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One of the biggest problems many women face when trying to lose weight is the insatiable hunger that comes with calorie restriction. After all, it’s widely known that you must consume fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.
But really… how long can you ignore that angry prisoner beating on the walls of your stomach, begging for release?
Luckily there’s a way out. You don’t have to starve yourself skinny, nor do you have to subsist on a boring diet of twigs and berries.
Enter zero calorie foods.
This is a slight misnomer because these foods don’t exactly have zero calories.
The thing is in some cases, the fiber content makes it such that you burn more calories digesting the food than there are in the food itself.In other cases, the food is mostly water.
The calories are so low for the volume they are “nearly-zero calorie”. You could safely eat them until full without worry.
Nearly Zero Calorie Fruits
Due to natural sugar, fruit isn’t the lowest-calorie option for those who seek to lose weight. However, fruits are so nutritious, filling and still low-calorie enough that they make an excellent choice. Read on for 6 nearly-zero calorie fruits to help you lose weight fast!
1. Peaches
Peaches are a great low-calorie food for weight loss. Half a peach is just 37 calories and 1.6 grams of fiber.
According to a recent study, peaches have shown to help prevent obesity-related diseases, like diabetes, and may help lower cholesterol, to boot.
Peaches aren’t just good for your insides, however. They can make you pretty on the outside, too!
Vitamin C (which peaches are loaded with) helps fight wrinkles and fight damage from the sun.
So dig in, and your life will be just peachy!
2. Grapefruit
If you’re seeking a superfood that’s low on calories but high in nutrients, grapefruit will be your very best friend.
An excellent source of both vitamins A and C, grapefruit packs a powerful punch.
Additional benefits of consuming grapefruit come in the form of improved digestion (due to high fiber and water content) and hydration (again, water).
Half a grapefruit provides just 37 calories, 1.7 grams of fiber, and gets you to 68% of your daily recommended calories.
3. Strawberries
Clocking in at just 50 calories, one cup of strawberries is an excellent low-calorie food to add to your diet.
An excellent source of vitamins C and K, plus strong fiber and folic acid content make strawberries an incredibly healthy choice.
While it’s obvious the fruit can be eaten, did you know strawberry leaves are useful on their own?
They can be eaten raw, used in salads or even consumed as a tea.
4. Watermelon
So light, decadently sweet and perfect for the summer, watermelon tops this list of nearly zero calorie foods for so many reasons.
Due to extremely high water content, watermelon is super-filling. It’s also packed with antioxidants, which have long-term benefits to our skin, hair, and immune systems.
A small snack consisting of a cup of watermelon slices will please your palate, top-up your tummy, and only cost you 51 calories.
5. Oranges
Oranges are yet another great food that will help keep you full without spiking your calories for the day.
You already know oranges are loaded with Vitamin C, but did you know they’re packed with tons of other nutrients such as B vitamins and calcium?
Don’t go nuts… one orange is 60 calories. You couldn’t eat 10 oranges and expect to lose weight. But since they are so filling, you don’t have to!
6. Plums
At just 30 calories per fruit, plums are sure to keep your tummy AND your tongue very happy.
You can add them to your diet in a multitude of ways. Eat them raw, toss them in a fruit salad, or enjoy them in a delicious smoothie!
Nearly Zero Calorie Vegetables
Vegetables are hands-down the best low-calorie food around when you are trying to shed some extra pounds. They keep you fuller longer than other foods and are even lower-calorie than fruit! Here are some of the best nearly zero calorie vegetables for you to enjoy on your weight loss journey.
7. Arugula
To some, arugula is a bit of an acquired taste. Low in calories and fat but loaded with vitamins, potassium, and fiber, you’d be foolish not to at least give it a try.
At just 4 calories per cup, it would be incredibly hard to go overboard with this crispy, leafy green.
Add it to soups or salads for creative ways to enjoy it.
