5 Foods That Help Burn Belly Fat

I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t always have a healthy relationship with food. I’ve see-sawed from one end of the spectrum to the other many times in my life starting at a young age. It’s heartbreaking, sometimes, to look back and think of the way I talked to and thought about myself. Which is why I’m so passionate about sharing ways to be healthy and happy! I didn’t have the tools to know any better than binging, restricting, and dieting. If I had known that there were fat burning foods to enjoy and support my goals, my life would have been so different!

My goal with today’s post is to share some of my favorite foods that burn belly fat. I hope it encourages you to support your body with real, whole foods, because that’s truly the only way to get the results you want for LIFE! That’s right. Diets and fads may work for a few weeks or months at a time, but supporting your body with the right protein, fats, and vegetables will actually change your body and mind forever.

Do I Need To Change My Diet To Burn Belly Fat?

There’s two ways to answer this question. I’ll start by saying that my goal is to never have anyone on a diet. I prefer to call it a lifestyle. A diet is a short-term fix, whereas a lifestyle is sustainable for as long as it fits your goals. The second part of my answer is that in order to burn belly fat, you don’t need to just change your diet, you need to change your life! Belly fat is formed by a sedentary lifestyle (make sure you’re moving daily!), poor diet (limit processed foods and added sugar!), and can even be determined by bad stress (be sure to find a mindfulness practice you enjoy!).

Whenever I work with clients 1:1, I always start with their mindset. If you can commit your mind to wanting to feel good, better yourself, and do what it takes to look your best, then we can move on to food! When belly fat loss is the goal, we start with fat burning foods that you’ll enjoy and stick to.

5 Foods That Burn Belly Fat

These are my go-to five favorite foods that burn belly fat!

1. Salmon

Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, both of which can help promote fat burn. Consuming enough of both of these nutrients is not only great for overall health, but particularly weight loss. [1] 

2. Grapefruit

Yes! This delicious, sweet citrus is linked to reduced appetite and body weight. [2] My favorite way to eat grapefruit is broiled! The process brings out the natural sugars in the fruit and is so tasty. Grapefruit can potentially affect the way your medications work, so be sure to check with your doctor before consuming!

3. Low or Non-Fat Greek yogurt

Like salmon, the protein in greek yogurt helps you stay full longer, reducing unnecessary cravings and snacking. Plus, the protein in yogurt makes it slower to digest which also keeps you satisfied for a longer period of time. [3]

4. Garlic

While most people don’t consume garlic whole, garlic oil is a great addition to your food to help burn fat. One study showed it linked to reduced overall body weight gain. [4]

5. Pumpkin seeds

These are one of my favorite fat burning foods! Thanks to the magnesium content in pumpkin seeds, they can help boost metabolism! [5] They’re tasty, crunchy, and the perfect snack for travel days. 

Other Ways To Burn Belly Fat

Eating the above foods alone will not burn belly fat. You’ll need to change your lifestyle, as mentioned in the beginning of this blog. In addition to fat burning foods, here are my favorite hacks for boosting metabolism, burning fat, and creating a healthy lifestyle that supports your health goals!

1. Walk more–exercising is a great way to help burn fat, but don’t underestimate the power of walking! In fact, how quickly you can walk for a long period of time is a great indicator of overall health.
2. also known as ACV, this type of vinegar is a great way to support fat loss. It’s not so easy to choke down though, so I advise you take them in the form of Skinny Gummies! They’re a delicious, easy way to reap all the belly fat burning benefits of ACV. 
3. Hydrate–drinking enough water is so underrated. Our body gets rid of waste and toxins via sweat and urine, which is made possible by water! Drinking enough water can make or break your weight loss goals, big time.
4. Good stress–you read that right. Our body thrives on good stress, like exercise, cold showers, saunas, and more. Just be sure to balance it out with recovery and rest days, too.