A heaping cup of leafy, green arugula (also known as rocket) clocks in at just 5 calories. Arugula is also a solid source of vitamin K, fiber, and antioxidants.
We love grilling asparagus, which needs only olive oil (healthy!) and parmesan cheese to turn it into a savory-yet-slimming side.
Most bell peppers—green, yellow, red, orange—are considered sweet, but that’s not reflected in the calories. A medium-sized bell pepper, or a one-cup serving, has only about 30 calories.
Packed with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and numerous antioxidants, broccoli is also low in calories. A cup of chopped broccoli contains only 31 calories.
It’s no secret why cauliflower has recently replaced things like rice, pizza crust, and buffalo wings—it’s a much healthier option.
When a food is 95% water, it’s a solid sign there aren’t many calories involved. Such is the case with celery, which has only about 15 calories per cup.
It contains only 35 calories in a cup—and that’s a cup of chopped chard—so don’t be shy when adding some to your next salad, soup, or stir fry.
All those recipes where cucumbers are used in place of tortilla chips, crackers, or other foods is for good reason—a cup of cucumber clocks in at just 16 calories.
Some folks still swear by the century-old “grapefruit diet”—a low-sugar, low-carb, low-calorie, and high-protein diet that includes eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice with every meal.