The 12 Healthiest Vegetables for Weight Loss

1. Cauliflower

Cauliflower pizza and rice are here to stay—for good reason! One cup of chopped cauliflower includes 27 calories, 2 g fiber, and 2 g protein.

2. Spaghetti Squash

Use a spaghetti squash or two to replace pasta, or use half noodles and half squash. For a balanced meal, serve with other colorful veggies and protein.

3. Avocado

Avocados are fruits, yet we included them for their fat-burning characteristics. That seems contradictory considering avocados are abundant in fat.

4. Cabbage

Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and kale. Cruciferous veggies include phytonutrients that combat cancer and inflammation.

5. Zucchini

Zucchini slices have 19 calories and 3.5 g of carbs per cup. Its neutral taste makes it easy to pair with sweet and savory items.

6. Romaine lettuce

Romaine lettuce is one of the lowest-calorie veggies with 8 calories per cup. On the negative, it has only 1 g of fiber per cup.

7. Green Peas

Peas have more carbs than non-starchy veggies like potatoes and maize. But green peas are high in fiber and protein, unlike other veggies.

8. Kale

Not everyone likes kale's tough texture, but there are different ways to eat it. Roast kale on a baking sheet for crispy chips or combine it into a smoothie for fiber. 

9. Spinach

There are many ways to sneak spinach into your diet, making it a great refrigerator staple.

10. Carrots

Despite having more sugar than other vegetables, carrots have more fiber. One cup of carrots has 3.5 g of fiber, three times more than leafy greens.

11. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers are nutrient-dense and low in calories. One bell pepper has more vitamin C than an orange!

12. Broccoli

Cruciferous broccoli contains cancer-fighting sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol. The antioxidant quercetin in broccoli may decrease blood pressure.

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