Low-cal but filling meals?

CatherineHillin

I'm wondering if anyone has any Low cal meal or snack options that they can share, I just don't know what to buy that is filling but won't make me go over my calorie budget. Today I thought nuts were a good idea...turns out they are very high calorie! Oops! I am allergic to artificial sweeteners (and they're awful anyway) and also peanuts, so that's out. Any ideas? Thanks everyone!

LolBroScience

Stir-Fry, just use light oil or no oil.

mandipandi75

Agree with the stir fry. Lean meats and lots of veggies.

Linzon

I've been doing burrito bowls lately and find them very filling. About half a cup of rice, half a roasted chicken breast, roasted peppers and onions, lots of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, salsa, plain yogurt, hot sauce, lime juice. If I have the calories in my budget I sometimes add guacamole and/or shredded cheese.

I've been using this recipe for the roast veggies and chicken!

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/02/oven-fajitas/

farberry

Courgette spaghetti! Had it last night with lentil bolognese - swapping pasta for courgette saved me 200+ cals and I was still full from the protein in the sauce. That's a really important thing - spend your calories on protein as that is what will fill you up. I often have a protein shake as a 100cal snack that keeps me full for hours.

ewrook

hard boiled egg is a great snack. ALso, you don't have to eat a lot of nuts. 7 almonds plus a small piece of fruit like a plum is filling or small apple or pear.

Zumaria1

Sardines in a can, if you like them, are an awesome source of protein. 13 grams in one can of sardines! Plus full of Omega 3 healthy fatty acids. They are also cheap and easy to carry around. Just have to have breath mints for the fishy breath lol. But it's worth it because sardines pack a serious punch. With crackers and a small salad you have a healthy well rounded meal.

rankinsect

Lean meats. If you get 95% fat-free beef, you could do half a pound (pre-cook weight) of, say, taco meat for under 400 calories. Grilled chicken is another great option. Even regular spaghetti can be very filling for its calories if you don't add too much sauce or cheese.

Proteins are very filling in general, and complex carbs like pasta and potatoes keep you full longer than simple carbs because they digest slower.

ajm_uwe

Sugar free jelly is like 27 cals for a pint of jelly! Low calorie yoghurts are good too. For meals I use bean sprouts and bags of stir fry veg which are good and low calorie, and sauerkraut pads meals out...... absolute best bang for buck is protein fluff which can bloat you out for a couple hundred calories. ......

Emily3907

I like to cut a cheese stick into 4 pieces and then wrap each piece in a slice of deli meat (so four slices....usually turkey). I will then add some pretzels, fruit (like grapes) or vegetable (like pickles or carrots) to round it out. I do this as a meal and it is about 350 cals. It is a nice filler to get me through the work day.

However you could just do the cheese and meat for around 150-160 calories or not eat everything at once and just graze through the items listed above throughout the day.

GrahamUK72

I made a chilli. Huge portions.

Chopped tomatoes
Peppers
Mushrooms
Onions
Chilli powder mix
Lean minced beef

Per portion, 236kcal and 4 of your 5 a day

I have it for lunch without rice or bread

RoxieDawn

I make chicken fajita bowls using chicken, onion and bell pepper and I make a spicy fajita seasoning to stir fry it up (with about 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil)..

I use Misson carb low carb tortillia's (6 net carbs) and put them in bowls and toast them in the oven and fillup with my stir fry and cooked chicken.. you can add cheese, salsa or low fat sour cream... I usually leave these off.

CatherineHillin

Thank you guys so much! This is so helpful! Keep it coming!

Francl27

Stuffed peppers. Lean ground meat cooked with onions then baked in peppers. I use a bit of tomato sauce and when I have extra calories add a bit of rice and some cheese. I don't like mushrooms but you could add those too.

sadiebrawl

I second the chili, I am always full after that. Also the days where I have huge egg white omelets for breakfast I am satisfied until almost 1pm.

amillenium

Last night I made zucchini noodles sautéed with garlic, tossed with roasted eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and parm. It was a huge bowl for under 300 calories.

cocates

Hummus + pretzels (or celery or peppers or carrots, etc.)
Tuna (I like the sweet & spicy one) in the pouch + a few crackers
lean meats - (Sometimes, I grill enough for my lunches for the week)
Mini pizza (1/2 English muffin, 1tsp marinara sauce +a couple of pepperoni's)
Broccoli slaw (s/p/garlic powder + 1tsp olive oil) and sauté - yum!
1/2 English muffin + PB2 + banana or strawberry slices

HTH!

