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 high in volume but low in calories? ›

High Volume Low Calorie Carbs
  • Leafy greens.
  • Cruciferous veggies.
  • Cabbage.
  • Zucchini.
  • Berries.
  • Legumes (beans)
  • Watermelon.
  • Popcorn (air popped)

What foods fill you up but are low in calories? ›

The healthiest lower energy-dense choices are foods that are high in protein but low in fat and calories, such as:
  • 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.

Does low calorie high volume work? ›

When eaten in volume, high-fiber and water foods keep you more full with fewer calories. Volume eating, when done properly, can be helpful for some individuals to lose weight. Focusing on nutrient-dense whole foods helps keep you full and satisfied for longer since these foods quite literally fill up your stomach more.

What is the most filling low calorie meal? ›

Lunch and dinner options:
  • Salad with lean poultry or beans, vegetables, and quinoa.
  • Beef or lentil soup or stew with vegetables, peppers, and rice.
  • Whole grain sandwich or wrap with lean protein, leafy greens, and low-fat cheese.
  • Grilled or baked salmon with roasted vegetables and potatoes.
Nov 6, 2023

How to feel full on 1200 calories a day? ›

Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, and other similar vegetables are high in fiber and water. Adding these non-starchy vegetables to your lunch and dinner can help you feel full. If you need some dinner plans, you could make salmon, a baked potato, and vegetables like green beans or carrots.

What foods help burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

How much weight will you lose on 800 calories a day? ›

Very Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD)

On a VLCD, you may have as few as 800 calories a day and may lose up to 3 to 5 pounds (1.5 to 2 kg) week. Most VLCDs use meal replacements, such as formulas, soups, shakes, and bars instead of regular meals. This helps ensure that you get all of the nutrients you need each day.

What foods can I eat unlimited amounts of? ›

Let's take a look at some of these wonderful foods:
  • Celery. Celery is a vegetable that is made up of 95% water! ...
  • Broccoli. It is well known for the natural substance it contains – sulforaphane, which has an anti-cancerous effect. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Lettuce. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Blueberries. ...
  • Raspberries.

What are 4 foods that are high in empty calories? ›

The foods and drinks that contain primarily empty calories are:
  • Soft drinks, sports drinks, sweet tea, lemonade and energy drinks.
  • Alcohol.
  • Junk food and fast food.
  • Candy, including hard candies and sweet or sour chews.
  • Cakes and donuts.
Jan 21, 2021

Does 500 calories make a difference? ›

In general, if you cut about 500 calories a day from your usual diet, you may lose about ½ to 1 pound a week. But this can vary depending on your body, how much weight you want to lose, your gender and activity level.

How do volume eaters lose weight? ›

Volume eating emphasizes the consumption of low-calorie, high-volume foods that have a high water and fiber content. The underlying concept is to enhance satiety and feelings of fullness while minimizing calorie intake.

What are the healthiest fats to eat? ›

Choose foods with “good” unsaturated fats, limit foods high in saturated fat, and avoid “bad” trans fat. “Good” unsaturated fats — Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — lower disease risk. Foods high in good fats include vegetable oils (such as olive, canola, sunflower, soy, and corn), nuts, seeds, and fish.

What food is filling but not fattening? ›

13 Low Calorie Foods That Are Surprisingly Filling
  • Oats.
  • Greek yogurt.
  • Soup.
  • Berries.
  • Eggs.
  • Popcorn.
  • Chia seeds.
  • Fish.

How to lose 5-6 pounds in a week? ›

Losing 5 pounds a week comes to reducing your food intake by 3500 calories over seven days. The value that represents the decrease in calorie intake is known as the calorie deficit. If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit.

What food has 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 can I add calories without adding volume? ›

3 ways to increase calorie intake without increasing volume
  1. Add extra cheese to your food. Cheese is a great source of calories and fat and can be added to anything from soups to eggs. ...
  2. Use whole-fat dairy products; milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, etc. ...
  3. Incorporate butter whenever you can.
Sep 15, 2020

How to eat 500 calories a day and feel full? ›

Here is a list of low-calorie foods that pack a lot of nutrients to help you feel satisfied:
  1. Clear soups, such as vegetable or miso.
  2. Nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt.
  3. Nonfat or low-fat cottage cheese.
  4. Cauliflower rice.
  5. Steamed or raw vegetables.
  6. Fish.
  7. Lean meats like chicken or turkey breast.
  8. Tofu.

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