Your first instinct when it comes to losing weight may be cutting back on your food. While it is true that a lower calorie intake will help you lose weight, it may also leave you feeling hungry, lethargic and miserable. But with foods, you no longer have to deal with hunger pangs on your weight loss journey.

The whole idea behind zero calorie or negative calorie foods is that they contain a very minimal amount of calories. The energy you expend consuming these cancels out the calories they contain. By consuming these fruits and vegetables, you won’t consume any excess calories and sometimes you could even burn energy whilst you’re eating them.

Apples

High in fiber and relatively low in sugar, apples are perfect when you need something to munch on. Eating an apple off its core requires more time so it will slow down your eating and help your snack last much longer than a bag of chips or even nuts. Make it your go-to snack or dessert. It is sure to keep you satisfied as you munch on the crunch.

Watermelon

Watermelon may be a naturally sweet fruit but it is considerably low in calories. One cup of watermelons contains 80 calories and is packed with arginine, an amino acid that helps boost weight loss. According to a research conducted on obese mice, arginine supplements fed to them helped them lose more weight and gain lean muscle than the mice that did not receive them. Watermelon also contains antioxidants that have several health benefits. Since the fruit is high in sugar, it should be consumed in moderation.

Zucchini

This is for all the pasta lovers out there. Using a food spiraliser or vegetable peeler, slice the zucchini into long noodle-like strips. Enjoy it raw or sautéed and serve it with your favorite pasta sauce. Rich in fiber, potassium and vitamins, zucchini can help you to efficiently cut down on the calories and quell your hunger pangs.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms contain a high level of vitamin D which aids in the absorption of calcium in the body. Mushrooms, when consumed and digested, produce metabolites in the body that help fight cancer and boost immunity. A hundred grams of portabella mushrooms contain only 22 calories, whereas Chanterelle mushrooms contain 38 calories per serving. Although mushrooms contain 22 calories, your body expends 30 calories while digesting it. So, you could include mushrooms in your daily diet to help you lose weight.

 Soups

It’s a common misconception to think that soup cannot fill you up as well as a solid meal. But a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that soup induces greater fullness compared to a solid meal. Soup that comes with meat and vegetables can serve as a nutritious and balanced meal. If you simply cannot give up your carbs, fret not, the soup might be able to help you cut down on it. Try having a smaller serving of rice or noodles when you have soup on the side and it should still fill you up.