Many people – young and old – are trying to watch what they eat nowadays for many reasons, be it for health or increased beauty. Most especially in Western countries, diets are now commonplace, and almost everyone is in some way looking for the lowest calorie foods they can gt their hands on. Unfortunately, many people do not realize exactly how many options they have, and think the only things they can eat are celery and carrot sticks. While these are great, healthy options for someone watching their waistline, if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, there are much more options available.

Tofu, for example, is a really good protein option when looking for the lowest calorie foods. Instead of having a marinated steak, a properly marinated slice of tofu can be a delightful substitute. There are some things to remember if you wish to successfully keep and cook tofu, however. First, the food is very perishable, and must be kept refrigerated at all times, and preferably soaked in water. Additionally, tofu can have different textures depending on how it is stored. If frozen and then thawed, for example, the texture becomes very much like a meaty steak. Otherwise, it can be kind of crumbly, and the perfect egg sandwich substitute. Lastly, a little known secret is that tofu is tasteless, and absorbs the flavors around it like a sponge – so marinades and the like are excellent.

While tofu is an excellent member of the lowest calorie foods club, another long time member is Quinoa. Pronounced “keen-wah,” this grain is packed with nutrients and protein, and may be used as a substitute for white rice in many recipes. With a slightly nutty flavor, Quinoa is good on its own, or may be seasoned to a particular taste.

Lastly, as nearly everyone knows, vegetables are some of the lowest calorie foods available. However, your options aren’t only the broccoli and peas you grew up with as a child. Leeks, for example, are a green onion-like vegetable with its own distinct twist on flavor. Meanwhile, Bok Choy may be used as a cabbage or lettuce substitute, as it has aspects of flavors from both vegetables. With just a little bit of creativity, imagination, and shopping outside your comfort zone, you will be well on your way to choosing the lowest calorie foods.

Are you in the mood for delicious dessert, but looking for the lowest calorie foods available? A good place to start on your desperate search would be the delightful, sweet – and sometimes even tart – fruit. While many people think of fruit as nothing but a pale imitation of delicacies like chocolate cake or a bowl of ice cream, there are many varieties of fruit available for every person and taste preference.

As one of the lowest calorie foods available, fruits can be a boon to one’s diet in both a caloric and nutritional manner, as well as giving one many low calorie options. Apples, for example, have a variety of flavors depending on the type. Granny Smith apples, for instance, possess a nice sweet and sour flavor. Meanwhile, Honeycrisp apples offer an immensely sweet option for those with a sweet tooth, and is a really juicy option as well. Many do not realize the versatility of the apple, and these are only a few options available – a quick search on an Internet search engine will help you find many, many more. The caloric content of apples varies by the type, but will generally net you around 20-30 calories for a half a cup.

Additionally, while traditional fruits like apples are always a good choice, there are some more exotic, less well known options as well. Starfruit, for instance, is a good low calorie food, and has both a sweet and tart taste – like a combination of a citrus and apples flavor. If you would like to try something different, while maintaining your question for low calorie foods, Starfruit would be a good choice and weighs in at only sixteen calories per half a cup. In addition, Quince is another good, but different choice. The raw fruit itself is unappealing to many because of its strong flavor, but when cooked it begins to resemble an apple or pear in flavor. This option will net you around thirty calories for a half a cup portion.

These are but a few options available to individuals looking for the lowest calorie foods they can find. Others are popular fruits like watermelon, plums, and strawberries – take a stroll through your local supermarket, and you may be surprised by the variety of fruit open to you.

War has been declared on obesity. One of the best ways to curb one’s appetite and encourage weight loss is to eat the lowest calorie foods possible. The goal is for the body to burn more calories each day than it receives. Lowest calorie foods tend to be bulky and provide plenty of fiber. This gives the eater a sense of being full. This is why most junk food is such a problem. It is calorie dense and nutrient poor. Eating the lowest calorie foods tends to provide good nutrition without added pounds.

At an average of only six calories per stalk, celery is a prime choice as one of the lowest calorie foods. In fact, it actually takes more energy to eat and digest celery than it provides. Grapefruit is another one of the lowest calorie foods, averaging less than 50 calories per serving. It also has the benefit of being nutritious. Grapefruit provides Vitamin C and a host of other beneficial nutrients.

Another thing is certain: People need to eat more greens. These are some of the most nutrient-dense, lowest calorie foods available. Yet many people never eat them. This is a shame because there is such a variety including romaine, sprouts, broccoli, kale, spinach, arugula and delicious sprouts. There are other health benefits from eating greens. They may be helpful in the prevention of some colo-rectal cancers. The minerals and vitamins are worth it along. Plus, they are some of the most versatile low calorie foods. Preparation can be in the form of raw, salads, sautés and incorporation in other dishes.

For the lowest calories snacks, air popped popcorn is hard to beat. It is cheap, quick, filling and tasty. Plus, it can be flavored with herbs or spices for a change in pace.  Pickles make a fine snack as well. They provide the crunch and saltiness that dieters may otherwise turn to potato chips to sate. Pickles also come in a wide variety of flavors and cuts. Of course, some of the most well-known lowest calorie foods are veggies. They make good snacks on a veggie tray. These can be eaten raw or with some low-fat dip.