Low Calorie "easy to make" Lunch Ideas

Hi, I am struggling to find different things now for my lunch. Had soup for about the last 3 months & really need to hae a change now. Anyone any ideas :0=) Thanks.
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Replies

  • coliema
    coliema Posts: 7,646 Member
    I make a lot of salads, with different things on them, lots of veggies, grilled chicken, things like that.

    I also used to buy those Arnold's Sandwich Thins, and use those to make sandwiches and eat baby carrots or celery with them.
  • I have sandwiches which i make myself and are surprising low calorie, use wholemal 50kcal slice bread, chicken breast and salad with salad cream or butter or cream cheese, i have two whole sandwiches for less than 400kcals :D
  • LeonnieH
    LeonnieH Posts: 209 Member
    How about a pasta salad (any combination of ingredients e.g. pasta twists, olives, peppers, tuna, chicken, prawns, cherry tomatoes, capers, sundried tomatoes, cucumber) or a roasted veg couscous salad (couscous, roasted peppers, courgettes, cherry tomatoes, onion, butternut). Or an ordinary green salad but with some protein to make it more filling e.g. grilled chicken, tuna, hard boiled eggs, bacon bits. The other thing I've had cold which is quite nice is a frittata served with a side salad. You can put anything into the frittata but if you stick with lower cal things like cherry tomatoes, courgettes, asparagus, peppers that will keep the cals down.
  • Kelley528
    Kelley528 Posts: 319 Member
    If you are a meat eater I made 270 calorie hamburgers last week and that included the bun :)

    I got hamburger that was 93% lean for 170 calories per 4oz. I stumbled upon low-calorie buns in the bread aisle that were 80 calories each. With my seasoning, onions, and ketchup the whole burger was 270 calories.

    I discovered flax seed wraps for 110 calories and 9 grams fiber. They are big, thicker wraps and you can throw whatever you like in them. I used 2oz chicken ( 50 calories), green peppers, black beans, hot chili sauce, 1/4 brown rice = 301 calories. It was very filling due to the flax and fiber. It tastes like a whole grain wrap. You can fill wraps with whatever you like. Just measure out what you are putting in it to control the calories.

    Today I have 4oz pork chop (170 cal), asparagus (30 cal), some sliced potatoes with herbs and spices cooked in zero calorie oil spray (110 cal). Add the marinade to the pork chop for (30 cal) makes the whole meal 340 calories.
  • gingerygal
    gingerygal Posts: 59 Member
    If you love buffalo chicken, I highly recommend this recipe. I doesn't take that long to make, you can make a ton of it, and it heats up really well. It's on my blog :)

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/gingerfitness/view/buffalo-chicken-quinoa-495759
  • jersgirl060606
    jersgirl060606 Posts: 27 Member
    bump
  • chopped tomato/lentils
    +
    dead animal/legumes/egg
    +
    veggies
    + herbs/spices

    nuke in microwave.

    pretty much my staple lunch just now.
    you can buy some chopped tomato with spices and herbs if you shop around too.

    i like chopped toms because they are low in k-cals, so you get a decent bowl of soup from them.
  • yo_andi
    yo_andi Posts: 2,178 Member
    My lunches usually come in right around 500 cals.

    On Sundays I grill up a bunch of chicken, fish or beef for the week. I also roast a whole bunch of vegetables, and make a big bowl of salad greens, diced cucumber etc. Then, during the week, I just combine roast veggies, protein and salad ingredients to have many different combos of lunch options for work. I usually pre-pack two snacks for each day too, maybe a handful of raw almonds and an ounce of beef jerky or something of the sort.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    Make extra of your dinner so you have an already made serving for lunch the next day. I do that a lot.
  • ajohnson1567
    ajohnson1567 Posts: 26 Member
    "Morning Star" makes a lot of microwavable patties for sandwiches, and they taste good!! low on calories and carbs, also!
  • I LOVE brown rice, black beans and salsa. Or a piece of bread, toasted with some almond butter and fresh berries on top....a "grown up" pbj! :) You can get grilled chicken strips in the frozen food dept and keep that on hand to add to salads. Today I'm going to try albacore tuna made with avocado and hard boiled egg.
  • Flowers4Julia
    Flowers4Julia Posts: 521 Member
    Some of my "go to's"

    COLD: salad with vegetable, a protein like tuna or chicken, left over hamburger patty, etc.

