Looking to lose weight? Lowering your calorie intake while still feeling full is an easy way to achieve this goal.
Here are 30 zero calorie foods (or close to zero) to help in your weight loss endeavor.
1. Broccoli
Calories: 31 per cup
When looking for low calorie foods, look no further than the vegetable that most of the world loves to hate. Add some broccoli into your meals and it will help boost your immune system as you gain some nutrition for weight loss.
2. Apples
Calories: 57 per cup
Apples can be your alternative low calorie snacks that you can feast on before your official meal times. They help to reduce hunger and also contain healthy components which include:
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins
- Minerals
All these have great health benefits for the body.
3. Asparagus
Calories: 27 per cup
Asparagus assists in detoxing and cleaning out your body. You can eat it raw, cooked. Add some seamed or grilled asparagus to your diet plan and feel the positive changes in your body.
It can be eaten raw or cooked by steaming/grilling.
4. Lettuce
Calories: 5 per cup
Lettuce is one of the most common vegetables. It is on almost every plate of salad.
Add lettuce to more meals and you will easily lose weight. It is more beneficial when eaten raw with little to no salad dressing.
5. Cauliflower
Calories: 17 per cup
Cauliflower is best eaten cooked.
It is rich in vitamin K and C and full of beneficial antioxidants. Eating cauliflower is aA great way to stay healthy while losing weight at the same time.
6. Carrots
Calories: 22 per cup
Known for their ability to improve eyesight, carrots are a healthy snack that you can eat either raw or cooked. Additionally, they contain low levels of cholesterol. Also high in fibre, they are great for your digestive tract.
7. Watermelon
Calories: 46 per cup
Watermelon is one of the most recommended zero calorie fruit that you can indulge in anytime in your weight loss journey.
It is best eaten after meals as dessert because of the sweetness. Watermelon also hydrates the body very well as 92% of it is water.
8. Berries
Calories: 64 per cup
Do you enjoy picking berries? They are some of the healthiest fruits to eat. Berries are sweet fruits filled with antioxidants and fibre. They also help to improve response to insulin. These succulent fruits include:
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
9. Lemons
Calories: 20 per fruit
Lemons are highly recommended for anyone seeking the right nutrition for weight loss. Squeezing half a lemon into a glass of water is part of a healthy breakfast for anyone. It is one of the best low calorie foods for weight loss because it:
- Is low in calories
- Boosts metabolism
- Promotes fullness
- Keeps you hydrated
Lemons are filled with lots of vitamin C and are great for digestion. It’s also a great way of adding more flavor to your meals.
10. Oranges
Calories: 85 per cup
Related to lemons, oranges are low calorie fruits that can be added to your meals for more nutritious and healthy meals.
Oranges are popular for their high levels of vitamin C. They also sweet, contain calcium and help with digestion. It also contains high levels of potassium to help reduce the risk of heart attacks.
11. Beetroot
Calories: 59 per cup
These are deep red root vegetables. They are commonly used in juices or eaten raw in salads. Beetroots are highly popular as an effective cure to hypertension.
12. Mushrooms
Calories: 15 per cup
Mushrooms are healthy foods known for their healing qualities and boosting the body’s immune system.
They can be eaten raw or cooked. Some great ways of utilizing mushroom to your cooking is to add them to omelets or have them with beef stews.
13. Celery
Calories: 16 per cup
Do you want to give up on unhealthy snacks? Celery is your best solution.
It is green and filled with water (95%) to hydrate the body. It is a low-calorie snack that you can eat all day every day.
It is a great addition to your weight loss diet. With lots of fiber to make you full quicker, it helps reduce your food intake.
14. Onions
Calories: 46 per cup
Onions are commonly used in everyday cooking. They add a nice flavor to your meals.
Another benefit is it’s highly nutritious and very low in calorie.
15. Tomatoes
Calories: 32 per cup
Tomatoes are considered among the healthiest foods in the world. They can easily be eaten raw or cooked. You can slice it up and add it to your sandwich or even use it to make good stews and sauces. They also contain cancer fighting properties.
