When you are on a calorie restricted diet, it is more important then ever to choose foods that are as jam packed with as many nutritional elements as possible. This is particularly true if you are taking Hoodia.

Hoodia supplementation can reduce your caloric intake as much as 1000 calories a day. This means you need to avoid eating empty calories from foods that lack vitamins and nutrients and stick to foods that give you the most maximum value in terms of nutrition.

Here is a list of the Top Ten Nourishing Foods for Dieters.

1. Beans - Also known as legumes, beans are inexpensive, low in fat, and rich in protein, iron, folic acid, and fiber. Choose from a large variety including garbanzo, pinto, black, navy and kidney beans. Lentils and chickpeas also fall into this group of healthy foods. Eat them as a side dish or snack, in a tortilla with salsa, or in a soup.

2. Cantaloupe - Only one quarter of this delicious melon supplies almost as much vitamin A and C as most people need in an entire day.

3. Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens - These load with vitamin C, carotenoids, fiber and calcium that your body can easily absorb.

4. Sweet Potatoes - These starchy and satisfying vegetables are loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.

5. Pineapple - Contains plenty of Vitamin A, fiber and an enzyme called bromelain that breaks down foods efficiently for digestion.

6. Broccoli - This inexpensive vegetable contains lots of vitamin C, carotenoids, and folic acid (which is needed to metabolize iron)

7. Fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1% but not 2%) milk - Milk is an excellent source of calcium, vitamins and protein with little or no artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol. Soy milk can have just as many nutrients but it is often a dollar or two more expensive. Only buy soy milk if you are lactose intolerant.

8. Oranges - This familiar fruit is rich in vitamin C, folic acid, and fiber.

9. Salmon - The omega-3 fats in fish, especially fatty fresh fish like salmon, swordfish, and rainbow trout, can help reduce the risk of sudden-death heart attacks.

10. 100% Whole-Grain Bread - It's higher in fiber and about a dozen vitamins and minerals than enriched while bread or "wheat" bread. Look for whole-grain crackers that have the word "whole" in the first ingredient on the nutrition label.

Notice that many of these foods are inexpensive to buy and in the long run much cheaper than investing in expensive vitamin and mineral supplements.