15 Low-Calorie Vegetables for a Healthy Diet

Popular in snack foods for their crunchy texture, celery is a leafy vegetable in the parsley family. The calories per 100g of celery is just 8.

The main edible part of celery is its crispy stalk however its leaves are also used often. Celery is not only a low-calorie vegetable but also one of the leafy green vegetables with tremendous health benefits.

Radish is a kind of root vegetable that originated in China. The calorie content per 100g of radish is just 16. Radish has colorful bulbs and broad and green leaf tops, all of which are edible.

Known for its digestive benefits, these vegetables are annualed and harvested before they start flowering.

These vegetables have a spicy flavor and the hottest one is known to be the Black Spanish. Radishes can be eaten both raw and cooked and the greens can make a side dish when simply sauteed.

Zucchini is a member of the cucurbits family that has 17 calories per 100 grams. Zucchini is an early-harvested squash that originated in Italy.

Used quite often in Central American dishes, zucchini can be sauteed, roasted, or tossed in pasta.

Zucchini is a potassium-rich vegetable making it a heart-healthy food. Apart from that, high in dietary fiber and water content, it helps you to stay satiated and hydrated.

Pumpkin is a type of winter squash under the cucurbit family that originated in North America. Pumpkins are high in water content and low in calories. A total of 100 grams of pumpkin has just 26 calories.

The flavor of pumpkin is unique and is somewhat a blend of squash and sweet potato. Some of the popular pumpkin recipes include pumpkin pie, pudding, and soups.

Pumpkins are packed with vitamins mainly vitamin A and antioxidants that are beneficial for health.

Among the low-calorie vegetables, bell peppers are the most colorful vegetables that make the appearance of any dull vegetable exciting.

When harvested early are green in color but as they mature the color changes. The calories per 100g of bell peppers is just 20.

Tomato is another nightshade vegetable that falls under the list of low-calorie vegetables (20 calories per 100g). The variety of tomatoes is extensive from most used cherry tomatoes to most popular big beef tomatoes.

Tomatoes have a characteristic sweet-sour taste that makes their placement in every dish secure. Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, the consumption of tomatoes is associated with a wide range of health benefits.

Watercress is one of the crucifers and a spring vegetable that needs sunlight to grow. The calories per 100 grams of watercress is just 11 and may be the least on the list.

The perfect time to harvest these vegetables is when the plant is four to five inches tall.

Watercress is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. All three essential minerals, calcium, potassium, and magnesium are present in excess in watercress.

The mushroom we use as a vegetable is a saprophytic plant. These plants grow on dead and decaying material and are very high in protein.

But they are counted as low-calorie vegetables as 100 grams of mushrooms contain only 22 calories. Mushrooms are perennial plants and get ready for harvest in 50 to 60 days.

Asparagus is a perennial spring vegetable rich in dietary fiber and nutrients. Asparagus has 20 calories per 100 grams making it a very low-calorie vegetable.

The spears of asparagus are edible and are perfect to eat when they are young. As they mature, a woody texture starts to develop.

Enjoyed for its crunchy texture, asparagus has a buttery, nutty, grassy, and earthy flavor. Asparagus is best cooked by roasting but you can also blanch, grill, or saute them using proper spices.

Brinjal, also known as eggplants or aubergines, is a tropical vegetable that makes a perfect summer vegetable. The calorie present in brinjal is as low as 25 per 100 grams.

These perennial vegetables are creamy and mildly bitter. The texture of cooked brinjal is soft and meaty. Brinjals can be cooked by roasting, grilling, frying, or simply cooked as curries.

Brinjals are rich in nutrients including folate which is needed for blood formation and pregnant women.

Cauliflower is a superfood that is a popular vegetable around the world. This vegetable has only 25 calories per 100 grams.

The majority of the cauliflower (92%) is just water and is a versatile ingredient used in cooking that can adapt to any flavor.

Cauliflower has a mild sweet and nutty flavor. It goes well with any type of spices and can be roasted, stir-fried, or used in soups.

Yellow squash is a type of summer squash that has only 16 calories per 100 grams. These vegetables are also harvested young and are known for their distinct vibrant yellow skin.

Native to the Mediterranean region, yellow squash plants need exposure to sunlight for their growth. Like any other squash, the flavor of yellow squash is also mild and slightly sweet. 

Bok Choy also known as pak choi is a type of Chinese cabbage. The calories per 100g of this vegetable is just 12.

These vegetables were originally cultivated in China for medicinal purposes but now is popular in dishes worldwide. Chinese medicine has reported its use in detoxing the body, clearing heat, and regulating water circulation.

Endive is a leafy green vegetable with delightful flavors and wide culinary applications. Elegant in appearance, these vegetables have only 17 calories per 100 grams.

Endive grows from the roots called chicory and is known to have originated in Europe.

Endives are slightly bitter and are crunchy and crispy in texture. Rich in vitamin K and other nutrients such as endive supports bone health, blood health, and overall well-being.

Okra also called lady's finger is a vegetable of the mallows family to which cocoa and durian also belong. The calorie in 100 grams of okra is 33 and the edible part is green seed pods.

The flavor of okra is mild and grassy with nutty undertones. It has a unique texture among vegetables, it gets slimy when cooked due to the release of a gel-like substance called mucilage.