Our complete low-calorie meals all come under 500 calories. They include a lighter version of a pad Thai using courgetti instead of noodles (check out our courgetti recipes here), warming chicken curry, and even a low-calorie lasagne. Looking for a low-calorie vegetarian dinner? Try our vegan chilli packed with nutritious avocado, black beans and quinoa.

At olive we believe in taking a healthy approach to healthy eating. You won’t find us telling you what to eat, and especially not what to cut out – we’d rather give you all the facts to make your own decisions on what constitutes a balanced and nutritious diet that works for you. We’re all about the joy of food – whether that’s a fudgy chocolate cake, a colourful salad or a speedy low-calorie curry that’s full of flavour. So happy cooking and happy eating!

Here are some tips for low-calorie meals

Use a little less oil

A recipe may ask for a splash of oil or a few tablespoons but you can usually get away with using a lot less – think teaspoons rather than tablespoons. A good tip is to use a non-stick frying pan as things are less likely to stick to the surface. You can also use water instead of oil when frying ingredients like onions. This helps soften the onion then evaporates so they can then start to take on colour. If using oil when roasting, try adding the ingredients to a bowl first, before drizzling in a little oil and tossing well. You’ll find that a little oil goes a long way when done like this. Putting the ingredient into the tray first, then drizzling with oil often leads to an excess of oil being used.

Use lighter carb alternatives

Carbs are an important part of a balanced diet but if you want to go lighter on the carbs there are some great alternatives such as butternut squash sheets which are great in lasagnes, courgetti for using in stir-fries or pasta dishes and cauliflower rice to serve with your favourite curry or chilli. You can also eat more complex carbs such as brown rice, quinoa, lentils, beans and oats – they all take longer to digest so are thought to be a better source of sustained energy.

Batch cooking and freezing

Having a few meals stashed away in the freezer will help if you’ve had a busy day and need something extra-quick for dinner. Lots of these recipes are easily doubled so you can cook a big batch then portion out and freeze. Remember to label your Tupperware so you can tell the difference between a chilli and pasta sauce! Our chicken saag, beef bourguignon, lamb stew and lentil Bolognese recipes will all freeze brilliantly.