8 Foods To Help Kickstart Your Weight Loss Goals

January is totally notorious for partying, eating and drinking in abundance. And very few have been immune to this epic outbreak of fun & frivolity. As expected, this reflects relentlessly on our expanding waistlines, urgh. Ha, but fear not friends. In between these crazy days and nights of letting loose try chowing down on some nutrients that won’t make you fat. Of course 1 day of eating these foods combined with 6 days not so isn’t going to help too much, but that balls in your court, you know that old rule… ‘everything in moderation’. We’re going to explore 8 foods that won’t make you fat.

Sadly, chocolate cake, espresso martinis & a cheese board didn’t make the grade for us with this list. However if you’re keen to get on the health train to awesomeness these 8 foods are the trick, not only are they low in calories and high in fibre, but these foods also serve you up a fab host of other health benefits too.

OK, roll call…

Celery is commonly accepted/known as the zero-calorie food. How does this mean? There’s this thing called the ‘thermogenic effect of food’ – in short, your body burns calories digesting the food you eat. So essentially, depending on your person and genetics, it could actually take more energy to digest than you’re actually getting from the food itself. Snack on this one.

Not everyones fave, but toughen up, it’s a super food, get on it. It has, over the last few years, made it’s way effortlessly onto EVERY healthy-food list in existence. And for good reason. If all your eating habits leave you exasperated, go green, you can’t go wrong.  Kale smoothie, total.

Eat them raw, throw into a stir fry or stuff with mince meat and quinoa and bake. Get these onto your plate.

Cruciferous vegetables are the mainstay when it comes to “zero-calorie” foods, and broccoli is one of the best ones for you. Broccoli is jam packed with gut-filling fibre. Eat it raw, steam or fry, either way be a fan of this one.

Tomatoes are a treasure of riches when it comes to their antioxidant benefits. In terms of conventional antioxidants, tomatoes provide an excellent amount of vitamin C and beta-carotene; a very good amount of the mineral manganese; and a good amount of vitamin E. In terms of phytonutrients, tomatoes are basically off the chart. What you can’t do with a tomato, isn’t worth doing.

Cauliflower is often considered one of the healthiest foods on earth- and there is good reason why. With its rich supply of health-promoting phytochemicals, high level of anti-inflammatory compounds, and ability to ward off cancer, heart disease, brain disease, and even weight gain- it seems there isn’t much cauliflower can’t do. Move over superman, there’s a new bitch on the block. Eat raw, steam or fry.

Ahhh, the love it or hate it vegetable. Once again, green leafy vegetables will always win out, and this one trumps (umm we really need a new word). “When we’re breaking down muscle at the cellular level, we have to renourish our bodies with the proper foods,” Lemond says. “Your body is going to repair itself in the most optimal way when you’re eating greens.” Steam, fry or eat baby spinach raw in a salad.