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!

High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (5)

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 is the best high volume low-calorie foods? ›

Some high-protein, low-calorie, high-volume foods include chicken or turkey breast, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, and legumes such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils.

What foods have low calories but fill you up? ›

Protein and dairy
  • 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.

What is low-calorie high volume? ›

Defining High Volume Low Calorie Foods

These foods are typically high in water content and fibre, which allows them to help create a feeling of fullness, or satiety, without consuming a large number of calories.

What is the most low-calorie food ever? ›

Here are 39 foods with almost zero calories.
  • SUGAR SNAP PEAS. ...
  • TOMATOES. ...
  • TURNIPS. ...
  • WATERCRESS. ...
  • WATERMELON. ...
  • ZUCCHINI. ...
  • BEVERAGES: COFFEE, HERBAL TEA, WATER, CARBONATED WATER. ...
  • HERBS AND SPICES. Herbs and spices are used to add flavor to foods and are extremely low in calories.

What is the most filling protein? ›

On the satiety index, fish scores higher than all other protein-rich foods, including eggs and beef. Fish had the second highest score of all the foods tested ( 3 ). Another older study compared fish, chicken, and beef protein. The researchers found that fish protein had the strongest effect on satiety ( 25 ).

How to eat at least 3,000 calories a day? ›

How Can I Eat 3,000 Calories a Day?
  1. Larger Portions: Go for larger portions in your meals. ...
  2. Frequent Meals and Snacks: Break your day into 5-6 snack-sized meals. ...
  3. Choose Nutrient-Dense Foods: Choose foods that pack a nutrient punch. ...
  4. Healthy Fats: Bring in the healthy fats, like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil.
Feb 12, 2024

What food can you 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 high volume foods for weight loss? ›

Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine shared five meal and snack ideas with Insider that include high-volume foods to help you keep hunger at bay.
  • Fat-free Greek yogurt with berries. ...
  • Cottage cheese vegetable omelet. ...
  • Spinach salads, sauces, and smoothies. ...
  • Stir-fry. ...
  • Popcorn.
Nov 5, 2023

How can I add volume without calories? ›

  1. Eat vegetables.
  2. Eat fruit. • ...
  3. Eat broth-based soups (about 100 calories per cup)
  4. Eat beans, split peas, and lentils.
  5. Eat whole grains rather than ones that are highly refined. ...
  6. Eat small amounts of nuts.

What is a high volume meal? ›

A food's volume is a function of a couple of things: its fiber content and the balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat in the food. High-fiber foods that also contain a large amount of water are considered to be high-volume foods.

What fills you up calories or volume? ›

Instead of eliminating certain foods or food groups, volume eating aims to fill you up with foods that take up space in your gut. “Feeling full depends on the amount of food you eat, not the number of calories and fat grams,” says Sarah Hutchinson, RDN, a registered dietitian at Henry Ford Health.

Which fruit has the least calories? ›

Suggest 10 types of low-calorie fruits, eat more without fat (Kcal per 100 grams)
  • Grapefruit – 30Kcal.
  • Watermelon – 30 Kcal.
  • Melons under 34 Kcal.
  • Peach – 38 Kcal.
  • Guava – 38 Kcal.
  • Oranges – 38 Kcal.
  • Dragon fruit – 40 Kcal.
  • Apples 49 – Kcal.
Sep 17, 2021

Is there a 0 calorie snack? ›

Zero-calorie foods supposedly make your body burn more calories than they have. However, science doesn't really back this concept up. That's because no food has truly zero calories, only water does. But even though drinking cold water may increase metabolism, the effect is not strong enough to support weight loss.

What are high-volume foods when dieting? ›

Examples of high-volume foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and watermelon, as well as broth-based soups and water-heavy fruits. Opting for high-volume foods can help you achieve a sense of fullness and satisfaction without significantly increasing your calorie intake.

How can I add volume to my food without adding calories? ›

Foods that are high in water and fiber are also high-volume foods, in part because both water and fiber have little to no calories. Examples include: Leafy greens, such as spinach, arugula and salad mixes. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

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