Main dishes that wont break the bank or calorie bank
meeper123
Posts: 3,347 Member
So what is your favorite main dishes that are cheap and low in calories? 
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Replies
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Do you want to cook (just a little) or eat out?0
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I love to make roasted vegetables and then have some grilled chicken either mixed in or on the side. Tonight I roasted eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and summer squash w/1tbsp olive oil & seasonings then added in a little grated romano cheese and then had some rotisserie chicken for protein. I couldn't finish what I made and it was only 500 calories.0
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Tilapia grilled with cajun spice rubbed on it. Garlic cauliflower (Birdseye) Salad with either chicken/tuna or shrimp in it.0
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cook though curious about eating out too 0
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oh sounds wonderful0
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I love to make roasted vegetables and then have some grilled chicken either mixed in or on the side. Tonight I roasted eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and summer squash w/1tbsp olive oil & seasonings then added in a little grated romano cheese and then had some rotisserie chicken for protein. I couldn't finish what I made and it was only 500 calories.
wow! thats a lot see I feel hungery A LOT while dieting those are all foods I haave not had before are they easy to cook?0 -
100 calorie soups!
Not sure of the website..... but you can google it. They are tasty, filling, low cal, and cheap!!! Plus, you put it all in the crock pot and leave it alone for hours! Plus, there's a few days worth of dinners!!
*Edited to add: I checked, it's fatsecret.com0 -
is it filling?0
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Turkey burgers!
I buy the butterball fresh ground turkey patties (4pk) for $4 at food lion. Either cook on grill or on stove. Eat with merita lite wheat buns (80 cal. a bun) and a tbsp of ketchup (15 cal). I think one patty is 130 calories.
Just one burger fills me up.0 -
Cauliflower cheese, yummy and low cal0
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I love to make roasted vegetables and then have some grilled chicken either mixed in or on the side. Tonight I roasted eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and summer squash w/1tbsp olive oil & seasonings then added in a little grated romano cheese and then had some rotisserie chicken for protein. I couldn't finish what I made and it was only 500 calories.
wow! thats a lot see I feel hungery A LOT while dieting those are all foods I haave not had before are they easy to cook?
Super easy! You can roast them in the oven at 375-400 for about 15-20min (depending on how much you have) otherwise tonight I cooked them on the stovetop and it took about 10-15 min, and they are great on the grill, just get a veggie roasting pan that you put on the grill and they usually take 15-30min depending on how much you are cooking just make sure you stir them a few times during cooking especially on the stovetop or grill. My mom likes to put balsamic vinegar in with the veggies too which is really good but I am watching my sugar intake so i don't put it on.0 -
Turkey burgers!
I buy the butterball fresh ground turkey patties (4pk) for $4 at food lion. Either cook on grill or on stove. Eat with merita lite wheat buns (80 cal. a bun) and a tbsp of ketchup (15 cal). I think one patty is 130 calories.
Just one burger fills me up.
sounds great 0 -
I love to make roasted vegetables and then have some grilled chicken either mixed in or on the side. Tonight I roasted eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms, and summer squash w/1tbsp olive oil & seasonings then added in a little grated romano cheese and then had some rotisserie chicken for protein. I couldn't finish what I made and it was only 500 calories.
wow! thats a lot see I feel hungery A LOT while dieting those are all foods I haave not had before are they easy to cook?
Super easy! You can roast them in the oven at 375-400 for about 15-20min (depending on how much you have) otherwise tonight I cooked them on the stovetop and it took about 10-15 min, and they are great on the grill, just get a veggie roasting pan that you put on the grill and they usually take 15-30min depending on how much you are cooking just make sure you stir them a few times during cooking especially on the stovetop or grill. My mom likes to put balsamic vinegar in with the veggies too which is really good but I am watching my sugar intake so i don't put it on.
awesome I must try it 0 -
Cauliflower cheese, yummy and low cal
I love it 0 -
Some sort of grilled meat and veggies. Cheap,easy, healthy and filling0
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This is great! And only 300cals
Cajun chicken with sweet potato wedges & avocado salad 300cals
• Serves 2
• 10 min
• 45 min
• 300 Cal
• 3/5
Spices are such a great way to add flavour and variety to dishes, without adding unnecessary calories. A simple chicken breast can taste so different just by varying the spices used. Say goodbye to bland, tough old chooks, spice things up…in the kitchen I mean!!!
Here I use the powerful cajun spice, which goes beautifully with chicken and sweet potato. Enjoy!
Method
Preheat oven to 200C.(392 F)
Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Place the sweet potato wedges on one tray and lightly spray with oil spray.
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Coat the chicken breast in the spice mix. Place the chicken breast on the remaining tray.
Lightly spray with oil spray. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and just cooked through.
Meanwhile, combine the cherry tomatoes, avocado and spinach leaves in a small bowl.
Cut the chicken into slices. Divide the sweet potato wedges, chicken and avocado salad among serving plates. Serve with lemon or lime wedges.
