Toss These Pantry Items If You Want to Lose Weight

If abs are made in the kitchen, it's best to rid it of all the tempting, unhealthy snacks and [...]

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If abs are made in the kitchen, it's best to rid it of all the tempting, unhealthy snacks and treats you've got stashed away. Check out the 10 foods you need to throw away today if you're looking to lose weight. Some of them may surprise you!

1. Soda: Especially if it's in your pantry and not in your fridge, you know you've got too much stocked up! Soda (even diet sodas) is filled with high fructose corn syrup and provides no nutritional value. Instead, try an infused water to get a hydrating drink that's full of flavor.

>> Watch the video below to see how to use a water infuser!

2. Sugary breakfast cereals: Lucky Charms® may be magically delicious, but a ¾ cup serving is packed with 10 grams of sugar and 2 grams of both fiber and protein. Eat this cereal in the morning and you'll be hungry again an hour later; it's best to just toss it!

3. Cookies and snack cakes: You know cookies aren't a diet-friendly food to begin with, but the first step to curbing your sugar cravings is to purge those processed cookies and cakes from your kitchen! Once they're all gone, whip up some Skinny Chocolate Stuffed Raspberries and indulge your sweet tooth.

4. Microwave popcorn: The butter and oil in movie theater style popcorns can be disastrous for your diet! If you can't give up the comforting taste and texture, opt for air-popped popcorn!

5. Chips: Even kettle-cooked or baked chips that claim to be healthier for you are loaded with oils and processed ingredients. If it's the crunch you're craving, give Kale Chips a shot!

6. Instant noodles: It may be convenient, but these quick noodle lunch packets are linked to metabolic syndrome. The noodles don't break down for hours after you eat them and their sodium content is through the roof.

7. Multigrain bread and bagels: You've ditched white breads with no nutritional value for a seemingly healthier multigrain version. But really, multigrain products are just enriched flour based with some grains thrown in. Look for whole-wheat options or make your sandwiches into lettuce wraps! 

8. Quick rice meals: Prepared, chicken flavored Rice-A-Roni® contains 1.5 grams of trans fat which has been deemed unhealthy at an level. The company also sells a low-sodium version — that still contains 670 grams of sodium! It may be easy, but it's not worth the calories and fat.

>> Instead, try this recipe for Chicken Fried Rice!

Chicken Fried Rice

9. Boxed mac and cheese: Kraft's famous Blue Box Macaroni & Cheese is 400 calories when prepared and carries only 1 gram of fiber. If you indulge, you'll be hungry soon after! Even worse may be its more processed cousin Velvetta Shells and Cheese, which is also packed with 960 milligrams of sodium per serving.

10. Fruit snacks: If you want the fruity taste, why not eat the real thing? These fruit-flavored gummies' main ingredients behind fruit puree are corn syrup, sugar and corn starch. The Mixed Fruit snacks also carry 22 grams of sugar and 160 calories in a 1.75-ounce bag!

>> Read more: Trying to Lose Weight? Here are 18 Snacks that will Help

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