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? ›

Fruits and vegetables generally have high water and fiber content, which provide volume and weight but not calories. That's why they're low-energy-dense foods.

What are some low calorie high volume meals? ›

Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine shared five meal and snack ideas with Insider that include high-volume foods to help you keep hunger at bay.
  • Fat-free Greek yogurt with berries. ...
  • Cottage cheese vegetable omelet. ...
  • Spinach salads, sauces, and smoothies. ...
  • Stir-fry. ...
  • Popcorn.
Nov 5, 2023

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.

Does high volume low calorie work? ›

The Volumetrics Diet prioritizes foods with a low calorie density and high volume. It promotes weight loss by enhancing feelings of fullness while reducing hunger and cravings. It may also improve your diet quality by increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables.

What foods can I eat unlimited amounts of? ›

Let's take a look at some of these wonderful foods:
  • Celery. Celery is a vegetable that is made up of 95% water! ...
  • Broccoli. It is well known for the natural substance it contains – sulforaphane, which has an anti-cancerous effect. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Lettuce. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Blueberries. ...
  • Raspberries.

How to lose weight with volume eating? ›

Some examples of high-volume food include vegetables, high-fiber fruits, like apples and berries, oatmeal, and eggs. When eaten in volume, high-fiber and water foods keep you more full with fewer calories. Volume eating, when done properly, can be helpful for some individuals to lose weight.

What is the most filling food? ›

Foods That Help Beat Hunger and Keep You Fuller Longer
  1. Whole Grains. Whole grains, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pasta, are linked to weight control and maintaining a healthy weight. ...
  2. Greek Yogurt. ...
  3. Avocado. ...
  4. Oatmeal. ...
  5. Red Chili Pepper. ...
  6. Fish. ...
  7. Nuts. ...
  8. Beans and Legumes.

What is the smallest most calorie dense food? ›

As you can see from the chart below, oils are the most calorie-dense foods on the planet. Just two measly tablespoons of olive oil is the caloric equivalent of four oranges.

What is the easiest food to eat high calorie? ›

Foods that may be easier to manage
  • Casseroles (macaroni and cheese)
  • Milkshakes, frozen ice cream bars.
  • Mashed potatoes with gravy.
  • Gelatin with yogurt/cottage cheese.
  • Salmon/tuna/egg salad.
  • Thick soups.
  • Juice nectars, tomato juice, vegetable juice.
  • Pasta with sauce.

Can I eat big portions and still lose weight? ›

People hear low-calorie and immediately think, “eat less food”. Now while that can be true, it doesn't have to be true. You can certainly eat larger portions of foods and still lose weight and fat. You'll just have to make different food choices and "eat for volume".

What are the best foods to volume eat? ›

Examples of high-volume foods, which are typically rich in fiber and water, include watermelon, lettuce, zucchini, citrus, spinach, egg whites, cucumber, celery, oatmeal and high-fiber fruits, like apples and berries.

Which snack has the fewest calories? ›

Which snack has the fewest calories?
  • Air-popped popcorn: One cup of air-popped popcorn has only 31 calories.
  • Celery sticks with peanut butter: One stalk of celery with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has only 84 calories.
  • Baby carrots: One cup of baby carrots has only 42 calories.

Is high volume better for fat loss? ›

For building as much muscle as possible while trying to lose body fat, high volume training is one method that works well. High volume training, for this article's definition, is when you use less weight resistance than normal weight training but much higher amounts of reps.

Is it better to increase volume or weight? ›

These results show that training volume (number of repetitions or series) is a very important factor when it comes to producing muscle mass gains, while the load used could be less important.

What vegetables are good for weight loss? ›

Like other vegetables, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are high in fiber and tend to be incredibly filling. Cruciferous vegetables are great to include in your meals if you want to lose weight because they are high in fiber and low in calories.

What is volume eating less calories? ›

The volume eating method is a strategic approach for weight loss that allows you to consume larger portions while keeping calorie intake in check. You can feel full and satisfied without consuming excess calories by focusing on high-volume, low-calorie foods like fruits, vegetables, and nutrient-rich soups.

What food has the most volume? ›

High-volume foods (the kind you're supposed to eat more of with volume eating) include:
  • Watermelon, plus other melons.
  • Grapes.
  • Stone fruits like peaches.
  • Citrus fruits.
  • Cucumber, lettuce and celery.
  • Egg whites.
  • Grains like oatmeal and popcorn.
Sep 20, 2023

What foods have the most volume? ›

Best High Volume Low Calorie Foods
  • Broth-based soups: ...
  • Cucumbers: ...
  • Popcorn: ...
  • Mushrooms: ...
  • Grapefruit: ...
  • Asparagus: ...
  • Greek yogurt: This high-protein food helps keep you full for longer. ...
  • Strawberries: Strawberries are sweet, low-calorie fruits that are high in water content and packed with antioxidants.
Mar 1, 2024

How to feel full on 1200 calories a day? ›

Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, and other similar vegetables are high in fiber and water. Adding these non-starchy vegetables to your lunch and dinner can help you feel full. If you need some dinner plans, you could make salmon, a baked potato, and vegetables like green beans or carrots.

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