The Leaf | Healthy Weight Loss Blog

It’s winter so it must be winter squash season! The produce section of your supermarket is stacked with acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash. These low-calorie but nutrient-dense vegetables (a misnomer because, like tomatoes, they’re actually fruit) can fill you up while delivering abundant quantities of fiber, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and plant chemicals that may help you fight diabetes, heart disease and cancer, says Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health . While summer squash is lightly flavored and watery, winter squash has a rich nutty flavor and, in the case of butternut and acorn squash, a creamy texture that’s oh-so-satisfying. If you’re following a low-carb diet, you might be wondering if winter squash is approved. It can be, it just depends on how you prepare the squash! Luckily, we’ve included plenty of low-carb options in this round up. Here are 12 recipes that are easy to make and so flavorful, you’ll be making winter squash even beyond the winter season. Ma

Protein shakes are fantastic to have on hand. They take mere minutes to prepare, they’re easy to take on the go, plus, they make for a tasty treat that can help keep you feeling fuller for longer stretches of time. Nutrisystem Shakes are no exception. With each delicious vanilla and chocolate shake, you get a whopping 15 grams of protein and five grams of fiber… all at just 120 calories. And that’s not even the sweetest part! While our customers will attest that the Nutrisystem Shakes are totally tasty on their own, you can also doctor them up to suit any kind of craving. Whether you’ve got rich and creamy chocolate on the brain or you’re in the mood for something tropical and refreshing, you can use your protein mixes as a foundation for any number of flavorful concoctions. Running low on Nutrisystem Shakes? Quick! Click here to stock up >   Check out this round-up of delicious smoothies you can make with your Nutrisystem shakes: Helpful hint: Simply click on the recipe name

Winter has arrived and you know what that means: Shorter days, colder temperatures and the dreaded winter weight gain. No, it’s not an urban myth. Studies indicate a very real, but small shift in weight in the cold weather, anywhere from one to five-and-a-half pounds. That may not sound like a lot, but it can (and it does) add up over the years. Here are some of the reasons why you gain weight in the winter… and some tips for surviving the season slim-down style: 1. You’re hungrier. In one US study in which 315 participants wrote down every bite they took—and how hungry they were—over the seasons found that they generally ate more carbohydrates and bigger meals (200 extra calories) in the fall and yet rated themselves hungrier than in both summer and winter. What’s that about? Some researchers suggest that we may have retained that ancient biology, like that of squirrels, of fattening up for winter—and the shortage of food ahead—even though there are no longer shortages of food. W

You’ve probably read that drinking coffee can promote weight loss, but did you know that tea may also help you shed pounds? Green tea has garnered most of the headlines. Between its caffeine and the health-promoting antioxidants it contains, it might give your weight loss efforts a boost. Though most tea contains less caffeine than coffee, even a little bit seems to be able to boost your metabolism to burn calories. In green tea, it gets an able assist from antioxidants known as a catechins, says Healthline. Green tea’s secret catechin weapon is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which prevents the production of an enzyme that breaks down the fat-burning hormone norepinephrine. Letting norepinephrine loose, your cells break down more fat, turning it into energy your body uses rather than stores away. “In fact, caffeine and EGCG — both of which are found naturally in green tea — may have a synergistic effect,” says Healthline. Belly fat, also known as visceral fat, can be extremely ha

While the weather outside may be frigid, the produce shelves at the supermarket are overflowing with winter fruits from warm climates. These SmartCarbs are sweet, juicy and ideal for snacks or flavorful ingredients in your Flex meals. Even better, they’re packed with nutrients and fiber that protect your health and may even help speed up your weight loss results. Be sure to load your cart with these tasty winter fruits while they’re in season. Here are six winter fruits you need to stock up on: 1. Citrus Why:  Citrus kicks off our list of winter fruits. Oranges, tangerines, grapefruits and all the other members of the citrus family are rich in vitamin C, which helps support your immune system as it fights to ward off seasonal colds and flu. Recent research conducted by the American Chemical Society has also found that nutrients known as flavanones, which are abundant in citrus fruits, may help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes among overweight people. Fresh-squeezed ju

Start your day off with good cereal for a good morning! Whether you want to wake up to crunchy flakes or prefer your cereal warm and creamy, Nutrisystem offers plenty delicious cereal options to keep you on track towards your weight loss goal. Busy Morning? 7 Awesome Breakfast Bars from Nutrisystem Read More Grab your spoon and dig in to some good cereal from Nutrisystem! Here are five tasty options: 1. Granola Cereal  > Clusters of rolled oats, puffed rice and cinnamon offer the crunch and sweetness you crave in granola. Plus, four grams of filling fiber and five grams of protein combine to provide a satisfying morning meal you can enjoy with milk or sprinkled over low-fat yogurt. Click here to try it! > 2. Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal > Satisfy your sweet tooth as soon as the sun comes up! Enjoy the sweet combination of maple and brown sugar swirling in a piping hot bowl of gooey deliciousness. The best part? You get the comforting, slow-cooked flavor of oatmeal i