FITNESS: Snacks That Burn Belly Fat

When looking to burn that last troublesome bit of belly fat, you might be thinking about shaking up your diet and looking for fat-burning foods. Unfortunately, no foods can magically burn fat specifically from your belly. Some foods may give you a temporary metabolism boost, but these won't contribute to long-term weight loss. To lose belly fat, you need a diet that creates a calorie deficit and includes snacks that fit into your allotted calorie intake.

Busting the Myth

Before looking at certain foods, understand the mechanisms of fat loss. Some snacks that claim to burn fat might take a little longer to digest and can serve as pathways to burning fat, but these factors are largely insignificant, notes dietitian Brittany Carpenter. If you're currently maintaining your weight, you'll need to eat 500 fewer calories each day to lose 1 pound per week. Any snacks you have should fit into this calorie intake.

Pick High Protein

Foods high in protein may be more conducive to weight loss than those high in fat and carbohydrate. Protein has a high thermic effect, meaning it does take a little longer to digest. This burns more calories and helps you feel fuller. Good examples of high-protein snacks include lowfat, low-sugar Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, small servings of precooked chicken breast or lean beef, protein shakes and boiled eggs.

Choose Nuts

Plain nuts, such as Brazil nuts, peanuts, cashews, pistachios and macadamias, may be useful in a weight-loss diet. A study published in a 2008 edition of "The Journal of Nutrition" found that when dieters' plans included nuts, participants had greater compliance and lost more weight than dieters who didn't eat nuts. This could potentially be due to the satiating effect that just a small amount of nuts can have. The key to snacking on nuts is to regulate the quantity. They are calorie dense, meaning a small serving can contain a high number of calories, so weigh your servings and don't snack from a large package.

Stay Fresh

Eating a large amount of fresh produce may prove beneficial when attempting to lose belly fat. Though fresh fruits and vegetables don't have any direct effect on belly fat loss, they're generally low in calories but filling, meaning you can have large servings without eating too many calories. Celery, carrots, peppers and cucumber sticks make good veggie-based snacks, while berries, apples, mangoes, kiwis, plums and other fresh fruits are a good choice if you fancy something sweeter.