need new ideas for lunch

Selah37

I'm new here and just starting out counting calories. I would love some lunch ideas. I've always pretty much just eaten sandwiches. I'm on a very tight budget so I can't cook super fancy three times a day but and ideas would be great. Bread seems to be so high in calories.

Toddrific

I"m lazy, I just eat a head of lettuce chopped up with some lunch meat on it.
Some days when I get wild and crazy I might add other vegetables to it.

Greek yogurt+frozen berries+blender=smoothie

karendsmith

i eat lots of salads and fresh veggies throughout the day (carrots, celery, broccolli...) and in the mornings, i have fruit or a special k 90 cal cereal bar, which are good with lots of different ones to choose from. I still eat sandwhiches too, turkey with light mayo on wheat or rye bread, its not a bad thing...just whatch your carbs. I also munch on grapes throughout the day. Its pretty easy and not too much prep to throw a lunch together, it depends on what you like to eat, then try to modify it so you are getting the right amount of calories...

leamj87

I also am a BIG fan of sandwiches for lunch, and the bread thing always kills me. HOWEVER, the two options I usually take is Pepperidge Farm's carbstyle bread, which is 60 calories a slice, meaning 120 per sandwich. I also just picked up the Flatout Spinach Wrap which is 90 calories for the whole wrap. It's thicker than I usually think of wraps, almost like Naan, but I really like it.

I also do 98% fat free turkey lunch meat (although I splurge on cheese, because I can't do lowfat cheese without gagging.) With a little bit of mustard and some lettuce, my sandwich usually comes to about 215 calories, which I don't think is that bad for lunch!

EvelynForsyth

Hello! I am on a tight budget too and have to take lunches to work to a) save money and b) because there is nothing else!
Yesterday i roasted a chicken and intend to use the leftovers to make a soup/salad/chicken pasta/casserole all of which would make it to work in a tupperware with me. I bought a big bag of potatoes and baked a few whilst the chicken was roasting, i reheated it today (much better than being nuked in the microwave from the beginning) and had it with some ham and some salad. I also eat my potatoes with chicken pieces, smoked sausages, baked beans, light cheese, vegetables and gravy.
If i am having stew or chilli or something that i have made one evening for dinner then i try to put more veg in to make it stretch further so i have some for my lunch.
I also buy cheap sausages and cook them the night before and have them with cous cous and mushrooms or something. Not very inspiring but ticks the boxes! My mum makes a lovely cous cous salad with chopped tomatoes, spring onions, cucumber and feta cheese. You could also make a potato salad with light mayo and add whatever you like.
I found some Sandwhich Thins in Asda for £1 by Warburtons (i think) and they are 100 cals for the whole bun. I'll be testing one out tomorrow!

Anyway, hope that helps! I found that once i stopped thinking about sandwhiches and salads i got better at bringing more interesting things for lunch!

zoeluiisa

Soup! So cheap and so easy to make with whatever you happen to have in the fridge.

CrazyTrackLady

I don't eat bread, just sandwich innards. I will take in a few pieces of lean lunch meat, a slice of cheese, a few pieces of cut up veggies and some fresh fruit. I also will have an occasional bowl of tomato and basil soup I buy at Giant Eagle.

I like the tuna packets and have had a couple of those recently.

There's also baked potato with cheese and broccoli.

JmeJinxx

I get a big tub of organic spring mix at sam's club for $5-6 that lasts quite a while. Veggies usually from aldi because they're so much cheaper. Throw a few slices of a rotisserie chicken, also from sam's, on there with some lowfat shredded cheddar and top with bbq sauce! It's realllllyyyyy yummy!
I got the idea from panera's bbq chicken salad.

I also use a can of tuna, a little mayo to hold it together plus some yellow mustard, onion powder, garlic & herb salt free seasoning, and black pepper for tuna salad and pair it with some wheat crackers and maybe a string cheese of piece of fruit.

helenwilliams78

Soup all the way!

