Food With No Fat And High Protein. Are you trying to find a healthier way of eating? Are you tired of diets that are filled with supplements and fads? If so, we have the perfect diet plan for you. Protein without Fat can provide your body with the protein it needs to build muscles and replace fat, so it’s a healthy alternative to most other diets.
7 High-Protein Snacks to Enjoy On-The-Go
High-quality protein packs a real punch when it comes to your health. Adding more protein to your diet could even decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke. And some research suggests that a little extra protein might make you feel fuller so you can get through the day.
While our on-the-go lifestyle makes it difficult to choose healthy protein-rich foods (chocolate-covered peanut butter cups don’t count, sadly), high-protein snacks are within reach. Registered dietitian Anna Taylor, MS, RD, LD, CDE, lists her top seven snacks that are good sources of protein. And no, “protein bars” didn’t make the cut.
Easy low-fat, healthy protein snacks
“Most people do well with three meals and one to two snacks per day, depending on activity levels and calorie needs,” says Taylor. “Someone very active might need an additional snack, while someone less active or petite will need fewer snacks.”
Taylor warns that snack calories add up quickly: Eating 200 calories a day beyond what your body burns will mean 20 pounds of weight gain a year. “If the snack you’re eating has more than 200 calories, it’s actually a mini-meal. And if it doesn’t have fiber or protein, it’s probably not nutritious.”
The following protein-packed snacks are between 150 and 170 calories and contain no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates:
Dried, roasted “nuts”
“Try one-fourth cup of lightly salted, dried edamame or dried chickpeas. These options are great for people who have nut allergies and are craving something crunchy,” says Taylor. Or reach for unsalted nuts — 22 roasted, unsalted almonds make a high-protein snack, delivering between 6 to 15 grams of protein.
Plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
You’ll get more than 20 grams of protein when you reach for a small container (around two-thirds cup) of fat-free Greek yogurt. Try it with fresh or frozen berries. Another option: Turn your yogurt into a smoothie by adding berries and some unsweetened almond milk.
Low-fat cottage cheese
To one-half cup of cottage cheese, add one-half cup of fruit like pineapple or peaches. You can even choose fruit canned in juice, then drain it. You’ll take in more than 10 grams of protein.
Mini salad
“This works out beautifully and looks like a mini-meal, but it’s not: It’s a garden salad with one-fourth cup of beans, a hard-boiled egg and a tablespoon of light dressing,” says Taylor. “In addition to fiber, you’ll get between 8 and 10 grams of protein.”
Tuna salad
Add 1 teaspoon of low-fat mayonnaise to a quarter cup of drained canned tuna. Add diced celery, carrots or onion for flavor. Spoon the tuna on four woven whole-wheat crackers for a snack that gives you more than 10 grams of protein.
Hummus and veggies
One-quarter cup of hummus delivers 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of dietary fiber. Use it as a dip for 1 cup of raw vegetables.
Open-faced egg white sandwich
“I love this one: Toast one-half of a whole-wheat English muffin. Cook four egg whites (about one-half cup) and place on the muffin. Add 1 tablespoon of shredded cheese,” says Taylor. “This healthy snack has fiber and close to 15 grams of protein, plus it’s very filling.”
Food With Zero Fat
Low carb, low fat, and even high fat — there are many dietary approaches a person can take to improve or maintain their health. Eating a low fat diet is a simple way to cut out extra calories.
Doctors may advocate eating a low fat diet because calories from fat are higher per gram than those from protein or carbohydrates.
Some high fat foods — such as cookies, cakes, french fries, and greasy foods — may also have less nutritional value than healthful options such as fruits and vegetables.
Although fat is an essential part of a person’s diet, there are “good fats” and “bad fats.” Knowing the difference can help a person make informed choices about their meals.
In this article, we list some low fat foods and the benefits of a low-fat diet. We also look at a sample mix-and-match meal plan.
Low fat foods list
Low fat foods are those that have 30%Trusted Source of their calories or less from fats. So, if a food contains fewer than 3 grams of fat per 100 calories, it is a low fat food.
To determine if a food is low fat, a person can read its nutrition label.
It is vital to read the part of the label that lists specific values, as many manufacturers label foods as “low fat” despite them having a relatively high fat content.
