Low-Calorie Recipes for Foods That Help You Lose Weight

August 27, 2019
If you’re trying to slim down, try adding foods to your diet that will help you in your weight-loss efforts. Our foods that do the weight-loss work for you include whole-wheat pasta, lentils, artichokes, raspberries, chia seeds and almonds. Curious why these foods will help you lose weight? Find out here.Watch Video
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Mango-Almond Smoothie Bowl

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For this healthy smoothie bowl recipe, be sure to use frozen fruit (not fresh) to keep the texture thick, creamy and frosty.

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Chai Chia Pudding

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Switch up your morning oatmeal routine with this so-easy chia pudding recipe. This healthy breakfast recipe has all the warm, spicy flavors of chai topped with creamy bananas and crunchy pistachios for added flavor and texture.

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Smoky Shrimp, Corn & Pea One-Pot Pasta

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Make your sauce and pasta all at once with this fast weeknight pasta dinner recipe. By using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta--no colanders here--the starch that cooks off into your pasta water, which you usually drain away, stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

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Pineapple Green Smoothie

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Use ripe bananas for this creamy Greek yogurt, spinach and pineapple smoothie. Chia seeds add healthy omega-3 fats, fiber and a little protein for an extra nutritional boost.

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Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Tomatoes, Beans & Almond Pesto

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Looking at a tangle of spaghetti squash tricks your brain into thinking you're about to eat a serving of eggy noodles, when in fact, you get a nice calorie and carb savings in this healthy recipe. Giving tomatoes a stint in a hot oven makes them candy-sweet.

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Quinoa & Chia Oatmeal Mix

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Make your own hot cereal mix with this healthy recipe. Keep it on hand and just cook up the amount you need when you're ready for a hot breakfast. One serving of the warm cereal contains 6 grams of fiber--almost a quarter of your daily quota-which helps stave off hunger throughout the morning.

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Low-Carb Seeded Quick Bread

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This low-carb bread is chock-full of seeds and flours that make the loaf mimic classic bread while managing to keep carb counts low. This bread is a vessel for both sweet and savory toppings, but the nutty flavors of the ingredients shine with just a simple schmear of butter.

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Fruit Energy Balls

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Make a big batch of these no-bake energy balls to keep on hand when hunger strikes or you need a healthy pick-me-up.

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Artichokes with Lemon & Dill

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These simply prepared artichokes can be served at room temperature or chilled. Serve as a first course or as a side dish with grilled chicken or fish.

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No-Bake Apricot-Almond Balls

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These peanut butter, dried apricot, and toasted almond balls make an easy on-the-go snack.

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Chicken & Snap Pea Stir-Fry over Angel Hair Pasta

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This chicken stir-fry recipe highlights golden-brown cubes of chicken breast with the sweet flavors of sliced fennel, crispy snap peas and tarragon. Use a cast-iron skillet or carbon-steel wok for stir-frying to guarantee a beautiful sear on the chicken and vegetables. Serve this over whole-grain angel hair pasta for an easy, healthy dinner.

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Moroccan Lentil Soup

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Like most soups, this healthy Moroccan lentil soup recipe gets better with time, so make it a day ahead if you can--or try our easy slow cooker/crock pot recipe variation.

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Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Chickpea Soup

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This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love. Using bone-in chicken is the key to making rich soup without adding broth.

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Farrotto with Artichokes

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Here farro stands in for rice in a risotto-like dish, full of tomatoes, artichokes and fresh basil.

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Sweet-and-Sour Almond Chicken

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An Asian-style meal for one is on the table in just minutes when you use this simple recipe for sweet-and-sour chicken.

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Frozen Raspberry Pie

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This creamy, luscious pie is made by combining a fluffy cooked meringue with a raspberry puree, then pouring the mixture into a chocolate-cookie crust.

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Red Lentil & Caramelized Onion Soup

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Fresh lime juice balances out the creamy, mellow sweetness of this pureed lentil and carrot soup. Caramelized onions, crisp snow peas, cilantro and sliced hard-boiled eggs are a flavorful and beautiful topping. Serve with warm whole-wheat naan or roti bread.

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Raspberry-Peach-Mango Smoothie Bowl

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This healthy smoothie recipe is a gateway to the smoothie-bowl craze. Use whatever fruit, nuts and seeds you like best to make it your own. Be sure to use frozen fruit in Step 1 to yield a creamy, frosty base for the toppings.

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Lemon-Raspberry Muffins

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The secret to the sparkling flavor of these delicately crumbed muffins is the strips of lemon zest finely ground into the sugar. Enjoy the muffins warm right from the oven.

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Pistachio Apricot Crunch Yogurt Topper

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Take any flavor of yogurt to new heights by adding a dollop of this sweet and crunchy pistachio and apricot topper.

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Lemon-Herb Pasta with Chicken & Vegetables

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Yogurt seasoned with garlic and fresh herbs replaces cream to make a healthy pasta sauce in this chicken and vegetable pasta recipe. If you don't have a grill basket, the chicken and vegetables can be grilled on skewers instead.

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Quick Lentil Salmon Salad

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In this budget-friendly salmon recipe, canned salmon tops lentils, carrots and celery--ingredients you probably have on hand already. Fiber-rich lentils come in a variety of colors and they typically cook faster than dried beans, so they're a great choice for a fast weeknight dinner.

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Raspberry Corn Salad

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Crunchy corn, creamy avocados, zesty radishes and fresh raspberries--this colorful salad is like art on a plate! And you'll love the zesty lime dressing that ties it all together.

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Warm Lentil Salad with Sausage & Apple

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We like the firmer texture of French green lentils in this hearty dinner salad featuring sausage and tart apples. Serve with pickled beets and your favorite beer.

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Orange-Oregano Marinated Vegetables

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Trade in plain crudités for something with more panache with this quick marinated vegetable recipe. Soak bell peppers, fennel and frozen artichoke hearts in an orange- and oregano-flavored marinade and in just a couple hours you'll have a tasty antipasto ready to serve with your cheese plate.

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Curried Red Lentil Soup

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This curried red lentil soup is inspired by the Indian side dish dal; the Hindi word means “split” and refers to the split peas or lentils used in its preparation. Fragrant ginger, curry, cinnamon and cumin add lots of rich flavor. Look for lentils and spices in bulk--you'll often get a better deal and you can buy just the amount you need.

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