These healthy foods are basically calorie free!

These healthy foods are basically calorie free!

The good old “eat heaps without blowing your calories” trick is honestly one of the easiest ways to feel fuller and happier when trying to manage weight.   

Nothing is truly zero calories (water and black coffee/tea are about as close as it gets), but there are foods so low in calories you can eat decent portions for very little energy intake.

These are often called “free foods” or very low-calorie density foods.

🥒 Veggies that are basically calorie free

These are your heavy hitters, loaded with high water, high fibre, super filling.

👉 Most of these sit around 15–35 calories per cup, which is basically nothing!

  • Cucumber - 15 calories per 100g

  • Celery - 15 calories per 100g 

  • Lettuce (all varieties) - 15-20 calories per 100g

  • Zucchini - 17 calories per 100g

  • Spinach & leafy greens - 23 calories per 100g

  • Rocket (arugula) - 25 calories per 100g

  • Capsicum (bell peppers) - 25 calories per 100g

  • Mushrooms - 22 calories per 100g

  • Broccoli - 34 calories per 100g

  • Cauliflower - 25 calories per 100g

  • Green beans - 31 calories per 100g

  • Tomato - 18 calories per 100g

  • Radish - 15 calories per 100g

  • Asparagus - 20 calories per 100g

🍓 Low-calorie fruits (naturally sweet but still light)

Fruit has natural sugar, but some options are surprisingly low calorie and great for volume eating.

  • Strawberries - 32 calories per 100g

  • Raspberries - 52 calories per 100g

  • Blueberries - 57 calories per 100g

  • Watermelon - 30 calories per 100g

  • Rockmelon (cantaloupe) - 34 calories per 100g

  • Honeydew melon - 36 calories per 100g

👉 Berries are especially good because they’re high in fibre and help keep you full.

🍲 Other sneaky low-calorie fillers

These are awesome for bulking meals up.

  • Clear vegetable broth -5–15 calories per cup (250ml)

  • miso soup - 35–60 calories per cup (250ml)

  • Konjac / shirataki noodles - 5–15 calories per 100g

  • Cucumber Pickles (watch sodium) - 10–15 calories per 100g

  • Sauerkraut - 18–25 calories per 100g

  • Salsa (fresh tomato-based) - 20–35 calories per 100g

  • Air-popped popcorn - 30 cals per cup

☕ Drinks that are basically calorie free

  • Water (still or sparkling) - zero calories

  • Black coffee - 2–5 calories per cup

  • Tea (herbal, green, black) - 2 calories per cup

If you add 

Splash of milk → 10–30 calories

Teaspoon sugar → 16 calories

Tablespoon honey → 60 calories

The magic combo is:
✔ High water
✔ High fibre
✔ Large volume

That’s why salads, veggie-loaded stir fries, soups, and smoothie bowls packed with berries can feel huge but stay low calorie. 

 

Try these 10 low calorie chocolate snacks under 150-200 cals from Zing Wellbeing.

Back to blog