Losing weight is the goal of many people. And for all of those of you out there who want to get rid of the fat and not gain so much, I decided to write this post with some easy, fun ideas, and why they are also healthy, to add to your routine.

Fiber

There are two main tricks to weight loss; one is to eat more fiber, which will carry out the fat that your body is trying to get rid of. Fiber is something found in plant foods. It’s not absorbed as a nutrient but more as a cleaner. Soluble fibers clean out your blood and insoluble fibers clean your digestive system. As your liver tries to get rid of fat through the intestines, if there is no fiber to latch on to, the fat gets reabsorbed and stored on your body. And popcorn and carrots are two of the highest fiber choices in the plant kingdom.

Water-based Foods

The other trick for weight loss is to eat more soup. You get filled up on more liquid and gain less calories. Normally cheese and cream is very fattening but when added to a soup, it’s not quite as fattening. The soup is still mostly water. And water-based foods like soup and vegetables are great for weight loss. They fill you up on a very small amount of calories. It would be better for your health to avoid the dairy though, but studies show people eat less and consume less calories even when eating a creamy soup.

Here are three easy food and snack choices to help you lose weight faster.

1.  Popcorn – Air popped is the best. There is no fat added to that. Popcorn is super high in fiber. It’s easy to munch on if you just need some little snack to keep stuffing your face. If you’re going through an emotional time, eat more popcorn, then you can feel full of something with lots of fiber to carry the fat out and cheer you up with weight loss.

Try to get organic popcorn from the health food store. You will save more money per pound if you have them order it for you and just buy a 25 or 50 pound bag. You can break it down into smaller storage containers for convenient use. I like organic better because then I know it’s not GMO. I don’t want to ruin my organs and have an early death.

2.  Carrots – Eating a crunchy carrot whole, like it is, will be the easiest thing ever. It’s cheaper than baby carrots. All you have to do is wash it off, cut the ends off, and you get the nourishment a fresher carrot and the skin of the carrot. Kids like carrots, because they have a really nice flavor. Be a kid and enjoy a carrot more often.

Don’t cut them if you can help it. Cutting them starts a chemical reaction that is slightly poisonous to the exposed portions. Don’t peel them unless the skin looks really bad. Yucky looking skin means that part of the carrot is spoiling, so peel that off.

Here is some nutritional information about carrots from the Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts and Seeds for Healthful Living  by Joseph M. Kadans, Ph.D.

Carrots taken whole or as juice have been reported as valuable for cases of obesity, toxemia (poisoning of the blood), constipation, asthma, poor complexion, poor teeth (including pyorrhea), insomnia, high blood pressure, neurasthenia (nervous strain due to overwork), inflamed kidneys and bladder, colitis (inflammation of the colon), catarrh (discharge from mucous membrane), improves appearance of hair and nails, helps improve eyesight, corrects dropsy (excessive accumulation of fluid in body cavities), ends painful urination, increases menstrual flow, and helps to keep the skin healthy. As fresh carrots are an important source of Vitamin A, individuals deficient in this vitamin may be suffering from colds, due to the tendency of the cells of the skin and mucous membrane to dry up and become horny-like when deprived of this vitamin. This deficiency may cause the liver, kidneys and other glands, including the genital organs, to suffer. One symptom of lack of this vitamin is a loss of ability to smell. Another symptom is diarrhea. In addition, other glands affected are the thyroid , the pituitary (master gland in the cranium, attached to the base of the brain), and perhaps other glands and organs.

Carrot juice has been recommended for relief of peptic ulcers. The juice, taken in ample quantities, is also reported to prevent bodily infections, and is said to be valuable for the adrenal glands (the small glands situated above each kidney). Dr. N.W. Walker has reported that this juice will prevent infections of the eyes, throat, tonsils, the sinus area, and the lungs and lung passages. This juice has also been recommended for nursing mothers, to enhance the quality of their breast milk.

Carrots are also good for children and the development of their teeth and jaws. I need to remember to try to get my daughter to eat a carrot everyday. I read somewhere that it will help to straighten her teeth so she won’t need braces. I did another post on the benefits of carrot pulp and how to use it.

potato parsley or creamy navy bean soup

3.  Soup – Because it is water-based, you get filled up on mostly water along with some nutritional sauces, vegetables, and grains. You will feel full, but on less calories. And, studies show that you will end up eating less. There are a lot of tasty, healthy recipes in my recipe category. Soup can be a whole meal. It’s comforting and tastes great.

Watch the pounds start to come off as you get full, but actually take in less calories. It’s very satisfying anytime. Use up your leftovers by adding them to your soup. Your chopped vegetables can cook in the soupy water, and instead of dumping out the now nutritional cooking water, you’ll consume it in the soup. Pretty awesome, huh?

Conclusion

You’ll have better success with weight loss if you try these three easy ideas; carrots, popcorn, and soup. Grab a carrot and munch for health, take five minutes to air pop some high-fiber organic popcorn, and save money with water-based, weight-reducing soups. . But, don’t just stop with these three ideas. All plant foods have fiber, so add variety with brown rice, beans, two fresh fruits a day, and all the vegetables you like. It’s time to take control of your life and get rid of that excess fat in a fun, easy way