Calorie Content in Stir Fry Vegetables
Stir fry is one of the healthiest and easiest meals to make. Whether you’re looking to make a quick dinner or pack a nutritious lunch, stir frying vegetables is a great way to get a wide variety of nutrients and not a lot of calories. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the calorie content of stir fry vegetables to help you make the healthiest choices.
Calorie Content of Common Vegetables
Here is a breakdown of calories in some of the most common vegetables used to make stir fry:
- Carrots: 25 calories per 1/2 cup
- Broccoli: 31 calories per 1/2 cup
- Green beans: 31 calories per 1/2 cup
- Snow peas: 18 calories per 1/2 cup
- Mushrooms: 15 calories per 1/2 cup
- Onions: 44 calories per 1/2 cup
- Bell peppers: 20 calories per 1/2 cup
- Zucchini: 23 calories per 1/2 cup
- Bok choy: 13 calories per 1/2 cup
Tips for Keeping Calories Low
While stir fry vegetables are generally low in calories, you can make your stir fry even healthier by taking a few simple steps:
- Use a minimal amount of oil.
- Choose low calorie vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms and bok choy.
- Add extra vegetables and reduce the amount of meat or tofu.
- Opt for light soy sauce instead of full-sodium for a lower calorie stir fry.
- Avoid adding high calorie sauces or stir fry “mixes”.
Stir frying vegetables is a great way to get a nutritious and low calorie meal. By choosing the right vegetables and knowing their calorie content, you can make sure you’re getting the most nutritious meal but with the fewest calories.