Pro Tip: You can even make delicious, crunchy arugula chips. You’re welcome.
8. Cabbage
Beautiful, crunchy and affordable. Colorful, too if you opt for the purple variety.
At just 22 calories per cup, this leafy vegetable is a dieter’s dream.
Cabbage can be tossed into salads, sautéed on the stove, used as a taco topping or placed in soup. A unique way to use cabbage to fill out some of your favorite meals is to use it in place of rice.
If you prepare a rice bowl with chicken and other vegetables on top, try using lightly sautéed and salted cabbage in place of the rice. You can eat so much more, and the cabbage will absorb the flavor of whatever sauce you use.
9. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is an excellent source of folate and Vitamin C. Enjoy it as a light, raw snack, lightly sautée it or steam it. With just 27 calories per cup, cauliflower is a top vegetable that you can enjoy with wild abandon.
Cauliflower is also wildly transformative. For low-carb dieters, it’s used for literally everything!
Check out this nifty cauliflower pizza crust recipe, learn how to make cauliflower rice, or create cauliflower buffalo “wings” for Meatless Monday!
10. Zucchini
At only 20 calories per cup, zucchini is delicious and filling. It’s also loaded with nutrients your body needs like vitamin B6, riboflavin, folate and vitamin K.
One of the best ways to enjoy zucchini is in a salad, such as this delicious Asian Zucchini Noodle Salad.
In fact, spiralized zucchini noodles (“Zoodles”, as they’re affectionately called) as a whole are so versatile you can use them as pasta substitutes, too!
Don’t have a zucchini spiralizer? This one is an excellent, affordable choice. And it’s available on Amazon Prime!
Try this easy zucchini pasta recipe: Low Carb Zucchini Pasta
This miracle squash is the ultimate high volume food, meaning you can fill up on very few calories. It’s easy to grow, especially in the summer, packs lots of vitamin A, and is so simple to prepare raw or cook with you may want to eat it all year!
11. Celery
At only 16 calories per cup, celery is one of the most bang-for-your-buck foods around. You can eat as much celery as you want and never have to worry about weight gain!
For nearly zero calories, celery contains vitamins A, C, and K. It also contains high amounts of folate, which is necessary for healthy pregnancy.
Need celery recipe inspiration? Try this braised celery recipe!
12. Asparagus
At just 3 calories per spear, asparagus is a nearly zero-calorie food that you can enjoy raw, sautéed or grilled. Low in calories but high in nutrients such as folate and vitamins A, C and K, asparagus needs to be part of your weekly menu.
A unique way to enjoy asparagus is lightly roasted or pan-fried with a drizzle of olive oil and salt. Instead of fries, snack on these as a complement to a lettuce-wrapped burger and you have yourself a tasty, healthy burger and “fries” dinner that will leave your belly feeling both light and full at the same time!
Nearly Zero Calorie Munchies
We said earlier that these zero-calorie foods aren’t all twigs and berries. Now it’s time to prove it! Sometimes you just want to grab something quick and fun to tame your sweet or savory tooth. These guilt-free options are sure to satiate and satisfy!
13. Sugar-Free Jell-O
Some people like jello, some don’t. But if you do, you’re in luck! A cup of sugar-free jello will run you only about 20 calories, which is such a small amount for a cool, tasty treat!
14. Popcorn
15. Flavored rice cakes
Regular rice cakes probably don’t sound that appealing, but the flavored ones can be a tasty treat. Quaker Rice Snacks, Apple Cinnamon, and Caramel Corn flavors are pretty good, and clock in at only 60 calories for 8 mini cakes. Sweet, simple, satisfying.
16. Sugar-free popsicles
Sugar-free popsicles are really good for taming your sweet tooth during those hot summer months. Try Dreyers Whole Fruit Bars or Dole Fruit Juice Bars, the sugar-free version. 1 bar of each is only 30 calories. Feeling gluttonous? You could probably have two!
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