Low Calorie Foods to Fill You Up

You are about to start your diet, or perhaps you are already on one. You mind is starting to dread the thought of cutting out those calories which means cutting out the lovely foods that just taste so good. You begin to realize that maybe that cardboard boxed frozen dinner really isn't so bad when you are loosing those pounds. However, you have tried this diet before and you know the outcome is in a month or even less you are back to the same old diet you were on before, gorging on those fatty foods. So in reality the diet you just tried was worthless. The reason why is because you are depriving your body of what it needs and really what your mind wants. You can never stick to a diet with 100 percent full heart if you are feeling like you are cheating yourself out of the finer things in life. The key to a successful diet is not cutting out the good foods, or even cutting down the calories, it is all about finding those foods that have more filling factors in them to keep your hunger pains away longer. The more full you are, the less food you eat. All in all, the less food you eat, the less calories you are taking in on any given day! I have several food items listed below that will do just that for you. They will fill you up and make your calorie intake so much lower!

1. Salads
Yes, I know, you are rolling your eyes and saying you already knew this. However, did you know that you do not just need to the salad alone. If paired up with your lunch or dinner, the salad becomes your filler and you tend to eat less once your meal has arrived. A small low calorie salad is a great way to start off dinner or lunch, however if you are wanting to make the salad the basis for your meal then do a large low calorie salad add add about a half of cup of grilled chicken breasts strips. Make sure your salad has vegetables in it like tomatoes (two small slices at the most), a mixture of greens (dark lettuce is better then lighter colored lettuce), radishes, a couple cucumber slices, colorful pepper slices and even top it off with low calorie-fat free cheese! Wow, I just made myself crave on by describing it. A big tip though is never order a salad with dressing on it. Make sure the dressing is on the side. However, I would advise you to actually cut out of the dressings unless they are low calorie-fat free dressings. The best type of dressing to keep the calories way down is balsamic vinegar.

2. Oranges
Most people on a diet seem to go with apples or even bananas. Few people know that oranges are better fruit choice when it comes to watching your calories on a diet. Oranges are more filling because they have a higher fluid content. Oranges are about 86 percent water where a banana is only 75 percent. The tip on making this food item work for you is to actually eat the whole orange and do not drink just orange juice to fill you up. Research shows that if you eat the whole orange it contains more fiber and liquids do not fill us up like solids do.

3. Eggs
Try having an egg tomorrow for breakfast. You will find that it will satisfy your hunger for the whole day and you will tend to eat less which means fewer calories. Studies have indicated that the protein in the eggs are a result in the satisfy factor we get. The way to make sure you are eating the right type of egg is to remember on have your egg boiled, scrambled, poached or even an omelet would be great as long as you cook it with a spray oil that is low calorie. Never eat a fried egg!

4. Potatoes
Most people do say that potatoes are a no no when it comes to dieting just because of the carbs you are taking in while eating them. However, most people do not realize that taking in those carbs do fill you up and keep you satisfied longer. People want to eat those chips in the smaller bags that are fat free or even oven baked, however if you are like me, one small bag never fills you up and then you back in the kitchen popping open the next bag just to make the hunger go away. A small potato, cut into wedges, sprayed with a light layer or low calorie cooking spray and then baked until the inside is soft a a crunchy layer on the outside has occurred will make your hunger stay at bay!

5. Whole-wheat pasta
Again, pasta is starchy carbohydrates, however if you stay away from the white pasta and go to the whole wheat you are actually doing something good for your body. Along with being packed with a lot of fibers, whole wheat pasta also includes a low glycemic index which stabilizes your blood sugar levels. This means your sugar levels will not dip low to make you feel like you are starving. To make sure you are sticking to the fewer calories the better plan, make sure you only eat about the size of a tennis ball when you are making out your portions and always top is with a low calorie sauce.

6. Popcorn
With this food item you can really eat more then you would any other snack. For example, take three bowls. Fill up each bowl with 20 grams of each food type. Make sure one of those bowls is popcorn. You will soon realize that that the first two bowls will be filled up very quickly. The bowl with the popcorn will either be over flowing or you may need to get out another bowl to handle all 20 grams in weight. On top of all that, popcorn has a reputation of being a whole grain food product that contains a lot of those important fibers that we so desperately need. To make sure you are sticking to a healthier snack, only eat popcorn that is either natural or air popped. Never choice a popcorn with butter or toffee type coatings.

There are so many other great filler foods that do not just contain to this list like soups, beans, porridge, and peanuts. I could go on and on, but the best thing for me to tell you is to stick with foods that will give you a feeling of being full longer. Stick to a doable exercise routine and drink lots of water!