“Stop before your tummy is full!”
You’ve probably heard this golden diet mantra countless times and followed it too. But it gets annoying to always feel dissatisfied at the end of a meal. Wouldn’t it be nice to, sometimes, to stuff yourself till you can’t eat anymore, that too without any guilt?
You can, if you snack on ‘zero calorie’ or ‘negative calorie’ foods. They are foods which contain some calories, but such a small number that the energy spent eating or digesting them nullifies the calories consumed.
So, go ahead and binge on:
Celery
Around 75% of a celery stick is water and the rest comprises fiber which helps you feel full for long. A 100-gram serving contains merely 16 calories and delivers a good dose of vitamin C, A and K as well as antioxidants, too. So, enjoy celery sticks with a dash of salt or rustle up a fat-free dip to go with them.
Cucumber
With just 16 calories in a 100-gram serving, cucumber is the best snack for weight watchers. It works well as a salad, cold soup or even a smoothie. Cucumbers consist of 95% water and are therefore one of the most hydrating foods available, perfect for hot summer days. It also contains an anti-inflammatory flavonol called ‘fisetin’ which plays an important role in brain health.
Mushrooms
Be it as a stir-fry, pizza topping or a soup, mushrooms add life to any dish. The best part: one cup of mushrooms has just 15 calories. They contain a substantial amount of vitamin D which helps in absorption of the calcium in that pizza cheese. They are also loaded with B vitamins which improve mood and gives an energy boost that lasts for hours.
Cabbage
Whether you have it as a sabzi or a soup, you can rest assured that cabbage has given you hardly any additional calories – a 100-gram portion contains 25 calories. The bonus: the leafy green contains essential vitamins, folate, manganese and also boasts of anti-cancer properties.
Zucchini
Load up your pasta with zucchini slices to drastically bring down the fat quotient. A 100-gram portion of this cucumber-lookalike has barely 17 calories. Zucchini boasts of a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, niacin and various essential vitamins.
Spinach
Popeye had made a smart choice. This leafy green is both nutritious and filling. The latest research has found that spinach contains a compound, thylakoid, which can slow fat digestion, reducing hunger and food cravings, especially in men. Thylakoid also triggers a release of satiety hormones so you feel a sense of fulfillment after your meal.
Tomatoes
This tangy treat is touted to be among the ‘healthiest foods available’ and contains just 17 calories per 100 grams. Tomatoes contain lycopene which can help prevent cancer and heart disease. Try a bruschetta made with whole wheat toast and loads of tomato the next time you are hungry.
Watermelon
This is one sweet treat that you can enjoy without worry as it has just 30 calories per 100 grams. Apart from its refreshing taste, watermelon also contains antioxidants and boosts metabolism.
Papaya
Papaya has more calories than other foods on this list — 43 per 100-gram serving — but it is so filling that you will undoubtedly eat less during your next meal. The tasty fruit is packed with vitamin C and anti-oxidants including beta-cryptoxanthin which reduces the risk of polyarthritis, a condition which affects several joints at once.
Green tea
End you low-calorie meal by enjoying a cuppa green tea. The zero-calorie drink has a thermogenic effect — it raises the body temperature, improving the metabolic rate and helping one burn calories faster. Plus, it is loaded with antioxidants.
Written by Alpa Momaya
You are what you eat, believes Alpa Momaya. So with the right diet, anyone can achieve optimal mental, physical and spiritual health.
Alpa has first-hand knowledge of this – she battled various issues with her own health and weight, but by incorporating good eating habits and regular exercise, she has reclaimed her fitness levels today. She offers the advice she took to HealthifyMe users — make the right lifestyle choices daily, sticking to a nutritious diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep. Don’t think of it as having to solve a problem, instead see it as a way to achieve long and happy life.
After a PG diploma in dietetics from Mumbai University, Alpa did a diploma in holistic nutrition in Canada and is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner today. Along with having worked in various weight-loss clinics and as a consultant for a natural pharmacy, she’s helped her family control ailments like diabetes and hypertension, and hopes to help her HealthifyMe clients do the same. “I can proudly say my daughter happily eats any vegetable or fruit without ever making a face,” Alpa claims, and she is determined that those who consult her will go back similarly impressed.
Very good foods to add to a diet 🙂
Your 10 zero calorie foods is very well written. Watching weight cannot be hard if we just aware what we eat everyday. Meat and fish are not bad for the health as long as it is eaten on moderation. The proportion of eating more vegetables than non-veg is good. Eat what is seasoned vegetables, it is more cheaper and nutritious.
I like the list., but I Think you should add infographic with it would be easy to understand fast.
I like this food list .thanks
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