5 Food Swaps for Weight Loss

Kicking off the New Year also meant kicking off healthy kitchen choices for me. My husband and I spent the other weekend throwing out any excess junk and processed foods and shopping for fresh, whole ingredients.

When I opened the refrigerator the next day, I thought I was in someone else's home. Here are five diet changes I've made so far that have already made me feel a difference in my energy levels and hunger.

1. In: Leafy greens. Despite growing up in the South, I don’t think I had ever tried collard or mustard greens. I’ve been sauteing them every day with garlic and onion and found that they keep me feeling full for a long time.

2. In: Berries. If I struggle with overeating one healthy food, it’s fruit. I love grapes, oranges, bananas, mango, the list goes on. But since my glucose is fairly high and I suffer from low blood sugar, I need to do my best at keeping my blood sugar low. So both my trainer, Tomery, and dietician, Lauren, suggested that I ditch other fruit and eat berries because they are so much lower in sugar. I enjoy blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries fresh and use them frozen in my post-workout protein shake. The best part: My experts were right. I’ve noticed my sugars don’t spike after eating these tasty gems.