Best Weight Loss Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes

Thai steak salad

Red beans and coconut rice

Forget complicated, expensive diet plans (which don't work anyway) and just focus on fiber, suggests a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2015. The findings indicate that making just one dietary change—setting a goal of eating 30 grams of fiber each day—can help you lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and improve your body's response to insulin. As a shortcut, make a meal of rice and beans, which provides a bowl full of plant-based protein (20 to 25 grams) and fiber (about 15 grams). Beans and rice don't have to be boring! Make this simply delicious 30-minute island-inspired coconut rice and beans recipe from Epicurious, using light coconut milk. Don't miss these other 10 high-fiber recipes that help you lose weight.

Green tea smoothie

You know that green tea is good for you because of all its antioxidants, but the combo of caffeine and the free-radical-fighting catechin EGCG in green tea may help people lose weight, according to a meta-analysis of 11 studies published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2009. While more recent analyses are mixed and suggest that any weight

 loss resulting from green tea would be minimal, anyone who wants to shed some pounds knows that every little bit counts. If you're looking for a cool alternative to straight-up green tea, try this creamy low-carb green tea smoothie made with matcha from Better by Design Nutrition.

Red lentil soup

Eating soup is one of the simplest, most pain-free ways to drop a size and shed belly fat. One study published in the journal Appetite in 2007 found that people who ate soup before consuming a lunch entrée ended up downing 20 percent fewer calories overall than people who skipped soup. Adding vegetables and protein to your soup also helps keep you fuller longer, so you'll be less hungry later on. This weight-loss recipe for red lentil soup from Kitchn has a whopping 12.5 grams of protein per serving and is ready in 25 minutes. Sauté a teaspoon or two of fresh, grated ginger with the onion and add a pinch of cayenne for an extra flavor boost. On your next trip to the grocery store, make sure to pick up these protein-filled diet foods for weight loss.

Tzatziki