When it comes to losing weight, or staying lean we’ve grown accustomed to the advice of just “eating less”. But the truth is that it doesn’t matter how much food you eat, it’s more about how many calories you consume throughout the day. Some foods contain very little calories, and you could eat it throughout the day and still lose weight. Most of those items are also packed with various nutrients, most notably fiber, that keeps you full throughout the day, regardless of the small calorie count. Here we’ve compiled 25 foods that contain very little calories and that you can use to replace some high calorie foods with.
Popcorn
The easiest first pick ever. Popcorn contains very little calories by itself. Unfortunately, most people use various additions to fatten it up a bit, and it backfires in the waist department. If you eat it clean with a pinch of salt, it’s a great weight loss snack.
Celery
Celery is a combo of water and fiber. Probably not your favorite food as far as taste is concerned, but it’s a good, almost zero-calorie snack.
Cottage Cheese
Most bodybuilders eat tons of cottage cheese, and that’s because it’s cheap, has tons of protein and is not heavy on carbs. On top of that, it can easily replace carbohydrate meals, making it a good food for a main meal in the day.
Watermelon
Ever heard someone get fat on watermelon? Me neither! Watermelon contains a bit of sugar, but it’s mostly water. If you take out the seeds, you won’t experience any bloating either. It’s a really great summer treat that will keep your abs in top shape or help you regain them.
Grapefruit
The middle man between lemon and oranges, grapefruit has the best of both worlds. It’s not too sour (usually), but it’s low calorie and packed with vitamin C. Plus, they’re usually quite big, so you can get rid of hunger by eating 1-2 easily.
Chicken Breast
Another fitness jocks favorite, chicken breast are a staple food for anyone trying to get lean. Low in fat, virtually zero carbs and all protein – add some vegetables on the side for the fiber and vitamins, and you’re good to go.
Asparagus
Asparagus, especially wild asparagus is a super-healthy vegetable, and it has a small advantage when it comes to getting lean over it’s other green friends – it acts as a diuretic. You won’t necessarily lose fat, but you will lose any water retention you might be having, so you’ll look like you’re in the best shape of your life for the remainder of the day.
Salmon
Not the cheapest of foods, but if you can afford it, salmon is the healthiest low calorie fish there is. You could be munching on salmon all day long, and losing fat like crazy as well. If you have the cash, snacking on salmon is definitely an option.
Broccoli
The easiest way to lose weight is to replace heavy, high calorie carbs with fiber-dense vegetables. Broccoli tops the list in this sense, because it’s a convenient, high fiber vegetables that also tastes good when combined with various protein foods and condiments.
Coconut Chips
One of the rare high fat foods on our list, coconut chips make the grade because they’re pretty satiating. You’ll feel full after eating a handful of these, and the feeling will stay with you for at least a couple of hours. Plus, coconuts have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which can improve your digestion and overall health.
Sugar-free Jello
Probably the only good thing about staying in a hospital is eating jello. You can replicate the experience by making it at home, and using sugar-free ingredients. This is a great replacement for sugary deserts and a tasty treat on it’s own.
Broth
Vegetable, meat or fish broth (or all combined) are a great meal when you’re dieting. Not only are they packed with high quality nutrients, but they’re also very low in calories. On top of that, it’s hard to eat too many calories when much of the meal consists of liquid. For health and getting shredded, broth can be a powerful tool in any dieters arsenal.
Cabbage
There are multiple ways you can prepare cabbage, but it’s one of the top choices from the vegetable kingdom. Just like broccoli, cabbage contains tons of fiber, but also a lot of vitamin C as well. If you want to get the most out of cabbage, sauerkraut is it’s peak form, due to the extra probiotics it contains.
Beets
Aside from being tasty and low in calories, beets have also been shown to have libido enhancing effects. Hence the heart-shaped beets in the photo.
Coffee
Coffee is of course a drink, although you could snack on roasted coffee beans as well. The good thing about coffee is that is reduces appetite, is very low on calories and can be very helpful if you’re doing intermittent fasting. Just make sure not to mix it with donuts, or you’ll negate it’s positive effects.
Mushrooms
It’s easy to get tricked into thinking that the food in the picture is some type of meat. That’s all mushrooms, and if you get the meaty ones, they can easily become a main meal, which is low in saturated fats and carbs, while being relatively high in protein. Just make sure not to eat the red ones.
Tomatoes
Considering the fact that it’s summer, tomatoes are the perfect choice when it comes to refreshing vegetables that can be eaten alone or mixed with various protein-rich foods to get a low calorie satiating meal.
Zucchini
Zucchini is a valuable vegetable mainly because it can be prepared in various ways. It tastes good roasted, fried on a pan with eggs, or cooked alone. It’s the ultimate cheap and reliable meal for the times when your imagination blacks out.
Chickpeas
Chickpeas are a South American wonder food that was treasured for thousands of years due to it’s high protein content and overall health benefits. It’s another low calorie item that you can munch on throughout the day without feeling guilty about it.
Honeydew Melon
Honeydew melon contains a bit of sugar, but just like watermelon, it has a similar consistency, making it a good carbohydrate and low calorie treat when you can’t get the sweet tooth under control.
Rice Cakes
This is a very convenient low calorie snack. Rice cakes sometimes get a bad rap for all the wrong reasons – people like to put various “extras” on them. Then they blame the rice cakes for the weight gain. Just no. Eat the rice cakes, and leave the maple syrup on the top shelf where it belongs and everything will be fine.
Shirataki Noodles
These noodles consist mostly of an indigestible fiber called glucomannan, and they’re virtually fat free. They also have virtually zero taste to accompany the bland white color. But the cool thing is that they soak up any flavours you add to them. Play around with some sauces and condiments, and you can come up with the perfect very low calorie meal that you just can’t get enough of.
Turkey Breast
Just like chicken, or any other meat for that matter, picking the leanest part is always the smart choice. Turkey breast is the leanest part of the turkey, most of the time even leaner than chicken breast.
Kidney Beans
High in fiber, high in protien, and low in carbs. Kidney beans will have you firing on all cylinders, but if you don’t mind that, they’re a very convient diet choice.
Egg Whites
Egg whites are all protein, and zero carbs and fat. If you remove the egg yolk, you’ve removed the saturated fat and you get only the good, unquestionably potent muscle-building part of the egg. Use them wisely, and remember not to skip leg day while you’re eating them.