A new diet often means incorporating low-calorie foods into your diet, but it absolutely doesn't have to mean restricting yourself - in fact, you'll probably be surprised by how much you can get from 200 calories. When measuring out food portions, it's difficult to know exactly what 200 calories of potatoes/salad/cake really looks like, so there's always the danger that you'll end up scoffing the lot - which is why it's good to fill up on low calorie filling foods.
To lay all your unanswered questions to rest, we bring you some eye-opening visuals of what 200 calories of food really looks like, so you can really get to grips with your weight loss and make sure you're getting the right nutrition from your daily eating habits.
1
Low-calorie foods: Cheese
200 calories of cheddar cheese is around 50g, which isn't a huge amount if you're looking for a filling snack. However, it is packed with calcium and is useful as part of a varied diet, so if you fancy sprinkling some on top of your salad or pasta? We say go for it!
2
Low-calorie foods: Milk
400ml of semi-skimmed milk, or around two-thirds of a pint, is roughly 200 calories - which is bad news if your dairy intake is high. While regular tea and coffee drinkers would benefit from switching to water occasionally, there's no real harm in milk when it's consumed sensibly.
3
Low-calorie foods: Spinach
You can have quite a large portion of spinach as it's super-low in calories, but of course this leafy green veg is more than just low-calorie – it has plenty of health benefits, too. Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants, it could help eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels. We like it stirred into a veg-filled tomato sauce and served with wholegrain pasta.
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4
Low-calorie foods: Almonds
Nuts are a healthy snack full of good fats, but beware of crunching on too many - they can make you gain weight fast if you overindulge. If you're being precise, 200 calories is around 30 almonds, six brazil nuts, 20 cashews, 20 hazelnuts and 10 macadamia nuts.
5
Low-calorie foods: Prawns
You can tuck into a large handful, or around six fresh prawns. Get them fresh and they're just gorgeous on their own, or opt for a side salad and small dollop of marie rose sauce for a tasty appetiser.
6
Low-calorie foods: Chickpeas
A small side plate of chickpeas is usually around the 200-calorie mark, and they're full of health benefits thanks to the vitamins and minerals. We like to lay them on a baking tray, drizzle them in a small amount of olive oil, season and spice, then bake for a tasty snack.
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7
Low-calorie foods: Pasta
Ok, so pasta isn't technically low-calorie, but it can provide essential nutrients such as b-vitamins and iron. A 200-calorie portion is around 145g, although if you switch to wholegrain it'll be more beneficial.
8
Low-calorie foods: Potatoes
200 calories of potatoes usually equates to around 2.5 potatoes, or three if they're small, which is the perfect warming meal in winter. Mash them, bake them or boil them for the ultimate health benefits. These filling treats contain lots of fibre that can help lower the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
9
Low-calorie foods: Red peppers
Tuck into 2.5 of red peppers, totally guilt-free! Of course, they're not much of a snack on their own, so we recommend dipping into houmous, which is high in fat but full of benefits as long as you don't overindulge.
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10
Low-calorie foods: Popcorn
A side plate of popcorn usually contains about 200 calories, however the snack is now such a favourite that brands create their own packs with calories pre-measured. For example, you can have two individual bags of Propercorn sweet and salted popcorn.
11
Low-calorie foods: Salmon
110g of salmon fillet contains 200 calories, so opt for a small fillet and then serve with plenty of vegetables for an omega 3 hit with lots of vitamins thrown in. Your body will thank you for it!
12
Low-calorie foods: Biscuits
Biscuits don't really provide any nutritional goodness, but we all need a treat every once in a while - and three and a half oreos would place you just underneath the 200-calorie mark. We recommend serving with a cup of tea!
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13
Low-calorie foods: Raisins
A handful of raisins and sultanas will give you 200 calories of snack time, although if you want more nutritional benefits and less sugar, you could opt for grapes instead.
14
Low-calorie foods: Eggs
Eggs are full of proteins, iron, vitamins, and minerals, so they make a great snack or addition to your meal. 200 calories equals three eggs, but we recommend one a day for balance.
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15
Low-calorie foods: Peanut butter
Not really a surprise to know peanut butter is a little heavy on the calories! But it's also full of potassium and fibre, so it's great at keeping you full. A spoonful will usually do the trick, and we think it's best served on a slice of wholegrain bred.
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16
Low-calorie foods: Blueberry muffin
Only HALF a blueberry muffin is allowed, and sadly this isn't the most nutritious snack - although it's definitely ok to treat yourself every once in a while.
Carla Griscti
Digital Writer
As a digital writer for Prima Online and a self-confessed foodaholic, you'll find lots of fab foodie pieces from me. I have a true love for sun, sea and sangria (among many other indulgences). When not dreaming of sunny beaches (or running off to them) I can be found cavorting at festivals, hosting wine-fuelled dinner soireés and prancing around the kitchen to Stevie Nicks and Kate Bush. I also have an unhealthy obsession with Dave Grohl and Alan Partridge.
