Last Updated on April 8, 2021 by Lori Geurin
Excellent nutrition is crucial if you want to lose weight, gain muscle and radiate health and vitality, especially when you’re intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a concept that has been around for ages. It is not about what foods you choose to eat. But it is all about the timing of when you eat and don’t eat, cycling between periods of feasting and fasting.
Intermittent Fasting Nutrition
People will say that you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight while fasting.
And, while this may be true to an extent, if you want the best results then you need to upgrade your diet. Make healthy choices when it comes to nourishing your body with real, wholesome food.
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Below are some tips to guide your food choices and maximize your results when fasting.
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IF: What To Eat For Maximum Results
- Include a serving of protein with each meal or snack. Examples include plain Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, whole eggs, chicken breast, grass-fed beef, fish, whey protein, lentils, chickpeas, nutritional yeast, quinoa, a can of tuna or beans.
- Eat plenty of leafy green and cruciferous vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
- Include healthy fats, such as grass-fed butter, coconut, olive oil, avocados, nuts, and nut butters.
- If you’re in the mood for something sweet, fruit is an excellent choice. Or, check out the next option…
- A bit of dark chocolate (at least 70-80% cocoa) is full of antioxidants and makes a delicious and indulgent treat.
- Complex carbohydrates, including sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats, and quinoa are okay if you are able to reach your weight loss goals. But keep in mind that if your weight loss is stalling you may want to eat smaller portions (or cut these foods entirely until you reach your goal weight) and see if that helps.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Coffee and green tea are healthy beverages you can include in your periods of fasting.
- Avoid simple sugars and simple carbohydrates found in white bread and baked goods.
- Avoid packaged and processed foods.
(You may want to learn about clean fasting to improve your fasting results.)
Related: Paleo Diet Quick Guide: What To Eat & Avoid
Summary – Intermittent Fasting And What To Eat
To sum up, intermittent fasting is a timing concept, cycling between periods of feasting and fasting.
It’s important to nourish your body with healthy foods such as protein-rich foods, healthy fats, and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Some people tolerate complex carbohydrates fine; but this may be something to watch if you have trouble meeting your weight loss goals.
Finally, avoid sugary, simple carbohydrates and prepackaged foods. And always drink plenty of water.
Do you do intermittent fasting? What do you eat?
You can read more about intermittent fasting here:
- The Top 7 Myths About Fasting Revealed
- 5 Favorite Intermittent Fasting Methods Explained
- Quick Tips For Intermittent Fasting Like A Rockstar
- Intermittent Fasting: The Effortless Way To Lose Weight
- The Quick Guide To Intermittent Fasting
- 9 Health Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting
- Intermittent Fasting Workout: Benefits Of Exercising In a Fasted State
- 9 Essential Questions About Intermittent Fasting Answered
This is a great bit of info! I love IF and often do an 18/6 rotation. When I can stick to it I definitely feel at my best!
Thanks, Maya! I’m so happy to hear from a fellow intermittent faster! I’m with you 100%. We went on vacation this summer and I got out of my fasting cycle and felt terrible until I was able to get back on track.
Interesting! I have actually never heard of this. I don’t think I could do it but cool concept!
Hey Kayla, Thanks!
I haven’t fasted (on purpose) but these seem like great ways to beat hunger. And good to know about green tea and coffee.
Thanks for sharing, Marcie!
Never tried it! Always wanted to though. 🙂
Hey there KD, When/if you try it I’d suggest doing it for at least a week so you can see how different you feel after your body adjusts to the new pattern. Please let me know if you have any questions!
I haven’t tried intermittent fasting—I have a crazy-fast metabolism and try to eat every 4 hours at least. It’s not pretty when I get hangry!
Hey Catherine, I’m glad you shared this because many of us have the opposite issue (a slow metabolism). A fast metabolism sounds wonderful to many of us, but I know it can feel like work trying to eat enough to keep some weight on.