Ingredients
• 400g (14oz) small sweet potato, peeled, cut into wedges
• 1 × 200g (7oz) chicken breast fillet
• 1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 small avocado, chopped
• 100 g baby spinach leaves
• Lemon or lime wedges, to serve0 -
This might sound a little weird but I used to eat this when I was in a rush sometimes. There are different low fat Mexican style soups you can buy and serve over rice for a cheap and quick main dish.
I cook the rice in advance. I find this is a good meal for when I am going out after work and just going home for a quick meal.
Usually I can get 2 servings from one can.0 -
check out the following websites, a lot of them use a lot of the same ingredients so you can switch it up, and so far everything I've tried to make has been delish! I've also found that I can modify by adding/taking out/substituting ingredients
www.skinnytaste.com
www.dashingdish.com
undressedskeleton.tumblr.com
I made sausage stuffed zucchini boats tonight, the way I made it it was around 330 cals a boat and that was plenty to fill me up!0 -
I do a lot with eggs. Scrambled eggs, sauteed onions/peppers(from my garden) in a tortilla wrap, or in a bowl without the wrap lol. I've just started trying to make omelets, the flipping is work in progress.0
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Make sure to work some protein in. That will be what fills you and keeps you feeling full. I love a good veggie soup with beans. Cheap, low calorie, and fills you up.0
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Eggs with veggies loaded in them. Guess that's called omelette or something, but those are good!0
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bump
Always looking for new recipes for me to stay on track.0 -
Oh, fritatta is good as well. It is just eggs and veggies baked in the oven. You can use less egg yolks to lower the calories.
Use frozen veggies and it is pretty cheap.0 -
This is great! And only 300cals
Cajun chicken with sweet potato wedges & avocado salad 300cals
• Serves 2
• 10 min
• 45 min
• 300 Cal
• 3/5
Spices are such a great way to add flavour and variety to dishes, without adding unnecessary calories. A simple chicken breast can taste so different just by varying the spices used. Say goodbye to bland, tough old chooks, spice things up…in the kitchen I mean!!!
Here I use the powerful cajun spice, which goes beautifully with chicken and sweet potato. Enjoy!
Method
Preheat oven to 200C.(392 F)
Line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Place the sweet potato wedges on one tray and lightly spray with oil spray.
Bake for 30 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Coat the chicken breast in the spice mix. Place the chicken breast on the remaining tray.
Lightly spray with oil spray. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and just cooked through.
Meanwhile, combine the cherry tomatoes, avocado and spinach leaves in a small bowl.
Cut the chicken into slices. Divide the sweet potato wedges, chicken and avocado salad among serving plates. Serve with lemon or lime wedges.
Ingredients
• 400g (14oz) small sweet potato, peeled, cut into wedges
• 1 × 200g (7oz) chicken breast fillet
• 1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 small avocado, chopped
• 100 g baby spinach leaves
• Lemon or lime wedges, to serve
ok that is def a must try 0 -
Venison grill steaks - 18g of protein, some carbs and fat, but still pretty low.
Then add 2 'bacon medalions' a low-cal cheese slice and some tomato/lettuce. I halve a slice of bread to put them on. Under 300 calories for a large burger-creation.
After having a total of about 450 calories for spending four and a half hours at indoor bouldering place, thought I deserved two lots.
May not have been perfect for weight loss, but reckon a load of it should have gone towards repairing muscles etc
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Venison grill steaks - 18g of protein, some carbs and fat, but still pretty low.
Then add 2 'bacon medalions' a low-cal cheese slice and some tomato/lettuce. I halve a slice of bread to put them on. Under 300 calories for a large burger-creation.
After having a total of about 450 calories for spending four and a half hours at indoor bouldering place, thought I deserved two lots.
May not have been perfect for weight loss, but reckon a load of it should have gone towards repairing muscles etc.
never had venison bet it is tasty0 -
Baked brown rice (Alton Brown's recipe) mixed with grilled chicken (usually just a simple oil/vinegar/mustard/salt/pepper marinade) and a salad made with local veggies and berries
A fifth of a batch of the rice + 4oz of grilled chicken breast + salad with a little bit of dressing will be about 400 calories0 -
Venison grill steaks - 18g of protein, some carbs and fat, but still pretty low.
Then add 2 'bacon medalions' a low-cal cheese slice and some tomato/lettuce. I halve a slice of bread to put them on. Under 300 calories for a large burger-creation.
After having a total of about 450 calories for spending four and a half hours at indoor bouldering place, thought I deserved two lots.
May not have been perfect for weight loss, but reckon a load of it should have gone towards repairing muscles etc.
And now I'm craving venison...haven't had it in probably 10yrs but grew up around a lot of hunters who were also amazing cooks0 -
bump 0
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Everyone has given you great tips about cooking! If you want to eat out on the reg, you should subsrcibe to the "Eat this, Not that" newsletter. They basically send you a few emails a week telling you what not to eat out. It'll tell you what fast food meals are terrible and which are ok for your diet. If you really want to indulge and eat fast food, always order the kid's meal! It will satisfy your cravings without NEAR as many calories as the adult version.0
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