Give my lunch a makeover please!

jillcwhite

I am loving Targets salads they have several different types, comes with dressing. The variety makes it where I dont get bored. It also scans into myfitnesspal app

gabbymom2

Banana, peanut butter and some light chocolate syrup. Very nice treat with good protein!!!

SkinnyTopher

I'm a huge fan of a simple baby spinach salad, tossed very lightly with some low-cal or low-fat EVOO, and some walnuts and cranberries thrown in... along with crumbled goat cheese. It sounds fattening but it's really not. Spinach is super low-cal and a tiny bit of goat cheese goes a long way, as does EVOO.

SabKab16

- non fat greek yogurt with either chickpeas or black eyed beans (rinsed/drained)..... mixed in with cilantro, chili powder, and black pepper. Maybe some boiled eggs or some fruit?

- Grilled salmon filet with a salad.

- stiry fry (I put EXTREMELY little oil).. with lots of veggies, beans, spices, and herbs... All the herbs and spices really give it a lot of taste, so there's really no need for salt.

SexyMidnight

bump

enewsome2

I've been eating lean cuisine with raw veggies on the side. This is because I inherited them for free, though. They are really high in sodium, but well portion controlled, and decent tasting.

I also eat cereal or oatmeal at work a lot. Both are portable and edible.

Another good idea is sliced cheese with grapes or apple and some whole-grain crackers (I personally like wheat thins).

PBJ on wheat.

Veggies and lunchmeat with hummus or apples/bananas with PB.

I'm not sure about you, but when I'm packing work lunches, *easy* is my priority.

KetchikanLadyDi

Bump. Great ideas!

terraskye

I only like salad when I'm working ...Here is one a runner friend shared with me a few years back as her fave

Jodi's Big Salad

2 cups torn romaine lettuce hears
1 cup torn spinach leaves
1/2 hard boiled egg, chopped
approx 2onces chopped cooked chicken breast
1/4 pomegranate arils or 1/4 raspberries or chopped apple
2Tablespoons crumbled feta or crumbled goat cheese
1-1 T nuts of your choice or sunflower seeds
2T your favorite salad dressing ..she used Bolthouse Farms Raspberry Merlot Vinegar Lite

Please note I"m not a sweet and savory mixer so i usually leave out he fruit and I use a different salad dressing too but its sooooo good

giggitygoo

Snacks:

Baby carrots and hummus
Black bean dip (beans mashed and mixed with salsa) + veggies
Air popped popcorn (just toss 1/4 cup kernels in a brown bag and nuke for 3 mins)
Grapefruit + sprinkle of sugar
Fat free english muffin with laughing cow spread on top

Lunches:

Mediterranean wrap, hummus + sliced turkey and veg
English muffin pizzas: bake cheese, turkey pepperoni + marinara on a toasted muffin
Brown rice salad: cooked brown rice, sliced onion, spring peas, tomato, olives, etc + italian dressing

tnqnt

My personal favorite (lunch or dinner):
Joseph's Lavish Flat Bread, cut into squares...
top with 2 tbl Hummus, and the following vegis (all finely chopped)
Fresh garlic, red onion, tomato, cucumber, radish, red peppers...
Toast in toaster oven....
when slighly crispy, top with balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, black pepper, 1/4 cup feta and shredded raw spinach.
403 calories, VERY filling and DELICIOUS!
disclaimer: I am a vegetarian...

tnqnt

For snacks,
1/2 cup pistachios (in shell)
or
2 TBL natural peanut butter smeared on a granny smith apple... :)

nholloman

Banana, peanut butter and some light chocolate syrup. Very nice treat with good protein!!!

That sounds amazing!!!!

toriaenator

baby spinach with tomatoes, mushrooms, hard boiled egg (eat the yolk too, lots of nutrients), avocado, and canned tuna! top with Kraft "Free" salad dressing, my fav is italian caesar (only 25 calories and non fat! its a miracle)

greek yoghurt toped with GoLean cereal (the original kind) is also super tasty!

im also obsessed with canned peas...i know its weird but i could eat a whole can >< kinda bad for sodium but if u drain and rinse then its not as bad! they make a nice substitution for beans sometimes!

tnqnt

baby spinach with tomatoes, mushrooms, hard boiled egg (eat the yolk too, lots of nutrients), avocado, and canned tuna! top with Kraft "Free" salad dressing, my fav is italian caesar (only 25 calories and non fat! its a miracle)

greek yoghurt toped with GoLean cereal (the original kind) is also super tasty!

im also obsessed with canned peas...i know its weird but i could eat a whole can >< kinda bad for sodium but if u drain and rinse then its not as bad! they make a nice substitution for beans sometimes!

