4. Pasta
Who doesn’t love pasta, seriously?! It’s low in calories and low in fat. Don’t believe us? Read on because, as surprising as it may sound, one cup of cooked spaghetti has approximately 220 calories and 1 gram of fat while one medium sized avocado contains 250 calories and 23 grams of fat.
And yes, compared to avocados, pastas contain gluten, but unless you have a diagnosed sensitivity to this group of proteins, going gluten-free can actually be bad for your ticker. Most pastas on the market are packed with iron, too, but the best choice for you is whole-grain pasta, because it packs about the same calories as regular pasta while having more protein, fiber, and vitamins.
As a bonus, note that all the protein and fiber found in pasta fills you up faster, meaning you’ll be less likely to overeat. The American Heart Association recommends sticking to six servings of grains per day based on a 1600 calorie diet. One serving is half a cup of cooked pasta, and at least half of your daily servings should be whole grains.
