Filling Low Calorie foods?!
 

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I like watermelon, melon, zuchinni because I can eat lots and it is low cal.

A.

I like spinach with shredded chicken or and some kind of grain, like bulgur, quinoa, barely, cous cous etc. I've found that I can use the spinach as a bed for the other things and not have to use dressing. I also like a piece of pita bread with ham and spinach on it. And for a snack I like the Fiber One cereal, original flavor, with 1/2 cup of mountain high plain lowfat yogurt. Of course raw fruits and veggies are good too, but for me they don't keep me very full for long unless I have some kind of protein and/or complex carb with 'em.

Barb

I find that whole foods are more filling overall than processed ones. And LOTS of veggies give a lot of volume for a small amount of calories. Including a protein along with the carbs (veggie or starch) generally gives the food more staying power in terms of feeling full.

As for zig-zag, I don't specifically try to do it, but find that just naturally, I eat different amounts each day so my calories are in a range of 1200-1600, averaging just below 1400.

All kinds of veggies. We (meaning my family) have been eating a lot of broccoli and salads. I eat collard greens when I feel like cooking them, cabbage and mixed veggies. We eat veggie burgers and sandwich thins like a regular burger.

1400 sounds good. I'm around 1200-1400 depending on what's for dinner. I try to stay around the 1400 and it keeps me from getting hungry through the day.

I snack on fresh broccoli w/ red pepper or salsa during the day sometimes. 85 grams = 25 cals and that is a lot of broccoli.

Fresh veggies and hummus! Hummus is about 50 calories for 2 tablespoons, and I love dipping sugar snap peas or cauliflower in it.

Salad greens and spray on dressing for me. Granted, they aren't the greatest salads, but I love ranch so it works for me. I use organic baby greens (they come in a HUGE tub at King soopers for like 5.00) and the package says 4.5 cups = 20 cals. Then I spray on ranch which is 15 Cals for 10 sprays. (I spray 20 times because I love it) I actually asked this same question when I first joined and was told about greens. It's cheap and I can eat a TON of it! Keep in mind I add nothing else if I'm just eating it for a snack so it's a pretty boring salad- unless you love ranch as much as me.

I have some really ravenous days sometimes. Nothing seems to fill me up. I like to use bags of Act II Kettle Corn on these days- they are only 75 calories for the entire bag.

I also really like those new special K fruit crisps bars - blueberry. They are filling and only 100 calories for two bars (1 pack).

Also, I try to include beans in my meals because the fiber in them really fills me up.

I know you already said you eat a lot of fruit, I do too, and that fills me up for at least a couple hours.

Some things I find particularly filling:

Mexican vegetable soup - soup with chicken, cabbage, carrots, onions, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes, and cumin

Hamburger, yes, a hamburger! Not a snack, but a 1/4 lb patty grilled and drained of grease on a nice multigrain roll with lettuce and fresh tomato and onion keeps me full for hours and hours. I think it's a great meal choice for me.

Toad in a Hole - nonstick spray on a nonstick skillet, fry a slice of whole wheat bread with a hole pulled in the middle for a minute, then drop in an egg, cook a couple minutes and flip

Green beans - I cook mine for 8 hours in the crock pot with a bit of fresh lean pork, chopped onion, red pepper flakes and a dash of smoke flavoring at the end

Miso soup - I get fresh miso from the local health food store; just boil water and add fresh mushrooms, green onions, maybe a little cubed tofu, then remove from heat and stir in a couple tablespoons of miso; you can add Japanese liquid fish soup base called "dashi", which you can get at an Asian food store or most health food stores will have it.