LOVE Greek yogurt and go-lean, too :-) :-)

manning9

Add some guacamole yummmm

TriciaZ944

Thanks for the post... I am always stuck for lunch ideas!

chauncyrenayCHANGED

Wow - all of you gave such great responses. I can't wait to try some of these ideas. Thank you SO SO SO much!!

MinoSassbot

You know, there is something to be said for eating boring. You should get used to eating for nutrition, not pleasure. I fully believe that 90% of weight loss is mental. Once your brain gets used to the new behavior, it's easy not to give in to temptation. I usually have a whey protien shake for lunch - no thought or effort necessary and I can get back to work and not think about eating.

chauncyrenayCHANGED

Bumping my own post. I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow.

Amberchalon

My lunch today was a 22oz bottle of water, handful of cashews and a homemade green juice--I juiced kale, spinach, strawberries and pineapples--it was fantastic and gave me that oomph of energy I needed

gypsykitchen

I like to make big batches of bean burgers (I use this recipe as a base: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/vegetarian-lentil-burgers-recipe.html) and freeze them, they make great quick lunches. Also, sometimes I'll make a big batch of grain-veggie-bean salad (like quinoa or wild rice, chickpeas or lentils, whatever veggies I have on hand, with a homemade dressing of olive oil and vinegar or lemon, plus herbs/spices) and eat that for lunches for a week.

BibiFit03

I like to stuff a whole wheat pita pocket with some low fat turkey breast from the deli, lots of mixed greens, tomato, cukes, avocado, and a hint of salad dressing for flavour. Sometimes I add cheese, if I'm feeling adventurous. Sooooo yummy and so nutritious!

TrailRunner61

Sandwich:

35 calorie Healthy Life whole wheat bread

Turkey or chicken breast

Cream cheese (1 Tablespoon only has 35cals)

Romaine or spinach

Snacks:

Bing cherries, an orange, pretzel sticks, sugar free jello or pudding snacks, various cut up veggies, trail mix, boiled eggs, 100 calorie popcorn, jazz apples

sharleengc

I make turkey and cheese sandwiches. The Sara Lee 45& delightful is 90 cal for 2 slices. Not bad.

Then I buy the 'Quakes" snack pack which are flavored rice cakes that i have found replace my chip craving (80-100 cal per bag). the BBQ, Cheddar, and Ranch flavors are really light and fluffy.

All winter i had Hormel compleats...the flavors range from 210 cal to like 390 and are quick and don't need to be microwaved. Some people said they are too high in sodium for them but it doesn't bother me.

Trishajac

bump :flowerforyou:

wanted this on my radar - some yummy options mentioned!

saraann4

I'm quick and easy when it comes to lunches. If you haven't tried veggie burgers, try them! I like Boca the best. I like the original vegan burgers (80 calories), the flame grilled, or the chicken grillers. You can find Healthy Life 98% fat free buns for only 80 calories. You can add light mayo, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, whatever you want and it would be good. I also like Boca original chicken patties for 140 calories. Pair it with some fruit or veggies. I also like Special K Cracker Chips especially the cheese flavored! If i'm not in a veggie burger mood, I usually go with some Oscar Meyer Honey Ham and one of those buns.

fitnotfluffy

Here's a few ideas for your lunch bag:
carrots and hummus
celery and peanut butter
wheat thins
triscuits and babybel or laughing cow cheese
sandwiches/wraps (i make my sandwiches on sandwich thins or mini bagels!)
rice cakes
tuna salad sandwich (i make mine with light ranch instead of mayo, so much more flavor! and i put sliced cucumber or tomato on it)
yogurt with fruit/granola
salad
fresh fruit (my favorites are oranges, kiwi, plums, peaches, apples, etc.)
if you have a microwave available, you could take leftovers or lean pockets, or even frozen lean cuisine dinners. someone else mentioned boca burgers, and those are really good too!
I hope this helps you out!

Kalynx

this was my lunch today - it took 5 minutes to throw together and 30 minutes in the oven the night before. I made two, one for dinner last night and a second for my lunch today. Oh and another minute to take a picture on my fancy throw away plate LOL.

Brittonloves

Great ideas!!

chauncyrenayCHANGED

bumping again! got so many good ideas from this.