16. Bell Pepper
Calories: 60 per cup
This should not come as a surprise. Pepper has long been accepted as a healthy part of most meals. It has benefits such as:
- Improves weight metabolism this promoting weight loss
- Helps with digestive issues
- Relieves pain in the joints
These and other medical benefits make pepper a useful ingredient for any dish.
17. Cucumbers
Calories: 16 per cup
Cucumbers are low calorie foods that can be mixed with lettuce in a salad to create the ultimate healthy meal. They are a good source of vitamin K which is needed for blood clotting, protection against heart disease and building strong bones.
Additionally, they contain high water levels for good hydration and digestion.
Tip: Use it as a replacement for biscuits when eating dips.
18. Radishes
Calories: 19 per cup
Red, crunchy and full of vitamins as well as minerals, radishes are loved as a garnish. They are added to a wide range of dishes and salads. Adding them to your diet can help you shed the weight. However, you must eat them in combination with other healthy food choices.
19. Spinach
Calories: 7 per cup
Spinach is great for salad. It is highly nutritious and sometimes is mixed with or substitutes lettuce for low calorie salads.
It is suitable for any meal from breakfast to dinner. It contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals.
20. Papaya
Calories: 55 calories per cup
A sweet and fleshy fruit, papaya is a good source of vitamin A and potassium for a much healthier body.
It is delicious and is great for dessert or as a snack.
21. Cabbage
Calories: 22 per cup
Forget the jokes about how cabbage smells. This high fiber vegetable is great for your digestive tract. Also, it is low in calories and will therefore fits right in when you are trying to lose weight. Cabbage is great for stew and salads.
22. Clementine
Calories: 35 per fruit
Clementine are fruits that resemble oranges. Like oranges, they are rich in vitamin C and are a high-quality snack to indulge.
They help boost your immune system as you seek to gain a healthy weight and lifestyle.
23. Zucchini
Calories: 21 per cup
Zucchini is a high fibre, no fat vegetable that contains high levels of vitamins B6, C, K, folate and riboflavin. Also known as the summer squash, this vegetable is low in calories and high in minerals such as manganese and potassium.
Zucchini can be eaten raw or steamed.
24. Kale
Calories: 33 per cup
This is another great ingredient for healthy low-calorie meals.
It contains numerous vitamins and antioxidants and helps lower body cholesterol. Kale is easy to cook with and can be blended into a healthy vegetable juice. It is also suitable for making salads.
25. Grapes
Calories: 52 per cup
Like berries, grapes are also quite popular. They are as nutritious as they are delicious.
They can be added to yogurts and salads or eaten on their own. They help improve digestion and reduce cholesterol in the body.
26. Garlic
Calories: 5 per clove
Garlic is a common food ingredient used to flavor food. It is also popular for its medicinal value. Being one the lowest in calories, garlic can be used in just about every meal you make.
27. Chard
Calories: 7 per cup
A low calorie green leafy vegetable which contains high levels of vitamin K. Vitamin K is important in the body to ensure regular and proper blood flow.
It can be eaten cooked or raw in salads. Chard can be a great alternative to kale or lettuce.
28. Pickles
Calories: 16 per cup
A great natural snack for any time of the day. It contains high levels of minerals. Pickles are sweet and can make you feel full for longer.
These make them the best snack to indulge in during your weight loss journey.
29. Brussel sprouts
Calories: 38 per cup
These are almost as nutritious as broccoli. They contain high levels of vitamin C and are considered as vital DNA protectors.
30. Fennel
Calories: 27 per cup
An onion-like, rounded vegetable that is cooked with food to add flavor. It is best eaten boiled or roasted.
Conclusion
For the best nutrition during your weight loss journey, go for the healthy low-calorie meals provided here.
Ensure that you have zero calorie foods on hand during the day. Replace processed foods with these healthy low calorie alternatives and you will see a great improvement in your health, weight and general wellbeing.
