Want to lose five pounds the healthy way? All you need to do is pick up these five simple ingredients on your next trip to the grocery store and incorporate them into your daily meal plan.
1. Whole Chicken
Its juicy, iron-rich dark and low-fat white meats mean lots of options for hunger-squashing meals rich in lean protein.
2. Endive
Addictively crunchy, the leaves of this pale veg—which have next-to-no calories—were made for dipping.
3. Red Grapes
They're sweet and they contain a compound that can block fat cells from forming.
4. Snow Peas
These stir-fry faves may help turbocharge fat-burning by up to 30 percent. Woot!
5. Farro
A whole-grain-heavy diet can help blast belly blub—and this one's chewy texture is low-fat.
Make sure you're also stocked with the following ingredients:
Soy, rice, or cow's milk
Chopped raw almonds, cashews, or hazelnuts
Lemon
Low-fat Greek yogurt
Italian seasoning
Red onion
8-inch whole-wheat tortilla
Gruyère cheese
Cinnamon
Now that you're ready to create delicious fat-blasting meals, check out the recipes below!
BREAKFAST
Farro Bowl
Place 1/2 cup cooked farro in a small, microwavable bowl. Add 1/2 cup milk and microwave for 20 seconds. Stir in 1/2 cup grape halves and sprinkle with 1 tsp chopped nuts and 1/2 tsp lemon zest.
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LUNCH
Chicken Salad Boats
Mix 1/2 cup shredded dark-meat chicken (skin removed) with 1/4 cup grape halves, 1 Tbsp chopped nuts, 1 Tbsp chopped red onion, and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice to taste. Spread on four large endive leaves to serve.
SNACK
Veggie Dippers
Mix together 1/2 cup Greek yogurt and 1 tsp Italian seasoning. Serve with 1/3 head endive and 1/2 cup snow peas for dipping.
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DINNER
Chicken Endive Flatbread
Add 1/2 tsp olive oil to a pan on medium-high heat. Add 1/4 cup sliced red onion and cook, stirring frequently, until caramelized, about 20 minutes. Top a tortilla with 1/4 cup shredded Gruyère cheese, 1/2 cup shredded endive, and the onion. Bake in a 425°F oven until the tortilla is lightly browned and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Halfway through, top with 1/2 cup fully cooked diced white-meat chicken.
DESSERT
Roasted Grapes with Yogurt
Arrange 15 grapes on a cookie tray and drizzle with 1 tsp olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Bake at 450°F until skins become firm, approximately 15 minutes. Top with 1 Tbsp Greek yogurt to serve.
For more healthy recipes and easy weight-loss tips, pick up the April 2015 issue of Women's Health, on newsstands now.
RELATED: 21 Great Desserts for Weight Loss
