What to do when very few calories are left for dinner?

ashliedelgado

Another vote for a big salad. I will boil up an egg or two if I have room, and a little shredded cheese. If I don't have the room for a dressing I will use lemon juice.

beaglady

If I had a huge lunch, then I'm usually not super hungry at dinner. Fat free unsweetened Greek yogurt with a little homemade jam is what I'd have. Or protein fluff.

weighmeless

I exercise..especially like jogging for 30 mints at low intensity can actually add about 150-175 calories. That's what happened last night. i added on calories like crazy in hours before bed but had eaten less. so I was left with 150-190 cals deficit after dinner though. so I jogged for an hour and ended up adding abou 320 cals leaving a deficit of 520 cals for the day which is what i am aiming at .

For breakfast i have my 2oz milk added tea with lots of water adding up to 5oz in total with a tsp sugar.I eat either banana or apple there after..that takes care of breakfast because it makes you so full. if hungry again , its banana or apple - whichever was not eaten during breakfast. so well under 215 calories for breakfast and yet filling.

the heavy breakfast concept doesn't work with me.. i end up eating more calories the day i eat a heavy breakfast. Banana-apple works because its high in fiber.

Cornettmw

Solid white albacore(small can) with 1tbs light mayo and 1 tbs sweet pickle relish. 190 Calories, 6g Fat, 6 Carbs, 29g Protein, 545mg Sodium, 4g Sugar. Surprisingly filling but a little high on the sodium, so if you are watching that beware; other than that, Tuna is a half step below a super food. Top with cold water(to drink) you won't go to bed hungry.

ritzvin

geltner1 wrote: »

Some days, after I log in breakfast and lunch, there are 200 calories left for dinner. How do you manage that?

[1] Go over and make it up tomorrow. (I'm guessing you probably ate out for lunch or something unusual to be out of calories).
[2] If not bc of an unusual event and just because of a low-calorie allowance, then start pre-planning the day earlier on.
[3] If sticking to 200 calories, I'd probably have a bowl of veggies (~120 cal worth--should be a large-ish volume) and some cottage cheese (~80 calories worth) or an 80 calorie portion of chicken salad. or something similar. Or a 200 calorie bowl of pea soup with ham (the high fiber in the split peas makes them pretty filling for the calories).

FYI- my pre-planned dinner (I'll be having a large supper later on at the salsa potluck):

corinasue1143

Soup, bowl of oatmeal, or salad topped with tuna salad, no dressing.
I'm so glad you asked this question. So many good answers!! I have lots of new ideas.

ritzvin

another example:


(an entire bag of sugar snap peas and a large-ish portion of chicken salad... smaller chicken salad portion and/or only half the bag would get it down to or close to 200).

Lounmoun

I prelog my food for the day every morning.
I eat about the calories for meals every day so dinner is usually around 500 calories and breakfast is 100-300.

You could eat a very big plate of salad/vegetables for 200 calories.
A couple of eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, half a sandwich, cottage cheese are some other options.

ritzvin

Leafy greens have very low calories for the volume, so they would be ideal as the vegetable - so a salad with just some balsamic vinegar and some meat would work.

spiriteagle99

If I can, I'd go for a run. If it's too late, I'd just go over on calories. I frequently do. Fortunately, I am somewhat under calories often enough my weight is stable.

geltner1

So many good suggestions! Thank you all!

lorrpb

Eat smaller than usual portions for dinner, but still eat. Cut back slightly on portions the next day to help balance things out. This assumes you're in maintenance since this is the maintenance forum.

If you're still losing, eat dinner and carry on as usual the next day. It won't have a big impact on your loss.

