Zero-Calorie Foods and Drinks for Weight Loss
Fruit, snacks and even desserts can be ridiculously low in calories or even calorie-free, but still loaded with nutrients and vitamins that help increase metabolism and speed up weight loss.
If you are on a strict weight loss diet, knowing and understanding what is meant by the terms “no-calorie foods,” “zero calorie foods” and “calorie-free foods” is important. This is especially true when you are counting calories.
Are there really zero-calorie foods?
The FDA says that to make the “calorie free” claim, a certain food must contain fewer than five calories per serving. These kinds of foods are usually beverages, clear soups or broths.
Water is one example of a no-calorie drink. Herbal teas, coffee, some diet sodas, and other electrolyte-enhanced sugar-free sports drinks will also fall under this category.
What can I eat that has zero calories? Calorie-free foods may also come in the form of sugar-free desserts like gelatin or hard candy. Generally, condiments have no calories at all.
Zero-calorie foods list
- Clear soups and broths
- Herbal teas
- Coffee
- Diet soda
- Jelly
- Condiments
- Water
In comparison, low-calorie foods can have up to 40 calories per serving. These may come in the form of fruit juice blends, hot cocoa drinks made with sugar-free cocoa mix or cocktail juice drinks concocted with non-nutritive sweeteners mixed with vegetable juices. There is a very limited range of really no-calorie foods.
Low-calorie foods list
- 1 celery stalk = 7 calories
- 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce = 9 calories
- 1 medium tomato = 25 calories
- 1 carrot = 30 calories
- 1 cucumber = 40 calories
- 1 cup jicama sticks = 40 calories
Nowadays, the term “calorie” is used only with reference to food energy that we get from the food we ingest. Anyone who is on a diet is sure to be counting his or her calorie intake – how many calories you load onto your system and how many calories you burn in the course of a normal day, usually through exercise or strenuous physical activities like running instead of walking, taking the steps instead of the elevator in the office.
When you eat more calories than you burn, you will not lose weight and may, in fact, put on more pounds in the form of fats that your body will store. Eating fewer calories than you expend will make your body burn off the stored fat to provide that extra boost needed – and this is how you will lose weight. However, most of those who want to lose weight find it very difficult not to eat to satisfy the body’s natural craving to eat something! This craving is satisfied by munching on calorie free foods.
There are general guidelines on the recommended daily calorie intake. For a man, it is 2,500 calories per day. For women, it is only 2,000 calories per day. However, these are not hard and fast rules, especially for people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Currently, most nutritionists suggest a calories range of 1,200 to 1,800 calories for people who want to lose weight. This is where zero-calorie foods come into the picture. They are incorporated into low-calorie diets.
What foods are filling but low in calories?
High-fiber foods often belong to the category of low-calorie foods. Under this category fall
- apples
- asparagus
- cabbage
- carrots
- broccoli
- beets
- celery
- cucumbers
- lettuce
- mangoes
- onions
- grapefruit
- spinach
- turnips
- zucchini
What fruit has the lowest calorie count?
A cup of diced watermelon has only 46 calories. Strawberries come in second, with only 53 calories per cup.
Last but not least, do not forget to drink the recommended 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day, instead of juices or sodas. Water is the only real zero-calorie drink.
- How many calories should I eat per day?
- Low-calorie desserts
- Low-calorie quick meals
- Low-calorie dinner ideas