Healthy eating doesn’t have to be dull! Here are 14 of my favourite low calorie dinners, all clocking in at 500 calories or less. Nutritious, delicious, interesting and satisfying – no skimping on portion sizes!
January in brief!
January is getting away from me, with a “I’m taking a break!” declaration being somewhat disrupted with work related projects that have come to fruition that need attention. 2024 is looking to be an exciting year! Patience has never been my greatest virtue so I exaggerate not when I say that I am busting to tell you what I’m working on right now but I will get in trouble if I do.😂
So, I’ll probably be a little quieter with new recipes for the remainder on January as I try to catch up on life matters. Tax! Find a home! Weeding!
But I wanted to check in and I thought I’d leave you with some of my personal favourite “healthy” recipes (New Years’ resolution and all that). What “healthy” actual means is debatable but for me, it’s recipes that are lower in calories, lower in fat, nutritious and balanced which usually also means lower carb. But, still delicious – of course. And filling. Anybody can cut calories with tiny portions. But it’s miserable.
My 10 14 favourite low-calorie meals
The order is not indicative of preference! I love them all – though you’ll be able to tell which ones I have an extra soft spot for. 😅
1. Fish tacos
410 calories for THREE tacos! Lime chipotle marinated fish pan-seared, flaked into chunks then stuffed into tortillas with lightly pickled red cabbage and my pink taco sauce. You will not missed deep fried! (But when you do, Baja Fish Tacos are in my cookbook.😇)
2. Hot and sour soup
I could eat this soup every single day.* It’s 100% me – big, bold, spicy flavours! Tofu, shiitake mushrooms, shredded chicken in a slightly thickened spicy-sour soup. 216 calories for a big bowl!
* I say this a few times in this recipe list. 😅 I mean it!
3. Moroccan stuffed eggplant
Oven-roasted eggplant halves topped with Moroccan spiced lamb or beef. 450 calories for two eggplant halves. BIG flavours, very satisfying!
4. Slow-cooker Mexican Chicken Soup
Throw everything into a slow cooker and come home to a hearty soup filled with Mexican flavours that happens to be healthy! 352 calories for a big, cosy bowl.
5. Crunchy Chinese chicken noodle salad
Asian slaw with shredded chicken and crunchy noodles tossed in a fabulous Asian dressing. 100% munch-worthy and lunch-worthy! Great meal-prep – just keep the noodles and dressing separate (chopped veg and chicken will last for days in the fridge).
6. Indian Eggplant Curry (brinjal)
Not for the faint-hearted!!! A very intense flavoured curry sauce with roasted rather than deep-fried eggplant pieces, this is a low-calorie hidden gem with just 250 calories per serving. Serve over basmati rice (200 calories for 1 cup) or cauliflower rice for a super low-cal option at just 35 calories per serving.
PS We also make this on a large scale at RecipeTin Meals (400 servings!)
7. Pan fried seasoned fish
When it comes to protein, white fish is my go-to when I’m making an effort to “be healthier” because generally speaking, fish is better for you than red meats. Higher protein, lower saturated fat and the oilier fish (like salmon) is high in omega-3 (“good fat”). While I’m a sucker for lemon butter sauce, fish seasoning is my go-to for a lower fat option – ~265 calories for a 180g / 6 oz white fish fillet like flathead, barramundi.
Serve with a big pile of roasted asparagus with parmesan and lemon (84 calories) or a big Green Bean Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Feta (166 calories) to round out your meal.
8. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cynics – please trust me. I would never, ever, EVER share a recipe unless I truly thought it was delicious! This will honestly surprise you. It is TASTY! 288 calories for a meal-size portion.
9. Sweet potato soup
Clocking in at 337 calories, creamy, dreamy, sweet, savoury – and simple to make! It’s a home run.
10. Sizzling ginger fish
A steamed fish to get excited about!! Simplified fillet version of the famous Cantonese Steamed Ginger Scallion Whole Fish. 343 calories per serving. Serve over cauliflower rice (35 calories) for a low-carb side to soak up the tasty sauce and a side of Chinese Broccoli with oyster sauce (91 calories), Bok Choy in Ginger Sauce (81 calories) or for something more substantial, try the Spicy Asian Zucchini (143 calories per serving – this is so substantial I’ve had it as a meal on numerous occasions).
11. AWESOME vegetarian San Choy Bau (Chinese lettuce wraps)
I do not use the word “awesome” in a recipe name lightly!! I’m on the wrong side of 20 for that. 😅 My secret? Crumbled tofu. Cooks up and soaks flavour like mince! You can barely tell it’s tofu.
12. Vegetable tagine
A big pot of Moroccan spiced stewy vegetables with chickpeas! And it’s even vegan. Yay vegans! 200 calories for a meal-size portion without couscous, though you could have a little less and serve it over couscous (253 calories per serving).
