Low-Calorie Foods for Weight Loss: Top 15 Low-Calorie Snacks

If you are on a weight-loss goal, remember that you cannot reach the destination without an active intent, reflected in your lifestyle and diet. On the one hand, exercising and maintaining a balanced sleep cycle is important. On the other hand, adding top low-calorie foods to your diet can be a prudent choice to reach your weight-loss goals. 

A wise decision would be to go for whole foods like low-calorie vegetables and fruits rather than processed ones. Though it is crucial to maintain a balance between high calorie and low-calorie diet, replacing some high-calorie foods with low-calorie meals can take you a step closer to your weight reduction objectives and promote several other health benefits. For example, if you have bread and butter every morning, consider changing that to low-calorie foods like oatmeal and sprouts or low-calorie snacks like apple slices.

Read on to know about the top low-calorie foods you can add to your diet.

Apple

Reports show that apples are among the best low-calorie fruits you can have for your weight-loss objectives [1]. In a 2008 study where participants included three apples in their daily diet to be continued for ten weeks, it was found that their weight was reduced by an average of around two pounds [2]. One large apple contains 114 calories.

Spinach

Consuming vegetables is a wise way to fill yourself up without taking in many calories. With just 6.9 calories per cup, spinach is one of the top low-calorie vegetables you can eat with kinds of pasta, salads, and smoothies.

Oatmeal

Going for an oatmeal breakfast or dinner is a prudent option to include low-calorie foods in your diet. With a cup of cooked oatmeal, you get only 166 calories. You can mix it with non-fat yoghurt to make it a heavy yet low-calorie diet.

Raspberries

If desserts are your favourite, you can consider raspberries among high-protein low-fat foods. With a cup of raw raspberries, you get just 64 calories. On the other hand, it offers 8 grams of fibre and 1.5 grams of protein, both of which are relatively high.

Celery

It is best to consume celery as a whole food. This leafy vegetable is one of the most filling, low-calorie foods. One regular stalk of raw celery has just 5.6 calories. You can also take celery seeds as part of your low-calorie diet. With one tablespoon of celery seeds, you get 25 calories.

Eggs

One of the most common and popular foods across households, eggs also are among the highly nutritious low-calorie foods. With a large egg, you get a huge six grams of filling protein and only 70 calories.

Paneer

This low-fat food, also known as cottage cheese, comes with only 163 calories per cup. It is about one-fifth of the calories you find in regular cheese. Thus, paneer is one of the top high-protein low-calorie foods you can have.

Cucumber

A key element in salads, cucumber can also be used as a dipper. Cucumber offers limitless health benefits as one of the most consumed low-calorie foods. An average size of cucumber comes with only 45 calories. 

Kale

A delicious addition to salads, kale can also be used in soups and kinds of pasta to make them iron-rich meals. In addition, the calorie content is pretty low in raw kale, with just 8.9 calories per cup.

Asparagus

One of the top nutritious low-calorie foods, asparagus is loaded with insoluble fibre, which can delay the secretion of hunger hormones and balance your blood glucose levels. Cooked asparagus is loaded with only 19.8 calories per half cup.

Lettuce

If you are looking for a low-calorie meal for your wrap or sandwich, go for lettuce. With just eight calories per cup, this can be a wise addition to your weight loss diet plan.

Carrots

Whether you love this food or not, carrots must be added to your diet if you aim to lose weight. It has diverse uses as a snack, as a part of a salad, and more. One of the healthiest low calorie-vegetables, the average raw carrot contains about 29.5 calories and multiple vitamins and minerals.

Radishes

If healthy snacking is what you crave, you can replace potato chips with sliced radishes. While the first would have added 150 calories to your body, half-cup sliced radishes have only 9.3 calories to offer. Thus, it becomes one of the essential low-calorie foods for your weight loss goals.

Shrimp and Prawn

Shrimp and all other types of shellfish are effective low-calorie foods. With 3 ounces (about 85 grams) of cooked shrimp, you get just 84.2 calories. Their high protein value keeps you full for a long time, which helps to reach your weight loss goals. However, as these foods are also loaded with cholesterol, a moderate intake would be ideal.

Chicken

Want to prepare low-calorie Indian food? You can go for chicken tikka. Though it may seem unbelievable, boneless and skinless breast of chicken can become a low-calorie meal when you grill it. Grilled chicken breast is loaded with only 128 calories per 3 ounces (about 85 grams). Unless you avoid chicken as a dietary choice or for medical reasons, you can make it an integral part of your low-calorie diet.

Conclusion

With knowledge about all these low-calorie foods, you can now conveniently add high-protein, low-fat foods to your meals and reach your weight loss goal. In case you suffer from protein intolerance or other conditions that may restrict some of the protein-rich foods, you can get a doctor consultation on Bajaj Finserv Health to know about the alternative choices. By booking an offline or online consultation with a general physician registered on the platform, you can also get answers to your other health concerns in no time. Follow a healthy, low-calorie diet to maintain normal body weight and lead a happy life! 

FAQs

Which foods are low in calories and have weight loss benefits?

The following foods are low in calories, and they can also help you reach your weight loss goals:

• Egg whites
• Poultry and lean meat
• Fish
• Lentils, peas and beans
• Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt

How do I speed up my weight loss?

Apart from adding low-calorie foods to your diet, it is wise to follow certain guidelines to lose weight fast. Here’s a look at them:

• Consume high-protein meals
• Add plenty of fibres to your diet
• Prioritize having whole foods
• Drink 4-5 litres of water a day
• Practise mindful eating
• Avoid or limit sugary drinks