Low Calorie Meal Ideas

If you are trying to lose excess weight then there is no better way to do it than having low calorie meals along with a good diet regimen. Low calorie diet can also be followed by people who are at their optimum weight levels as it will help them to maintain their ideal weight. One of the main reasons of weight gain is consuming more calories than burning them. If you look at it, weight gain boils down to simple mathematics. If the number of calories that you consume in any given day is greater than the number of calories the body uses for essential functions and all kinds of physical activities, the excess calories will definitely result in weight gain. To combat this you need to decrease your calorie intake to a healthy level and burn calories by exercising. Whenever we hear of low calorie meals, we tend to think of them as bland and boring food that is may be high on nutrition but is definitely low on taste. But low calorie meals need not be plain and boring. With judicious use of fresh produce, careful planning and a little creativity, you can enjoy low calorie meals that are tasty and nutritious.

Easy Low Calorie Meal Ideas

To create low calorie meals at home that are nutritious and tasty, choose the freshest produce and the correct cooking methods. Prepare meals with fresh seasonal produce and avoid anything that is ready-made and packaged as it contains a high amount of preservatives and sodium that will increase your calorie intake considerably. Cooking methods like grilling, steaming and sautéing are much healthier options than deep-frying and broiling. Choose white meat and lean cuts of protein like chicken and turkey . Introduce whole grains and food rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates in your diet as they are low in calories but which helps to keep you satiated longer. You might like to take a look at the low calorie food list to help you make a healthier choice.

Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and in the quest to cut calories, many people skip breakfast. However this leads to a mid morning energy slump and dangerous drop in blood sugar levels. To keep you fit and healthy, here are some low calorie breakfast ideas:

• Muesli with skimmed milk
• Berry and banana smoothie
• Whole wheat muffins
• Spinach and goat cheese frittata
• Pancakes with honey
• Poached egg
• Oatmeal with berries and banana

Lunch
Prepare lunch from home so that you stay away from calorie loaded lunch options. If preparing lunch at home is not an option, then choose restaurants that serve Mediterranean dishes and select dishes that are either grilled or steamed. If you are eating a salad for lunch, then ask for the dressing on the side or choose low calorie dressings like balsamic vinaigrette or honey mustard dressing. Some low calorie meal ideas for lunch are:

• Whole wheat turkey burgers
• Chicken and mushroom soup
• Tomato and pea risotto
• Green salad with flaked tuna and mustard sauce
• Spiced lentil soup with garlic bread
• Fish fillet with wasabi dressing and steamed baby carrots
• Asian Green Bean Salad

Dinner
Dinners should be light and not too carbohydrate rich. Select good protein sources and have plenty of omega 3 rich fish. Light soups made with fresh vegetables without cream, fiber rich foods made with whole grains and flavorful salads topped with nuts are good choices. Some low calorie dinner ideas are:

• Seared salmon with steamed baby spinach and tartare sauce
• Root vegetable and Lentil Casserole
• Vegetable tagine with chickpeas and preserved lemon
• Vegetable Chili
• Steamed Fish with Bok Choy
• Pan fried chicken breast with cranberry sauce
• Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

Snacks
Every person needs to have a go between meal or snacks that will curb hunger pangs. But before you reach for a fatty burger or a chicken burrito dripping with cheese, stop to think how much calories they contain. A chicken burrito contains around 790 calories and is not going to do your waistline any good. So here are some better alternatives:

• Tofu kebabs
• Roasted cauliflower florets
• Chickpeas in sea salt and lemon juice
• Roasted Pecans
• Whole wheat crackers with peanut butter
• Carrot and celery sticks with hummus
• Low fat yogurt with berries

If you plan well, you can make this meals quite easily at home with very little effort. These meals will keep you satiated and also help you to lose weight and unlike other diets, you need not limit yourselves to only certain types of food.

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