Foolproof Hacks For Girls Who Can't Cook & Want To Eat Clean

If you're one of the many people who choose not to cook or simply don't enjoy it, you might wonder how you can drop some weight. But, you're probably wondering that because everything you've ever heard says that eating out is a surefire way to keep on gaining weight rather than losing it. Turns out you're not doomed if you do. There are some super easy kitchen hacks you can practice at home to help you lose weight, even if you don't cook.

1. LEAVE FRUIT LYING AROUND

OK, you don't want to leave fruit just anywhere, but research shows that when you can see it, you're more likely to eat it. Since fruit is packed with nutrients but is low in fat and calories, it makes an ideal choice for a weight loss meal plan. Grab a banana, apple or orange, and you have a healthy snack that you don't have to cook. Perfect!

2. EAT HIGH PROTEIN & FAT SNACKS

Protein is a powerful nutrient when you want to drop some weight. Fat, like avocados, is great to keeping you fuller longer, too. It satisfies your appetite and helps you feel full longer, while also being vital for promoting healthy muscles and bodily functions. Choosing a high protein snack gives you the fuel you need to get to the next meal. The trick is choosing high-quality protein like that found in nuts, cheese, and beans.

3. EAT SOME CARBS

Yes, babe, you read that right! Your body needs a certain amount of carbs just to function. When you slash all the carbs from your meal plan, you'll only wind up feeling sluggish and tired. So while you can eat carbs, totally guilt free, you have to choose the right kinds of carbs. Many of them you can enjoy without cooking, and others only need to be prepared in a pot of boiling water. Try whole grain crackers, cereal, and bread. Or whip up brown rice or whole wheat pasta. Fruits and vegetables are also a great source of healthy carbs.

4. CHOOSE HEALTHY SIDE DISHES

You don't have to be a master chef to enjoy healthy side dishes. Instead of focusing on #things that take too much time or effort, try stocking your home with the ingredients to make no-cook or almost no-cook sides. Serve low-fat cottage cheese, a chopped veggie salad or a fruit salad with your meal, and you'll be eating low-calorie options that are still satisfying and don't take much work to prepare.

5. KEEP THE JUNK OUT OF THE HOUSE

If you're a no cooking kind of girl, you might find yourself reaching for potato chips, canned soup, cookies or other easy foods when you get hungry. Trust me; you are not alone. Avoid temptation by keeping that stuff out of your house. Having to go out for a candy bar is often not worth it. Instead, stock your house with healthy foods so that when you're hungry, but don't feel like cooking, you can still eat something that's good for you.

6. PAY ATTENTION TO PORTION SIZES

You don't have to be a master chef to learn how much food is a serving. For example, a serving of pasta is a cup. If you're anything like me, you eat way more than that. That's fine if you're balancing the calorie content with the rest of your food, but it's easy to underestimate how much you eat, which can derail all of your #weight loss efforts. Invest in a kitchen scale and a set of measuring tools so you can get your portion sizes just right.

7. TAKE SMALL STEPS WITH FOOD

Making changes can be hard. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire diet at once, the experts suggest taking small steps and making little changes. When you approach eating like this, it's much easier to make the changes without thinking your life totally sucks. Choose sharp cheddar, so you need less of it, have your sandwich in a lettuce leaf instead of on bread and make your dressing instead of choosing the store bought version.

Do you cook? If not, what other hacks can you add to this list?