    WARM: Steamed cauliflower and protein like above but warmed up!
  • AdrieneJ
    AdrieneJ Posts: 141 Member
    I like to make a big batch of bean stew on the weekend and it does me from Monday to Thursday. I usually put in:

    - a can of red kidney beans (I rinse all these beans really well to remove as much salt as possible, btw)
    - a can of chick peas
    - a can of some other bean (whatever else I happen to find on sale)
    - two cups of water
    - a low-sodium bouillon cube
    - a bay leaf
    - two tbsp of tomato paste

    Simmer for about 30 mins. It usually comes in around 300-350 calories per serving. Sometimes I add cubed sweet potato. I divide it into portions and freeze it to prevent spillage during transport to work.
  • 30more2go
    30more2go Posts: 9 Member
    I make a really good wrap! I don't eat it every day because that's just boring lol. I use a whole wheat tortilla, 3-4oz grilled chicken breast, 1 strip cooked turkey bacon, romaine lettuce and ranch dressing. I don't use the cheese because I don't notice it missing and why add the extra calories? I like to eat it with a bowl of soup or some ff cottage cheese :)
  • jessicawrites
    jessicawrites Posts: 235 Member
    I like to snack, so my lunch is typically a box full of a lot of easy-to-nibble things: today is 1.5 oz ham on a slice of bread, cherry tomatoes, a blood orange, applesauce, and an ounce of peanuts. Every hour or two I take something out of the box. Other favorite inclusions are Greek yogurt, a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a stick of string cheese.
  • DANCERPURPLE
    DANCERPURPLE Posts: 134 Member
    BUMP
  • khemory
    khemory Posts: 47 Member
    bumpity bump
  • nf1982
    nf1982 Posts: 38 Member
    protein smoothie:

    1 banana
    frozen blueberries
    frozen strawberries
    carrot juice or water
    plain fat free greek yogurt or protein powder

    Throw everything in a blender and BAM you've got a low cal lunch and you just drank all your fruits for the day :)
    I like to have a smoothie and a hard boiled egg or turkey sandwich for lunch.
  • sarahszumba
    sarahszumba Posts: 4 Member
    I have gotten into the habit of making a big batch of stiry-fry on weekends. I portion it out for the week, so all I have to do is grab and reheat. I switch up what veggies and meats I use so it is always different. It is great with chicken, shrimp or beef with broccoli, snap peas, shredded carrots, zucchini, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots. Try with your favorite combination. It doesn't take long to cook and depending on portion of meat, is usually between 200-250 calories.
  • sara19673
    sara19673 Posts: 1 Member
    I have weight watchers bread x 2 with half a tin of tomatoes really low on cals. try it it is feeling
  • SquidgySquidge
    SquidgySquidge Posts: 239 Member
    You could cook up some chicken at the beginning of the week and keep it in the fridge, bring a portion with you each day.

    To go with it you could make up some cous cous (you just pour on hot water), try flavouring it with peppers, onions, sultanas, apple, seeds, garlic, cumin, coriander etc

    My favourite lunch at the moment is a wholemeal pitta, chicken pieces (tikka flavoured ones if I can get them), peppers, onions, jalapenos, slice of reduced fat cheese. Put it in the sandwich toaster to melt the cheese - yum!
    And then I add some hot sauce, it's delicious!

    Make a pot of spaghetti bolognese or chilli, freeze it in portions with cooked rice or spaghetti and heat it in the microwave at work.
  • debzeeU2
    debzeeU2 Posts: 99 Member
    I make a lot of salads, with different things on them, lots of veggies, grilled chicken, things like that.

