Greek Dishes for Low-Calorie Dieters
Posted on: 15 March 2021
If you're on a diet and trying to keep your calorie intake low, then Greek food may not be your first choice of cuisine. Baklava and souvlaki are delicious, for sure, but they're not exactly low-calorie diet foods. However, Greek food is not as poor of a choice as you think. Some Greek dishes are suitable options for those on a low-calorie diet.
Avgolemono Soup
Avgolemono soup is basically Greek rice and chicken soup that is thickened with eggs and flavored with lemon. It's really nice and creamy, so it really doesn't feel like diet food, but the creaminess comes from a small amount of egg rather than from cream. Since the dish contains plenty of chicken, it is also pretty filling, but it tends to be low in fat and calories. A bowl of avgolemono soup is enjoyable, nutritious, and quite representative of Greek cuisine.
Chicken Souvlaki Salad
Beef souvlaki may not be a good choice when you're dieting, but you can enjoy a similar option: chicken souvlaki salad. Chicken is leaner than beef, so it is lower in calories. And enjoying the dish as a salad means you will eat more lettuce and veggies, and less pita bread. Ask for the dressing on the side so that you can add just a small amount. You can also ask for the feta cheese on the side so you eat less of this, too.
Spanakopita
Spinach is one of the healthiest foods around, right? It's also really low in calories, but high in nutrients. Spanakopita is a Greek dish made with spinach, egg, and a little cheese all wrapped up in phyllo dough. The phyllo dough is not the lowest calorie option, but since most of the volume of the dish is actually made up of spinach, spanakopita tends not to be too calorie-dense overall. It is, however, very satisfying and comforting.
Dolmades
Dolmades are stuffed grape leaves. They are usually served as an appetizer, but you can certainly enjoy them as a low-calorie Greek meal. The stuffing is made from rice and various spices, so it tends to be decently low in calories. The grape leaves themselves are high in fiber, so they will keep you full.
Greek food is actually a pretty smart choice for low-calorie dieters, especially if you know which dishes to order. A meal of avgolemono soup and spanakopita is delightful and won't make you feel guilty. To learn more, contact Greek food restaurants.
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