5 Healthy Low Calorie Recipes

These 5 healthy low calorie recipes will make eating healthy a pleasure. These basic recipes range from an easy entrée to side dishes and snacks. Having basic healthy recipes on hand will make improving your diet much easier.

To make hummus, you will need:

• 2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup tahini
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender. Blend by pulsing until smooth. Add some water to the mixture if it is too thick to blend.
2. Serve with vegetable sticks or pita triangles for dipping. Hummus is also a healthy addition to a sandwich.

To make healthy roasted vegetable sandwiches, you will need:

• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 Japanese eggplant, sliced
• 1 red pepper, cut into thick strips
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (dill, oregano, or basil)
• 1 tablespoon low calorie Italian dressing
• 2 pita bread pockets

1. Put cut up vegetables in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Spread onto a cookie sheet that is lined with parchment paper. Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for about ten minutes.
2. Turn the vegetables over. Keep a close eye on them as they will cook quickly. As soon as they are lightly browned, take them out and drizzle with dressing and fresh herbs.
3. Tuck half of the vegetables into each pita pocket. Then, enjoy this low calorie meal.

To make a healthy carrot raisin salad, you will need:

• 1 10-ounce bag shredded carrots
• 1 8-ounce carton of low fat plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of walnuts, chopped
• 1 8-ounce can of pineapple tidbits
• 1/4 cup golden raisins

1. Take the carrots out of the bag and place in a bowl. Add the pineapple, raisins and walnuts.
2. Stir the yogurt. Spoon the yogurt over the top of the carrot mixture and mix together. Serve chilled as a healthy low calorie snack or side dish.

To make Italian white bean dip, you will need:

• 1 15-ounce can white beans, rinsed and drained
• 8 garlic cloves, roasted
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1. In a blender combine the beans, roasted garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. Blend until smooth.
2. Serve on slices of toasted bread or pita wedges. One healthy option is to spread this on square pieces of red bell pepper.

To make fish in a packet, you will need:

• 4 6-ounce fish fillets
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 pitted Kalamata black olives, quartered
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning

1. Season the fish fillets with one-quarter teaspoon salt. Then, arrange each fillet in the center of a twelve-inch square piece of foil.
2. Toss together the onion, pepper, oil and remaining one-quarter teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until evenly coated. Divide the mixture among the fish fillets. Top each with the olives and parsley.
3. Gather sides of foil over fish to form a pouch and crimp the edges together. Put packages on hot baking sheet and bake until fish is just cooked through, fifteen to twenty minutes.
4. To check for doneness, carefully open the packet, being careful of any escaping steam. Pierce the center of the fish with a knife; it should be opaque in the center.
5. Meanwhile, stir together the mayonnaise and Cajun seasoning until well combined. Carefully open the fish pouches and serve with the seasoned mayonnaise.