25 Volume Eating Recipes (High-Volume Low-Calorie Meals) (2024)

The best volume eating recipes for when you want to eat more while keeping your calorie intake low. These recipes are larger in portion and nutrient-dense but with fewer calorie counts, helping you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

They will keep you full and satisfied for longer, reduce your hunger and cravings, and increase your intake of fruits and vegetables.

Content Summary hide

Sweet Potato Hash

Spinach Mushroom Omelet

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Mixed Berry Fruit Salad

Keto Turkey Club Wrap

Roasted Chickpeas

Rice Cakes With Hummus and Tomatoes

Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Turkey Roll-Ups

Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

High-Volume Taco Bowl

Lentil Quinoa Salad

Lentil Soup

Weight Loss Cabbage Soup

Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Lemon Herb Chicken Salad

Low Carb Chicken Bowl

Vegetable and Chickpea Coconut Curry

Stuffed Peppers

Keto Beef and Broccoli

Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles Pasta

Low-Carb Squash and Meatballs

Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Roasted Veggie Brown Rice Bowl

25 Volume Eating Recipes (High-Volume Low-Calorie Meals) (1)

What are the ingredients for volume eating recipes? Include ingredients packed with fiber and water, and are high in nutrients but low in calorie density when making these dishes.

Some examples of high-volume foods are:

  • Leafy greens like kale, spinach, romaine lettuce
  • Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts
  • Fruits like watermelon, berries, apples
  • Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, beets
  • Fiber-rich whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, barley
  • Legumes like lentils, chickpeas, black beans
  • Lean proteins like turkey, chicken breast, fish, tofu
  • Soups and broths
  • Source

Here are some of my favorite high volume low calorie meals that are nutritious and delicious.

Find recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. From salad bowls and soups to omelets and stir-fry, there is a volume-eating recipe you can eat any time of the day.

So, let's dive in and explore some tasty options to help bulk your meals without bulking up your waistline.

Sweet Potato Hash

Calorie per serving: 222kcal

What to love about it: sweet and savory, easy one-skillet recipe

A breakfast recipe that will make your day! This dish is loaded with your favorite breakfast ingredients like bacon and eggs plus sweet potatoes and vegetables.

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Spinach Mushroom Omelet

Calorie per serving: 402kcal

What to love about it: Ready in 10 minutes, gluten-free, vegetarian

Simple yet powerhouse breakfast with leafy spinach, hearty mushrooms, and fluffy eggs.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Calorie per serving: 204kcal

What to love about it: a healthy kind of sweet

A delightful breakfast with peanut butter drizzle and chocolate toppings. The secret to this high-volume meal is water. Add more water to the oats to make them grow and fluffier.

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Mixed Berry Fruit Salad

Calorie per serving: 132kcal

What to love about it: rich in antioxidants, fiber, and probiotics

Looking for a light lunch or a healthy snack? This salad is only 132kcal per serving. If you're tired of the same old fruit salads, this mixed berry fruit salad recipe is sure to shake things up. It's like a berry-licious party in a bowl of some juicy, fruity fun.

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Keto Turkey Club Wrap

Calorie per serving: 309kcal

What to love about it: all your favorite wrap fillings inside a lettuce

It's a club sandwich but way cooler! This wrap offers a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional high-carbohydrate sandwich options. It features a tender and juicy turkey breast, crisp bacon, and ripe tomatoes all wrapped in lettuce!

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Roasted Chickpeas

Calorie per serving: 214kcal

What to love about it: Perfect for snacking, adding to salads, or even using as a crunchy topping for soups and stews

It's time to trade that unhealthy overprocessed bag of chips for these tiny but powerful legumes called chickpeas! Roast them and add different spices as desired.

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Rice Cakes With Hummus and Tomatoes

Calorie per serving: 237kcal

What to love about it: gluten-free!

They come in different shapes and flavors. These rice cakes are low in calories and a popular gluten-free alternative! You can make them as a base for any toppings like you would with a toast. Add avocado, tomatoes, peanut butter, and your favorite spread.

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Crispy Baked Kale Chips

Calorie per serving: 62kcal

What to love about it: You can eat as much as you want, quick and easy

This dish is one of those volume eating recipes that you can consume to your heart's content without worrying about overindulging. If you are having crunchy cravings in between meals, make these kale chips.

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Turkey Roll-Ups

Calorie per serving: 165kcal (4pcs)

What to love about it: tastes better than store-bought, meal prep friendly

What a fun appetizer to serve during a party! Inspired by the roll-ups from Costco, this dish is a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it's convenient that you can make them a day before. You just have to nicely freeze them and serve them the next day, fresh and delicious.

