Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up. We’ve got a bit of everything, from soups to pasta to stir fry to pie…so get ready to tuck into some seriously delicious low calorie vegetarian meals!
Why might I want a low calorie vegetarian dinner?
There are many reasons why dinners under 300 calories might be something you want to try out. Generally speaking, you can turn to low calorie vegetarian recipes for weight loss purposes. That is because in order to lose weight you need to sustain a slim calorie deficit over an extended period of time. Let me break it down. Most active people need between 2000-2500 calories per day to function (this is usually understood as 2000 calories a day for women and 2500 for men). Calories are basically just a measure of the energy given to you by your food. You need that energy to …well…function! If you eat an excess of calories, the unused energy is stored as fat, leading to weight gain. When you eat slightly fewer calories than you use, your body turns to the calories stored in fat and begins to burn them off instead. Hence, a calorie deficit = weight loss!
What does a calorie deficit actually look like?
On our vegetarian for weight loss courses, we recommend a deficit of about 500 calories, which works out at a daily calorie intake of around 1500 for an adult woman. We generally wouldn’t recommend going below 1200 calories, as this could start impacting your health and undoubtably start feeling tired and cranky if you eat much less than that! So: low calorie vegetarian dinner recipes can help you to ensure that you are eating less calories than your body burns in a day (as can some delicious low-calorie lunch ideas). It’s helpful to have some simple low calorie meals on hand when trying to lose weight, in case you use up more of your calorie allowance during the day and need something small to round off the day (if you’re vegan, these low calorie vegan recipes will be a godsend).
Dip into soups and stews
Among these 300 calorie vegetarian meals, you will find a fair few soups and stews (eating casserole for weight loss is actually a pretty smart move!). For example, there’s our very own curried lentil and coconut soup at just 254 calories per serving, or this hearty tortellini soup at 269 calories per serving. Why so many soups and stews? They are often naturally low in calories because they contain lots of water and veggies, which bring bulk but not calories. So a large portion of soup will contain less calories than a large portion of something more calorie dense like rice or bread (these yummy light low calorie soups recipes are testament to that!). But enough yaddering! Enjoy tucking into these vegetarian low calorie dinners (and if you like these you will love our vegetarian low calorie lunches too)! Bonus: high protein, quick306 calories per serving Huevos rancheros are a quick and easy traditional mexican breakfast that make a great healthy option for vegetarians (one of our favorite vegetarian low calorie breakfast ideas!). Ready in: 40 minutesRecipe by: BeyondTheChickenCoopBonus: filling, simple262 calories per serving A delicious vegetarian meal that will leave you feeling satisfied without weighing you down. Filled with black beans, cheese and a bit of sour cream all wrapped into a flour tortilla. Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: APinchOfHealthyBonus: vegan, spicy240 calories per serving Thai coconut soup is one of my favorite soups to order out at Thai restaurants, and it happens to be vegan. With tofu + mushrooms. Bonus: vegan, warming337 calories per serving Dal khichdi is a great weight loss dinner! It’s healthy, light but still filling, and a source of complete protein. Try it now! Ready in: 45 minutesRecipe by: GoodFoodBaddieBonus: gluten-free, dairy-free231 calories per serving Potato Parsnip and Leek soup is a savory blend of hearty root vegetables and delicious leeks (if you like this, you’ll love our vegetarian weight loss soups!)! It is the perfect winter soup to enjoy on a chilly day. This recipe is completely gluten-free and dairy-free. Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUpBonus: high protein, spicy354 calories per serving This easy vegetarian shakshuka recipe breaks everything down into simple steps for a great Shakshuka result every time! Ready in: 25 minutesRecipe by: CookEatWorldBonus: bright, simple233 calories per serving This vibrant cavolo nero pasta will be your new go-to spaghetti dish when you want a fix of flavour, without the wait. Ready in under 30 minutes it’s a visual and flavour sensation. Learn how with this super simple recipe. Ready in: 40 minutesRecipe by: ASimplePalateBonus: gluten-free, lots of veg147 calories per serving Eggplant zucchini lasagna, a vegetable-based lasagna with the simplest ingredients; roasted eggplant & zucchini, rich tomato sauce, Italian cheese blend, and lots of fresh herbs. It’s rich in flavor, easy to make, and you won’t miss using pasta noodles at all! Bonus: low fat, high fibre254 calories per serving Looking for a healthy soup recipe? Try our curried lentil soup – it’s warming and spicy, with just 337 calories per serving (and one of our all time favorite vegetarian lentil recipes!! Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: APinchOfHealthyBonus: hearty, simple269 calories per serving This tortellini soup recipe with spinach and tomatoes is a delicious family dinner that is simple to make and happens to be vegetarian. Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: IFoodRealBonus: creamy, lighter than usual333 calories per serving Quick, easy meatless Healthy Mushroom Stroganoff ready in 30 minutes! This hearty vegetarian meal with mushrooms, pasta and creamy sauce is lower in calories and fat, carnivore approved and endlessly comforting! Bonus: vegan, high protein367 calories per serving Who said meat free recipes can’t deliver? This meatless (aka vegan) chili proves that you can still enjoy your favourite meals, but in a new, animal friendly way. Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes (prep time 15 minutes)Recipe by: ASweetAlternativeBonus: gluten free, low fat183 calories per serving These chickpea stuffed peppers are an easy, filling, and flavourful vegetarian (and gluten-free) dinner or lunch idea. Make a colourful assortment using your favourite types of bell peppers (red, orange, and yellow are perfect for fall!). Ready in: 20 minutesRecipe by: GypsyPlateBonus: simple, great hot or cold302 calories per serving This Mediterranean Pasta is your new weeknight best friend. It’s super quick, like 20 minutes quick, and has great flavors the whole family will love (check out these great veggie meals for kids for more family friendly inspo!). Bonus: full of vitamins, creamy but light258 calories per serving Make the most out of your veg with this Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup – tasty, easy, healthy, full of vitamins and only five mins to prep! Ready in: 1 hour (15 minutes prep)Recipe by: SplashOfTasteBonus: simple, loaded with veggies307 calories per serving Made with fresh mushrooms, zucchini, potatoes, and lots of herbs and spice, this is a real crowd-pleaser. Easy to follow recipe and great for the whole family Ready in: 20 minutesRecipe by: Natalie’sHealthBonus: flavourful, filling119 calories per serving This sweet and spicy Carrot Curry Soup has a wonderful rich flavor. It’s bright, creamy, filled with aromatic spices, ginger, and curry powder. So delicious and healthy. Bonus: low carb, keto315 calories per serving This low-carb pie that’s keto-friendly is incredibly tasty – and the best thing – it takes only five minutes to prep! Seriously! Ready in: 30 minutesRecipe by: ServedFromScratchBonus: high protein, simple230 calories per serving It’s your new favorite vegetarian dinner! This Chickpea and Spinach Curry is our version of chana masala, a spiced chickpea dish packed full of flavor and ready in under 30 minutes (and if you like this, you need to try some of these vegetarian chickpea dishes)! Bonus: creamy, full of antioxidants344 calories per serving And to top it all off, this Sweet Potato Soup is so damn good that not one, but TWO people with peanut allergies couldn’t resist having a bowl after they witnessed it being cooked. Give it a try right now! Any of these vegetarian low calorie dinners take your fancy? If they did, you should also check out our 300 kcal breakfast ideas. Let us know which you enjoyed as a quick 300 calorie lunch or dinner!
