High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (2024)

by Liz Thomson August 22, 2011This post may contain affiliate links.

If you’re looking for recipes that will fill you up, these high volume low calorie recipes are the answer! They’re a great way to fill up on nutrient-dense food without a lot of calories. If you ever feel like a bottomless pit and you want a huge portion, these recipes are perfect!

High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (1)

Do you ever find yourself craving a lot of food? I’m a bit of a “volume eater”, meaning sometimes, I don’t feel satisfied with small portions. I’d rather have a giant salad than a few bites of a rich pasta dish. So if you’re like me and you occasionally find yourself craving a big bowl of pasta or a monster-sized salad, I’ve got some recipes to help you out! These recipes are high in volume, meaning the portion sizes are big, but they’re low in calories. That means you can eat a big serving without being overly full or stuffed at the end of your meal.

Here are some of my favorite high volume, low calorie recipes:

Spaghetti Squash Al Pomodoro

Spaghetti Squash al Pomodoro is a great way to enjoy pasta night while filling up on vegetables! Because spaghetti squash is low in calories, you can enjoy a large portion of this tasty dish!

Low Calorie Zucchini Noodles

More of a spaghetti person? Try these low calorie zucchini noodles! I like to top mine with roasted tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. It’s filled with lots of flavor but the zucchini noodles make this dish very low in calories.

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Butternut Squash Fries

Craving fast food? Slice up some butternut squash and make Butternut squash fries!They taste like sweet potato fries, but you can eat a giant plate of them for a fraction of the calories! I love how easy these are. If you have an air fryer, try baking them in there for extra crispy, low-calorie fries!

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High Protein Banana Muffins

Need a quick and easy breakfast option? These banana bread muffins are just 60 calories each. Yes, 60. These are great if you’re craving carbs but you want to fill up on protein. Made with egg whites and protein powder, these might not be your traditional bakery muffin, but they’re great for a low calorie option!

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Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Dreaming of tacos? These roasted cauliflower tacos are vegan, gluten-free, and low in calories! Each taco is only about 150 calories, and you could make them even more low-calorie if you skip the avocado and use salsa instead. Taco night just got a lot healthier!

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One Pan Ratatoullie

This easy one pan ratatouille is loaded with vegetables so you can have a huge serving for less than 300 calories. This is one of my favorite ways to use up any leftover veggies in my fridge and it’s a really satisfying meal. If you love huge portion sizes and you’re craving Italian flavors, this high volume low calorie recipe is the answer!

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Parmesan Tomato Soup

Soup is one of my favorite high volume, low calorie foods. A big bowl of this Parmesan tomato soup is just 140 calories, which means you can totally add a grilled cheese sandwich. This is such a creamy, satisfying meal. The Parmesan adds lots of flavor but you only need a little bit, so this soup is still a low calorie option.

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Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This crunchy cucumber and tomato salad is a great way to fill up on vegetables! With just a drizzle of olive oil, this is a side dish that will have you coming back for seconds and thirds! To make it really low calorie, skip the olive oil and just use red wine vinegar. It has lots of flavor and when tomatoes and cucumbers are in season, this is an irresistible side dish. This is a great recipe when you’re craving a big bowl of food!

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Mango Frozen Yogurt

Craving something sweet? Can’t find Halo Top in your area? Whip up some mango frozen yogurtfor a sweet, low calorie treat! It’s just two ingredients! Plus, it’s high in protein thanks to Greek yogurt. If you don’t want to make your own frozen yogurt, there are also some great storebought options. Have you tried Halo Top, yet?

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Looking for more ideas? Try these high volume, low calorie snacks! I’ve picked out some of the best homemade and storebought snacks that will let you eat the whole bag! If you’re craving a major snack, check out the list!

What are your favorite low-calorie/large portion recipes?

originally posted August 22, 2011 (updated June 29, 2023) by Liz Thomson
categories: Healthy recipes 49 comments

High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What foods are low in calories but high in volume? ›

12 High-Volume Low-Calorie Foods
  • Leafy Greens. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, and romaine lettuce are great additions to your volume eating plan. ...
  • Cauliflower. Cauliflower continues to be a favorite low-calorie staple, and with good reason. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Watermelon.
Dec 8, 2023

What are some low calorie high-volume meals? ›

Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine shared five meal and snack ideas with Insider that include high-volume foods to help you keep hunger at bay.
  • Fat-free Greek yogurt with berries. ...
  • Cottage cheese vegetable omelet. ...
  • Spinach salads, sauces, and smoothies. ...
  • Stir-fry. ...
  • Popcorn.
Nov 5, 2023

What foods have low calories but fill you up? ›

Protein and dairy
  • Beans, peas and lentils, which are also good sources of fiber.
  • Fish.
  • Lean meat and poultry.
  • Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
  • Egg whites.

