Hunting for low-calorie meals that don’t taste like cardboard? Low-calorie recipes are a key part of losing weight and keeping it off successfully. The good news is they can taste delicious while helping you shed inches and pounds. This week, add some of these 20 skinny recipes under 200 calories to your menu plan.
We’re sharing yummy low-calorie recipes to cover you for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. Remember that many of our dinner meal ideas, particularly the slow cooker dishes, make fantastic leftover lunches. Simply pack a single serving into a to-go container during dinner clean-up so you’re ready to go the next morning when it’s time to leave for work. Be sure to check out 32 Clean-Eating Low-Calorie Snacks too.
We can’t say it enough: portion sizes are critical. Our recipes focus on clean-eating foods that nourish the body, but extra calories–even when it comes to healthy food choices–add up. Lose weight or maintain a healthy weight by checking the portion size for each recipe to make sure you’re not inadvertently consuming extra calories. Try the 30-Day Skinny Plate Challenge to jumpstart healthy portion control.
It doesn’t matter whether you serve this as a low-cal breakfast or you treat the family to a breakfast-for-dinner night, this omelet offers taste, nutrition, and 167 calories per serving.
After you taste this breakfast it might be hard to believe this recipe, using our skinnied-up version of that famous decadent spread, has fewer than 160 calories in each sandwich.
With lean protein and loads of veggies, low-calorie recipes like this will make you feel good about what you’re putting on the table–it has 192 calories per serving.
This plant-based casserole is not only easy to make, but it rings in at only 104 calories per serving. This is great recipe to meal plan because you can make a large batch of it and eat it all week long!
This tasty toast makes a perfect quick-and-easy lunch. At only 140 calories per serving, you won’t break the calorie bank but you’ll still get to enjoy the creamy goodness of avocados.
I love how this chicken salad recipe feels like a meal instead of just a side dish. The flavors come together to be really comforting. In fact, it’s so tasty you won’t believe that it only packs 167 calories!
An integral part of a lifestyle change is making the decision to do it. Since you’re here reading this, you clearly want to make that change! Good for you! Taking part in a workout challenge is a fantastic way to jump start your fitness journey. This 7-Day Weight Loss Workout Challenge for Beginners is an excellent place to start.
This challenge will test you both physically and mentally. It will require hard work and dedication but the results will be well worth it! With this challenge, you will lose weight & inches and gain strength & confidence! Maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn’t need to be difficult. We’re going to show you exactly what you need to do in order to be successful!
Remember that you can do anything that you set your mind to. Once this 7-day challenge is over, it’s imperative that you keep on working towards a healthier lifestyle. This means continuing to eat right and exercise regularly. One thing that I tell my training clients is that a healthy lifestyle should be a permanent change, not a phase with a temporary goal. In order to help you along, we’ve included some of our best tips to enhance your results:
1. Drink water – When you have water available 24/7, it makes it easier to stay hydrated. Drink a glass of water when you first wake up and continue to drink periodically throughout the day. In total, you should drink 64-80 ounces (8-10 glasses) of water each day. You know you’re hydrated when your urine is clear or nearly clear.
2. Sodas – Give up sodas, including diet varieties, as they contain either loads of sugar or artificial sweeteners. Some of my clients have noticed that drinking diet soda increased their sugar cravings, causing them to make unhealthy choices. Check out the 30 Day No Soda Challenge.
3. Avoid junk food and fast food – You’d probably be amazed at how fast calories can add up from junk food and eating out.Instead, cook at home and discover how easy it is to transition from a diet filled with processed foods to a clean eating plan. Click here for endless SkinnyMs clean eating recipes!
4. Eat more fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, lean protein, and low-fat dairy; and avoid overly processed foods that are packed with sodium and refined sugar. Eating nutrient dense food will help you lose weight and feel better!
5. Eat smaller portions – We recommend eating three small meals and two to three clean snacks each day. Also, using smaller plates can help to keep your portions in check. To make this part of the challenge even easier, join the Skinny Plate Club.
6. Read labels and look at the ingredient list. If the product contains refined sugar, enriched white flour and is high in sodium, it’s a food best left on the shelf. If you can’t pronounce each of the ingredients or know what they are, you probably shouldn’t be buying it. Reading the ingredient label is a must if your goal is to know exactly what goes into your body. A great tip is to skip the grocery aisles and stick to the perimeter of the store where the fruits, veggies and fresh protein is!
These six tips will help you to greatly improve your diet. The majority of your weight loss progress will come as a result of healthy eating.Learn more about clean eating by reading 7 Simple Steps to Clean Eating!
Weight Loss Workout Challenge for Beginners:
Equipment Needed: Set of dumbbells(5-10 lbs), a chair, interval timer(Gymboss is a free app download).
What to Do: Perform all exercises 45 seconds and rest 15 seconds after each one. Complete each routine 3 times and rest 1 full minute after each circuit.
Exercise not only helps to burn excess calories, but it also changes your mind set. By working out each day, you train yourself to make better, healthier choices. Each of the workouts involved in this challenge take less than 20 minutes, making them totally easy to accomplish! You will work every muscle in your body by participating in this challenge, which will lead to stronger, more toned muscles.
When you eat right and workout consistently you WILL get results! Are you ready to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle? Let’s get started! If you’re unsure of how to perform a particular exercise, we’ve included instructional videos for each one, below!
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Monday :
1. Leg Raise
2. Plank
3. Hip Extensions left side
4. Hip Extensions right side
5. March in Place
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Tuesday :
1. Military Press
2. Plié/Sumo Squat
3. Stiff Legged Deadlift with Dumbbells
4. Foot to Foot Crunches
5. High Knees in Place
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Wednesday :
1. Goblet Squat
2. Knee Touches in Place
3. Tricep Kickbacks
4. Rear Leg Extension left leg
5. Rear Leg Extension right leg
Thursday :
Rest Day – Take a brisk 30 minute walk
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Friday :
1. March in Place
2. Traditional Crunch
3. Chair Squat
4. Wall Push-Up
5. Bodyweight Glute Bridge
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Saturday :
1. Toe Reach
2. Alternating Lunges
3. Lying Oblique Twist
4. Body Weight Squat
5. High Knees in Place
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Sunday :
1. Russian/Mason Twist
2. Knee Push-Ups
3. Alternating Reverse Lunge
4. Reverse Crunch
5. Knee Touches in Place
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Instructional Videos
Monday :
Leg Raise
Plank
Hip Extensions
March in Place
Tuesday :
Military Press
Plié/Sumo Squat
Stiff Legged Deadlift with Dumbbells
Foot to Foot Crunches
High Knees in Place
Wednesday :
Goblet Squat
Knee Touches in Place
Tricep Kickbacks
Rear Leg Extension
Thursday :
Rest Day – Take a brisk 30 minute walk
Friday :
March in Place
Traditional Crunch
Chair Squat
Wall Push-Up
Bodyweight Glute Bridge
Saturday:
Toe Reach
Alternating Lunges
Lying Oblique Twist
Body Weight Squat
High Knees in Place
Sunday :
Russian/Mason Twist
Knee Push-Ups
Alternating Reverse Lunge
Reverse Crunch
Knee Touches in Place
What did you think of our Weight Loss Workout Challenge for Beginners? How do you feel? Share your results with us in the comment section, below!
Be sure to like our Facebook page and follow us on Pinterestand Instagramto be the first to try out new workouts and view our latest fitness resources.
One of the most stubborn parts of the female body is that pesky belly bulge. More often than not, it’s the very last place to slim down when trying to get in shape. While diet plays a huge role in decreasing belly fat, there’s no doubt that firming and toning those ab muscles will help speed up the process. We’re going to share the 3 most effective ab exercises to beat that belly bulge for good!
It’s important to make sure that you’re working all of your abdominal muscle when performing an ab routine. Many times, we stick to the same one or two exercises. This can cause us to neglect one or more of the core muscles. The core is made up of 4 main muscles: The Transverse Abdominis, the Internal and External Obliques, and the Rectus Abdominis. In choosing the 3 most effective ab exercises for belly bulge, I’ve made sure that each of these muscles will be worked!
