The top 10 foods to avoid this winter

Our taste buds seem to crave everything that’s not so great for us in the cold weather (like hot chocolate with a MOUNTAIN of cream; fish and chips; or stodgy puds) to keep warm and full. And this can be a little bit tricky if we are following a healthy eating plan.

Here are our top 10 foods to steer clear of this winter to minimise the weight gain and boost your weight loss.

The top 10 foods to avoid this winter

1. Café Hot Chocolates

Café hot chocolates are super tasty for a reason. The amount of sugar in them is likely to be five times more than we would make in a ‘homemade’ hot chocolate.

You could easily be consuming an extra 300-400 calories a day with these babies so it’s best to minimise any out of home purchases this winter. Try our Winter Warmer Smoothie for a healthy hot chocolate alternative.

2. Bye Bye Fast Food

If you’re looking for family-friendly winter dinners – you can’t go wrong with this Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs recipe.

3. Canned Soup

Canned soup may seem like an easy lunch option, but these soups are generally full of thickeners, MSG, artificial flavours and are high in sodium. Not to mention the tins are lined with BPA.

Unfortunately, canned soups are not very nutritious as a result. It’s best to opt for homemade soups OR look for store bought soup in as natural a state as possible.

Love a good soup? Check out our Slow Cooked Lasagne Soup. Warming, delish AND nutritious.

4. Instant Noodles

Pot noodles are mostly high in carbs and saturated fat. The easy snack doesn’t tend to keep you full for very long and as a result of all that added sodium – can make you super, super thirsty. We recommend investing in a better option – like rice or buckwheat noodles and make your own, healthy noodle dinners.

Check out our quick and easy Chicken and Peanut noodles for a healthy option to curb those cravings.

5. White Pasta

There’s no doubt many of us enjoy a good Italian-inspired fettuccine dish at a restaurant. The thing is, if you are trying to stick to your healthy eating plan, eating refined carbs regularly is not going to help you reach your weight loss goals.

Save money and the white carbs for a special treat by making homemade pasta dishes – opt for wholemeal, spelt or gluten free varieties which are easier on the digestion, like our One Pot Spaghetti Bolognese, made with wholemeal spaghetti.

6.White Bread

There’s nothing wrong with bread BUT it’s all about the type you choose. Our parents and grandparents may have grown up on white bread, but we have so many better options these days. From wholemeal to rye, sourdough and seeded, there are a whole bunch of nutritious options to choose from.

Wondering which bread to choose? Check out our post on the best breads to eat when you’re trying to lose weight.

7. Biscuits

Sure, a biscuit here and there is fine and dandy. But one can very easily turn into two, or half a packet! This winter – keep an eye on what you’re dunking into your warm drink if you are wanting to stay on healthy eating track.

The good news? If you enjoy a good biscuit, there are PLENTY of nutritious options out there, like these 5 Ingredient Healthier Penguin Biscuits. YUM!

8. Marshmallows

When we think of the cold weather, many of us may think about roasting marshmallows or popping a few of the fluffy morsels into a hot drink. The thing is, even though these typically pink and white soft treats are marketed as ‘fat free’, they are PACKED wth sugar. Try and avoid when you can and perhaps make a batch of yummy Bliss Balls to have with your cuppa or hot chocolate.

9. Microwave Popcorn

Saturday night comes round – and after a busy, cold week – your idea of the perfect night in is to kick back and watch some movies with a big bag of buttery microwave popcorn. Despite how delicious it might smell – it’s loaded with calories. It’s also usually incredibly high in sodium.

If you’ve still got a hankering, try buying a bag of plain kernels to pop at home. That way, you can control the amount of sugar, salt and fat that you add.

10. Instant Porridge

These varieties are loaded with sugar and will have you feeling hungry by 10am. You can easily substitute these with either quick or regular rolled oats (whole oats keep you fuller for longer so opt for them if you can). Add some unsweetened yogurt and fresh berries, plus a hint of cinnamon, and you will be feeling great all morning.

Feeling adventurous? Try our yummy Rice and Quinoa Porridge for a tropical treat at breakfast time.

Need some more recipe inspiration? Check out the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

If you want to improve your overall health and wellbeing but don’t have the budget for a gym membership or fancy pre-made healthy meals – our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge is an awesome program to check out.