If you’re looking for the best foods for weight loss, you’re probably also seeking out high-protein foods.

Amping up your body’s intake of protein is one of the easiest (and simplest) ways to lose weight. After all, shedding that excess weight is really all about burning more calories than you consume.

So, why not consume protein-rich calories that fill you up and leave you feeling satisfied after a meal?

Protein is one of the most important nutrients for your body, and not just for building lean muscle mass.

It also helps with healthy body functions (nourishing your essential organs) while also stabilizing your blood sugar and speeding up your metabolism.

Protein-rich foods (like our ten favorites, which we’ll get to in a minute) also make excellent foods for weight loss. While they’re increasing satiety – so you’ll be less likely to overeat, and you’ll snack less – they’re also actively burning calories during digestion.

You see, high-protein foods are actually harder for your body to digest than carbohydrates or fats. Your body goes into a mode called thermogenesis, where it expends more energy than normal to digest foods.

As a bonus, these protein-rich foods for weight loss also tend to have low levels of unhealthy fats and are lower in calories than their carbohydrate- or fat-rich counterparts.

In the end, seeking out high-protein foods for weight loss is a great strategy – you’ll give a boost to your organs and muscles while simultaneously shedding those unwanted pounds. And, before you think you have to be a meat-eater to enjoy protein, read on.

There are a lot of plant-based foods for weight loss on this list, so there’s something for everyone – carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians, vegans!

1. Greek Yogurt

Real Greek yogurt is amazing – it contains double the protein of normal yogurts and has less sugar, too. Look for plain Greek yogurt (and be sure to check that it doesn’t have any added sugars).

We would recommend avoiding fruity yogurt varieties and add your own fruit at home instead. You’ll benefit from less processed sugar and also get the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit.