Something I noticed at the beginning of my own weight loss journey was I loved food. I still do! But, it goes against the whole goal of “weight loss”.
Fortunately for you, I came up with a list of zero-calorie foods for proven weight loss that also taste amazing.
Whenever you get cravings or just feel hungry for something more, but don’t want to totally derail your weight loss efforts, reach for these zero-calorie foods.
The best part: Each of these fruits, veggies, drinks, and spices can easily be integrated into your existing meal plan or found in just about any recipe here on Wellness Reset.
Zero Calorie Foods: Fruits & Veggies for Weight Loss
(All foods are listed per the recommended serving size.)
1. Watermelon – Calories (1 cup diced) – 45 calories
Perhaps it’s no surprise that watermelon is a near zero calorie food, but what may be surprising is watermelon’s weight loss inducing properties. USC Keck School of Medicine reports that watermelon contains arginine, an amino acid that helps burn body fat.
2. Spinach – Calories (1 cup, raw) – 7 calories
Spinach is one of the most densely fibrous vegetables on the planet.
Pack the spinach into your morning smoothie, afternoon salad, or evening soup and the fiber will help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Want to shake up your meal plan?
Try this oatmeal green smoothie muffin recipe!
3. Romaine lettuce – Calories (1 cup, raw) – 14 calories
Who said romaine lettuce doesn’t contain any nutritional value?
Not only is romaine packed with antioxidants like vitamins C and A, it’s incredibly low calorie and versatile enough to be integrated into just about any salad you could ever think of.
4.Onions – Calories (100g) – 40 calories
Onions are an essential ingredient in just about every soup, salad, and pasta recipe out there but do they have any value for weight loss?
It turns out that onions contain essential prebiotics which help create a healthy gut environment; a healthy gut promotes the optimal level of gut bacteria and leads to better weight loss results.
5. Garlic – Calories (1 clove) – 4 calories
Like onions, we add garlic to seemingly endless recipes without knowing its nutritional benefits.
The good news: Like onions, garlic can lead to better weight loss results as it is another essential ingredient that promotes a healthy gut.
6. Cucumbers – Calories (½ cup sliced) – 8 calories
Cucumbers are 90% water which, at first, may make it seem like a worthless food in the world of weight loss.
However, numerous studies demonstrate that hydration is a key factor of success when trying to lose weight.
For an upgraded afternoon snack, swap out your crunchy chips and dip for crunchy cucumbers and hummus.
7. Zucchini – Calories (1 cup sliced) – 18 calories
Great for stir fries, grilled salads, and zoodles!
If you haven’t tried swapping out your usual pasta for zucchini noodles yet, we’re here to help.
Try out this amazingly simple garlic and parmesan zoodle recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 medium zucchini, spiralized
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and saute the garlic until fragrant
- Add in your zoodles and toss until warmed through (about 2 to 3 minutes)
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with parmesan, salt, and pepper
8. Celery – Calories (1 medium length stalk) – 6 calories
Have you jumped on the celery juice bandwagon yet?
If not, all you need to do to try it is blend celery in a traditional blender and then stain it with a nut milk strainer.
If you’re not into celery juice, you can chop it up and add it to just about any soup or salad recipe for additional fiber and crunch.
Zero Calorie Drinks for Weight Loss
9. Bone broth – Calories (1 cup) – 35 to 50 calories
Bone broth has been proven to help in weight loss.
It’s also low in calories and tastes great with some awesome recipes ideas!
Related Reading: Bone Broth Recipes for Weight Loss and Vibrant Skin
10. Herbal tea – Calories (1 cup) – 0 to 5 calories
Chamomile, peppermint, ginger… drinking herbal teas is like drinking self care.
Not only is herbal tea the epitome of self care in a mug, it contains flavonoids which boost metabolism and speed up the breaking down of body fats.
11. Black coffee – Calories (1 cup) – 0 to 5 calories
Good news for us coffee drinkers: Research shows that drinking a cup of coffee leads to fat-burning weight loss.
Keep in mind that heavy creams and sugar can undo the weight loss benefits of coffee; if you still want to sweeten up your morning java, try almond milk and honey instead!
If you truly can’t live without creamer, a helpful thing to try is weighing out how many grams of creamer per coffee.
This food scale on Amazon really helped me see how much creamer I actually put in my coffee.
Zero Calorie Herbs and Spices for Weight Loss
12. Cayenne pepper – Calories (1 tbsp) – 17 calories
Add some flavor to chili, tacos, or burrito bowls with a sprinkle of cayenne. This rich spice packs a punch of flavor while helping to speed up metabolism.
13. Ginger root – Calories (1 ounce) – 22 calories
In ancient China, ginger root was used in traditional medicine to treat everything from the common cold to morning sickness in pregnant women.
Today, scientific evidence shows that ginger root may help reduce appetite while burning calories.
Try this fragrant ginger root tea recipe for weight loss and a boost to your immune system:
Ingredients:
- ½ inch chunk fresh ginger root
- 1 cup water
- 1 lemon wedge
- 1 tsp honey
Directions:
- Add water and ginger root to a small pot and bring to a boil
- Once a boil is reached, reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes
- Pour the boiled mixture into a mug and add the lemon and honey
14. Cinnamon – Calories (1 tbsp) – 19 calories
Known as the “Super Spice for weight Loss”, sprinkle cinnamon in your tea, on your peanut butter and honey toast, or even on top of your protein pancakes for added nutrition and deliciousness.
