful with the granola – choose wisely. One of these days I am going to look into making my own granola, that is the healthiest choice.

Ice Cream – Here’s a really great tasting, healthy chocolate peanut butter ice cream recipe that you could eat every day if you wanted.

Fruit – While you can’t eat as much fruit as you want (the excess natural sugar will be stored as fat), it is a great source of sweet when needed and should be a part of your daily nutrition.

Healthy weight loss foods don’t have to be boring!

In fact, The Spice Gal has some amazingly creative and delicious spices to add to healthy foods that create those old time favorite foods you might be missing now…like breakfast sausage!!

Yes! Breakfast sausage that is healthy AND tastes like the fatty sausage we used to eat!!

It is never a good idea to starve to lose weight. Your body needs nutrients for energy and to keep your metabolism active.

Every meal, every snack makes a difference in your weight loss goals. Choose wisely. After all, it is only food. Food is to keep our bodies healthy. When you put food in the right priority, eating will take on a different place in your life. A place that won’t control you, but you will be in control.