Calories are a part of our everyday diet. An adult is recommended to consume 1200 calories in a day. Calories basically give you energy and help the body function and perform. It is not recommended to eat less than 1200 calories a day because that would mean your body is not getting enough nutrients like calcium, carbs, proteins, etc. This would lead to a person feeling lethargic and listless. They basically won’t have enough energy to get through the day. So it is necessary to consume a healthy amount of calories.
Calories are burnt when a person is involved in an activity. If a person eats more calories than they are able to use up or burn during their day, the calories start storing in the body in the form of fat. This leads to weight gain. That is why people resort to dieting, which means that they try to consume fewer calories so that they are not converted into fat. When a person consumes fewer calories, the body starts burning up the fat deposits in order to function. This leads to losing weight. This is why dieting and exercising go hand in hand.
In order to stay healthy, people have started ‘counting calories’ in the food they eat. Low calorie foods help in keeping the weight off. Here are food items that could help fill you up and also keep the calorie count as low as possible:
Fruits
Fruits are nutrient-rich, but not all of them are low on calories. Some low calorie fruits are apples, grape fruit, berries, melons, avocados, passion fruit, and kiwi. These fruits are allowed in most diets as they are low on carbohydrates, sugars and fats, and have a low calorie count.
Vegetables
Tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, lettuce, spinach, asparagus, broccoli and cabbage have the lowest calorie count in the vegetable family. Vegetables are very high in nutritional value and low on carbohydrates.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is packed with healthy vitamins and proteins. It is filling and can be eaten to fight off cravings. There are very few calories in Greek yogurt and it can be mixed with some low calorie fruits like berries to make smoothies. This is a very good option of low calorie food.
Oats
Whole grain oats are a perfect example of low calorie foods. They are a great source of protein and fiber. They are the ideal breakfast option for people who want to count calories and limit their consumption of fats and carbohydrates. If cooked in skimmed milk or water, they have a very low calorie count and are very healthy. Having a bowl of oats fills you up and you feel less hungry.
Eggs
Eggs are a great source of multi vitamins and proteins. They help in keeping a person feeling full and have barely 70 calories per serving. Eggs can give you the energy boost you need to start your day. Only egg whites can be consumed for an even lower calorie count.
Fish
Fish fillets are low in fats, calories and sugars, and high in omega 3 vitamins and proteins. Grilled fish is a very healthy food option if you are trying to keep your calorie intake down and your energy levels up.
