3 Secrets to Melt Belly Fat

Fruits and vegetables are all over the place. Bananas, apples, pineapples, spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower are all great choices.

Lean proteins are easy. Cold water fish, lean beef, chicken, turkey, and whey protein powders are all easy to find.

But when it's time to find healthy starchy carbs, many clients choose to eat brown rice over and over again. That's a recipe for boredom.

And getting bored with your diet is a sure-fire way to sabotage your fat loss efforts.

Here are a few simple ideas that will take you beyond brown rice and add some great variety to your weight loss nutrition plan.

(The key word in the above paragraph is "variety." One of the keys to losing weight effectively is a varied and stimulating diet.)

Try these fibrous starches on for size:

1. Couscous.

Couscous is an easy-to-make side dish that can be added to vegetables or used in soups and stews.

You can have couscous ready in as little as 10 minutes, so it's simple to fix while you're baking chicken breasts.

2. Barley.

Barley is available in both quick- and slow-cooking varieties. I recommend the slow-cooking, but the fast method is a good option for those busy weeks.

It can be eaten on its own, or used in soups and stews, the same way you'd use couscous.

3. Quinoa.

Quinoa (pronounced "Keen-Wah") has protein, iron, B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium.

This grain contains no gluten, so it's great for people who have wheat allergies and the accompanying gastrointestinal problems.