Francl27

My dinner was a bag of frozen cauliflower mashed with a wedge of light Laughing Cow cheese and 3 slices of deli ham. 195 calories. Another option is a bag of frozen broccoli with some grated parmesan and 3 ounces of cooked shrimp.

lingo10

Ground Chicken seasoned with a plethora of spices mixed with cauliflower, carrot, and sweet potato chunks or Okra. All in a lettuce. Lettuce Wrap

amillenium

Im on a bit of a zoodle kick right now--Tonight I am trying zoodles with a light pumpkin alfredo, mushrooms, ground turkey, onions and sage. From what I have preplanned in MFP it should just under 400 calories I cant wait to leave my office!

JessicaSchroeder1

Stir fry, you can add so many veggies for so little calories. Salads, add a hard boiled egg or some diced chicken, lots of veggies. homemade chili! eggs and turkey bacon. homemade soups.

Going for veggies and protein is a winner.

generallyme2

gia07 wrote: »

I make chicken fajita bowls using chicken, onion and bell pepper and I make a spicy fajita seasoning to stir fry it up (with about 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil)..

I use Misson carb low carb tortillia's (6 net carbs) and put them in bowls and toast them in the oven and fillup with my stir fry and cooked chicken.. you can add cheese, salsa or low fat sour cream... I usually leave these off.

One of my favs! I could eat this for days. I don't use the low carb tortillas but I get the fajita size because they are smaller but still satisfying. I also use plain greek yogurt instead of sour cream and no cheese because I just don't like it. I'll sometimes add in some tomatoes or other veggies I have on hand.

Tonight, I had an acorn squash, roasted and stuffed with ground turkey, apples, onions, celery, and mushrooms with seasonings and it was SO GOOD. Around 375ish calories depending on what you use/quantities. I paired it with roasted brussel sprouts because YUM lol.

Soups are always a good choice because you can make them extra brothy to fill you up and add any veggies you want. I don't really do creamy soups but I love veggie and chicken based soups and you can use up extras in your fridge.

I also advise getting lots of friends with open diaries and stalking their meals for a while to get ideas!

tanyathiart1

Xtra lean beef mince with some baked beans in tomato sauce is also very filling.

CatherineHillin

You guys... YUM. I am loving this. Not so much all the pepper talk, but everything else sounds delicious!

Spaghetti also turned out to be a good option. I make my own sauce, which apparently is pretty healthy according to MFP, and I got so full so fast. And it's so good leftover! And I can put cheese on it! I did not know that cheese was so low-cal and high-protein. Yay cheese!

jgnatca

Glad you are enjoying these new options. Cheese is about as high-cal as nuts. But it is delicious and filling. Use strong flavoured cheese and grate fine to get the most out of it.

Vegetables of all kinds are higher in fiber and water so will fill you up without adding a lot of calories. This time of year there are all sorts of winter squash. Try roasting them with a little olive oil and spices/salt.

thesatchito

This is more a like a snack but I love cucumbers with lime and a bit of salt. I usually slice two full cucumbers, shower them in lime juice and sprinkle a bit of salt. I like to eat those while watching a movie or just after exercising. It's very filling and extremely low in calories. Sometimes I add chili powder too but that's because I'm Mexican

TrickyDisco

This is my vegan low-cal but still tasty alternative to a cheese and tomato pizza - warm a wholemeal pitta bread, spread with tomato puree and a teaspoon of chilli tomato chutney, sprinkle a few pieces of chopped sun-dried tomatoes which have been pre-soaked in a little hot water to plump them up, loads of coarse-ground black pepper, top with 25g of grated smoked soya 'cheese' and grill until 'cheese' bubbles and browns a little, just under 300 calories. Great with a plateful of veg or salad.