My sweet niece is watching her weight and said she’d love it if I would post some low calorie meal ideas for her. If you’re watching your weight as well, give these Low Calorie Meals a try.
Although I love baking sweet treats, I also posted lots of great healthy meals recipes. I went through my recipe index and picked out a few of my favorite healthy, lower calorie meals for her to try.
Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls – chicken, black beans, corn, cheese, green chilies, and spices wrapped in a thin egg roll wrapper and baked until they’re crispy.
Pasta Fagioli – a hearty Italian soup loaded with chicken sausage, beans, pasta, and veggies. It’s a one pot meal that’s quick and easy to make.
Lighter Chicken Parmesan – from the Best Light Recipe cookbook by Cook’s Illustrated, a fabulous Chicken Parmesan recipe. It’s crispy, chessy, healthy and delicious.
Orange Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs – fresh orange juice really brightens up the teriyaki glaze on these grilled chicken kabobs.
Kung Pao Chicken – this restaurant favorite is easy and healthier made at home.
Light Creamy Pesto Ravioli – made with light cream cheese and 1% milk, but the sauce is so flavorful you’ll never miss the extra fat.
Have you started pressure cooking yet? If so, check out my new roundup of Low-Carb Recipes for the Pressure Cooker on my pressure cooking site, Pressure Cooking Today.
Those are some of my favorites. I’d love it if you’d share your favorites too. Please take a minute, leave a comment (I’d love a link too!), and let me know your favorite low calorie meal(s).
Kathy Hales
I made the soup for dinner tonight. We LOVED it! Kevin had 4 helpings…
Barbara
Thanks for taking the time to let me know you made it. So glad you loved it!
Rocky Mountain Woman
I need to try the light pesto ravioli…looks amazing!
Nina
Thats great recipes…i loved the baked rolls…wud be my fav one:)
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
What a great bunch of lighter meal ideas, Barbara! Love all your recipes here. Your Kung Pao Chicken and Creamy Ravioli recipes look especially good!
natalie@thesweetslife
i love those baked egg rolls-some of my faves!
Kasha
I love some low calorie meals myself. Thanks for this. I hate to burn your eyes with my ghetto blog coming from your amazing blog and gorgeous pictures, but I do have a great giveaway you might be interested in. I have very few commenters so your chances are really good! 🙂 Take care and thanks always inspiring me.
Kitchen Belleicious
that kung pao chicken is calling my name and loudly i might add
Rhonda
That ravioli looks creamy and dreamy. I’ve done Weight Watchers, errr, occasionally so I’m pretty versed in the healthier side. Here’s an easy breakfast recipe that can be made ahead and frozen.
Winnie
These look yummy. I want to try the egg rolls, Orange chicken and Chicken Parm first…
Coleens Recipes
What a great variety of healthy recipes….my problem is that I can see them all together on a big buffet lol. Excellent, love that egg roll wrapper one.
vianney
the baked SW egg rolls look divine, perfect for a party!
Becki's Whole Life
Good luck to your niece..I have been using http://www.myfitnesspal.com to track calories and exercise and it makes a huge difference.
I’m going to make your Pasta Fagiole. I love it and have been looking for a good recipe.
This is a meal that I like to make that is light – just have to watch your pasta portions is all. http://www.beckiswholelife.com/2011/10/15/balsamic-grilled-chicken-roasted-vegetables-lemon-pasta/
Barbara
Thanks Becky! That sounds packed with flavor. Love the roasted veggies too.
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
So many great ideas here! Awesome round up!
My Inner Chick
O-MY-gosh,
I never knew Low Cal could look so dogggone good!! WOW
~~especially the chicken kabobs!
Mary Johnson
I would love to lead a healthy life and these recipes can help me taste some tasty and healthy foods.
Thanks for these wonderful recipes.
-Mary
angela@spinachtiger
Timing is good. I’m just getting ready to launch the I need to lose ten pounds blog post and I’m listing what I’m eating to get there. Your kung pao chicken will be a hit in this house.
Melissa B
Thank you so much for these recipes! Im getting hungry…. =)
Blond Duck
I’ll be making all these…great reminder.
Jessica Payne
Even though lima beans get a bad wrap (as a kid, who wanted to eat lima beans?), they are so buttery and delicious and such a great source of protein, and especially yummy in this summertime succotash recipe I have from The Kind Diet book by Alicia Silverstone.
1 Tbs margarine (earth balance, other buttery spread)
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup diced red onion
1 garlic clove minced
10 oz package of frozen baby lima beans thawed
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbs chopped fresh basil
1 Tbs white or red balsamic vinegar
Heat the butter and oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 5-7 min. or until the onion begins to brown. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the lima beans, and saute for 5 min. Add the corn and tomatoes, and saute 1 minute or longer until just heated through. You don’t want the tomatoes to collapse and release their juices. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley, basil, and vinegar. Serve warm or chilled. Great with couscous, rice, tabbouleh, topped with sunflower seeds, or with just a slice of whole grain bread.
Barbara
Thanks Jessica! I’ll give this recipe a try soon.
Rosa
Lovely recipe! I really liek those ravioli.
Cheers,
Rosa