The Best Filling Low Cal Foods

When trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you should try to eat a variety of filling, low -calorie foods. The protein, fiber and fats found in such foods encourage a healthy body weight by keeping hunger at bay and providing you with the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for good health. Some filling, low-calorie foods include low-fat yogurt, whole grains, soup, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

Low-Fat Yogurt

• Yogurt offers the filling power of protein.

  Foods high in protein keep you feeling full longer because they are digested much more slowly than foods that are high in carbohydrates or fat. Because it is high in protein, low-fat yogurt is a filling, low-calorie food. Eat yogurt as a snack during the day to keep you feeling full in-between meals.

Whole Grains

• Whole-grain bread contains fiber, which helps satisfy hunger.

  Whole-grain foods contain large amounts of fiber, which adds bulk to your meal while contributing minimal calories. Fiber works by expanding in your stomach, absorbing water and slowing digestion to satisfy your hunger sooner. Whole grains also offer the filling power of protein. Breakfast cereal, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal and pasta are some sources of whole grains. Add some whole-grain pasta or brown rice to your meal to give it some filling, low-calorie bulk.

Soup

• The water in soup helps to fill you up sooner.

  The water in soup adds volume to your meal, helping you feel full without adding any extra calories. According to everydayhealth.com, adding water to a food fills you up more than if you drank the water separately. Add some fiber-rich whole-grain pasta and protein-packed lean chicken to your soup for even more filling power.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Broccoli contains large amounts of both fiber and water.

  Because they are both filling and low in calories, fruits and vegetables are foods you will want to include in your diet. In addition to providing a multitude of important vitamins and minerals, fruits and vegetables contain large amounts of water and fiber, both of which help keep you feeling full. Including some vegetables with your meals will help you add some low-calorie bulk that will help fill you up.

Nuts

• Peanuts are a good choice for a quick, filling snack.

  Nuts and nut butters help fill you up with fiber, healthy fats and protein. According to everydayhealth.com, peanuts are the most commonly consumed nuts in America. Eating peanuts or peanut butter as a snack will keep you feeling fuller in between meals.