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Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Calorie per serving: 236kcal

What to love about it: uses little to no oil, a healthy snack or side dish

Frying sweet potato fries in the air-fryer is a better alternative than frying traditionally in oil. It will result in the same crispiness and deliciousness, so why not choose an option that is light in the budget? Follow the recipe thoroughly to make sure your fries come out oh-so crispy.

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High-Volume Taco Bowl

Calorie per serving: 380kcal

What to love about it: flexible and customizable, meal prep friendly

Everyone's favorite taco bowl is a perfect fit to be featured in my collection of volume eating recipes. This meal is high in fiber and protein, and at the same time low in calories and carbohydrates. The best part is that you can prep this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge.

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Next up are recipes perfect for lunches and dinners.

Lentil Quinoa Salad

Calorie per serving: 428kcal

What to love about it: protein-packed, gluten-free option, nut-free

This salad is an excellent option for a healthy and filling lunch or dinner, providing a good source of protein, fiber, vitamins from lentils and quinoa, and fresh vegetables. The recipe is also customizable, allowing for the addition of other ingredients such as avocado, feta cheese, or nuts to add extra flavor and texture.

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Lentil Soup

Calorie per serving: 366kcal

What to love about it: vegan, seasonal and basic ingredients

A soup that pairs well with crusty bread. This soup needs basic ingredients already in your pantry. The recipe calls for a bit of sauteing and blending, so make sure to have your blender ready before starting.

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Weight Loss Cabbage Soup

Calorie per serving: 57kcal

What to love about it: ready in 20 minutes,

If you are trying to lose weight, adding this recipe to your menu is essential. It's low in calories and has a high fiber content. Consuming large amounts of cabbage soup and other foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can help you with your weight loss goals.

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Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Calorie per serving: 118kcal

What to love about it: air-frying is convenient and efficient, mess-free

Evenly cooked sprouts that are crispy outside and tender on the inside. To remove the bitterness of the sprouts, you need to blanch them and remove the outer leaves. The best thing about this recipe is that there are several glazes, sauces, and toppings that go well with it.

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Healthy Turkey Chili

Calorie per serving: 336kcal

What to love about it: family-friendly, easy

If you love chili, then good news, there's a healthier version. This healthy chili uses lean ground turkey. The recipe is a great source of protein and fiber, making it a healthy and filling meal. You can adjust the recipe according to personal preferences, like using a different type of meat like chicken or adjusting the heat level.

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Lemon Herb Chicken Salad

Calorie per serving: 336kcal

What to love about it: full of Mediterranean flavors

Tangy and aromatic chicken in a bed of lettuce leaves, cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocadoes. The lemon dressing is a great marinade for the chicken and it adds a fresh and delightful taste to the salad.

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Low Carb Chicken Bowl

Calorie per serving: 313kcal

What to love about it: low-carb, meal prep friendly

A healthy lunch or dinner that is ready in 30 minutes, plus you can make it ahead and serve the following days. For those on a low-carb diet, this dish is a well-balanced meal with a good amount of protein, healthy fats, and low-carb vegetables.

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Vegetable and Chickpea Coconut Curry

Calorie per serving: 319kcal

What to love about it: dairy-free, nut-free, vegan

One of the things that I love about this recipe is the use of coconut milk. Coconut milk is a great alternative to traditional dairy products and is healthier. It adds a rich and creamy texture to the dish, making it tasty and hearty. This recipe is best paired with rice.

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Stuffed Peppers

Calorie per serving: 201kcal

What to love about it: meal prep friendly, plenty of options

Of all the volume eating recipes, these stuffed peppers are a popular dish to any one who maintains a healthy diet. The recipe suggests not to cook the bell peppers separately. You can fill them right away and just add water to the dish container to soften the peppers while cooking.

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Keto Beef and Broccoli

Calorie per serving: 364kcal

What to love about it: low-carb, high in protein, full of beefy flavor

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Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles Pasta

Calorie per serving: 127kcal

What to love about it: guilt-free, gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes

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Low-Carb Squash and Meatballs

Calorie per serving: 416kcal

What to love about it: full of Italian flavors, low-carb

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Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Calorie per serving: 199kcal

What to love about it: low-carb, gluten-free, light meal

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Roasted Veggie Brown Rice Bowl

Calorie per serving: 543kcal

What to love about it: fresh on flavors, customizable

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25 Volume Eating Recipes (High-Volume Low-Calorie Meals) (2024)

FAQs

What foods are high in volume but low in calories? ›

Some high-protein, low-calorie, high-volume foods include chicken or turkey breast, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, tofu, and legumes such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils.

