On the Noom Diet? Here are 20 Easy Nutritionist-Approved Noom Recipes
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It can be hard to keep track of all the apps and diets out there that promise to help us shed unwanted pounds. One thing's for sure, though: with over 50 million users, Noom is one of the popular weight loss apps around.
According to the plan’s Chief Psychology Officer Andreas Michaelides, PhD, Noom is more than just a diet because it is psychology based to help users make healthier choices. “Our curriculum is heavily rooted in psychology, but the premise is simple: Helping people identify barriers and develop positive habits allows them to live the life they deserve.”
He adds that Noom helps users reframe their thinking so they can adopt new behaviors to make lasting changes. "Creating unsustainable habits is an easy way to yo-yo back and forth on your goals. Once the diet stops, old habits creep back in. Instead of doing many things differently each day, start with one meaningful action and make sure you do it well before moving on to the next,” Michaelides explains.
Intrigued? Read on for more information about Noom, plus nutritionist-approved food ideas to help you get started.
How does Noom work?
From Michaelides' description, it's clear that Noom is less old-school diet and more about developing positive habits. But how, exactly, does it work?
A quiz determines your ideal Noom plan with thorough questions asking about age, weight, height, family health history, attitude towards health and weight loss struggles in the past. After the quiz, you’ll receive a date of when you’ll meet your goal weight and are then presented with a plan that can go for up to a year.
Noom does involve calorie counting, and foods are classified by color: Red, yellow and green. Green foods encourage users to focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Yellow foods include proteins and beans, but you still have to watch your portions. Red foods are calorie-dense foods like nuts and desserts. Noom will tell you how many foods should be eaten from each category on a daily basis.
Related: Noom Vs. Weight Watchers: Which is Better For You?
Noom food list
Brittney Parris, MS, RD, CDN at Culina Health suggests checking with your doctor before starting any new weight loss plan, including Noom. “When deciding to lose weight, especially for a medical reason, consult with a health professional about setting your goal weight and medical monitoring during your weight loss journey," she says. "Make sure your goal weight is realistic and appropriate. For those with a complex medical history or history of disordered eating, medical nutrition therapy or nutrition counseling may be needed for a more individualized health and weight approach.”
Ready to get started on Noom? First, let's take a look at some of the foods that fall under each color category:
Green foods: Green foods are typically made up of low-calorie veggie-rich foods and include foods like spinach, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, apples and more.
Yellow foods: Yellow foods are more protein-heavy and include foods like quinoa, salmon, turkey breast, black beans, eggs, low-fat milk and dairy.
Red foods: Red foods tends to be higher in calories and include nuts and seeds, nut butters, dried fruit, beef, pork, full fat dairy and more.
Next, we've come up with five Noom recipes and meal options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that are RD-approved. “Exact amounts would depend upon individual calorie needs, health history and weight loss goals,” notes Beth Stark, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Culinary Nutrition Consultant—so make sure to consult the app when deciding on exact amounts.
Related: What Is the Keto Diet and How Does It Work?
Noom breakfast recipes:
Wholewheat toast with mashed avocado, fresh tomato slices and hard boiled eggs.
Egg, tomato and spinach omelet with feta cheese and a slice of whole-grain toast.
Low fat Greek yogurt with roasted oat clusters. “You can add a drizzle of honey with dried fruit like apricots or prunes,” says Parris.
Overnight oats made with oats, milk, protein powder and spices such as nutmeg or cinnamon for flavoring. Add in any fresh fruits in the morning.
Whole-grain waffle with peanut butter, a sliced apple and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Noom lunch recipes:
Tuna mixed with hummus, whole-grain crackers and a side salad with vinaigrette dressing.
Grilled chicken in a whole-grain pita pocket with light mayo, roasted red pepper, spinach and tomatoes.
Roasted vegetables in a wrap with hummus, chickpeas, kalamata olives and feta cheese
DIY kale salad: “Mix kale, sliced pears, dried cranberries, carrots, lentils and top with your favorite protein like tofu, chicken, shrimp, or low sodium nitrate-free deli meat,” says Parris.
Rice bowl with long grain rice, okra, grilled or sauteed shrimp and golden tomatoes.
Related: 19 Healthy Lunch Prep Ideas
Noom dinner recipes:
Rice and peas, cod cooked with peppers, tomatoes and onions with a side salad.
Salmon filet with olive oil, lemon wedges and fresh dill, garlic cauliflower mashed potatoes and lemon roasted asparagus.
Cooked farro with grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes and cauliflower, crispy chickpeas, hummus and feta cheese.
Balsamic vinaigrette-marinated pork or beef tenderloin with roasted sweet potato wedges and broccoli.
Ground turkey burgers. “Instead of jarred tomato sauce, try tomato puree or stewed tomatoes sauteed with herbs and spices,” suggests Parris. Add in chickpea pasta and sauteed green beans.
Noom snack ideas:
Low-fat Greek yogurt on a rice cake topped with strawberries.
Lower-sodium jerky
Sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg, add a handful of nuts for extra protein or dip it in plain Greek yogurt.
Roasted almonds, pistachios or walnuts.
Crispy roasted edamame.
Next up, here are 110 Foods You Can Eat on the Mediterranean Diet
Sources
Andreas Michaelides, PhD. is Noom’s Chief Psychology Officer and a clinical psychologist.
Beth Stark is a registered dietitian nutritionist and Culinary Nutrition Consultant based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Brittney Parris, MS, RD, CDN is a registered dietician with Culina Health.
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