13. Ratatouille – French vegetable stew
Summery stunner bursting with Mediterranean flavours! 158 calories per serving – so you can totally afford to add a hunk of crusty bread for mopping. (PS There’s also a baked version in my cookbook).
14. Ceviche
I could eat ceviche every. Single. Day! 333 calories for a meal size portion. Serve with crispy baked corn tortillas (60 calories per tortilla) – spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, cut into corn-chip size triangles. Bake at 200°C/375°F (180°C fan) for 10 to 15 minutes, tossing halfway, until golden and crisp (keep an eye on them after the 10 minute mark).
There you go! 14 of my (current) favourite low-calorie meals – did you notice everything is under 500 calories including sides? I hope you got inspired with some new ideas!
For more healthy recipe ideas – a surprising number of them actually – have a browse through my Low Calorie recipe collection. (Then you can spend all your calorie savings on cake! 😈)
What about you? What are some of your favourite ways to eat lean? – Nagi x
Life of Dozer
The Butt Bark.
Captured by Kevin Case, Unleashed Northern Beaches.
Hi Nagi. One comment about Dozer–Dr. Busby’s Toe Grips!
Don’t know if they’re available in Australia but they have made an enormous difference over the years with my Goldens. They do require a check almost daily (sometimes
they slide up a bit) but they stay on quite well even with twice-daily walks and zoomies in the yard. Highly recommended, if they’re available for you.
Good morning Nagi,
I’ve had problems for years with all the English bulldog’s we’ve owned. They are the Marine Corps mascot. My Meagan now is four and fights having them on. I saw a picture of a dog who had socks on that the bottoms were like hospital socks. A little Velcro strap to hold them up. I can’t find them. All these other dog socks are so bulky.
The balloon looking ones are so hard to get on.
Maybe someone has seen these. They look like soft socks.
By the way your recipes are fantastic!!
Happy New Year,
Diana
As always, thank you for the fabulous recipes. I tell ya, that Dozer is the life of the party. I adore him so much 🙂
Thank you so much for these recipes. I’m going to use these right away. They look so healthy. I’m changing our eating habits and this will help.
We had the same problem with our aging dog slipping and falling on our wood floors. We bought rug runners and put them strategically on the floors. He quickly begin walking on them and he didn’t slip again. Hope it works for Dozer.
Your recipes are inspiring. After 57 years of deciding what to cook (the cooking I don’t mind).
You have made me keen again. 🫣😍
Perfect timing Nagi. I’ve decided it’s time to cut back and eat healthier but broke out in a sweat when I thought I’d have to break up with you! The panic is over with these lower calorie recipes – thank goodness 😅.
Maybe some carpet trails for the places Dozer goes the most often?
Hi nagi, i had two lg girl labs til sept. They hated nail trimming. I had lots of rugs and used lg nail files. I tried a dremel but it was met w fear. I tried stick on pads. Lots and lots of rugs everywhere. Good luck.
Same here, lots of rugs. I hate them but I love my four Vizslas more. For one I have to trim while he is asleep. I’m also working on Susan Garrett’s “Pedicure Please” program to get him used to the dremel.
Definitely try some of those recipies ! Do you walk Dozer on pavements? That would naturally trim his nails
My sentiments exactly. Low calorie meals and Dessert.
Hi Nagi, I hear that Dozer hates having his nails trimmed. We have a rough collie who hates any kind of grooming. So we got a grooming table. She can’t run away on that and it makes grooming so much easier. Not sure if you have one already, and I guess it might be hard to lift Dozer up there without help! But you can get ones that raise up, like the vets have. Just a thought! Susie 😊
Thank you so much Nagi. Been putting on a few kilos over the last few weeks so keen to try as many of these as I can.
Nagi,
How do you find time to dream up and test all these wonderful recipes – plus look after Dozer!!!!!!
Thankyou for all the hard work.
The “Vegetable Tagine” appears to be missing from the “Low Calorie Recipe Collection”. The collection was well worth the browse. Thank you too, for “Dinner”, it’s my “go-to” cookbook.
Hiya Nagi
I found you YouTube channel last year (who knows how must have been meant to be!!!) I just wanted to say that your recipes are AWESOME (I am on the wrong side of 20 also and frequently feel the need to use this word 😂😂😂) all that you do is truly inspiring and yes so much so I bought the recipe book!!!!
Warmest Regards
Jay Cee.
Thank you for the timely posting of lower calorie meals. They sound celicious.
Good luck with the cute and irrepressible Dozier! Lovehis pictures and posts!
You are too good,born to be a very talented cook.
Always good,tasty recipes!
Thanks Nagi
I’ll be trying all of your low cal recipes . Sound delicious 👍
Great recipes always. Love Dozer. Going to try the ginger fish. Thank you.
My family love all your recipes . My daughter in law’s mother from Pittsburgh follows you also. I bought your book for her as she’s visiting now. Thankyou
Those fish tacos are the bomb!