What is the most low calorie food ever? ›

Here are 39 foods with almost zero calories.
  • SUGAR SNAP PEAS. ...
  • TOMATOES. ...
  • TURNIPS. ...
  • WATERCRESS. ...
  • WATERMELON. ...
  • ZUCCHINI. ...
  • BEVERAGES: COFFEE, HERBAL TEA, WATER, CARBONATED WATER. ...
  • HERBS AND SPICES. Herbs and spices are used to add flavor to foods and are extremely low in calories.

What are volume foods for weight loss? ›

Examples of high-volume foods, which are typically rich in fiber and water, include watermelon, lettuce, zucchini, citrus, spinach, egg whites, cucumber, celery, oatmeal and high-fiber fruits, like apples and berries.

How can I add volume without calories? ›

Foods that are high in water and fiber are also high-volume foods, in part because both water and fiber have little to no calories. Examples include: Leafy greens, such as spinach, arugula and salad mixes. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

What is the most filling food? ›

Foods That Help Beat Hunger and Keep You Fuller Longer
  1. Whole Grains. Whole grains, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pasta, are linked to weight control and maintaining a healthy weight. ...
  2. Greek Yogurt. ...
  3. Avocado. ...
  4. Oatmeal. ...
  5. Red Chili Pepper. ...
  6. Fish. ...
  7. Nuts. ...
  8. Beans and Legumes.

What food keeps you full? ›

Whole, unprocessed foods that are high in protein and fiber will generally leave you more sated, which means you feel full for a longer period of time. Some of the most filling foods include boiled potatoes, oatmeal, eggs, fish, Greek yogurt, and popcorn.

How can I eat 200 calories a day? ›

200 calorie meal recipes
  1. Pea & broad bean shakshuka. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ...
  2. One-pan egg & veg brunch. ...
  3. Masala omelette muffins. ...
  4. Roasted spiced cauliflower. ...
  5. Healthy chicken salad. ...
  6. Potato salad with anchovy & quail's eggs. ...
  7. Mushroom & basil omelette with smashed tomato. ...
  8. Roasted summer vegetables.

What is the lowest calorie snack to eat? ›

25 Super Snacks With 100 Calories or Less
  • 1/2 Cup Slow-Churned Ice Cream. 1/25. Surprise! ...
  • 6 Cups Microwave Popcorn. 2/25. ...
  • Cottage Cheese and Cantaloupe. 3/25. ...
  • Three Crackers With Cheese. 4/25. ...
  • Fourteen Almonds. 5/25. ...
  • Six Whole-Grain Pretzel Sticks. 6/25. ...
  • Baked Apple. 7/25. ...
  • Cheese-Stuffed Pita Pocket. 8/25.
Mar 22, 2024

Which snack has the fewest calories? ›

Which snack has the fewest calories?
  • Air-popped popcorn: One cup of air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories.
  • Celery sticks with peanut butter: One stalk of celery with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has only 84 calories.
  • Baby carrots: One cup of baby carrots has only 42 calories.

What are the best foods for volume eating? ›

Examples of high-volume foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and watermelon, as well as broth-based soups and water-heavy fruits. Opting for high-volume foods can help you achieve a sense of fullness and satisfaction without significantly increasing your calorie intake.

Who eats 800 calories a day? ›

An 800 calorie diet, is quite simply an ultra low calorie diet. This type of diet is sometimes considered for obese and severely obese people as a way to manage their diabetes. It is also sometimes advised for people about to have surgery.

What foods have the most volume? ›

High-volume foods (the kind you're supposed to eat more of with volume eating) include:
  • Watermelon, plus other melons.
  • Grapes.
  • Stone fruits like peaches.
  • Citrus fruits.
  • Cucumber, lettuce and celery.
  • Egg whites.
  • Grains like oatmeal and popcorn.
Sep 20, 2023

How do you eat low calories but feel full? ›

In order to be able to cut calories without eating less and feeling hungry, you need to replace some higher calorie foods with foods that are lower in calories and fat and will fill you up. In general, this means foods with lots of water and fiber in them.

What food has the highest calorie to volume ratio? ›

Examples include butter, oils, salad dressings, sugar, nuts, seeds, dry bread, dry cereal, crackers, egg yolk, avocado, dried fruit, red meat, and yes, Egg Muffins and pizza. As you can see from the chart below, oils are the most calorie-dense foods on the planet.

What are high volume low macro foods? ›

Foods such as squash, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, celery, mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, lettuce, pumpkin, etc. can be consumed in large amounts without using up a ton of an individual's daily caloric allotment.

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