Flat Belly Foods

Build a Beach-Ready Body in 12 Hours

Picking the right foods can make all the difference when it comes to peeling off the layers at your next pool or beach party
By Dave Zinczenko menshealth
 

Dinner the Night Before

Not That!
T.G.I. Friday’s 10 oz. Sirloin with Parmesan Steak Fries and Fresh Vegetable Medley
1,370 calories
103 g fat (27.5 g saturated)
3,110 mg sodium

You're probably not surprised to hear that Friday’s mammoth steaks aren't great for your beach body, but do you know why? The hefty fat count plays a role, but more immediately, it’s sodium that does the most harm. Restaurants season their food so thoughtlessly that you could easily clear out more than a day’s maximum sodium allotment before leaving the table! Loading your body with sodium isn’t good for your health (Search: What are the risks of taking in too much salt?), and because it causes water retention, it’s definitely not good for your beach body. Skip the restaurant and throw a seasoned sirloin on the grill in your own backyard. Limit yourself to a pinch of salt and you'll avoid bloating up like a dead fish.

Eat This Instead!
Grilled 7 oz. Sirloin with steamed broccoli (1/2 cup) and roasted potatoes (1/2 cup)
447 calories
11.5 g fat (4 g saturated)
320 mg sodium

Grills Gone Wild: Sure, your grill can be your belly's best friend. But, with the wrong hands helming the grill tools, it can also be its worst enemy. Avoid the 20 Worst Grilled Restaurant Foods in America.

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