If a low calorie diet plan is what you wanna do for your weight loss journey, you can combine low calorie foods with high nutritional value. While low calorie diets can be known to be a bit challenging, consuming healthy, low calorie foods can be a great way to follow this diet while keeping your well-being in mind.
According to experts, a healthy diet always includes calorie-dense and low-calorie foods to strike that balance. Striking such a balance will allow you to limit your cravings and feel fuller, while still being able to restrict your calories.
With that in mind, here’s a list of low calorie foods you can try along with what you need to know about calorie counting.
Calorie Counting: Does It Work?
Short answer? Yes, it does. But, honestly, it’s not that simple. Simply put, a low calorie diet is where you limit your daily maintenance calorie consumption to achieve desired weight.
What’s skeptical about it is that it can lead to deficiencies if not done right. If you are on a diet with calorie counting, make sure to eat a balanced meal.
To make it work, you would have to strike a balance. Consuming low calorie foods with high nutritional content will allow you to keep your body healthy while achieving desired weight.
20+ Low Calorie Foods To Try
Apples
Apples are one of the most nutritious fruits available. Plus, they are also very low in calories. One cup of apple has somewhere around 62 calories. Besides being low-calorie foods, apples are also a high source of zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
Peppers
Name it bell peppers or jalapenos. Peppers come in many shapes, colors, and sizes. And, they are a high source of vitamin C and antioxidants. Each cup of these low-calorie foods comes with just 24 calories.
Clementines
Clementines or mini oranges are rich in Vitamin C. One fruit of this has 40% of your daily Vitamin C requirements and about 35 calories.
Papaya
Grown in tropical regions, papaya is a rich source of roughage. It also has a high content of Vitamin C, folate, potassium, and minerals. And, a small papaya has about 67 calories.
Tomatoes
Besides being low-calorie foods, tomatoes go well with almost everything. You can make it in a soup, puree, or cook it in gravy. They are also known to protect against heart diseases and even cancer, Plus, a cup of tomatoes has 27 calories.
Strawberries
Sweet and rich in nutrition, berries like strawberries can also help prevent ailments like Alzheimer’s. Plus, one cup of sliced strawberries has just 53 calories. And, they are also tasty.
Kale
Perfect for morning salads, veggies, and smoothies, Kale is rich in nutrition. It is also a good source of copper, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and manganese. One cup of cooked kale has just 49 calories.
Chard
A rich source of Vitamin K, this leafy vegetable can help make low-calorie foods or meals. And, the best thing? One cup of chard has just 7 calories.
Spinach
Spinach is another leafy green with just 7 calories. The vegetable is also ultra-rich in Vitamin A and contains bioactive compounds that promote eye health.
Beets
Rich source of manganese and folate, beets promote heart health and are often eaten to help with anemia. One cup of cooked beetroot has only 74 calories.
Radish
With a spicy kick to it, radish can be eaten as salads, kimchi, or even as a vegetable. These low-calorie foods are rich in potassium, Vitamin C and have only 19 calories, per cup.
Rutabaga/Swede
Containing just 51 calories per cup, swede can be a good substitute for potatoes. It is also rich in Vitamin C and magnesium.
Onions
Onions are another low-calorie vegetables that offer several health benefits. It can help reduce the risk of heart or kidney diseases. A cup of cooked onion has only 70 calories.
Turnips
Often used in soups or stews, Turnips have just 43 calories and are a good source of Vitamin C.
Brussels Sprouts
These mini cabbages can be eaten cooked or raw. They are also rich in Vitamin C and can help protect cells. Plus, one cooked cup of Brussels sprouts has only 70 calories.
Cabbage
Offering just 22 calories in one cup, cabbage is often used as low-calorie foods in stews, kimchi, or salads.
Broccoli
Did you know a cup of broccoli can provide 100% of Vitamin C daily requirements and 54 calories all at once? Broccoli can be a good source of nourishment and is used in salads, vegetables, or as healthy sides.
Cauliflower
A white head with a leafy outside is literally famous for offering some of the best low calorie foods. This includes cauliflower rice, rolls, and cauliflower crust pizza. One cup of cauliflower offers just 40 calories.
Celery
Because it has a high water content, celery is extremely low in calories. They offer only 17 calories in one cup and are good low-calorie snacks.
Watermelons
Rich in water and Vitamin C, watermelon is known to be a hydrating fruit. Plus, the low-calorie food has only 46 calories in one cup.
Cucumbers
Often found in salads, cucumbers are extremely low in calories, offering just 16 calories in one cup.
Iceberg Lettuce
Used in salads, sandwiches, and burgers, iceberg lettuce is a good source of folate, provitamin A, and vitamin K. Plus, it offers only 8 calories in one cup.
Low Calorie Foods: Wrapping It Up
That’s our wrap on the best low calorie foods to help you maintain a low-carb healthy diet. While low calorie diet can be beneficial, you can also give intermittent fasting a try.