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.

High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (3)

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!

High Volume Low Calorie Recipes (4)

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 foods are low in calories but high in volume? ›

Fruits and vegetables generally have high water and fiber content, which provide volume and weight but not calories. That's why they're low-energy-dense foods. Grapefruit, for example, is about 90% water. Half a grapefruit has just 64 calories.

What are high-volume low-calorie dense foods? ›

These foods can then be consumed with less attention to portion sizes or number of calories, but they will be more filling because of the volume they add. Examples of high-volume, low-calorie foods include lettuce, celery, broccoli, berries and cucumbers.

What are three foods that are know for their extremely low caloric content? ›

Water-rich foods
  • Watermelon is a good source of many nutrients, including vitamin C. ...
  • There are only 17 calories in 1 cup (120 grams) of celery.
  • Since cucumbers are mostly water, they're very low in calories — a half-cup (52 grams) has only 8 calories .
  • One cup (57 grams) of iceberg lettuce has only 8 calories .

How to volume eat for weight loss? ›

Volume eating is a popular weight loss strategy that has seen a resurgence in recent months thanks to the online wellness space. The method behind volume eating is simple: eating a larger amount of food that is naturally lower in calories can help you feel fuller while maintaining a calorie deficit.

What foods help burn belly fat? ›

Following a low-carb diet also means consuming more protein. Studies indicate that a diet rich in high-protein foods, such as eggs, fish, seafood, legumes, nuts, meat, and dairy results in overall less abdominal fat, more satiety, and an increased metabolic function.

What foods can I eat unlimited amounts of? ›

Indulge in these to your heart's content, along with a balanced diet.
  • Celery.
  • Lettuce.
  • Watermelon.
  • Broccoli.
  • Cauliflower.
  • Grapefruit.
  • Mushrooms.
  • Strawberries.
Jan 20, 2023

What is the best filling food for weight loss? ›

Choose these foods more often:
  • Whole wheat pastas.
  • Popcorn.
  • Beans and peas without added fat.
  • Lean red meat (i.e., ground beef)
  • Poultry like chicken breast without skin.
  • Fish.
  • Low fat and fat free milk products like yogurt, milk, and cottage cheese.
  • Fried foods and fatty cuts of meat like brisket.

What is the single most calorie-dense food? ›

Cooking oils, such as olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil, are some of the most calorie-dense foods available.

What is the smallest most calorie-dense food? ›

As you can see from the chart below, oils are the most calorie-dense foods on the planet. Just two measly tablespoons of olive oil is the caloric equivalent of four oranges.

What food is most filling? ›

Some of the most filling foods include baked potatoes, eggs, and high fiber foods. People sometimes refer to the feeling of fullness as satiety. In 1995, researchers at the University of Sydney put together a satiety index to measure how effectively various foods achieve satiety.

What food has only 20 calories? ›

Carrots make the perfect snack. Packed with vitamins C, K, and B vitamins, one small carrot (5.5 inches) is just 20 calories .

What are the healthiest high-volume foods? ›

12 High-Volume Low-Calorie Foods
  1. Leafy Greens. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, and romaine lettuce are great additions to your volume eating plan. ...
  2. Cauliflower. Cauliflower continues to be a favorite low-calorie staple, and with good reason. ...
  3. Legumes. ...
  4. Zucchini. ...
  5. Cucumber. ...
  6. Watermelon.
Dec 8, 2023

What is the 30 rule for diet? ›

The rule includes eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning and then doing 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise.

Are potatoes high-volume? ›

Research has suggested that potatoes are one of the most satiating foods, and if you boil or bake them without adding lots of fat, they're relatively low-calorie while being high in volume.

What foods are low calories but fill you up? ›

10 Low-Calorie Foods That Will Help You Feel Full
  • Greek Yogurt.
  • Cottage Cheese.
  • Fish.
  • Meat and Poultry.
  • Eggs.
  • Legumes.
  • Oats.
  • Vegetables.
Nov 6, 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

Which types of foods are lower in calories but high in nutrients? ›

Nutrient-dense foods often are lower in calories compared to other foods with fewer nutrients. For example, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, beans, seeds and certain oils are all considered nutrient dense.

How can I eat less calories but more food? ›

Pump Up the Volume

Here are a few easy ways to keep the volume in your diet while lowering the density (and calories): Choose whole-grain breads. Add veggies to soups, stews, egg dishes, and pizza. Mix fruit into salads.

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