filling low-calorie meals?
Posted by kelly16 on Oct 22, 2007 · Member since May 2006 · 12 posts
haha hi everyone, so as weight loss is such an exciting topic on this board, i'm revisiting the topic with some ideas for filling low-calorie meals for those cold winter months when everyone craves carbs like mad. I'm looking to lose 10-15 pounds over the next few months. thanks!
Filling + low-calorie + good for cold weather = soup!
Soups are perfect for filling you up, using up veggies in your fridge, and getting lots of vitamins.
I think squash also has a pretty low calorie density, and there are so many pretty kinds of squash in season right now!
Those are the first two things that come to my mind....
I just made a really hearty, warm, comforting lentil-mushroom stew. A big bowl of it was around 250 calories.
With a thick slice of pumperknickle bread..it was a comfort food feast. The lentil/veggie combination is really filling and hearty, but also low-calorie.
May I suggest oatmeal? It makes for a great breakfast that sticks with you all day, especially if you add a little oat bran.
Shea? Suggesting oatmeal? Really? ;)
Disclaimer: Shea, I love your oatmeal recipes.
well, for the summer i'd recommend zucchini and the like, but now that that's over...
i agree about the soup/squash thing. especially butternut squash soup!
miso soup!
there's also instant soups sold at some HFSs that are made by "Dr. McDougall" (I doubt he's in the factory, but his name is on it!). They're way better than Fantastic brand and I find them filling. Most are only around 200 calories!
I love amy's soups :) servings are half a can but for most of them you can eat the whole can (if its the whole meal i do, if just the side i would take half and be FIIINE) for under 300. She has some lentil ones which are good :)
also, i love roasted veggies. I made squash/onion/carrot roated veggies the other day that were delish.
vegetable soups are a great idea and if you need the protein, try adding black beans or tofu. (it will add some calories, but not much.)
I think anything high fiber would help you lose weight. Even if it has carbs in it. I think everyone is right - soup and stews are really good.
Everyone's suggestions are really good. I would also say squash, soups, etc.
For me, I have a list of low cal filling "standby" items...
tons of steamed veggies w/lowfat teriyaki sauce and 1/2 cup brown rice
bean tostadas or burritos
seasoned beans w/ a healthy side salad
high fiber cereal w/ lowfat non-dairy milk
spaghetti squash w/ veggies & sauce
stuffed acorn squash
barley & veggie salad
If all I ate were those things, I would be a beanpole!!!! ;)
there's also instant soups sold at some HFSs that are made by "Dr. McDougall" (I doubt he's in the factory, but his name is on it!). They're way better than Fantastic brand and I find them filling. Most are only around 200 calories!
watch out for some of those instant soups though - make sure and check the label cus alot of them consider that cup 2 servings which can end up being close to 600 cals! eek!
fiber one cereal if you're not feeling the hot cereal all the time - 60 cals in a cup and tons of fiber!
there's also instant soups sold at some HFSs that are made by "Dr. McDougall" (I doubt he's in the factory, but his name is on it!). They're way better than Fantastic brand and I find them filling. Most are only around 200 calories!
watch out for some of those instant soups though - make sure and check the label cus alot of them consider that cup 2 servings which can end up being close to 600 cals! eek!
fiber one cereal if you're not feeling the hot cereal all the time - 60 cals in a cup and tons of fiber!
hmm... i dunno. i just checked my split pea, hot n sour, tortilla, and tamale soup from them, and there are two servings, but each serving is 85-120 cals (170-240 total). Maybe there's some other calorific one I'm not aware of... and don't plan to be ???
there's also instant soups sold at some HFSs that are made by "Dr. McDougall" (I doubt he's in the factory, but his name is on it!). They're way better than Fantastic brand and I find them filling. Most are only around 200 calories!
watch out for some of those instant soups though - make sure and check the label cus alot of them consider that cup 2 servings which can end up being close to 600 cals! eek!
fiber one cereal if you're not feeling the hot cereal all the time - 60 cals in a cup and tons of fiber!
hmm... i dunno. i just checked my split pea, hot n sour, tortilla, and tamale soup from them, and there are two servings, but each serving is 85-120 cals (170-240 total). Maybe there's some other calorific one I'm not aware of... and don't plan to be ???
just checked the ones in my cupboard and my black bean fantastic foods soup is 230cal/ serving and the say theres 2 servings in there.
my mcdougalls black bean soup is a little better at 170cal/ serving but thats still 340 cals for the cup. so i guess it varies alot by flavor with the mcdougalls.
whoah. strange.
well, at least black beans are worth the calories.
I never really liked Fantastic soups anyway... the mixes are generally good, but hummus and soups are... meh.
One of my favorite light and easy dinners is Cauliflower Sandwiches with a big salad.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=9701
These sandwiches are soooo tasty and low-cal too. I make as directed and then top with some sliced tomatoes and sweet pickle relish. Yummers! It's great on toast..in fact, that's what I had for dinner last night!!
OK, mdvegan, since you mentioned it...one of my favorite recipes is roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts.
You half the brussels sprouts, toss with cauliflower pieces, mix with rosemary, lots of garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Then, you place on a cookie sheet and roast them at 400* until they are browned & soft. Soooooooooo good!! :D
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, brussels sprouts, mustard greens, radishes, and cauliflower are very filling for being so low calorie, I pretty much eat a whole meal of one of the above every day, usually with a 1/4 cup or so of brown rice. They are all really good sauteed or roasted with salt, pepper, garlic, and a little olive oil. Tofu stirfry is a great filling low cal meal if you just use hot peppers and sesame oil for flavor instead of sugary sauces, and chana masala (curry chickpeas) too. The best way to minimize calories for me is to just not eat bread/tortillas/pitas etc. and maximize protein, and stick to healthy carbs like brown rice or wheat couscous, in small portions.
Oh..I just thought of another great recipe - Rockin' Roasted Veggie Burritos:
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=6006
Now, I'm a glutton so I eat them in Ezekial tortillas with some mashed avocado and salsa, but if you want to lower the cals, you could just spray them with olive oil spray, roast them, and eat them in a bowl with some salsa. I've done this too, and it's soooo delish and sooooo filling!
sometimes a bunch of broccoli, lightly steamed, is really nice and easy. quick too. sometimes i'll mix it up with some tofu.
veggies are definably the way to go if you want filling meals without a lot of "junk calories". they have lots of nutrients in them too. yum yum! i have been known to steam and eat pounds of asperigus before.
:-[ i have done the same thing with asparagus. one time i just steamed a bunch and started eating and kept going back until the bunch was gone. my room mate was like "more?!"
..i must have had a severe veggie deficit.