These low calorie meals under 200 calories are the perfect inspiration for those on the 5:2 diet or who are counting calories and watching what they eat.
Counting the calories in your meals is a great way of keeping control of how much food you are eating, but where do you begin? We’ve gone through all of our recipes to pick out the best meals for just 200 calories or less – so you don’t have to.
Women are supposed to eat 2,000 calories a day, so allocating just 200 calories for a main meal is quite tough – but it can be done if you’re following a calorie-controlled diet plan.
These meals under 200 calories will mean that you can eat less – without feeling like you’re missing out. Filling and full of flavour, you really won’t feel like you’re eating a diet meal at all.
Mushroom ragu with courgetti
103 calories/4g fat per portion
This mushroom ragu is the perfect comfort food for veggies. The recipe is made with mushrooms, passata and Quorn mince for a delicious vegetarian ragu recipe.
Get the recipe: Mushroom ragu with courgetti
Green miso noodle bowl
198 calories/2g fat per portion
Yes, this gorgeous noodle soup made with plenty of fresh veg and herbs is just 198 calories AND is ready in 10 minutes. That's two big boxes ticked.
Get the recipe: Green miso soup bowl
Vietnamese prawn curry
Yes, this fiery, flavoursome prawn curry can be on your dinner table in only 15 minutes. This delicious dish is made with milk, onions, chicken stock and prawns. It's a warming dish perfect served with bread or rice.
Get the recipe: Vietnamese prawn curry
Chinese vegetable chow mein
170 cals/7g fat per portion
Cook this Chinese vegetable chow mein in just five minutes. This low calorie lunch brings oyster mushrooms, Tenderstem broccoli and red pepper together.
Get the recipe: Chinese vegetable chow mein
Roasted ratatouille
150 calories/10g fat per portion
Big chunks of vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, ratatouille is more than filling enough to count as full meal. This healthy recipe is made with
courgette, aubergines and bell peppers - which along with the chopped tomatoes, count towards your 5-a-day!
Get the recipe: Roasted ratatouille
Mediterranean vegetable chilli
190 calories/7g fat per portion
Aubergines, spinach, courgette, cherry tomatoes, this veggie chilli doesn't use
Quorn as a mince substitute - it uses veggies! Team your vegetables with
spices and kidney beans for a fresh tasting and filling meal.
Get the recipe: Mediterranean veggie chilli
Fast fish burger
141 calories/5g fat per portion
This fish burger is a tasty way to serve low-calorie white fish fillets and is lovely served with piles of vegetables or salad - unfortunately the
bun is not counted in the calories!
Get the recipe: Fast fish burger
Baked aubergine
81 calories/4.1g fat per portion
Aubergines have a filling, meaty texture so are more than enough to keep you satisfied for dinner. This tasty recipe takes out the middle of a whole aubergine, packs it full of flavour and stuffs it back in - easy and delicious!
Get the recipe: Baked aubergine
Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
199 calories per portion
Eggs may be quite high in fat but it's worth it to turn some veggies into a healthy meal. Squash and spinach are packed with nutrients and will keep you fuller for longer.
Get the recipe: Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
Spiced butternut squash and veg tagine
150 calories/4.5g fat per portion
Cooking your vegetables into a tagine is a delicious way to pack them with flavour. This Moroccan-style casserole is made with chickpeas which will keep you nice and full so you won't need to worry about adding a side.
Get the recipe: Spiced butternut squash and veg tagine
Vegetable balti
131 calories/4g fat per portion
If you serve this chunky veggie curry without rice, it's way below the 200 calorie mark - don't worry, the butternut squash and parsnips will be more than enough to keep you full. (A serving of brown rice is just 83 cals if you do wish to have some on the side).
Get the recipe: Easy vegetable balti
Chinese dumplings
63 calories/0.2g fat per portion
You read that right, 63 calories a portion! These light, but very tasty, dumplings are so low in calories you can even add a side of noodles (around 90 cals a portion) and still come under the 200 calorie mark!
Get the recipe: Chinese dumplings
Spanish style prawns
171 calories/8g fat per portion
Large meaty prawns in a tasty paprika-infused tomato sauce will make a lovely treat for a low-calorie meal. The sauce has so much flavour, it's almost like a soup - but you can add rice or a hunk of crusty bread to the side if you want something a little more filling (but that will obviously bump up the cal count).
Get the recipe: Spanish-style prawns
Quorn lunch bowl
161 calories/2g fat per portion
Quorn is much lower in fat and in calories than meat which makes it the perfect healthy option for lunch. Mixed with tender beans and soft spinach leaves, this soup recipe is only 161 calories per serving and takes just 20 mins to make.
Get the recipe: Quorn lunch bowl
Steak, chicory and orange salad
179 calories/8g fat per portion
Not all salads are plain and boring! This salad recipe combines tender steak slices with a tangy orange and Dijon mustard dressing - handfuls of fresh rocket and red onion add to the flavour too. This recipe is also carb-free with no bread, pasta or rice to serve reducing the calorie down significantly.
Get the recipe: Steak, chicory and orange salad
Spring vegetable soup
163 calories/1.5g fat per portion
This spring vegetable soup is loaded with delicious fresh veggies such as leeks, carrot and pak choi. A fresh, homemade stock makes all the difference in this recipe. You can make it in advance and store it in the fridge and just re-heat when needed.
Get the recipe: Spring veg soup
Fruity prawn cocktail
130 calories/1g fat per portion
Adding apples and grapes to a classic prawn cocktail will give your lunchtime a surprisingly fruity twist. The traditional mayo sauce is replaced with a fat-free fromage frais dressing to lighten the calorie count.
Get the recipe: Fruity prawn cocktail
masala omelette
118 calories/7g fat per portion
This delicious Masala Omelette recipe is a spicy twist on a classic. It's a great speedy dinner but it also works for breakfast or lunch.
Get the recipe: Masala Omelette