Naturally low-cal (not diet) recipes

[alexanikolb37]

Hey anyone have recipes that just so happen to be low-cal? I'm thinking good, healthy recipes that are low in calries and high in nutrients by nature, not because someone was trying really hard to make them.

Thank you!

[GershonSurge · Accepted solution]

I mostly have oatmeal (not instant) with applesauce added for sweetness and a banana for breakfast.

Rice and any frozen vegetable mixture is good. So are diced steamed potatoes. (If you don't feel like dicing, you can use frozen potatoes.) Potatoes are lower calorie than rice, so you can eat more.

I make vegan pizzas with my own dough, which is flour, water, a small amount of sugar and salt and some yeast. I just leave off the cheese and don't use any substitues. Use the vegetables of your choice.

If you like complicated recipies, look on www.drmcdougall.com.

I avoid all animal products and added oils. 

[Ukase]

I've shared this before, I'm sure. 

Slice up a couple of zucchini and summer squash - about 1/4 inch thick so that they're round, like a poker chip. Drizzle olive oil and seasoning as desired. I use Cavendar's Greek seasoning. 

If you like meat, cut a few slices of canadian bacon into 1/4 and randomly drop in a pan on top of the veggies. 

Roast the pan for about 30 minutes. I have no idea how many calories are in it - but it's not much. You can add asparagus, even sweet potato if you want to- just be sure you slice the potato thin, because they take longer to cook. You can add onion, peppers, just about any veggie you want. Low cal, easy to make. 

[A_Lurker]

Last night I tipped a package (750g) of frozen green and yellow beans into a foil roaster.  Sprinkled with some seasonings (last night it was garlic plus that I bought at Costco), covered it with boneless skinless chicken thighs, more seasoning, then sliced up a couple of meyer lemons (not as sour as a typical lemon) and baked it for a while.  100% hindsight I should have run the beans under some water to partially thaw them.

(370 cals for 8oz of chicken and a quarter of the bag, half a lemon)

Normally I would serve this with some baked rice blend, but I didn't have any ready and I didn't bother to make any.  I added a huge salad as well, normally I would have just added a side salad and had the rice.

[A_Lurker]

I was going to say that I don't necessarily make low-cal recipes, but my cooking style in general is:

lean meats

spices, not sauces

grill, poach, roast, not stews

lots of veggies

starches, usually on the side

I tend to take a lot of my carbs in through fruits and veggies just because I'm not a huge potato / pasta fan.  I'll usually have a rice blend baked in the fridge that I can toss in.

[SunsetRunner]

You're just going to have to experiment with vegetables. I just throw different vegetables in to a pot a cook them all together. I like to do kale, collard greens, a few small potatoes (the tiny ones), carrots, broccoli, and zuccini with some seasoning. Depending on what I'm eating I might make some sweet potato, mushrooms, or whatever I feel is a good addition to the meal.