Examples of low fat foods a person can incorporate into their diet include:
Cereals, grains, and pasta products
- corn or whole wheat tortillas
- baked crackers
- most cold cereals
- noodles, especially whole grain versions
- oatmeal
- rice
- whole grain bagels
- English muffins
- pita bread
Dairy products
Dairy products can be high in fat, but food manufacturers often offer lower fat versions. These include:
- fat free cheese
- fat free or “skim” milk or yogurt
- light or fat free cream cheese
- low fat cottage cheese, milk, or yogurt
Some nondairy yogurts are also low fat.
Protein sources
- beans
- lentils
- tofu
- egg whites
- lean cuts of meat
- lentils
- tuna
- peas
- shrimp
- skinless chicken or turkey breast
- veggie burgers
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are naturally low fat. Choose fresh, frozen, or canned options.
Miscellaneous foods
Additional foods that can be a part of a low fat diet include:
- mustard
- sauces containing skim milk
- salsa
- vegetable based broth soups
- popcorn
- honey
- jam
- light salad dressings, or simply lemon juice and balsamic vinegar
Benefits
When considering a low fat diet, it is important to remember that not all fat types are unhealthful. The key is to eat a varied diet of nutritious, natural foods and avoid those high in saturated or trans fats.
Manufacturers add saturated fats or trans fats to foods to extend their shelf life. These types of fat are also present in fried foods.
6 High-Protein Foods That Shrink Belly Fat, Says Dietitian
Losing weight and shrinking excess belly fat can be a long and exhausting process to actually see results. But looking at a diet that keeps you full and satisfied, while also contributing to shedding some extra pounds sounds like the perfect place to start for long-term changes.
Including more protein in one’s diet can foster weight loss in a number of ways. When combined with exercise, a high intake of protein helps build more lean muscle, and “lean muscle helps to burn more calories throughout the day,” Medical News Today reports.
However, high protein foods can also “help with weight loss by decreasing hunger and promoting a sense of fullness,” explains Brittany Dunn, MS, RDN, CD, who specializes in sports nutrition and has experience working with and educating athletes through Dunn Nutrition. High protein diets are extremely effective in weight loss, because “they preserve muscle mass and prevent decreased metabolism,” she says.
A common misconception when it comes to high protein meals, is that many people want to overcompensate with the intention of losing more body fat, explains Dunn. Many people believe that “food sources of protein are not enough to contribute to a high protein meal plan and that supplementation is necessary,” when in reality, “whole foods can provide enough and oftentimes, even more protein than expected,” she says.
You should be eating “between 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight” on a daily basis, if you’re working towards overall weight loss, according to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
“Very few Americans consume inadequate amounts of protein,” says Dunn. “However, if you do find yourself struggling to achieve enough protein in your diet, here are some tips: thicken sauces or soups with blended legumes (such as lentils) or [layer] tofu and sweet potato curry over steamed veggies.”
To look into the nitty-gritty of what foods pack the best protein punch, here are six high-protein foods to help you reach your weight loss goals and shrink that waist! Then, for more weight loss tips, here are the Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians.
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Lean meats
What may seem like an obvious choice, choosing specific meats as a source of protein in your diet can make all the difference when it comes to shedding fat. Lean meats in particular—such as skinless chicken, turkey, pork loin, bison, white flesh fish, salmon, and shrimp—will contain a high level of protein with low calories, healthy fats, and more often than not, less processed ingredients compared to red meat, Medical News Today explains.
When prioritizing eating lean meats, you can “limit the amount of saturated fat [you] consume to less than 10% of calories per day,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
What does this mean in terms of weight loss? When you consume more high volume foods full of nutrients, like lean meat that are lower in calories (generally), you don’t have to fill up on a larger portion to feel full and you will stay full for longer, explains Mayo Clinic.
Eating more fish like salmon and shrimp helps contribute sources of iodine and essential omega-3 fatty acids to filter good thyroid health and stable metabolism. Both of which support overall weight loss by helping keep overeating under control and also sustain fullness.
Another piece of the puzzle is how you cook your lean meats can help contribute to fat loss. To continue trimming excess weight, The Community Health Center (CHN) says “prepare your meat [by] grilling, broiling, or roasting to lower the amount of saturated fat.”
If you love a classic Italian Wedding soup, Dunn recommends subbing in some turkey meatballs to give you a leaner protein power boost. You also could also spice up your shrimp with a shrimp fajita salad or curled up in a wrap, she says.