What to do: You will perform each exercise for 30 seconds without any rest in between. Rest for 30 seconds after each round. We’ve included instructional videos for each exercise, below.
The primary muscle that a plank will strengthen and build is the Transverse Abdominis. This is the innermost layer of your abdominal muscles. It is responsible for protecting and supporting your internal organs and spine.
2. Side Plank with Hip Lifts (Per Side)
Side plank raises will work your internal and external obliques. These two muscles run diagonally, or criss-cross, down both of your sides. The obliques are responsible for maintaining abdominal pressure and supporting the torso. They also allow us to bend from side to side as well as aid in spinal rotation. The obliques even play a role in breathing!
3. Hollow Rock
The Hollow rock move is a tough one! This exercise is mainly responsible for working your Rectus Abdominis. This is the outermost layer of your abdominal muscles, more commonly known as your “6-pack” muscle. The Rectus Abdominis is responsible for spinal flexion and extension or bending forward & leaning back.
Plank
Side Plank with Hip Lifts
Hollow Rock
Core training is an integral part of any well-rounded fitness routine! Your core is your foundation. A weak foundation leads to injury but a solid one will make you stronger and healthier than ever!
Keep in mind that belly fat can be substantially decreased through a proper diet! These exercises will tone your abs, but losing excess fat will reveal them! Learn How to Dissolve Belly Fat with These 6 Foods.
Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram to keep up with all of the latest, most effective ab routines!
Casseroles have always been a wonderful comfort food. However, I’ve always associated them with lots of calories and lots of unhealthy ingredients. Although there’s nothing like coming home to a plateful of warm casserole on a chilly night, I often found myself also enjoying a plateful of lots of calories and a soon-to-be upset stomach. Fortunately, SkinnyMs has tons of casserole recipes that really are just platefuls of warm casseroles. Read on to discover our 50 Best Skinny Casseroles!
They’re just as satisfying as those typical casseroles that really are full of calories and unhealthy ingredients. The difference is, the casseroles on this list don’t give me an upset stomach because, well, they’re healthy. Your body and mind will thank you in so many ways for choosing to eat these skinny casseroles. They’ll also be thanking you for doing nothing except enjoying delicious food. There’s no reason not to love these recipes!
I know, I know, you weren’t expecting a sweet, breakfast casserole to be the first one on this list…but I just couldn’t help myself! My sweet tooth is too strong for me to not love this Blueberry French Toast Casserole of ours, and our recipe for it is too nutritious for you to not love it too! In just over 100 calories, you can fill yourself up with nutritious ingredients such as:
If you know me, you know that I have an unnatural love for sweet potatoes. I would eat them for every meal if I could…including snacks.
They are just so good for you. They provide you with vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, and so much more! So, I bet you could’ve guessed that the biggest reason why I love this casserole of ours is because it uses sweet potatoes!
Our Curry Chicken Casserole has 14 grams of protein per serving, and only 304 calories! The high amount of protein and lower amount of calories is what makes it a great casserole for weeknight dinners. I also can’t help but say that the fact that it’s cheesy and is ready in just 35 minutes are also reasons it’s great for weeknight dinners.
I don’t know about you, but I think that the “5-Minute Prep” part of this casserole recipe of ours is a good enough reason to try it out. I mean, of course the casserole itself tastes amazing (as do all of the skinny casserole recipes on this list), but the fact that it’s easy and quick to make is definitely important. It’s a great weeknight dinner in my book!
I think that this breakfast casserole recipe by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen might even beat out normal chocolate chip banana pancakes…and they’re hard to beat. The recipe calls for natural ingredients to provide that sweetness that you would expect something so chocolatey and banana-filled to have.
I love jalapeno poppers and their deep-fried cheesiness, but I don’t love the fact that they’re usually pretty unhealthy. This casserole of ours brings the flavors that that deep-fried cheesiness brings to the table. The only difference is, this casserole of ours IS healthy.
