Favorite Low Calorie Meals/Foods?

**Michelle** · 08-03-2008, 04:49 PM

What do you recommend? I swear I have been on this journey forever. I see posts in here that I wrote 3 yrs ago--there may even be more dating back further.

Something always gets in the way (gall bladder issues, kidney stones, ovarian cysts, back injury). I am determined this time. I am tired of being overweight.

So anyway, what do you like to eat that's low cal?

Do you have any items that you'd swear weren't low calorie because they taste so good?

TIA

**PrairieRose** · 08-03-2008, 05:48 PM

I personally love an apple with a *few* whole grain wheat thins with a little bit of peanut butter....will sometimes do that for lunch. I also love to have 1/2 c. cottage cheese, an orange and a couple of crackers for lunch.

We make what we call Southwest grilled chicken salad. We use either margarita mix or chipotle' lime marinade for the chicken and then grill after a good soak. Cut up over a huge, yummy salad including cilantro and avacado. Eat LOTS of the salad, about 1 chicken tender and just a very few flavored doritos crunched up on top. I like to water down a low fat ranch dressing, add some mrs. dash southwest seasoning (watered down with low fat milk) for my dressing. This is my one food that I'd swear wasn't low cal if I didn't know better.

**Dobby** · 08-03-2008, 06:48 PM

I throw some salsa, beans, corn and chicken (raw or leftovers, doesn't matter) in the crockpot. Once it's cooked, I use a fork to shred the chicken apart. Serve over rice.

**imagine** · 05-23-2009, 04:12 PM

Spinach I love spinach leaves and they are low calorie.

I also love goat's cheese. It is a lower calorie cheese. I like to spread in place of cream cheese.

I feel that it is a myth that low calories foods taste yucky compared to richer calorie foods. Maybe it is true with boxed "diet" foods or those that are artificial sweetened foods, I wouldn't know about those.

**sunshine** · 05-23-2009, 08:46 PM

Banana Freeze

1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar substitute
1 envelope Kool-Aid cherry or black cherry unsweetened soft drink mix
2 large fully ripe bananas

Combine all ingredients in electric blender container. Blend at high
speed for about 1 minute, or until smooth. Pour into a shallow
container or bowl. Freeze until firm, about 3 hours. Spoon into
indiviaul isdhes or cones. Makes 5 servings

**sunshine** · 05-23-2009, 08:47 PM

I love Oscar Meyer 98% Fat Free hot dogs . . . maybe not the healthiest choice, but at only 40 calories, it's a nice splurge for cookouts, etc.

**Palooka** · 05-25-2009, 12:59 AM

For a snack--air popped popcorn with weight watchers butter spray and Molly Mcbutter sprinkles or butter bud sprinkles. I had this every night for a year straight(not joking) when I had the munchies and it helped me take of 30 pounds a few years ago.

Fiber one cereal for breakfast. Corn tortillas with black beans and salsa, and stir fry with every veggie you love. Use a little soy sauce and you can sautee' with a little water instead of oil.

**AmyBoz** · 05-25-2009, 07:30 AM

I was just going to say air popped popcorn, but Palooka beat me to it!

I recently bought an air popper and have used it every night, as I always get the munchies around 8 pm. It's almost a "free" food, if you don't add anything to it, which I don't. I'm thinking about popping a batch in the morning and bringing it to school with me, to make sure I don't decide to hit the vending machine.

Popcorn is such a great snack because of the texture. Unlike yogurt, you need to chew and chew to eat it, which makes you feel like you have really eaten something.

**joyofsix** · 05-25-2009, 08:08 AM

Things that work for me usually have a strong flavor and need to be chewed.
any fish or chicken with salsa or chinese hot sauce w/lots of veggies on brown rice
salad with a few pieces of calamata olive and feta
salad w/pear and a little blue cheese
I live goat cheese on triscuits with fruit
scrambled eggs w/peppers,onions and salsa
I also like popcorn, fat-free hot dogs and garden burgers for my 'junk' fix.
I need FLAVOR to feel like I've eaten. If I can flavor something bulky so much the better.

**Palooka** · 05-25-2009, 11:05 PM

Popcorn is great fiber and it cleans your teeth too.

Another low calorie snack it those flavor rice cakes. I know some people don't like them but for me it helps when I want a little crunch instead of chips.

**Sassyclass** · 06-06-2009, 01:41 PM

Popcorn, pretzels, and fresh fruit...you can eat lots of watermelon.YUMMMMMM.

Cat

**Radish4ever** · 06-06-2009, 03:26 PM

I love tortilla pizzas
tortilla of your choice, a little bit of tomato sauce sprinkled with Italian spices, topped with a little cheese of your choice and then whatever toppings you want! Baked at around 400 degrees for 4-5 minutes (or when they start browning on the sides)

My fav low cal snack is frozen blueberries with a little cool whip free

Carrots are also good and SPINACH is suppppppppper low cal! VERY nutritious and filling too

www.sparkrecipes.com is a great resource for meal and snack ideas!

**savvy_sniper** · 06-06-2009, 03:54 PM

I have found that dieting does not work for me. I try to cook smarter - no frying, stay away from all the fattening sauces, remove the skin from chicken, substitute low fat items, eat smaller portions, etc. Since I am pretty much cooking from scratch all the time I can truly control what goes into my meals and my mouth.

I also just don't buy things that I shouldn't eat. If they aren't in the house, then I can't eat them!

When I diet I just feel deprived and when I fall off, I fall off BIG TIME.

Good Luck!

**pollypurebred39** · 06-06-2009, 04:17 PM

I really do not do well on low fat plans, however when I did follow low fat plans there were a few things that I really liked.

a McDonald's ice cream cone is a very good frugal and low calorie treat option. Check their nutrition stats.

I like laughing cow cheese wedges spread on Flatouts with lean ham, turkey, tomato and 1 slice of bacon rolled up and served with a garden salad spkinkled with balsamic vinegar mixed with a bit of sweetener. I don't like any low fat on the market dressing with the exception of Mcdonalds low fat balsamic.

Chicken breast, skinless or fish spread with lowfat hellmans mayo and seasaon heavily with season salt and baked till golden.

Baked fried chicken is also good. I used skinless chicken and shake-n-bake.

I often would cubed, or shoestring potatoes and put them in a bowl with 1 teaspoon of oil and a bit of water(helps to get seasoning even on potatoes) and then season really heavily with chili powder, season salt, red pepper, black pepper, ect. then I'd spray a cookie sheet with pam and then put the layer of potatoes and give them a really good spray of pam and then bake till crispy.

For cupcakes I would take a box of chocolate or spice cake and mix a can of pumpkin, 2 egg whites & 1/2 cup water and bake. For the icing I used a box of Betty Crockers Fluffy White icing, you just add water and beat. Makes a lot, very low calorie, 1 serving covers more then one cupcake and bonus it tastes and looks homemade.

**britbunny** · 06-09-2009, 11:12 AM

These aren't super low cal, but they are good for you and they do feel like you're eating something unhealthy - avocados either just slices in a salad or guacamole, great with some raw veggies or pitta crisps. I also really like chickpeas - spicy roast chickpeas, houmous, falafel, anything like that I love. I really think eating things like this has aided my weightloss.