5 Summer Veggies for a Flat Tummy

Cap off your bikini-body efforts with some seasonal summer vegetables that are sure to flatten that belly just in time for warm weather! We’ve rounded up a list of some of our favorite gut-friendly, low-sugar veggies that are sure to give you more energy and a flat tummy!

Here are five low-carb summer vegetables to promote a flat tummy:

1. Broccoli

Beautifully green and crunchy, rich with vitamin C, potassium and vitamin A, these florets are bursting with goodness. According to the PA Nutrition Education Network, these miniature trees even contain natural, cancer-preventing sulforaphane. Rich in dietary fiber, broccoli works overtime for your tummy, ensuring a healthy gut. Broccoli can even be prepared a plethora of ways on the South Beach Diet: raw, cooked, steamed, baked or roasted, which gives it the versatility we all need with hectic working lives.

Broccoli is delicious in our low carb recipe for Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry! >

2. Cucumber

Made up of 96% water, these low calorie veggies (which are actually fruits but we’ll make an exception) are the perfect summer snack, says Healthline. Eat them cool and fresh or cooked up in a dish, cucumbers are a great option to eat your way to a flat belly. According to Health magazine, cucumbers contain flavonoid antioxidant quercetin, which naturally reduces swelling and bloating.

Enjoy the flat belly benefits of cucumber in these Creamy Salmon Cucumber Cups. >

3. Sugar Snap Peas

You can’t judge a summer beach read by its cover and you can’t judge a veggie by its name! Despite their name, these tiny dynamites are actually low in sugar! According to Healthline, these crunchy peas contain protein, dietary fiber and vitamins A, C and K. For a quick-and-easy, flat tummy summer snack, the PA Nutrition Education network suggests sprinkling grated parmesan cheese and pepper on two handfuls of sugar snap peas. Yum!

4. Asparagus

These green stalks are chock-full of goodies for a flat tummy! Rich in folate and vitamins K, A and C, asparagus also contains nearly two full grams of fiber in just a half cup serving, which keeps you fuller longer as your body digests it slowly. Health magazine also credits asparagus with helping rid your body of water and waste, aiding the healthy bacteria in your gut and decreasing uncomfortable bloating. Needless to say, these veggies are just the side dish you should reach for as summer approaches!

5. Avocado

This hipster-approved, fan-favorite vegetable (which is also actually a fruit!) is a tummy-fat-fighting superfood! According to Healthline, this smooth and rich veggie is rich in fiber and monounsaturated fats, which work to keep the weight off! Healthy fats are great for gut health and help your body absorb necessary nutrients and minerals.

Check out these 11 avocado recipes that we’ll totally guac your world! >