How do you eat volume on a calorie deficit? ›

High-fiber foods not only provide volume but also take longer to digest, making you feel full longer on fewer calories. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains all contain fiber. Popcorn is a good example of a high-volume, low-calorie whole grain. One cup of air-popped popcorn has about 30 calories.

How can I add volume without calories? ›

Foods that are high in water and fiber are also high-volume foods, in part because both water and fiber have little to no calories. Examples include: Leafy greens, such as spinach, arugula and salad mixes. Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower.

What are the best volume foods for weight loss? ›

Examples of high-volume foods include a variety of fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce, and watermelon, as well as broth-based soups and water-heavy fruits. Opting for high-volume foods can help you achieve a sense of fullness and satisfaction without significantly increasing your calorie intake.

What is the most filling food with the least calories? ›

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

What are 4 foods that are high in empty calories? ›

The foods and drinks that contain primarily empty calories are:
  • Soft drinks, sports drinks, sweet tea, lemonade and energy drinks.
  • Alcohol.
  • Junk food and fast food.
  • Candy, including hard candies and sweet or sour chews.
  • Cakes and donuts.
Jan 21, 2021

What is the most filling protein? ›

On the satiety index, fish scores higher than all other protein-rich foods, including eggs and beef. Fish had the second highest score of all the foods tested ( 3 ). Another older study compared fish, chicken, and beef protein. The researchers found that fish protein had the strongest effect on satiety ( 25 ).

What does 200 calorie meal look like? ›

You could even pair fresh berries with a ½ cup of cottage cheese for a quick 200 calorie meal. If you're looking for a light lunch you can eat on the go, try a bento-box style lunch that includes celery, baby carrots, hummus, and turkey slices.

What are the side effects of volume eating? ›

Volume eating can have some more immediate health consequences as well. Kunik added that “high-volume eating can lead to bloating and digestive discomfort, as many high-volume, low-calorie foods are high in fiber. Too much fiber from raw fruits and vegetables can cause digestive upset and micronutrient deficiencies.”

Can you lose weight by volume eating? ›

You may lose some weight.

To lose weight, you need to consume fewer calories than you burn, and volume eating can help achieve this by allowing you to eat larger portions of food while simultaneously lowering your overall caloric intake, says Dr.

Does volume eating stretch your stomach? ›

One of the important satiety signals that tells your body it's full is stomach stretch. This is where volume eating helps. When you eat more low-calorie foods, your stomach will contain more food volume and stretch to let your brain know you're full.

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 food has the least calories? ›

Here are 39 foods with almost zero calories.
  • SUGAR SNAP PEAS. ...
  • TOMATOES. ...
  • TURNIPS. ...
  • WATERCRESS. ...
  • WATERMELON. ...
  • ZUCCHINI. ...
  • BEVERAGES: COFFEE, HERBAL TEA, WATER, CARBONATED WATER. ...
  • HERBS AND SPICES. Herbs and spices are used to add flavor to foods and are extremely low in calories.

What foods have the most volume? ›

7 Must-Eat High Volume, Low Calorie Foods for Optimal Body...
  1. Leafy Greens: A Nutrient-Dense Choice. ‍ ...
  2. Berries: Nature's Sweet Treat. ‍ ...
  3. Cucumbers: The Hydrating Crunch. ...
  4. Broccoli: The Fiber Powerhouse. ...
  5. Cauliflower: The Low-Calorie Comfort Food. ...
  6. Zucchini: The Versatile Vegetable. ...
  7. Mushrooms: The Umami-Rich Choice.
Jan 19, 2024

What are the highest calorie foods by volume? ›

Examples include butter, oils, salad dressings, sugar, nuts, seeds, dry bread, dry cereal, crackers, egg yolk, avocado, dried fruit, red meat, and yes, Egg Muffins and pizza. As you can see from the chart below, oils are the most calorie-dense foods on the planet.

What food has 200 calories or less? ›

Snacks under 200 calories*:

An apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter. A cup of grapes with an ounce of cheese (1 ounce of cheese is about the size of your whole thumb, from base to tip). 2 tablespoons of hummus and raw veggies like carrots, celery, cauliflower or broccoli. Air-popped popcorn.

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