Marjayhan

I plan in advance and try to use the in app barcode scanner to make sure i'm putting the correct amount in. Maybe remove something from the lunch and breakfast and hoping you're not eating less than 1200 per day. Cos even with breakfast lunch dinner and snacks i don't always make it to the 1200 O_O if you know already by lunch that theres only 200 or so cals left for dinner get out there and walk for 45-60 mins or get on the exercise bike if you have one. Nothing is worth going to bed hungry.

asviles

black coffee and lots of water for breakfast. Lean meat and veg for lunch. Decent late dinner so you don't go to bed hungry. Save the calories for Guinness.

amusedmonkey

I do one or more of these things:
- Find something low calorie if I'm not too hungry.
- Take a walk for more calories.
- Borrow from next day
- Eat normally as if I have more calories and call it a day, and plan better next time.

It depends on what I feel like doing, or willing to do.

geltner1

I agree that sometimes you just have to go over on calories. Tomorrow is always a fresh start.

jelly_potato

Add 80g canned tuna (in oil) in a frying pan with 100g chopped carrot,100g spinach, and 5-10g sunflower seeds. Cook until spinach wilts. Serve with a pickle and chopped raw tomato and cucumber. In total it is worth 180-200kcal yet keeps me full for hours.

FitPhillygirl

Eat a few things that are high in protein and fiber. You can make a low cal, egg and cheese omelette with veggies mixed in.

DancingMoosie

I would do a huge green salad with a tomato and either egg white or super lean meat, chalula instead of standard salad dressing, maybe sliced cucumber on the side. My other go-to is broccoli slaw. You can do about half the bag, top with lean protein and sliced tomato and/or mushroom and some herbs or cilantro--microwave it and it will steam itself. Top with hot sauce.

zugmeister

Salads are a go-to for me. Bacon ranch (100 calories for 2 Tbsp) cut with Herdez avocado salsa (120 calories for 4 Tbsp) will season up a huge salad with tomatoes and onions for pretty close to 200 calories and it tastes good too!
I've also found that seasoned taco meat (90/10) on a Romaine lettuce leaf or two makes for pretty low cal tacos. Non-diet sour cream (60 cals in 2Tbsp) and salsa make great toppings for them.

melissalatzel25

just go over and log it, and be satisfied that at least its not a binge and youre in control.... last night i ate 2000 by 3pm and didnt wanna go over that but by pm i was hungry so ate 400g worth of fresh juicy ripe pineapple.... it filled me up, hit the sweet tooth, hydrates and i just went over by about 200 calories

sijomial

I eat less or more more tomorrow, or another day.

aprilzabeth

Aunt Millie's 35 calorie bread (sandwich or add an egg for french toast)
Malt o meal (130 calories)
Popcorn (add peanut butter or parmasean cheese or something if you want some more flavor)
Salad

geltner1

Hmmmm Never heard about Aunt Millie's 35 calorie bread. I think I'll look for some.

Momepro

Eggs, soup, a half hour workout, or say screw it and eat less tomorrow.

CynthiasChoice

Not every dinner has to look like a traditional dinner. Just keep carbs low, eat lean protein, veggies and drink more liquids than usual. You'll be fine. Just keep telling yourself you'll be fine.

Need2Exerc1se

geltner1 wrote: »

Some days, after I log in breakfast and lunch, there are 200 calories left for dinner. How do you manage that?

On such a day I would overeat. Which would be okay because I don't eat the same calories every day so I'd just make up for on another day(s).

Ostrea18

Omelet with salsa is really good. Don't use dressings on salads and use pepperchini juice on it instead or lemon. Also you can put some feta cheese or Gorgonzola cheese to make it a little tastier again with lots of veggies. If you eat a tuna sandwich eat it with avacado instead of mayo. And last but not least; do not eat processed foods they usually don't keep you as full as whole foods do.

californiagirl2012

I love egg whites with one slice of swiss cheese and some salsa, or cauliflower rice and a few small pieces of ham or chicken, or savory spiced chicken broth with an ounce of chicken and lots of veggies. So many options are amazing.

missysippy930

Raw veggies.
It takes time to chem them and very low in calories.