{"id":3866,"date":"2025-01-31T13:33:53","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/11-high-protein-low-calorie-foods-bodi.html"},"modified":"2025-01-31T13:33:53","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:33:53","slug":"11-high-protein-low-calorie-foods-bodi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/health\/11-high-protein-low-calorie-foods-bodi.html","title":{"rendered":"11 High-Protein, Low-Calorie Foods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our bodies use\u00a0protein to build muscle mass and repair muscle tissue (and provide energy and break down food and support growth and development). But if you\u2019re looking for protein-rich foods that don\u2019t add loads of extra saturated fat and calories, where should you start?<\/p>\n

How much protein (and\u00a0how many calories) you need is different for everyone. But there are rules around what can be called \u201chigh protein.\u201d<\/p>\n

A food needs to provide 20% or more of the daily (DV) or 10 grams based on a 2,000-calorie diet. However, a food product\u2019s protein content isn\u2019t generally listed on the label as % Daily Value\u00a0(%DV).<\/p>\n

Instead, you have to use the number of grams as a guide. (It will be listed if the food packaging makes a claim about protein.) To be called a \u201cgood source,\u201d a food needs to provide 5 to 9.99 grams of protein, while an \u201cexcellent source\u201d provides 10 grams or more.<\/p>\n

Protein provides 4 calories per gram, while fat provides 9 per gram. The trick to finding foods that are higher in protein but lower in calories is to choose cuts and varieties that are lower in fat.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of these foods? \u201cThey can contribute to weight loss,\u201d says\u00a0Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., RDN. \u201cProtein is very filling, so you won\u2019t be hungry in an hour, and protein helps stabilize blood sugar levels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of 11 tasty foods to reach up your protein intake while keeping an eye on your calories.<\/p>\n

1. Egg Whites<\/h2>\n

Large egg white:<\/strong> 18 calories | 4 g protein<\/p>\n

Three egg whites from a large egg would help you hit that \u201cexcellent\u201d (egg-cellent!) benchmark. Scrambled for breakfast or a quick lunch with veggies, egg whites are tasty and versatile.<\/p>\n

2. Plain, Nonfat Greek Yogurt<\/h2>\n

\"Greek<\/p>\n

1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt:<\/strong> 149 calories | 25 g protein<\/p>\n

The key is avoiding flavored varieties, which have added sugar (and added carbs and calories). You can enjoy Greek yogurt on its own topped with granola and fruit, or add it to smoothies, sauces, or even dressings for an extra serving of protein.<\/p>\n

3. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese<\/h2>\n

\"Bowl<\/p>\n

1 cup 2% cottage cheese:<\/strong> 183 calories | 24 g protein<\/p>\n

Cottage cheese was basically the Greek yogurt of the 1970s. They often have probiotics (look for the word \u201ccultured\u201d on tubs when you\u2019re shopping) but can also be quite high in sodium, so be sure to look for low-sodium options.<\/p>\n

4. Lentils<\/h2>\n

\"Lentils<\/p>\n

Half cup cooked lentils<\/strong>: 115 calories | 9 g protein<\/p>\n

Sprinkled over a salad, these nutrient-dense pulses are a cheap and healthy food, and they\u2019re packed with fiber \u2014 nearly 8 grams of the satiating nutrient in each half cup.<\/p>\n

5. Chicken Breast<\/h2>\n

\"Chicken<\/p>\n

3 oz. chicken breast:<\/strong> 122 calories | 24 g protein<\/p>\n

One of the best lean proteins you can have (it contains no carbohydrates!), chicken breast is great when you\u2019re trying to up your protein intake without taking in too many more calories. When choosing grilled chicken, don\u2019t eat the skin and opt for white instead of dark meat.<\/p>\n

6. Turkey<\/h2>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

3 oz. turkey breast:<\/strong> 125 calories | 26 g protein<\/p>\n

Deli slices are a quick protein snack, but roast turkey is a better alternative with less additives and sodium. Plus, you can slice it up yourself to toss over a salad or roll into a wrap.<\/p>\n

7. Cod<\/h2>\n

\"Plate<\/p>\n

3 oz. cod:<\/strong> 71 calories | 17 g protein<\/p>\n

Flaky white fish like cod provides lean protein and is lower in calories than other types of fish. Plus, there are loads of benefits to eating fish, thanks to their high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.<\/p>\n

8. Canned Light Tuna in Water<\/h2>\n

\"Canned<\/p>\n

3 oz. canned tuna:<\/strong> 73 calories | 17 g protein<\/p>\n

Canned tuna is a classic, budget-friendly shortcut for a fast protein meal in a pinch. Use it in dishes like a tuna salad sandwich or this salad Ni\u00e7oise.<\/p>\n

9. Firm Tofu<\/h2>\n

\"Bowl<\/p>\n

3 oz. firm tofu:<\/strong> 71 calories | 9 g protein<\/p>\n

While tofu might seem bland to those unfamiliar with it, it\u2019s actually a delicious and versatile plant-based protein source depending on how you cook it. There are several types of tofu, though the types other than firm may contain less of the macronutrient due to higher water content.<\/p>\n

10. Edamame<\/h2>\n

\"Bowl<\/p>\n

1 cup edamame:<\/strong> 129 calories | 13 g protein<\/p>\n

Edamame isn\u2019t just an appetizer at sushi restaurants: These young soybeans are the only plant-based protein that\u2019s considered complete, which means they have all nine essential amino acids in significant amounts. Use them in stir-fries or enjoy them on their own.<\/p>\n

11. Roasted Pork Loin<\/h2>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

3 oz. pork loin:<\/strong> 122 calories | 22 g protein<\/p>\n

While pork products like bacon and prosciutto have lots of ribbon-y fat, boneless pork loin is a lean cut. Lean cuts of pork loin share similar protein contents with chicken, are an excellent source of vitamin B6, and are a good source of potassium and zinc.<\/p>\n

12. Protein Powder<\/h2>\n

\"Chocolate<\/p>\n

1 scoop Beachbody Performance Recover:<\/strong> 130 calories | 20 g protein<\/p>\n

While not technically a high-protein, low-calorie \u201cfood,\u201d protein powder supplements are a super convenient way to get some extra protein in your diet. There are plenty of high-quality powders that can also help you recover faster from workouts and reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness, like Beachbody Performance Recover.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our bodies use\u00a0protein to build muscle mass and repair muscle tissue (and provide energy and break down food and support growth and development). But if you\u2019re looking for protein-rich foods that don\u2019t add loads of extra saturated fat and calories, where should you start? How much protein (and\u00a0how many calories) you need is different for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4140,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3866\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}