Okay, so I’ve been trying to shed a few pounds, and honestly, the hardest part is always the food. I love to eat, but I don’t always have a ton of time to cook. So, I started looking into quick and easy low-calorie meals, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/easy-shrimp-scampi-with-zucchini-noodles-f68bce3c61ee402583cea2545d4a3145.jpeg)
First, I scoured the internet for ideas. I mean, there’s a million recipes out there, but I needed stuff I could actually make with my limited skills and even more limited time. I bookmarked a few that looked promising – mostly stuff with simple ingredients and not a lot of steps.
My Go-To Meals
Then, I hit the grocery store. I stocked up on things like:
- Pre-cut veggies (because who has time to chop?)
- Lean proteins like chicken breast and fish
- Canned beans (super versatile and filling)
- Whole-wheat wraps
- Lots of spices (to make things interesting)
Next, it was time to experiment. My first attempt was a simple chicken and veggie stir-fry. I just threw some pre-cut broccoli, carrots, and peppers into a pan with a little bit of olive oil, added some cubed chicken breast, and seasoned it with soy sauce, garlic powder, and ginger. It took maybe 15 minutes, and it was actually pretty good! And definitely low-cal.
Another night, I made a quick black bean soup. I literally just dumped a can of black beans, some diced tomatoes, and some vegetable broth into a pot, added some chili powder and cumin, and let it simmer for like 10 minutes. Topped it with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt (instead of sour cream, healthier!), and boom – dinner.
I also discovered the magic of wraps. You can stuff them with pretty much anything. I’ve been doing a lot of hummus and veggie wraps, or sometimes I’ll cook up some ground turkey with taco seasoning and make a quick, low-carb burrito bowl situation.

The best part? I’m actually enjoying what I’m eating, and I’m not spending hours in the kitchen. I even started meal prepping on Sundays – just chopping up a bunch of veggies and cooking some chicken or fish so I have stuff ready to go during the week. It’s not glamorous, but it works! I’m feeling better, have more energy, and my clothes are even fitting a little looser. Win-win!