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Chickpeas
A plant-based source of protein that you can throw into just about any meal for an extra boost — chickpeas.
“Chickpeas are what’s known as a complete protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids,” which play a key role in metabolism and body function, according to Cleveland Clinic. The high protein and fiber contents of chickpeas help to keep you fuller longer, which is important if you’re trying to lose weight and maintain it.
Chickpeas are also a great choice because they are considered a legume, which has the nutrient value of high protein foods as well as vegetables, according to a review in Nutrients. The review also points out that the vast nutrients in chickpeas have major effects on losing weight by controlling the body’s glucose and insulin responses. Both of which play their part in easing digestion and slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates, so you’re full of energy while consuming a low-calorie food.
One way to incorporate chickpeas more into your diet is by adding a “legume based hummus on sandwiches and wraps,” says Dunn.
3
Quinoa
Whole-grain foods are another group that has huge rewards in terms of protein. Quinoa for example—can act as a carb-like substitute for rice or pasta—is considered a complete protein, which is made up of the nine of the essential amino acids your body needs. The plant-based protein source will easily fill you up and support your fat loss goals, by contributing to building more muscle and a strong metabolism.
Quercetin and kaempferol, the two flavonoid plant compounds in quinoa, also help with weight loss by protecting your gut cells and supporting strong metabolites. Having strong metabolites will help fuel your metabolism to function efficiently in turning food into energy versus the alternative (fat). But, be careful what you pair with this protein-packed food because combining quinoa with high calorie and fatty foods could hinder your fat loss journey more than support it.
4
Black beans
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a healthy carb with high protein content, especially when you’re trying to lose fat. Black beans are a complex carbohydrate that is gluten-free and plant-based and sources both high levels of protein and healthy fiber. One study saw major weight loss results after including beans and legumes as a leading source of protein over the span of eight weeks.
The subjects of the study found they had lost significant body fat, reduced their waist circumference, and lowered their blood pressure and total cholesterol. Beans—especially black beans—can help lower the body’s leptin levels, also known as the hormone that regulates the appetite. With a controlled appetite and a body full of healthy protein and fibers, you have a greater chance of losing more fat over time.
Dunn recommends filling up on a protein-packed burrito bowl with black beans, grilled chicken breast, grilled veggies, and salsa. Another meal to help implement more beans in your diet is our Vegetarian Black Bean Omelet Recipe.
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Low-fat dairy products
Dairy products don’t have the best reputation in supplementing a solid fat loss journey, but for many people consuming more dairy on a daily basis can potentially accelerate weight loss. Turning to fat-free milk, certain cheeses (such as cottage cheese), and low-fat Greek yogurt, can support your body’s need for natural dairy-based nutrients (such as calcium) and a high source of protein.
The Journal of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity conducted research on participants in a reduced-calorie diet consuming three to four servings of dairy (in different types) a day, over the span of 24 weeks and many lost a great percentage of total body weight.
“It’s clear from our research that the unique combination of essential nutrients in dairy foods has a powerful, positive impact on metabolism and weight loss,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael Zemel, Ph.D., the director of the UT Nutrition Institute, in the journal review.
The study found that the calcium levels paired with the reasonable protein properties in dairy products contribute greatly to weight loss as they speed up the body’s metabolism and improve natural energy storage.
Looking to sneak in extra protein? Try blending up a well-rounded smoothie with your choice of greek yogurt, low-fat milk (or a high protein non-dairy substitute), fruit, and veggies, Dunn says. If you’re not a big smoothie fan, she also recommends topping Greek yogurt with seeds/nuts, nut butter, and hemp hearts.
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Whey protein
Whey protein, in its original form, is mainly found in dairy products like milk and cheese. It’s created during the curdling process of making milk and cheese and contains a total of eight protein groups and nine essential amino acids, explains Cleveland Clinic. The most important group of whey, in terms of fat loss, is the branched chain of amino acids (BCAA’s)—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—which foster significant muscle growth.
It’s highly recommended to consume whey protein for fat loss because it supplements more lean muscle throughout the body (similar to meat), which burns calories at a higher rate than body fat, says Dunn.
There’s a reason why whey protein is one of the most commonly used and researched protein powders on the market. While protein powder isn’t necessarily a food, it’s great for on the go and can be blended or mixed into so many staple meals and drinks that are already part of your diet (plus, the wide variety of flavors can add even more taste to your food intake).