Best quick/cheap/healthy lunch ideas?

J3nnaLyn

I have a few up my sleeve, but my "go to" lunches are getting boring. Chicken...frozen veggies...frozen meals...sandwiches...

What are your favorite recipes that are low cal?

BeShrable

*Bump* Would like some ideas too please. Fast, cheap and easy to take to the office.

BeautifulScarsWECHANGED

I grab those bagged salads.

beth_hayden

I like to use leftover steak, chicken, or pork to put on top of salads for lunch. I use 3 oz warm it up & throw over a little cheese & a ton of veggies. then a little salad dressing.

Amandamccl

bump

SeasideOasis

If you have prep time....make stir fry the night before!!

A cup of brown rice
Mixed veggies
Meat of choice
The smallest bit of stir fry seasoning

Mixed veggies can be steamed in the fry pan with a lid (add a little bit of water) in just a minute or two.

I eat this meal often ;D

CraftyGirl4

I make lentil chili on the weekend (takes 30 minutes...super cheap and easy) and freeze individual portions so during the week when I want something quick, I can pull some from the freezer and toss it in my lunch bag with some rice or cornbread and some veggies.

KelliesCupcake

I used to make a veggie soup blend it and then put in a flask and it would still be warm for lunch, yummy :-)

CraftyGirl4

Lentil Chili with Cumin and Green Onions

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (add more to make it hotter)
4 cups (or more) water
1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed (I used green ones)
1/2 cup tomato puree
1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp chopped green onions

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano leaves, and cayenne pepper; stir for 30 seconds. Add the 4 cups of water, lentils, and tomato puree. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, skimming off any foam from the surface. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, adding more water by 1/4 cupfuls as needed if dry, about 30 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup green onions. Season chili to taste with salt and pepper.

Divide the chili among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with remaining green onions and serve.

(Personal note: I don't like the green onions so I leave them out)

J3nnaLyn

These are great ideas so far, thanks!

MikeInAZ

My Guide to Fast Food eating on a diet.

Subway Salad with Turkey. Tell them to use spinach instead of lettuce. Use the fat free honey mustard on the side, use it sparingly. You're looking at about 200 calories and almost no carbs . About $5

Wendy's Chili is good too and at $.99 who can complain.

Taco Bell has the Fresca Menu now. They make certain items without cheese or sour cream. Beware the burrito, you might as well eat a Big Mac. But 2 of the Fresca Tacos are a good choice. Under $5

_SusieQ_

Lentil Chili with Cumin and Green Onions

2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (add more to make it hotter)
4 cups (or more) water
1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed (I used green ones)
1/2 cup tomato puree
1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp chopped green onions

Heat oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for another 30 seconds. Add chili powder, cumin, oregano leaves, and cayenne pepper; stir for 30 seconds. Add the 4 cups of water, lentils, and tomato puree. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, skimming off any foam from the surface. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until lentils are tender, adding more water by 1/4 cupfuls as needed if dry, about 30 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup green onions. Season chili to taste with salt and pepper.

Divide the chili among 4 bowls. Sprinkle with remaining green onions and serve.

(Personal note: I don't like the green onions so I leave them out)

Oh thank you thank you for this!!! I love lentils and I love chili, I can't wait to try this one!


I also try and make soup or something ahead and freeze the extra.

lindalou0703

I tried something new today. I was craving mexican. I took 2 corn tortillas pan fried them in pam spray. Then put a half a slice of sargento low fat colby jack cheese on each and folded them over. cooked long enough to melt the cheese. Put a tbls of salsa on each..... 170 calories...

nuviag

broccoli slaw, tuna and mayonaise (the 15 cal one) and any condiments that might add flavor to this.... quickest thing ever.



Its not going to make your palate throw a party but its tasty enough and you can add as much slaw as you want and trick yourself into thinking that its a large meal.....

JessFeldman02

Lately I've realized I don't need a huge lunch. I really enjoy bringing Celery and apples to dip in a small amount of Peanut Butter. Sometimes I'll have some cheese/crackers with it. Not a lot of calories and much more filling than you would guess!

carmcd

wellllll idk if you like mexican but I LOVE this..i take a spicy black bean veggie burger, top it with salsa and fat free shredded cheese and microwave it for about a minute and a half....SO GOOD! I ate this all the time last summer when I was trying to eat less bread!

shanolap

Last night's leftovers!

Asereth333

I like the small Wendy's Chili and a plain baked potato with salsa. Less than 500 calories, high in fiber and about $3.50 (in NYC).

BananaRama929

If you're getting sick of salads altogether, try a new combination of flavours to up the appeal. Awesome/delicious salad toppings:
-strawberries, blueberries or raspberries
-mandarin oranges
- almonds
- walnuts
- crumbled feta cheese
Some grocery stores even sell little pre-made salad kits that contain 3 or 4 toppings that can be used separately or together. Sometimes they have a dressing too.

I find wraps are also a good substitute for sandwiches. Use whole-wheat and stuff it full of good stuff like baby spinach leaves and a bit of protein (lean turkey or chicken, tuna salad, or boiled egg cut up with a bit of low-fat mayo) and some veggies and fruit on the side.

Lately I've been having a boiled egg or two with a piece of toast. Fills me right up and gets me through the rest of the day. Good luck!

crazycat80

I always cook extra at dinner and portion it out immediately for lunch within the next day or so. On the weekends I cook the big meals and freeze them in single serving sandwichs baggies (once it cools). On my spur-of-the-moment days where my 3 yr old leaves me completely unprepared, I load up on fruit, yogurt, peanut butter, tuna, a few crackers, anything light I can grab and toss in my lunchbag. I also keep various healthy soups and a can opener in the drawer at my desk.

dreanance

cottage cheese, pico de galo, diced advacado and lettuce wrapped in a corn tortilla.

spinach, feta, watermelon, red onion salad with balsamic vinegarette.

PrairieRoseNE

I used to wrap various lean deli meats and finely diced veggies in a tortilla, but lately I've switched the tortillas for lettuce leaves as the wrap. Wrap the "wrap" in Saran wrap and everything stays fresh.

Rae6503

Wraps with chicken (I roasted a chicken last night, have TONS of leftovers to be used for wraps, a whole 5lb chicken was only $5) or fish, onions, light ranch, spinach, tomatoes.

Dinner leftovers (Zatarains Red Beans and rice with chicken sausage is my favorite leftover).

Hamburger, small ice cream cone, diet Dr. Pepper from McDonalds.... (bad I know but quick, cheap and low calorie)