Skip the millions of crunches! If you want to get rid of stubborn belly fat, Jade Jenny, head CrossFit coach and owner of Champlain Valley CrossFit [1], said there are really no exercises to reduce belly fat. "Unfortunately, this is the age-old myth," she told POPSUGAR. "People think they can get abs, and just abs."
It may surprise you to hear a CrossFit coach say that "reducing belly fat ultimately comes down to how you eat," but it's true. You can't exercise away a bad diet, and abs truly are made in the kitchen. Plus, you can't pick and choose where you want fat to disappear from your body. In order to lose belly fat, you need to reduce your overall body fat percentage [2] by dialing in your diet, eating whole foods, ditching the junk, and creating a calorie deficit.
There are certain foods proven to target abdominal fat [3]. Ingredients such as whole grains and MUFAS (monounsaturated fatty acids) — think avocados, nuts, and seeds — help diminish visceral fat around your inner organs. Don't forget about lean protein, especially fish like salmon, eggs [4], tofu [5], and plant-based protein powders; they can also help burn away belly fat. Berries, such as blueberries [6], are also key belly-fat fighters, along with fibre-rich fruits, veggies, and legumes, such as raspberries, leafy greens, and beans.
Let the first meal of the day help you lose belly fat [8] by cooking up these satisfying breakfast recipes that contain belly fat-fighting ingredients [9].
Overnight Hemp Seed Cereal
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, hemp seeds, chia seeds
Get the recipe: overnight hemp seed cereal [10]
Avocado and Egg Breakfast
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: avocado, egg
Get the recipe: avocado and egg breakfast [11]
Tofu Scramble With Kale and Sweet Potatoes
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: tofu, kale
Get the recipe: tofu scramble with sweet potatoes and kale [12]
Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: blueberries, cashews, tofu
Get the recipe: blueberry cheesecake smoothie [13]
Blueberry Pineapple Overnight Oats
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, blueberries, almonds, chia seeds
Get the recipe: blueberry pineapple overnight oats [14]
Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: spinach, tofu, strawberries, almond butter
Get the recipe: strawberry banana spinach smoothie [15]
Sweet Potato, Tofu, and Avocado Breakfast Bowl
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: avocado, tofu, cashews
Get the recipe: sweet potato, tofu, avocado breakfast bowl [16]
Peanut Butter Protein Granola Bars
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, peanut butter, plant-based protein powder, pecans
Get the recipe: peanut butter protein granola bars [17]
Asparagus and Smoked Salmon Bundles
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: salmon
Get the recipe: asparagus and smoked salmon bundles [18]
Paleo Breakfast Bowl
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: salmon, eggs, greens, avocado
Get the recipe: breakfast bowl [19]
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, chia seeds, peanut butter, peanuts
Get the recipe: chocolate peanut butter overnight oats [20]
Pineapple Kale Smoothie
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: pineapple, kale, blueberries, Greek yoghurt, avocado
Get the recipe: pineapple kale smoothie [21]
Apple Cinnamon Quinoa Bake
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: quinoa, eggs, almonds
Get the recipe: apple cinnamon quinoa bake [22]
Chocolate Almond Protein Bars
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, almonds, plant-based protein powder
Get the recipe: chocolate almond protein bars [23]
Wheat-Free Pancakes
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: almond meal, flaxseed, eggs
Get the recipe: wheat-free pancakes [24]
Coconut Chia Pudding With Berries
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: chia seeds, berries
Get the recipe: coconut chia pudding with berries [25]
Banana Cashew Overnight Oats
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, chickpeas, cashews, chia seeds
Get the recipe: banana cashew overnight oats [26]
Metabolism-Boosting Smoothie
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: Greek yoghurt, beans, almonds, strawberries, broccoli, flaxmeal
Get the recipe: metabolism-boosting smoothie [27]
High-Protein Overnight Oats
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, chia seeds, plant-based protein powder, pecans
Get the recipe: high-protein maple vanilla overnight oats [28]
Smoatmeal
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, spinach, blueberries, plant-based protein powder, flaxmeal, almonds
Get the recipe: smoatmeal [29]
Roasted Veggies With Easy Fried Egg
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: broccoli, cauliflower, egg
Get the recipe: roasted veggies and egg [30]
Blueberry Grape Barley Bake
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: blueberries, barley, eggs, plant-based protein powder, pecans
Get the recipe: blueberry grape barley bake [31]
High-Protein Vanilla Almond Raspberry Overnight Oats
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: beans, oats, chia seeds, almonds, raspberries
Get the recipe: high-protein vanilla almond raspberry oatmeal [32]
Vegan Chocolate Milkshake Smoothie
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: tofu, flaxmeal, raspberries
Get the recipe: chocolate raspberry smoothie [33]
High-Protein Oatmeal
Belly fat-fighting ingredients: oats, flaxmeal, plant-based protein powder
Get the recipe: high-protein oatmeal [34]
Mediterranean Scramble
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: eggs, spinach
Get the recipe: spinach and sun-dried tomato scramble [35]chewy, cinnamon overnight breakfast cookie [36]
Vanilla Milkshake Smoothie
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: tofu, peanut butter
Get the recipe: vanilla milkshake smoothie [37]
Brownie Batter Overnight Oats
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: oats, chia seeds, plant-based protein powder, cashews
Get the recipe: chocolate overnight oatmeal [38]
Eggs Baked in Avocado
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: avocado, eggs
Get the recipe: eggs baked in avocado [39]
Flat-Belly Smoothie
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: kale, blueberries, almond butter
Get the recipe: kale blueberry pineapple smoothie [40]
Low-Sugar Berry Smoothie
Belly-fat-fighting ingredients: spinach, plant-based protein powder, strawberries, blueberries, cashews
Get the recipe: berry smoothie [41]