Looking for a 300cal mini meal?

Hi,

I know I have an issue during the week...and its my hunger bug arrives around 3:30-4pm. My body seems to naturally want a meal at this time. I always try to push the hunger away until dinner is done but it never works...so while I'm making dinner, I eat all the things in the kitchen. Then I don't want my kids to see me not eat dinner so I eat dinner also.

I wake up at 5am, have breakfast somewhere around 6am, eat lunch at 11am then go (or try to) til about 7pm when dinner is done cooking.

When I lost weight before, I used to just eat a second lunch then have something small for dinner, but now that I have 2 young girls and a husband, I want to sit and eat dinner with everyone and don't want to set any bad examples for my kids.

I'm trying to figure out a filling mini meal, I pushed stuff around in my day to make room for about 300 cals and still let me have dinner with the family.

Any suggestions on something portable? I'm also trying to keep my macros in check, so more protein is good. Also, looking for stuff with not chicken in it, since I eat that nearly everyday for lunch in different forms.
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Replies

  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I would not be able to go for 8 hours in the afternoon either...

    Scrambled egg whites w/ a little 2% cheddar, some veggies: very filling and could do this for 100-150 calories depending on quantities. Apple slices w/ peanut butter for 100-200. 100-calorie bag of popcorn, 1 oz cheese, and some berries would be about 300.
  • ponycyndi
    ponycyndi Posts: 858 Member
    I eat 4 meals - 7:30am, 11am, 3 pm, and 6:30pm. My kids get home from school at 3 and they are hungry too, so we all have a snack together.

    Fruit and cheese is a favorite, so is yogurt or smoothies. I try to get something with protein, like some nuts, cheese stick, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, or yogurt.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Do you have an insulated lunch bag? If so, I would try yogurt plus a fruit or veggie. I just checked the yogurt I ate at lunch. It was a 0% Fage Greek yogurt with a sidecar of honey. That was 170 calories. You could eat that plus an apple. You don't have to go fat free either though. Fat is more filling. I just got the 0% because I wanted the honey, lol.

    If you don't have a way to keep yogurt cool, try nuts or a nut butter (the latter is generally around 180-190 for 2T) and a fruit or veggie. Or maybe some lite bread. I think it's Nickles that has a lite bread that is 45 calories. With two slices of that you could have a sandwich. Or one slice plus some strawberries.
  • AceCC86
    AceCC86 Posts: 71
    I would chew my arm off if I went that long between lunch and dinner!

    I always have a Greek yogurt, protein/fiber bar, veggie cup or all of the above close by so that I don't have to worry between meals.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    For a 300 calorie high protein snack I'd do greek yogurt or cottage cheese plus a hardboiled egg and some raw veggies or berries for variety. I also quite like smoked salmon as a protein-based snack.
  • keefmac
    keefmac Posts: 313 Member
    I've bought some protein bars to try, 300kcals and look nice.

    As said above eggs are very filling too.

    A tuna salad comes out pretty low calorie was as well..
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Toast, cottage cheese, avocado and tomato for around 200

    Hummus, carrots and some chips for around 250

    An ice cream

    Anything you want -300 is quite a lot - you could have a sandwich ..200 on bread, chicken, salad, mayo
  • dcarter1020
    dcarter1020 Posts: 73 Member
    Tagging this so I can come back and reference. Thanks!
  • pplastics
    pplastics Posts: 135 Member
    Everyday I bring to work 1 cup of greek yogurt mixed with 1 tsp honey and stevia and an apple. On days when I ate a light lunch, I might throw in a few almonds.

    My morning snack is usually pistachios, string cheese and grapes or carrots.

    Always keeps me full till my next meal
  • MommaMeatus
    MommaMeatus Posts: 18 Member
    Poached eggs on toast with no butter and a good low caloric low calorie rye bread

    2 large eggs - 140
    2 pieces deli world rye bread 110 or weight watchers bread or wonder thin (140 but still low)
    250 all told.

    My go to breakfast!
  • Mozzarrella omlette. 2 eggs and 30g mozzarrella. Will fill you up, has lots of protein and no chicken.

    You can cook it in the morning and take it to work, even with a side salad.
  • sbjmorgan
    sbjmorgan Posts: 158 Member
    1/2 c pistachios shells on (160) + clementine (35) + hummus + cucumbers. That should keep you full and depending on the hummus, be around 250-300 cals.
  • qb63
    qb63 Posts: 88 Member
    I eat all the things in the kitchen



    I got the strangest mental picture when I read this part. :laugh:
  • bigsistruck
    bigsistruck Posts: 125 Member
    130 calorie turkey burger with an 80 calorie bun, and a low calorie Greek yogurt (such as Dannon Light and Fit). This is what I have for supper most nights! I get the 99% fat free turkey burger and cook them all ahead of time (make sure to weigh them to get the right calorie amount)!
  • MonaLisaLianne
    MonaLisaLianne Posts: 398 Member
    I know some people don't like to eat "fast food" but I find that a small Wendy's chili is extremely satisfying, lots of protein and beans are good for you too - and it's only 180 calories. For me, something hot sticks with me longer than cold foods.
  • llUndecidedll
    llUndecidedll Posts: 724 Member
    I can eat just about anything. When I'm trying to hit my protein macro with very few calories, I usually go for

    a can of tuna in water (90 calories),
    one egg (70 calories),
    half a cup of brown rice (108 calories?),
    and add about 30 calories of leafy veggies.

    I love fish and eggs. I like to blanch (is that it?) the veggies for a hot second.

