There arenít actually foods that burn more calories than they contain, but there are low calorie foods that provide healthy benefits to anyoneís diet. Here are 10 of them.1. Black riceEveryone loves rice. Most folks are gaga for the white stuff, but many are turning to brown rice. If you want to trim more calories and cram in more fiber and antioxidants, go even darker. With black rice, your main and side dishes will get a boost in needed nutrients, while stripping out calories.2. CarrotsThere are few foods as dense and filling as carrots that offer so few calories. An entire cup of the orange goodies contains a meager 52 calories. Additional perks: They are great cooked or raw and have plenty of vitamin A.3. AsparagusToss it on a salad, get it fresh off the grill or steam it on the stovetop. However you prefer asparagus, this filling food is just 27 calories per cup. Of course, many prefer their asparagus loaded with salt and butter, so be careful because you can easily turn a low-calorie stalk of asparagus into an unhealthy addition to your meal.4. ArugulaItís green, has something of a peppery kick and rings in at four calories per cup. It is versatile enough to go wherever green, leafy veggies belong, and arugula adds flavor without adding fat, cholesterol or calories to your salads, soups and beyond.5. BroccoliWhat is it about green stuff that makes it so low in calories? Broccoli meets the criteria as one of the top 10 low-calorie foods. Broccoli seems to have some of the greatest benefits of any low-calorie food, as it contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that strengthen and protect the body from a variety of dangerous and deadly diseases.6. LettuceWeighing in at only five calories per cup, lettuce comes with a variety of nutrients, depending on the type. Best choices for lettuce are those that are dark and rich in color. While youíre not likely to eat a head of lettuce on its own, it provides an exceptional, low-calorie base for all sorts of fantastically delicious and nutritious meals.7. MushroomsWant to amp up that salad even more? Better grab a handful of mushrooms. Even if you grab a massive handful, youíll only consume 15 calories. And donít forget youíll also get potassium, antioxidants and various B vitamins. Worn out on salad? Feel free to use mushrooms with other foods and enjoy their versatile abilities.8. TomatoesTired of salad talk? Then donít use that tomato in a salad. Instead, grab a knife, slice up a tomato and eat it like an apple. When you finish off a medium-sized tomato, itís OK to feel good about yourself, because you only consumed 22 calories and chowed down on vitamin C, potassium, fiber and an antioxidant called lycopene.9. WatermelonItís hard to imagine a list of top foods without something to tantalize your sweet tooth. Watermelon is naturally sweet, has more of those cancer-fighting antioxidants that your body loves and is exceptionally low in calories.10. BrothRounding out the list of top 10 low-cal foods is good old broth. No matter if it is chicken, beef, veggie, seafood or miso broth, it all drops just 10 calories per cup. Chop up some carrots, broccoli and mushrooms, add some black rice; and you just made a fantastic soup with only a few more calories than ingredients.Donít forget to exercise While I encourage you to replace the processed, high calorie items in your diet with the 10 foods listed above, all the low calorie foods in the world wonít get you the desired body, if you neglect to include a challenging exercise program into your routine.Donít forget proteinWhile many high-fiber, low-calorie vegetables are great for you, donít forget the protein. Lean meats, eggs and fish are a vital part of a diet necessary for a lean, strong body. Each of your meals should contain a generous serving of lean protein, in addition to all those tasty veggiesChicken & Quinoa DinnerHere is a simple, wholesome meal that is ready in 30 minutes. There is no reason to hit the take-out line when you have this quick and delicious recipe on hand. Servings: twoHereís what you need.
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 ear of corn, kernels cut from cob
- Handful of asparagus stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 cups baked chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- 1 can of organic black beans, drained and rinsed
- splash of lemon juice
- splash of lime juice
- dash of salt and pepper
- splash of soy sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
