When you’re following a weight loss plan, keeping your kitchen cupboards stocked with the right ingredients can help you to stay on track and prevent you from feeling unnecessarily hungry.
It also helps to take away some of the hassle of deciding what to eat at mealtimes, as you’ll have a well-stocked store to select from.
It’s helpful to stick to a shopping list when you’re at the supermarket to keep your grocery shopping focused and on-plan. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you stock your cupboards with all the essential ingredients you’ll want to have on hand.
Meal Replacement Products
If you’re following an OPTIFAST diet plan, stock your cupboards full of our Bars, Shakes, Soups and Desserts. Stock up on a variety of flavours to make sure you’ve got plenty to choose from and help keep your weight loss journey exciting.
When you’re cutting back on sugar, salt and fat, herbs and spices will become your new go-to for adding extra flavour or a bit of a kick to salads and low-calorie meals. You can even add them to your OPTIFAST Soups.
If you’d like to stock up on some basic herbs and spices, we recommend:
Basil
Parsley
Paprika
Chilli powder
If you’re into spicy food or want to experiment a little more, here is a more comprehensive list of herbs and spices to have on hand:
Chilli flakes
Cinnamon
Coriander
Cumin
Garam masala
Mint
Oregano
Turmeric
Smoked paprika
Tinned Vegetables
When you’re ready to start incorporating low-calorie meals into your OPTIFAST diet plan, they should be centred around lean protein and non-starchy vegetables wherever possible.
A handful of veg, such as mushrooms or spinach, can transform an OPTIFAST Soup, while a tin of chopped tomatoes makes a great low-calorie base for a homemade curry sauce or stew to enjoy with a small salad or steamed vegetables.
Lean proteins should also be a key component of your low-calorie meals, as they can help you to feel full for longer.
Tinned tuna is a good source of lean protein, but be careful to choose tuna in spring water rather than brine or sunflower oil, as these can carry hidden salt and calories.
Eggs are another great option, and can be used as an accompaniment to tuna in a niçoise salad or to create a filling breakfast.
Sauces
If you’re a condiment fan, bear in mind that any extra ingredients like ketchup, mustard, mayo or barbecue sauce can add extra calories to your daily total. However, these can be an effective way to add extra flavour to a meal or to one of our OPTIFAST Soups.
Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and tabasco sauce are all good options to add a little something different to your OPTIFAST Soup or another low-calorie meal – but use them sparingly, as they can contain a high amount of sodium.
Looking for more low-calorie meal inspiration? Check out these delicious healthier lunch ideas:
