Ideas for Lunch Sides

jamieldisney
jamieldisney Posts: 7
in Food and Nutrition
I need some new ideas for sides to eat with my lunch. I usually take a sandwich or wrap, which I am more than happy with. But the 100 calorie pack chips are getting old. I would love some suggestions on healthy/low cal sides to eat with my lunch. I could include a fruit, but I prefer veggies (or anything else) because I have fruit for breakfast and snack everyday. I've had many people suggest cottage cheese, but unfortunately I am allergic. :( I would appreciate any ideas you have!

Replies

  • cece5300
    cece5300 Posts: 48
    For sides I eat steamed veggies and I will bring almonds, yogurt, string cheese. I am not ashamed to admit I love quaker popped rice snacks and goldfish. They're not ~healthy~ but they're low-ish calorie (110-140 calories per serving) and they satisfy me. Baked sweet potato is also a yummy choice. Carrot sticks with a little bit of dressing, salad with feta cheese. I love food.
  • deevo
    deevo Posts: 276 Member
    Hummus with your vegetables as a side, yogurt, string cheese, sugar free pudding ( make your own from the box, very low calorie), fiber one bar/brownie/cookie, almonds, laughing cow, popcorn.
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    With a sandwich, I usually have a small salad (approx. 1 tomato, 1-2 mini cukes and 1 Tbsp of lighter calorie dressing is about 100 calories....you should weigh this, though, I'm giving approximate amounts. A few lettuce leaves won't add much either).

    Other ideas:
    - roasted chickpeas (about 120 cals/28gr)
    - soynuts (also about 120 cals/30 gr)
    - Balocco amaretti cookies (5 for 75 cals) (this is for a real treat....there are other cookies that can be fit into under 100 cals)
    - 1 oz of cheese (depends on the cheese)
  • Garthamatic
    Garthamatic Posts: 84 Member
    Lowfat mozzarella string cheese
    Lowfat yogurt
    Baked pita chips
    Fruit
    Almonds
    Baked Lays potato crisps
    Carrot sticks

    Some ideas to get you thinking...
  • Swiftlet66
    Swiftlet66 Posts: 729 Member
    A mixture of cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, a few nuts, a low-fat oz of cheese/string cheese/baybel cheese, ONE fun size candy bar, banana chips, steamed sweet potato, carrots w/ hummus, steamed broccoli with laughing cow cheese... There's lots of options. For me, it's usually cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, nuts, various fruits and/or steamed sweet potato. Often times though, I don't have sides with my lunch.
  • SuzyLy
    SuzyLy Posts: 133 Member
    Cold baccala salad made with salt cod, capers, onions, tomatos, olive oil & vinegar. You can use it as a main lunch, too if you prefer. Definite side, tomatos, fresh mozzarella, red onions, basil & basalmic vinegar & oo.
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    I personally would not recommend low-fat cheese to anyone... That stuff is bloody awful lol. Just my two cents though.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    I'm afraid I don't have any exciting new ideas that haven't been shared already, but this is stuff I often pair with my lunches:

    baby carrots (I have these at lunch 3-4 times per week)
    celery sticks
    sugar snap peas
    string cheese
    cut up apple (goes especially great with tuna, lentils and/or soups)
    square of dark chocolate
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    +1 to the mixed veggie and/or almonds idea.
  • peanutbutter_runner
    peanutbutter_runner Posts: 36 Member
    Veggies & hummus
    Baby carrots & sunbutter
    Greek yogurt
    Piece of fruit
    Side salad
  • tracymayo1
    tracymayo1 Posts: 445 Member
    I need some new ideas for sides to eat with my lunch. I usually take a sandwich or wrap, which I am more than happy with. But the 100 calorie pack chips are getting old. I would love some suggestions on healthy/low cal sides to eat with my lunch. I could include a fruit, but I prefer veggies (or anything else) because I have fruit for breakfast and snack everyday. I've had many people suggest cottage cheese, but unfortunately I am allergic. :( I would appreciate any ideas you have!

    As an example, today I had:

    raw red peppers
    cucumbers from my garden with peel
    fresh garden tomatoes
    strawberries from our farmers market
    steamed broccoli

    When I make meals for dinner, I always make extras. Sunday night we had baked Tilapia. I have had this for lunch today and yesterday. I also had left over broccoli and usually would have extra of this for all meals.
    You can steam broccoli, carrots, peppers and onions, string beans, snow peas etc... You can also eat these all raw too if you don't want to cook them. Any veggie is good.
    Add some Avocado to your wraps!

    So many ideas! You can look through my diary if you want I usually have veg with every lunch/dinner.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Typically a veggie side............

    Non-lettuce salad......1 stalk celery sliced, 1/3 cup shredded carrots, 1/4 cup (thawed) peas. I toss this with Newman's Sesame Ginger Dressing (only 36 cal. for 2 TBL). Optional.....you can sub (thawed) French style green beans for the celery.....not cut green beans....those are too watery. Bolthouse matchstick carrots have a pretty decent shelf life.

    Slaw type salads that don't use mayo are good. I like this marinated salad (I use half the oil): http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Picnic-Marinated-Summer-Slaw/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e8=Quick Search&event10=1&e7=Home Page&soid=sr_results_p1i11

    Put veggies in (sugar-free) orange or lime jello. Lime jello + shredded cabbage + shredded carrots + diced celery is yummy.

    You could load up your sandwich with veggies too. Sliced cucumbers and shredded carrots are yummy.

    I love bringing fresh green beans to work. A Glad Zip-N Steam bag is quick (4 minutes) and easy. Rinse the bag and re-use.
  • jamieldisney
    jamieldisney Posts: 7
    Wow! Thank you everyone! I guess I've been stick in a lunch rut, because I forgot how many options there are! I appreciate all of the replies!
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    Babaganoush! Goes with anything and very healthy and tasty!
    I love edamame too.
    Sometimes I eat 6-8 oil-cured olives.

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