Simple, Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss

One big issue I see with folks who are having trouble losing weight is not just a lack of motivation to but a tentativeness to get started now. Often I hear, "I don't have the time to cook." With this in mind, I've put together these simple, healthy recipes for weight loss that will have you on your way to dropping those pounds quickly.

1. Smoothies: A monkey can operate a blender. Get one. A blender not a monkey. Healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss are not hard to come by. Most people like to share their creations with the world. Here is a great one to try:

• Mango-Peach Smoothie: Perfect for breakfast. Just add 1 sliced peach, 1 sliced mango, 1/2 cup of orange juice, and 1/2 cup of low fat vanilla soy milk.
• Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie: This is a delicious snack. Add a spoonful of reduced fat peanut butter, 1/2 cup of yogurt, 1/2 cup skim milk.
• And here's a little tip: A small portion of dark chocolate is a healthy way to make any smoothie tasty.

2. A grain, a green, and a bean: Here is another recipe we can borrow from the vegetarian weight loss diet plan. And its a balanced meal with great sources of protein and fiber. All three are really quick to heat and serve.

• Simply pick a grain. I like to use rice, cous cous, millet, or quinoa.
• Then pick a green. My favorites are turnips, collards, spinach, or kale.
• And finally, choose a bean. There lots of them but I tend to stay with chickpeas, white beans, or lima beans.

3. Soup: Add your favorite vegetables, beans, and/or meats to vegetable stock or low fat and low sodium chicken stock and you've got yourself a delicious meal that can cook while you enjoy your Sunday afternoon. These are really easy to make in a crock pot. It's not always easy to be a meal planner for weight loss. But with soup you can usually make a lot of it at once and eat the rest for leftovers during the week. You can't go wrong with this vegetable soup. Here's one that I like. Just add all of the following ingredients into a pot and simmer for an hour:

1 teaspoon of olive oil
3 chopped zucchinis
1 diced onion
1 can of navy beans (rinse)
1 diced potato
1 lox low fat and low sodium vegetable broth
1 bag fresh spinach

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