Low-calorie foods are not only good for your waistline, but they’re also great for your heart! You may have heard that low-carb diets help you lose weight, but what many don’t realize is that these diets actually contain healthy ingredients like oatmeal and other whole grains. These types of foods will keep you full longer and help you feel satisfied throughout the day. There’s no need to eat junk food or sugary drinks when you can enjoy real food instead!
The following list contains some of the most surprising low-calorie foods out there:
1. Oats – One cup of cooked oats provides just over 100 calories and 2 grams of protein.
They’re also high in fiber which helps lower blood sugar levels. Oats are also rich in B vitamins and iron, making them a good source of both nutrients.
(source)
2. Kale – A cup of kale provides nearly 200 calories and 2 grams of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin C, potassium, folate, magnesium and manganese. (source)
3. Spinach – A cup of spinach provides almost 300 calories and 3 grams of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin C, potassium, calcium and riboflavin. (source)
4. Garlic – One clove of garlic provides less than 20 calories and a trace amount of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin C, manganese, and selenium. (source)
5. Eggs – One large egg provides 77 calories and 6 grams of protein.
They’re also high in selenium, vitamin D, B12, B2 and B1. (source)
6. Black Beans – Half a cup of cooked black beans provides 255 calories and 15 grams of protein.
They’re also high in magnesium, potassium, folate and iron. (source)
7. Cashews – One ounce of cashews provides 194 calories and 7 grams of protein.
They’re also high in copper, vitamin E, magnesium, and manganese. (source)
8. Carrots – One large carrot provides over 60 calories and nearly 2 grams of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin A, potassium, and manganese. (source)
9. Turkey – Three ounces of turkey provides 159 calories and 24 grams of protein.
It’s also high in niacin, vitamin B6, and phosphorous. (source)
10. Broccoli – One cup of broccoli provides 60 calories and 4 grams of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. (source)
11. Grapefruit – One medium-sized half of a grapefruit provides just over 60 calories and 1 gram of protein.
It’s also high in vitamin C, potassium, and thiamine. (source)
With all these low-calorie foods that are good for you, you might be wondering how you can eat enough to feel full! The trick is to eat these low-calorie foods in addition to higher calorie foods.
For example, you could have a few slices of turkey and a grapefruit for breakfast. For lunch, you could eat a cup of oats and some carrots. For dinner, you could eat a hamburger (4 ounces of beef) with lettuce, spinach, and half an avocado. Finally, for a snack, you could eat some cashews and half a cup of black beans.
When eating this way, you’ll feel full while consuming fewer calories. You’ll also be getting lots of nutrients, which should prevent you from getting hungry and overeating.
In other words, eating this way is a great way to lose weight!
Sources & references used in this article:
Low calorie yeast leavened baked products by M Glicksman, EH Farkas, S Carter – US Patent 3,676,150, 1972 – Google Patents
Low calorie sweetening composition and method for making same by M Glicksman, BN Wankier – US Patent 4,001,456, 1977 – Google Patents
Low calorie sweetening composition and method for making same by M Glicksman, BN Wankier – US Patent 3,922,369, 1975 – Google Patents
Will work for snack food: the association of BMI and snack reinforcement by JCAH Giesen, RC Havermans, A Douven… – …, 2010 – Wiley Online Library
Low calorie diet bread by JB Thompson – US Patent 4,109,018, 1978 – Google Patents
Inadequate nutrition and chronic calorie restriction in adolescent ballerinas by J Benson, DM Gillien, K Bourdet… – The Physician and …, 1985 – Taylor & Francis