    I also used to buy those Arnold's Sandwich Thins, and use those to make sandwiches and eat baby carrots or celery with them.

    This is what I do.
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    "Morning Star" makes a lot of microwavable patties for sandwiches, and they taste good!! low on calories and carbs, also!
    and pretty bad on sodium. Quick, yes.. and I'm a fan of 'em, but watch the salt on the frozen stuff.

    OP. A can of Tuna (obviously in water, lowered sodium) plus some mayo, veggies, egg, whatever. Cheap, low cal, filling, and plenty of protein.
    Most weekends, I'll grill a ton of chicken and portion it out into 100g/150g/200g portions and pop it into the fridge. Grab a bag of chicken and something to go along with it. Super quick, you know what you're getting for your protein, and only have to plan the rest of the meal. Maybe a sweet potato or a cup of spinach, etc.
  • Querian
    Querian Posts: 419 Member
    I usually make extra at dinner and my hubby and I both take leftover whatever to work for lunch.

    Some recent favorites:
    - Cauliflower and Potato Curry over nutty brown rice
    - Bok Choy sauteed with Whole Wheat Spaghetti with a poached egg and grated romano cheese
    - Big green salads with many fun toppings and homemade salad dressing
    - Pinto Bean and Cornbread "shepherds pie"
    - Pinto Bean and Cheese Sandwich with Cabbage Salad on the side
    - Roast veggies or Veggie Stirfry with or without brown rice
    - Oatmeal with almonds and raising and a banana (yes, even for lunch)

    I eat vegetarian duing the week so no meat here but there are lots of other good suggestions here too. Just make extra whatever you homecook either during the week or on weekends and then you have plenty for lunch :flowerforyou:
  • Mexicanbigfoot
    Mexicanbigfoot Posts: 520 Member
    Lots of salads, I buy the prepackaged and then add extra veggies and protein (chicken) to them. I also love the Arnold Sandwich Thins or Flatout wraps with turkey, a laughing cow cheese wedge and some type of veggie; lettuce, spinach, cucumber. I hardly ever eat the same thing 2 days in a row, you can check out my food diary, it's open if you need more ideas. Good luck!!
  • Kroger sells a bag of Frozen Italian style turkey meatballs for $7.99 ~ I usually toss them in the microwave with some cheese and/or a dollop of sour cream and salsa... add a small salad andyou have an easy, inexpensive, filling lunch.. I keep a bag here at work in the freezer for the days I forget a lunch..My other fav is 50 cal whole wheat bread for an egg sandwich...or anything healthy on a whole wheat tortilla!
  • IamOnMywayNow
    IamOnMywayNow Posts: 470 Member
    If you love buffalo chicken, I highly recommend this recipe. I doesn't take that long to make, you can make a ton of it, and it heats up really well. It's on my blog :)

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/gingerfitness/view/buffalo-chicken-quinoa-495759

    Great recipe!! Cant wait to try it!
  • KatLifter
    KatLifter Posts: 1,314 Member
    On Sundays I cook a family pack of some sort of meat (usually chicken), protion it out for the week in individual containers with about 6 oz. in each. Each day I heat one up and throw over a lettuce or spinach of choice and you're done.

    ~Chicken breast (cut into cubes) put some salsa over it (I really like the fruity ones). Bake

    ~Ground chicken or Turkey (I used 2 packages) - brown and drain excess grease, add a bag of frozen chopped onions and a packet of taco seasoning and cook on low until they are done. Put into containers. Add some frozen spinach and canned tomatoes with chilis. SO Good and easy!
  • Pkeenan1229
    Pkeenan1229 Posts: 51 Member
    Boca burgers with lots of lettuce on low calorie bread (35 calorie bread) or even regular bread around 80 calories. The whole thing will be about 200-250 (:
  • dizzzy33
    dizzzy33 Posts: 31 Member
    Great ideas!