High Volume Low Calorie Meal Ideas?

Check out the "show us your meals" threads they have lots of idea.

If you like crockpot meals then you can make some really tasty soups that are really low in calories. I just sling in a load of veg, then spices, pepper, garlic etc (try to avoid too much salt going in), then you can end up with a huge bowl of soup with under 300 cals in it, and it's immensely filling so you'd be doing well to go back for a second bowl!!

Does anyone have any ideas for high volume low calorie meals? I'm looking for things that are going to be super filling and that can really fill up a plate. I'm so new to trying to eat healthy and I'm so unimaginative that I really can't come up with any ideas, other than salad. I like crock pot meals and casserole dishes as well. My portion control is pretty much non existent so trying to find some recipes I won't feel so guilty about getting seconds. Thanks guys!

Portion control is an essential part of healthy lifestyle. If you do not modify your way of thinking you will continue the" yoyo life" and I know what I am taking about because that is the way I lived pretty much since I was your age. Don't wait to get to my age to change things, do it now. MFP is great support and will help you through this journey.

I often use whole Portobello mushrooms as the base (holder) for food.

They come in at about 18 calories each and really fill the plate.

Oven bake with one or two sprays of 1 cal oil then fill with chilli, Bolognese etc.

I often use whole Portobello mushrooms as the base (holder) for food.

They come in at about 18 calories each and really fill the plate.

Oven bake with one or two sprays of 1 cal oil then fill with chilli, Bolognese etc.

really like the sound of that

Me too.

Chunky soups make the fest filling meals because they are so saturated with texture and liquid.... even in hot weather time, try to use them. dry foods like sandwiches always make you eat more than you should because they do not have as much weight per calorie

Also Hairy Bikers diet recipe Jambalaya

serves 6 341 cals per person so 2046cals for the lot so if your only cooking for 2 just do a third or half the recipe.

* 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
* 100g chorizo (we like picante)
* 1 tbsp olive oil
* 1 large onion, roughly chopped
* 4 slender celery sticks, cut into
* 1cm slices
* 2 small green peppers, deseeded
* and cut into 2cm chunks
* 5 large ripe vine tomatoes
* (about 475g)
* 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
* 1 tbsp paprika
* ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
* 1 tsp dried thyme
* 1 tsp dried oregano
* 2 bay leaves
* 200g long-grain rice (we often use
* the easy-cook version)
* 450ml chicken stock, made with
* 1 chicken stock cube
* 100g cooked peeled king
* prawns, thawed if frozen
* 6 spring onions, sliced (including
* lots of green)
* flaked sea salt
* freshly ground black pepper




Preparation


1. Cut the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces, removing any excess fat, and season them with salt and pepper. Skin the sausage and cut it into 5mm slices. Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan or non-stick sauté pan and fry the chicken for 3 minutes over a medium heat until lightly coloured. Add the chorizo and cook for 30 seconds more, then transfer the chicken and chorizo with tongs to a large plate or tray.
2. Tip most of the oil out of the frying pan and chuck it away. Return the empty pan to the heat and turn the heat down to low. Stir in the onion, celery and green peppers and cook for 8?10 minutes until well softened, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, skin the tomatoes. Cut them in half and remove the green stem ends, then roughly chop the rest of the flesh - no need to deseed.
4. Stir the crushed garlic, paprika, cayenne, thyme, oregano and bay leaves into the frying pan and cook for 20?30 seconds, stirring. Increase the heat and add the chopped tomatoes and any juice that has collected on the board. Cook for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are well softened, stirring regularly.
5. Return the chicken and chorizo to the pan, add the rice and cook for about a minute, stirring. Pour over the stock, season with a pinch of salt and lots of black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes or until the rice is just tender and most of the liquid has evaporated or been absorbed by the rice, stirring occasionally. The rice should still be pretty saucy at this point, so if your rice takes longer to cook, you may need to add a little more stock.
6. Stir in the prawns and spring onions and cook for about 2 minutes more or until the prawns are hot, stirring regularly, then serve.

Make massive stir fries full of colourful vegetables and protein. Fry it in coconut oil..add ginger garlic, chili...lots of chili- lots of water. You'll be full!
Same with casseroles, curries soups and stews.

Vegetables!

One large courgette (120g or more) is probably about 40 calories. Slice it thinly with a potato peeler or cheese parer, and griddle on a ridged pan, then toss in lemon juice.

Chop leeks, peppers (any colour) and mushrooms. You can stir fry in a little oil, or for even fewer calories, blast them in the microwave with a spalsh of water.

Cauliflower and brocoli - boil or roast.

You can't go wrong with Weight Watchers Taco soup. It is super easy to prepare and around 200 calories for a pretty good size bowl.

Do yourself a favor and learn portion control now, or your whole life will be a yo-yo of weight loss/weight gain.

That being said - grill a 4-5oz piece of chicken, pork chop, salmon or a turkey burger (on a grill pan on the stove or on a real grill) and fill the rest of your plate with veggies (2-3 serving sizes). Spice it up with herbs and spices that you like or mustard or hot sauce.

The best thing I've found is to have a huge glass of water while I'm cooking dinner, then another one with dinner. All that water gives me the full/stuffed feeling I need to naturally stop eating without stuffing myself full of actual food.

Lots of great ideas here-adding more veggies into dishes, making things into soup and the like. This is the premise of the Volumetrics books by Barbara Rolls (how to get more food for fewer calories). Try checking one out for your library for more ideas.

Tonight I made brown rice with Jamie Olivers - salsa verde to which I added capsicum, advocado, red onion and as well I had a piece of fresh salmon. It was relatively low carb and very filling, plus easy to make.around 350 to 450 cal and 18 carbs

I agree it is hard to cut down how much you eat and almost impossible to do all at once. choosing healthy and within your calorie budget alternatives is a great mindset. I like to make red coconut curry chicken and when i do i add a bag of mixed vegetables into the curry sauce they are wonderful. There are tons of recipes out there for it. The weight watcher's taco soup is a great one for a filling lunch. I also like to keep a big bag of sliced frozen strawberries for sweet treat. I add splenda and top with a little cool whip, yummy, cold and sweet. Keep an eye on the recipes through the forum there are some really good ones and take a look at eating well they have some great ones too. Best of luck to you.