40+ Small Ways to Help You Hit Your Weight-Loss Goals

Experts say eating more veggies is the key to losing weight, so make a point to eat them at every meal, even breakfast. Add broccoli to your smoothie or snack on some DIY veggies chips.

Satiate hunger longer by reaching for a protein-packed snack. You can make protein balls ahead of time like these chocolate chip peanut butter protein palls, or get yourself beef jerky from the store.

Leave dumbbells or other exercise equipment under your coffee table to encourage exercise while watching TV. For a double whammy, print out this dumbbell workout so you're not wasting time wondering what moves to do.

Add more hunger-satiating protein and fiber to your bowl of oatmeal by mashing in some beans. It even works for overnight oats.

Skip the empty calories and get a hold of your sugar addiction by eating fruit after dinner instead of reaching for cookies or ice cream.

Cut carbs from your bowl of oatmeal by using cauliflower instead of oats. This white veggie takes on the flavor of the banana, cinnamon, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond butter, so it tastes delicious!

This healthier version of spaghetti with meat sauce swaps out traditional pasta with spaghetti squash, uses lentils for ground beef, and it offers more fiber than protein, if you can believe it.

Even healthy recipes aren't void of calories, so if you tend to go overboard on the portion sizes, make mini versions of your favorite foods like these 100-calorie bite-size strawberry cheesecakes.

Considering beans' fiber, protein, and iron content, everyone should include more legumes in their diet. If you're having trouble stomaching a bowl of beans, you can still reap the healthy benefits without your taste buds even realizing it. There are tons of bean-loaded dessert recipes, like these chocolate chickpea doughnuts, to appeal to your sweet tooth.

Make the most of your tooth-brushing time and do this two-minute butt and thigh burner.

Plan ahead for your meals and snacks with a little Sunday meal prep. The more time you devote to cutting up and preparing foods, the easier it'll be to stay on the healthy path.

Salads are low in calories and high ion fiber — the perfect combo for weight loss. Eat a huge salad for one meal a day to ensure you get your fill of veggies.

Choosing foods that are bright and colorful inevitably means eating more fruits and veggies. And since they're low in calories and high in fiber, you'll feel satisfied even though you're consuming fewer calories.

Eating treats may seem counterproductive if you're trying to lose weight, but small indulgences can help curb cravings. These vegan chocolate salted caramels will satisfy your need for something sweet and decadent.

The hurdle of having to prepare you protein- and fiber-packed smoothie can make you want to skip it for a scone. So prep all the fruits and greens you use in your smoothies and freeze individual DIY smoothie packs. It not only makes a fast breakfast even faster, but it ensures you stick to a portion-perfect calorie amount.

Getting enough sleep can help shrink your waistline because it regulates your hunger hormones so you eat less. It also reduces anxiety and stress which can contribute to belly fat, and gives you energy so you're less likely to reach for sugary pick-me-ups.

If you're hungry an hour after eating a salad at lunch, make your salad more filling by adding whole grains and fruit to increase the fiber and protein.

Cut carbs and bring more nutrition to your plate by swapping pasta for veggies. Check out these veggie noodle recipes to see how to make best use of your zucchini, spaghetti squash, and more. We love the carrot fettuccine because you don't even need a fancy spiralizer.

Don't have time to cut up a salad every single night? Here's a way to make all the salads you need for your workweek at once.

Don't stop at oatmeal! You can cook up other grains such as quinoa, rice, millet, and barley and freeze those, too. You can even combine two or more grains, and it's a great, quick way to get some protein and fiber into your meal without having to spend 20 minutes cooking them up each time.

Skip the fat and calories of a regular pint and make your own ice cream using frozen fruit and a blender or food processor. This cherry chocolate chip ice cream is made with frozen cherries and frozen banana, and is 126 calories per serving.

Start a workout piggy bank and pay yourself a dollar every time you exercise. Once it's all filled, buy yourself something that will keep you on the healthy path like a new yoga top or put it towards that GPS watch you've had your eye on.

Save on calories and increase the protein of your flapjacks by topping your stack with yogurt instead of maple syrup. If you're dairy-free go for soy or coconut milk yogurt.

How do you make the quickest breakfast even quicker? Prep your entire week of overnight oats all at once.

Cut down on carbs by swapping rice or other whole grains for cauliflower rice instead.

Getting enough fiber can make you feel fuller longer. Add these frozen cubes of puréed beans to your bowl of oatmeal, throw a few in the blender when whipping up your kale smoothie, or mix them into pasta sauce, soups, or cooked whole grains.

Tired of tossing greens week after week? Freeze them in baggies or freeze puréed greens in ice cube trays to add to your smoothies and soups.

While guacamole is full of healthy fats, avocados are very high in calories. So make this edamole instead, made with edamame.

Save on fat and calories by subbing applesauce for butter. If a recipe calls for half a cup of butter, simply use half a cup of applesauce instead. Try this banana apple chunk bread — the applesauce complements the other fruity flavors while keeping each bite naturally sweet and moist.

Protein powder isn't just for smoothies or protein balls. You can add some to any recipe involving flour, such as these gingerbread protein pancakes or this maple-sweetened cornbread.

The fiber and protein makes beans a perfect food for weight loss, and if you're not into eating an entire bowl of chili, just find ways to "hide" them in your favorite recipes like these mashed potatoes with white beans or this butternut squash soup.

This two-minute hack turns regular almond, soy, or coconut milk yogurt into a thicker Greek-like yogurt that's totally vegan. Just mix in protein powder and that's it!

If you love to bake but know you can't stop at just one cookie, whip up your cookie dough and freeze the batter into ice cube trays. That way you can pop out one or two, bake those in your toaster oven, and you'll indulge a little without the temptation to keep reaching for more.

Run, swim, bike, or dance an extra five minutes and you'll burn up to 50 extra calories.

This smoothie hack is a win-win. Adding tofu to your blender not only makes for a super-creamy consistency, but it adds protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied all morning long. If you're not a fan of vanilla, go for this chocolate smoothie instead.

We tend to reach for chips and crackers because they're easy and right there. Make fresh fruits and veggies just as easily accessible by washing, cutting, and storing them in containers at eye-level in your fridge.

Not just for baby food, freeze pureed veggies like green beans, butternut squash, and carrots and add them to soups and sauces to increase the fiber and other nutrients.

If you're a fan of steel cut oatmeal for keeping you full all morning long, this freezer hack is a huge time-saver. Just make a big batch on the stove and freeze smaller portions using a muffin tin. Pop the little oatmeal pucks into a freezer bag and a week of healthy, fiber-full breakfasts is ready.

Even if you're short on time, you can still burn calories and tone your muscles. Try one of these 10-minute workout videos.

For baked goods that are soft and moist, skip the butter and use mashed avocado instead. This pumpkin muffin recipe is living proof that just may convince you to never want to bake with butter again.

For a creamy consistency, save on calories and fat by replacing cheese with tofu. It works perfectly in this recipe for vegan stuffed shells.

Don't stop at just kale or spinach! Broccoli, beans, carrots, and sweet potato can also be added to your blender. Here's a week of veggie-packed smoothies to give you some ideas.

Packing your lunch and snacks for the day is one of the most effective ways to lose weight because it allows you to be in control of the calories you consume. Take your planning one step further by labeling food with the time you should eat it and the number of calories it contains.

Instead of adding plain ice cubes to the blender, throw in frozen cubes made of coconut water. It's a simple way to add more essential electrolytes to your smoothie, but more importantly, it increases the sweet flavor without adding tons of calories.