265 Calorie Spaghetti & Meatball Soup

I came up with the idea for this soup on a whim - I had all of the ingredients on hand so I just sort of threw it together, and it turned out great! This was a super easy, light, Italian dinner - perfect for the freezing weather we've been having in Chicago.

I used NOoodles for this recipe - they are a "zero calorie" noodle - basically there are so few calories that they can say there are zero calories, I would estimate there's about 30 calories or fewer in the whole package which is still really good for noodles  -- to satisfy a pasta craving I like to just rinse, drain and microwave these with some Earth Balance or olive oil and garlic powder and salt. These noodles are also already prepared so you don't have to cook them, just heat them up! They are also gluten and dairy free!

This recipe is gluten free and dairy free :)

Ingredients:

1 Can Tomato Basil Soup - 300 calories

1 Package NOodles - 30 calories

1 turkey burger patty - 200 calories

Garlic powder and Garlic Salt to taste                            

=530 calories, 2 servings, 265 calories per serving

Directions:

1. Put the turkey burger in a heated up medium sauce pan

2. Mash up the turkey and heat until browned

3. Add the tomato soup, bring to a boil

4. While the soup is heating, drain and rinse the noodles

5. Add the noodles to the pot, cook for a minute or two until the noodles are heated up

6. Serve hot :)

238 Calorie Chili

I tried making a skinnier version of my Mom's turkey chili - this was the result - you can customize it to your own preferences for chili ingredients, spice level etc.

This recipe makes at 2-3 large servings - you can freeze any leftovers and re-heat later for chili mac, chili dogs, or whatever else you might use chili for.

This would be great with my 158 Calorie Hearty Jalapeno Cornbread as a side :)

This chili is way better than canned/store-bought and it is gluten and dairy free!

Ingredients:

2 cans tomatoes - 180 cal

1 can chili beans - 315 cal

1 turkey burger - 200 cal

1 small can green chiles - 20 cal

1/2 tsp cumin

2 dashes each of salt, pepper and chili powder if desired                          

= 715 calories total, makes 3 servings, 238 calories each

Directions:

1. In a large stock pot brown and break up the turkey meat
2. Once the turkey is well browned, add in the tomatoes
3. Rinse the canned beans, then add to the pot
4. Add in green chilis and spices to taste
5. Allow to simmer for at least 25 minutes, longer if desired - stir occasionally
6. Remove from heat and serve hot - store leftovers in airtight container in the freezer

90 Calorie Egg Drop Soup

This is one of my go-to comfort food dinners - it is really easy to make and it is perfect for a cold Chicago day

All you need is bouillon and an egg! As long as you check your bouillon carefully this is gluten free and dairy free!

Recipe: (makes 1 large serving or 2 smaller servings)
1 egg - 70 calories
2 cups Chicken Bouillon - 20 calories      
= 90 calories

1. Prepare the bouillon and bring to a boil

2. Scramble the egg in a separate bowl - then add to the boiling bouillon - the egg will cook immediately in the boiling pot so be sure to stir quickly to break up the egg

3. Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve :)

Recommended Products: Zero Calorie Gluten Free NOoodles

After going gluten free I initially tried to just avoid pasta, because I didn't eat it very often to begin with and it is pretty high-calorie.

But when I found these zero calorie NoOdles I had to try them out.

They are most similar to a Ramen Noodle, they are long thin and sort of clear like cellophane noodles.

I have been able to find these at Kramer's(my local grocery store) and Tony's Finer Foods in Chicago, but you could probably order them online as well.

You can buy NoOdles plain, or the boxed ones that have already been added to flavored broth. My favorite is the Chicken infused flavor in my Gluten free Ramen

Dining Out: Panera Bread

One of my favorite places to go when I'm watching what I eat is Panera Bread (or St. Louis Bread Co. for anyone from St. Louis).
Disclaimer: I don't worry about gluten contamination so it works fine for me, but if you have Celiac's it probably should be avoided.

I usually get soup or a salad - today I ordered the You Pick Two with a Classic Salad(80 cal) and Black Bean Soup(170 cal)

Some other low-calorie choices are:

A Full Classic Salad - 170 calories
Classic Salad with Chicken - 290 calories
Chicken Noodle Soup(not GF) - 90 calories for a cup
Power Chicken Hummus Bowl (DF without cheese) - 330 calories
Caesar Salad(Gf without croutons, but not dairy free) - 310 calories
Fruit Cup - 70 calories
Apple (as a side) - 50-80 calories

Making informed choices is especially important when you are eating at restaurants, you would be surprised at how many calories some items contain.
My boyfriend ordered the Smokehouse Turkey Panini(710 cal), with chips(160 cal) and a Pumpkin Muffy(290 cal) - that's over 1,000 calories for one meal! Some people are able to eat more calories but for those of us with slower metabolisms restaurants can be tricky, which is why it is important to check calorie information before you order.

Make Good Choices!