Easy tasty low-cal menu ideas please?

safranita
safranita Posts: 48 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello everyone~

I'm back and determined after an unfortunate backslide that undid all my previous good weight loss work!

I'd love to hear some of your suggestions for daily meals - good, tasty, healthy and low-cal, of course.

Thanks! :drinker:

Replies

  • ArielWillowtree
    ArielWillowtree Posts: 7
    Hi there!

    I dont necessarily have specific meal ideas, but I always like to add a big heap of steamed vegetables to whatever I'm having for dinner, so that I feel full, get plenty of vitamins, and keep my calorie count where it should be.

    I also find that spaghetti squash makes a great low cal dinner. I eat mine with black beans and salsa, but whatever floats your boat. :)

    Sweet potatoes are another good one. They are close in caloric value to white potatoes, but because they have so much flavour, you can leave out any fatty, high cal toppings that most people add. I think they are just perfect plain, but I'm sure adding a little bit of butter or whatever wouldnt hurt too much

    I hope this helps a little bit. I don't have much to offer in the way of real dinner recipes, just because steamed broccoli and tofu isnt most people's idea of a good, tasty dinner... even if it is healthy and low cal :P
  • EmmyLoop
    EmmyLoop Posts: 14
    My neighbor loves www.skinnytaste.com or www.foodandwine.com click on HEALTHY.
    Also www.food52.com has some really healthy delicious recipes (not all are healthy).

    Emmy
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    Thank you so much! All of your ideas sound exactly up my alley. Yum and thanks again.
  • meganshort11
    meganshort11 Posts: 48 Member
    have you ever tried the light progresso soups? for most of them, you can eat the entire can for 200 calories or less; and it only takes a couple of minutes to heat up. they are very filling, not very expensive, and most of them are pretty tasty...they do tend to have a good bit of sodium, so you kind of have to keep an eye on that...but as far as convenience, they are hard to beat.
    i also keep a carton of liquid egg whites around. they are low in calories, and you can add pretty much whatever you want to them...very filling, cheap, and easy.
    i also like the diet frozen dinners...i know they arent the cheapest thing, and not for everyone. but they are a quick, easy meal. i usually only eat them if i take one to work for lunch, or if im making something for the rest of my family that i cant have (spaghetti, mac and cheese, etc.) for instance, i make my kids fish sticks, mac and cheese, and mixed veggies the other night. and i had a healthy choice that was herb crusted fish, with pasta and green beans and carrots. it was delicious, easy, and under 300 calories.
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    more excellent suggestions, thanks Megan!
  • SarahDavs
    SarahDavs Posts: 161 Member
    We've been doing a lot of barley instead of rice. Zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Or pasta made from black beans or brown rice. Lots of tomato sauces, or sauce made with a bit of corn starch to thicken the water and vegetable broth. Firm tofu sauteed with mushrooms and onions. 3-4oz baked boneless, skinless chicken breast covered in hot-sauce. Salads with Newman's own vinaigrette's. Cauliflower mash (so like mashed potatoes you can barely taste a difference.) Tuna fish sandwiches made with low-fat mayo on Sara Lee's 45 calorie bread. Eggbeaters with lots of onions to add filler. The Laughing Cow babybel lite cheese. Pickles. I've been putting a pinch of flaxseed meal on just about everything I eat to act as a filler. Oatmeal with PB2 (powdered peanut butter.) Stevia in my coffee and tea. Hmm, can't think of what else.
  • ameliaannakin
    ameliaannakin Posts: 344 Member
    Shameless plug (sorry!) but my food diary blog might give you some ideas... ameliasfooddiary.wordpress.com

    Ax
  • Lightbulb1088
    Lightbulb1088 Posts: 189 Member
    Grilled chicken strips with (Franks) hot sauce are good for a quick wrap or salad. I use lettuce, carrotts celery, blue cheese or feta cheese or cheddar, Also today I added dill pickel. Make them with what you like.
    I make ahead greens, berries, nuts for easy lunch. Bolthouse dressing are wonderful.
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    We've been doing a lot of barley instead of rice. Zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash instead of pasta. Or pasta made from black beans or brown rice. Lots of tomato sauces, or sauce made with a bit of corn starch to thicken the water and vegetable broth. Firm tofu sauteed with mushrooms and onions. 3-4oz baked boneless, skinless chicken breast covered in hot-sauce. Salads with Newman's own vinaigrette's. Cauliflower mash (so like mashed potatoes you can barely taste a difference.) Tuna fish sandwiches made with low-fat mayo on Sara Lee's 45 calorie bread. Eggbeaters with lots of onions to add filler. The Laughing Cow babybel lite cheese. Pickles. I've been putting a pinch of flaxseed meal on just about everything I eat to act as a filler. Oatmeal with PB2 (powdered peanut butter.) Stevia in my coffee and tea. Hmm, can't think of what else.

    Sarah, thanks so much. I hadn't thought of a lot of your suggestions... and never tried zucchini noodles. Sounds wonderful. And powdered peanut butter? Wow. I'm googling now. Thanks again.
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    Shameless plug (sorry!) but my food diary blog might give you some ideas... ameliasfooddiary.wordpress.com

    Ax

    So glad you "plugged" your blog... I looked at it and have already gotten many new inspirations. Thanks and please keep your diary entries coming. (Told you I'm really determined this time!)
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    Grilled chicken strips with (Franks) hot sauce are good for a quick wrap or salad. I use lettuce, carrotts celery, blue cheese or feta cheese or cheddar, Also today I added dill pickel. Make them with what you like.
    I make ahead greens, berries, nuts for easy lunch. Bolthouse dressing are wonderful.

    Excellent! Thanks for adding your good ideas.
  • fergie2308
    fergie2308 Posts: 2
    Try the zucchini tots recipe from skinnytaste.com - they're YUMMY!

    Make a roll-up with Laughing Cow cheese wedges spread on turkey slices. Wrap it in a low or carb free tortilla with lettuce and tomato if your calorie count allows.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    Open diary.

    Lots of awesome foods and recipes.

    Anything you want the recipe for just ask :)

    Also have some already posted
    www.myfitnesspal.com/blogs/confuzzled4ever (if that doesn't work swap the user name with the word blogs.. i can never remember the order)
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    Try the zucchini tots recipe from skinnytaste.com - they're YUMMY!

    Make a roll-up with Laughing Cow cheese wedges spread on turkey slices. Wrap it in a low or carb free tortilla with lettuce and tomato if your calorie count allows.

    Oh, I love zucchini - I'm going to try that recipe. Thanks!! The cheese and turkey sounds amazing but somehow I am ALWAYS behind on calories - I seem to run out so much sooner than I'm ready to stop eating :sad:

    Thanks for answering. I really appreciate everyone's support.
  • safranita
    safranita Posts: 48 Member
    Open diary.

    Lots of awesome foods and recipes.

    Anything you want the recipe for just ask :)

    Also have some already posted
    www.myfitnesspal.com/blogs/confuzzled4ever (if that doesn't work swap the user name with the word blogs.. i can never remember the order)

    Another great suggestioni. Thanks so much... I have NO EXCUSE now. xo

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