11 ingredients that will help you lose weight

Chicory, a leafy veg that has a very bitter flavour, contains a small fatty acid molecule called proprionate which will make you feel fuller, stopping you from overindulging and also stopping you from snacking during meals.

Not only this, but the veg is full of fibre and great if you're trying to shift some pounds quickly but healthily.

Recipes to try:
Steak, chicory and orange salad
Braised chicory with bacon
Chicory boats

Did you know that mushrooms can help you lose weight? The trick is to replace red meat with mushrooms which can encourage weight loss.

Mushrooms are extremely low in calories in comparison to red meat and there are so many varieties and flavours you can't go wrong! Sautéed mushrooms in a burger bun or chestnut mushrooms in a stir-fry - you can have these tasty bites without feeling deprived as they will keep you as full as meat.

Recipes to try:
Mushroom pasta
Warm mushroom and poached egg salad
Chestnut mushroom stroganoff

Eggs are bursting with protein and protein is great way of filling up. Eating an egg will keep you fuller for longer, which means you will eat less food throughout the day, resulting in gradual weight loss.

Whether you opt for eggs for breakfast or have a boiled egg or two with your salad, you'll be full to the brim after eating one of these and won't want to snack in between meals.

Recipes to try:
Cheese and ham omelette
Egg fried rice
Quick salad nicoise

If you're looking to lose some weight and are not sure what to have for breakfast, try having some porridge or oat-based muesli.

Yes, oats are carbohydrates which means they can be quite high in sugar, but they are also slow-release carbs which means they take longer to be turned into energy and will keep you full until lunch time.

They can also help to burn fat if you eat them three hours before you exercise!

Recipes to try:
Granola
Strawberry and oat smoothie
Porridge recipes

Not only are almonds packed full of protein, which makes them the perfect snack to keep you fuller for longer, they are also full of natural fats.

Natural fats are good for the body and are much easier to break down unlike other unnatural fatty foods. Most of the goodness comes from the skin so make sure you buy almonds with skin on them.

Recipes to try:
Broad beans with pancetta and almonds
Muesli with almonds
Porridge with honey and almonds

Apples are a great snack if you're trying to lose weight. Each apple has 4g of fibre and is just 95 cals. Fibre is an important part of your diet and can help prevent weight gain or encourage weight loss as it is easily digested.

So if you're craving a snack during the day, try munching on an apple!

Recipes to try:
Apple and celery smoothie
Apple yogurt cake
Apple and berry Cheerios bars

If you love hot and spicy food, you'll be happy to know that it can actually be helping you lose weight. Chillies are said to contain chemicals that boost your body's ability to burn fat.

Chillies also help to curb your appetite so make sure you throw a few chillies into your low-fat spag Bol or healthy salad.

Recipes to try:
Chilli and bacon pasta
Pickled chillies
Chilli chicken

It can be hard to cut out the fatty carbs from your meals but instead of reaching for the standard white pasta, rice or potatoes, try couscous - it's a great, healthy alternative.

Couscous is low-in-fat, low-in-calories and is a slow-release carbohydrate which means it takes longer to release energy in the body which will keep you fuller for longer. Ready in just 5 mins, it's also much quicker than your standard side dish.

Recipes to try:
Fruit and nut couscous
Spinach and chickpea couscous
Couscous and pomegranate salad

Some root vegetables are high in fibre and carrots are top of the list. When foods are high in fibre it means that they can be easily digested.

Carrots also contain plenty of water which helps to fill you up for longer and keep your hunger at bay! So if you're looking for something to snack on, do a Bugs Bunny and opt for a carrot!

Recipes to try:
Honey-glazed carrots with parsley
Carrot and butternut squash soup
Carrot and coriander burgers

Quinoa is a vegetable-like grain that is full of protein, vitamins and minerals. If you want to cut down the calories in your meals, swap your pasta or rice for quinoa instead and watch the weight gradually decrease.

This low-calorie and low-fat grain is easy to cook and can be found in most supermarkets.

Recipes to try:
Quinoa with halloumi
Quinoa, feta and broccoli salad
Quinoa crunchies

Slices of chicken in your salad or chicken breast for dinner is the perfect option if you want to stop snacking and start losing some pounds.

Chicken is full of protein which will make you full and satisfied until your next meal. Chicken is also much lower in calories than other meats and without the skin has a low-fat count too.

Recipes to try:
Stuffed chicken with spinach
Low-calorie chicken tikka masala
More chicken recipes

Where to next?
- Ways to stay fuller for longer
- Foods that are making you hungry
- Meals under 400 calories