List of Zero-Calorie Foods

Zero-calorie or negative calorie foods are foods that burn off more calories in consumption than they supply. Many of these foods are full of nutrients, making them a healthy way to stay full and still lose weight. However, it would be a mistake to think that these foods contain no calories whatsoever and eating them would be enough to lose weight. Instead, consider these foods healthier alternatives to high-calorie foods. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Fruits

Fruits are an essential part of your diet and are high in nutrients and extremely low in calories. Nutritionists suggest you eat five to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. According to the Harvard School of Health, recent research suggests they even help fight cancer. Zero-calorie fruits include: apples, blueberries, cantaloupes, cranberries, grapefruits, honeydews, oranges, papayas, peaches, pineapples, raspberries, strawberries, tangerines, turnips and watermelons.

Vegetables

Like fruits, vegetables are an essential part of a balanced diet. Vegetables won't just help you lose weight, but they also have a number of health benefits that will make you healthier and fight off disease. They also lower blood pressure and help improve vision. Try to include at least one serving of vegetables with every meal you eat. Zero-calorie vegetables include zucchini, turnips, spinach, radishes, onions, lettuce, green beans, garlic, cucumbers, celery, carrots, green cabbages, broccoli and asparagus.

Dishes

Finding zero-calorie foods might be easy enough, but finding whole meals that have zero calories is not as simple. Nevertheless, some options do exist. Vegetable soups are a good option. Combine various zero-calorie vegetables into a broth and include a little spice to season. Salads are another option -- just don't add any dressing. Similarly, fruits can be combined into a fruit salad. It's even possible to make some simple zero-calorie pasta dishes.

Drinks

Several soft drinks and energy drinks have few or no calories. New zero-calorie drinks are being touted as a new healthy option, but diet versions of Coke and Pepsi already contained almost no calories. Zero-calorie beverages include Pepsi Max, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero and Diet 7-Up. Artificial sweetners are often put in these drinks as a substitute for sugar. Water is, of course, another zero-calorie drink; the amount of water you should drink is based on your lifestyle and the amount of other fluids you consume.