What are Calorie Dense Foods? List of High And Low Calorie Dense Foods

What are calorie dense foods?

By ‘calorie dense foods’, we refer to foods which pack lots of calories in a relatively small portion size.

Uncooked rice, for instance, is a calorie dense food since only 3-4 ounces of it (100 grams) contains nearly 380 Kcal while the same amount of spinach contains only 25 calories!

Weight loss enthusiasts would do well to steer clear of calorie dense foods, because such foods will not make them feel ‘full’ or satiated even after they have consumed a lot of it. That will cause their calorie intake to exceed their requirement. Foods with low calorie density help reduce the calorie intake without the need to starve oneself when one is to keen to shed off some extra pounds.

Aspiring bodybuilders, on the other hand, opt for calorie dense foods so that they can get lots of energy from a smaller portion size. Doing so helps them add some muscle to their frame effortlessly.

List of high calorie dense foods

Some calorie dense foods include:

• Pasta
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Bread
• Beans
• Peanuts
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Full fat meats (infact, even lean meat)
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Cheese
• Donuts
• Chips
• Crackers
• Ice cream
• Puddings
• Aerated drinks
• Pizzas
• French Fries
• Burgers, and most other fast food
• Cakes
• Cookies
• Muffins
• Nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews and raisins
• Butter

Giving more of these foods is advisable for skinny people who want to build muscle fast while they are taboo for size-zero aspirants.

Besides being rich sources of calories, most calorie dense foods are low on fiber and water content as well though that is merely a generalization.

List of low calorie dense foods

Here is a list of low calorie dense foods:

• Leafy green vegetables
• Fruits
• Fresh, unsweetened juice
• Soups
• Whole wheat pasta
• Brown rice
• Whole wheat bread
• Whole grain cereal
• Low fat or fat free dairy products
• Skinless white meat

Even when you are watching each and every calorie you consume carefully, you can feel full on a smaller calorie intake by opting for foods with low calorie density.

I am sure both weight loss enthusiasts and aspiring bodybuilders will benefit immensely and be able to make better choices after knowing what are calorie dense foods.