I'm lucky enough to live near a fruit and veg market and the vegetables are soooo cheap. I make a big batch of soup at the weekend, freeze some and take the rest to work. For about £4 I can make about 8 portions. 50p lunch? yes please!

Bluesmilie

I rotate between sandwiches, salads, and soups.
I eat 100% wheat bread and turkey with lettuce & tomatoes
Salad with lots of veggies, light spray of dressing or a little either fat-free or low-cal dressing
Progresso soups are low in caloties and fat.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/nutrition-facts-calories/progresso-soup

If I go out, I treat myself to Subway

simplysassi

I'm a big fan of soups. Homemade with lots of veggies and sometimes chicken or small amounts of beef. I try to eliminate or at least minimize the high-carb veggies like peas, corn and potatoes though. I make large pots of it and eat it for lunch and as a snack.

katymn

I found a lot of great ideas on skinnytaste.com

To save money, try beans or quinoa instead of meat

wells0707

Hard boiled eggs, turkey bacon, and yogurt...yummy!

crazytreelady

devilled eggs.. nom nom nom nom

RenoDaret

brown rice and a can of tuna. NUFF SAID

cyclerjenn

Wheat pasta with gilled veggies, grilled protien, and sauce (use what ever kind you like just a little to give some flavor).
1/2 a baked potato and spoon over lentil soup and little cheese.
brown rice with lentils and black beans. You can add anything you like for flavor.
Leftovers from dinner - Stir frys, spaghetti, etc

I usually plan it out for the week and cook my weeks worth of food on Sunday so my week is just grab and go.

crazytreelady

Also, flavoured tuna (spicy chili.. DAMN THAT STUFF IS GOOD!) and whole wheat crackers.

jenngi620

I had a big pack of whole wheat lavash (sandwich wraps) in my freezer forever, so one day I tried making a flatbread pizza with random parts of veggies I needed to use up as well. It was really good! I was doubly surprised to find out that it reheats fine in the microwave for a great lunch idea. Here's how I do it,

Spray one side of the lavash with cooking spray and pop it under the broiler on 375. Watch for it to start to puff up and lightly brown, remove. About 4 min.

Turn it over, apply a light coating of your favorite sauce - I spice up spaghetti sauce (another leftover) with crushed red pepper and garlic. Add a VERY LIGHT amount of thin sliced veggies of your choice (too heavy will get soggy) and a sprinkle of shredded cheese.

Broil again just until the cheese is melted, about 3-4 min.

My lavash are huge, so I get 6 pieces of pizza out of one. Let cool, wrap, refrigerate, and reheat in the micro for 45 sec. Depending on your toppings a whole pizza is around 400 calories.

I'd love to hear what you think if you try it

orangecrayon

I like Bird's Eye Steamed Rice. Half of one package is a serving. If you add some steamed vegetables on top and have a little bit of (optional): tofu <--this can be diced and sautéed then used in various yummy dishes, tiny bit of soy sauce or teriyaki sauce--myself I prefer teriyaki, you've got a pretty low-sodium, calorie, and healthy meal!

Or there's always tortilla pizza. I leave out the pizza sauce because I like to slice tomatoes on top and I put a minimal amount of cheese on (I like to season this with basil), and adding some sliced mushrooms from the grocery aisle is never a bad thing either! You can spice up the toppings, too. I've thought about adding spinach (I just wish it came in smaller packages!) The pizza can be cooked in a skillet so it's more crispy (use medium heat and be sure to check under every so often so it doesn't burn) or it can be microwaved. Hope these help!

RillSoji

You're welcome to any of my lunch ideas posted on my MFP blog: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/RillSoji

or my menu blog:
http://www.rillsmenu.com/

cmeade20

Arnold 100 calorie sandwich thins, 2 slices 98 fat free turkey breast 1 wedge laughing cow cheese. Low cal and yummy.