Obesity has long been considered one of the world's biggest plagues, leading to a climbing threat of health problems such as diabetes, pressure problems and high cholesterol. We know that North America is home to the largest population of obese people on the planet, but India is not far behind. The obesity epidemic, as it has been called, is clinging to out coattails and clawing its way further and further up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was even said to be considering a so-called 'fat tax' on packaged foods and drinks that have a high content of sodium and saturated fats.
Consumers have long been whipsawed by contradictory statements on what constitutes unhealthy food - first it was fats, then it was sugar, and now carbs are the super-villain. While scientists debate the issue, what is everyone else to do? The simple thing is to make each spoonful count. Choose foods that are low in calories, but also fill you up. If you don't get that feeling of satiety, you're more likely to prowl around the kitchen, hunting for cakes and crisps. And we all know how that ends!
In this article, I've made a list of ten food items that have fairly low calories and that fill you up quickly and keep you full for longer. Some of them will be fairly obvious to you (salads, duh!), and some may turn out to be quite a surprise.
1. Salad
So, of course, I start with salad, which is the most obvious low-calorie item. By salad, I don't just mean salad leaves (boring as they are), but also celery, arugula and bok choy. Bok choy is one of my favourite leafy greens - high in Vitamin C and antioxidants, it doesn't have the earthy acridity of spinach, and even just a steamed, wilted plate of bok choy is delicious on its own. I'm also adding tomatoes and cucumber to this list. Cucumbers especially, have a pretty high water content, and therefore, a pretty low calorie count.
When it comes to salads though, it's important to remember that while the base in itself is healthy, adding too much salt and sugar (most restaurants are guilty of it) and dressing, considerably up the calorie count. Try a yoghurt dressing instead.
2. Apples
You knew this was coming, didn't you? Apples are one of the few fruits that contain pectin, a substance that keeps you feeling fuller for longer. Apples take while to eat, and end up tricking your brain into believing that your stomach is full. If you don't like apples on their own, you can easily toss them into a salad or into your morning bowl of muesli, yoghurt or oatmeal. You can even put them into a turkey, or chicken sandwich for a touch of sweetness to balance the protein.
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