    I also love beans, all kinds of beans. So I like to put a cup of canned black beans (about 220 calories) with tuna or chicken.
  • craftytasha
    craftytasha Posts: 22 Member
    My lunch time is typically around 11 or 12. It depends on the day's schedule. I get home around 3:15 most days and eat immediately when I get home. Leftover veggies are always good, a piece of fruit and a granola bar, small amount of leftover pasta, whole grain toast with peanut butter (make sure to only put 1-2 tbsp of peanut butter, those calories add up!), 1 cup of leftover soup, trail mix and fruit, cottage cheese, veggies and hummus, the options are endless. As you can see I'm big on leftovers and clean eating. When I make dinner, it's usually ready around 5:30 or 6, a bit earlier than most families.
    Hope this gives you ideas!
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    Whole wheat toast with nut butter.
  • avoidtheclapp107
    avoidtheclapp107 Posts: 49 Member
    Greek yogurt and a spoon of peanut butter. It's a delicious, creamy breadless PB&J.
  • snoringcat
    snoringcat Posts: 131 Member
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I like pita chips (I like Keebler's Cinnamon Sugar or Stacy's Cinnamon Sugar) with peanut butter. 30g of the chips and a tablespoon of peanut butter helps me keep my hunger under control. It's about 250 calories.

    I also like chex mix and peanuts. I get the dark chocolate chex mix and put some peanuts in it. I use a 1/2 serving of each one and it comes to 150 calories. But if you take a full serving of each it will be about 300 calories.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    What are the things that usually help you feel full?

    For me, a bowl of oatmeal would keep me going for hours.

    When I have these days where I want to eat all day, I make blended broth based soups because you cook it once, then eat it for a whole week with minimal preparation. They are thick, so they stay in your stomach and they are super low in calories, one big bowl is no more than 200 calories. From experience, blended lentil soup tends to fill me the best.

    Like I said, try to think what usually keeps you full, and eat that.
  • angelexperiment
    angelexperiment Posts: 1,917 Member
    If it happens as you are making dinner make ahead a snack like a banana and two tbsp pb or carrot wedges, bell pepper slices, cucumber slices, chopped celery and a cup of yogurt you can either snack as you cook or do it before you cook. They are quick easyand hold you over til dinner. Also a large apple and a greek yogurt are easy too
  • jke78
    jke78 Posts: 59 Member
    I eat 4 meals - 7:30am, 11am, 3 pm, and 6:30pm. My kids get home from school at 3 and they are hungry too, so we all have a snack together.

    Fruit and cheese is a favorite, so is yogurt or smoothies. I try to get something with protein, like some nuts, cheese stick, cottage cheese, boiled eggs, or yogurt.


    This^^^^

    Remember, protein is your friend. Not only will it help keep you sated it's also great after a workout for muscle recovery.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    Chicken breast and sweet potato slices with sugar free maple syrup on both. Sounds gross, but it's really good!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    A handful of nuts and a can of V8

    A protein bar and a piece of frui

    Cottage cheese and fruit

    Cheese and crackers
  • Nice2BFitAgain
    Nice2BFitAgain Posts: 319 Member
    I eat 5x a day - I could NEVER last 8 hours w/out eating....I wake up hungry! LOL

    My go to snacks:
    Turkey Muffins (turkey meatloaf baked in a cupcake/muffin pan)

    Chobani 0 Greek Yogurt and 1/2 serving (1/2 ounce) Almonds = 237kcal

    Air popped popcorn and apple/banana

    Quest bar (apple pie) = 180kcal

    why not breakfast for snack - Arnold multigrain thin, bacon, egg = 250 kcal
  • EmmaFitzwilliam
    EmmaFitzwilliam Posts: 482 Member
    8 slices "lite" salami - 60 cal
    Hummus - 35-70 cal /2 T
    Wasa cracker (40-70 cal)
    (antipasto!)

    2 eggs - 140 cal
    spinach
    1 oz shredded cheddar cheese - 110
    (spinach omelet)

    Wasa cracker w/ peanut butter 40, 188 calories
    Apple 85

    2 hard boiled eggs/2 T hummus - deviled eggs (230 calories)

    3/4 cup golden grahams cereal - 180
    1/2 cup milk - 120

    10 grain cereal (1/4 dry) 130 cal
    2 T half & half (40)
    2 T PB2 (45)
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    You could try pushing lunch later. I find it helps me.

    A small/medium chicken breast baked in the oven with a 1/8 c sour cream, 1/8 c dijon mustard, 1/4 TSP garlic powder, and 1/4 TBSP dill mixture spread on top usually comes in under 300 cals for me (have to weigh the chicken). Plus it keeps me full since it's higher in protein than most of my go-to snacks.

    Or try mixing half a can of tuna (60 cals), 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese (110 cals), 1 - 2 tsp hot sauce (maybe 5 cals), 1 hard boiled egg (80 cals), 1 TBSP 1% sour cream (10 cals), and pepper, salt and garlic powder to taste (or whatever spices you like) = ~265 cals. Super filling for me. I might try it with a different hot sauce next time. Or maybe salsa.
  • madeleineld
    madeleineld Posts: 75 Member
    Everyone is making great suggestions and I definitely think 8 hours during the day is too long to go without a meal, for me at least! I just wanted to pipe up because, whether or not I have eaten enough for day, I too tend to binge in the kitchen while I'm cooking. What worked for me is chewing gum right before I'm heading in--if I need to taste something, I can take the gum out for a second, but it makes me less interested in the constant snacking.