It’s made with low-fat cheese, low-fat turkey bacon, chicken to fuel those beautiful muscles of yours, and cauliflower to cut out some carbs. It’s definitely a recipe to add to your list of favorite skinny casseroles!
I’m actually not the biggest Mexican food fan, but even I can’t help but crave this casserole. The enchilada filling is my boyfriend’s absolute favorite. Unlike me, he is a Mexican food fan…like, a huge Mexican food fan. With that being said, he’s pretty picky (I mean, he has had a lot of experience with the type of food). So, when I made this and the first thing he said when he was finished eating was “You’re going to need to make this again”, I knew the recipe was golden.
I may not be a crazy Mexican-food fanatic, but I do love me some Italian food. Full disclosure: on my very first date EVER, I ordered spaghetti. It was both a huge mistake and a very wonderful thing. It was a mistake because, well, who can really eat spaghetti elegantly? It was a very wonderful thing because, well, who can really say they don’t like spaghetti?
This casserole of ours will give you that very wonderful thing that I felt on my very first date without making you feel like it was a huge mistake for a different reason: the unhealthiness of spaghetti. Fortunately, our casserole recipe is delicious AND healthy!
Cheese, chicken, broccoli, and wild rice…what’s not to love?! Oh, and don’t forget that it’s a skinny casserole recipe! So, you can enjoy those things you love without feeling guilty about it.
There are tons of vegetarian chili recipes out there. In fact, I’d say it’s one of the easiest meals to render meatless. Chili is hearty and chunky by nature, so it’s easy enough to simply swap out the meat and replace it with extra beans and veggies for a meatless version. However, this vegetarian quinoa chili recipe really takes things to the next level.
While some vegetarian recipes just cut the meat, this super healthy, super easy quinoa chili recipe doesn’t stop there. This clean and simple vegetarian chili boosts its nutritional and flavor profile with powerful (and tasty) superfoods like quinoa and lentils. Healthier and easier than your traditional chili, this vegetarian quinoa chili recipe is still just as rich, delicious, and comforting.
Chili sin Carne
My parents, who are apparently overwhelmingly ignorant of the Spanish language, once thought “chili con carne” meant “chili with corn.” They were genuinely surprised when, after a few elementary school-level Spanish classes, I corrected them.
Being generally carnivorous in their tastes, I guess they just assumed it went without saying that all chili was chili “with meat.” In their minds, there could be no alternative.
Of course, there is an alternative. In fact, there are many alternatives. But of all the meatless chili recipes out there, this vegetarian quinoa chili recipe is by far my favorite.
In my not-so-humble opinion, quinoa makes everything better. It adds subtle flavor, texture, and big-time health and nutritional benefits to any recipe. In this meatless chili recipe, quinoa helps beef up (not literally of course) some of the hearty texture that I often find missing in other vegetarian chili recipes.
Hearty, filling, and super clean, you really can’t go wrong with this chili con quinoa (no translation needed).
Did I Mention it’s Easy?
We all know there are tons of benefits to going meatless, even if it’s just on a part-time basis. One extra bonus you may not have considered? Meatless recipes almost always save you cooking time.
Growing up, I remember chili was a weekends only meal because it took such a long time to cook.
Ready in only forty minutes, this vegetarian quinoa chili recipe is easy enough to whip up on any weeknight. But with all the same hearty chili flavor you love, this healthy meal tastes just like weekend comfort food.
This chili is rich, flavorful, and filling all on its own, but that’s never stopped me from dressing it up a bit with some of my favorite toppings. Remember when I said quinoa makes everything better? Yeah, that’s true of sour cream too. Try this chili with some of my favorite toppings below. And if you have your own favorites, be sure to let me know in the comments!
Optional Toppings:
sour cream
shredded cheddar cheese
diced green onions
sliced avocado
sliced jalapeño
chopped cilantro
Check out this video to see how to make the recipe:
Generally speaking, eggplant parm is a healthier option as far as Italian food goes. Serve this vegan recipe over quinoa instead of pasta, and you’ve got a clean dish to satisfy all your Italian cravings.
