Ideas for a low calorie yet filling lunch

Rubie81
Rubie81 Posts: 720 Member
edited September 23 in Health and Weight Loss
Place all your ideas/recipes here please.
It's only 12 in the afternoon here and I have already had more calories than I usually do at this time. Sadly most of that has been in my coffee (whole milk and sugar).
Thanks for the ideas.
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Replies

  • khanamura
    khanamura Posts: 7 Member
    soup = low calorie + filling
  • emilysebastian
    emilysebastian Posts: 245 Member
    I love homemade salads... two cups of spinach, lots of crunch veggies (zucchini or yellow squash, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc) and a light or fat-free dressing. My fave right now is Annie's FatFree Mango Vinegarette--yum! If you'd got room for some extra cals, I crumble-up a piece of turkey bacon, too :) Even with the bacon, you're looking at maybe 100-125 cals.
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    Salad with lots of veggies and some skinless chicken with a vingerette dressing?

    Or have a regular lunch and work out extra hard to earn the extra calories??
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I like to have a sandwich (whole or half) and lots of carrots, celery and cucumber.
  • andythorn1969
    andythorn1969 Posts: 17
    2 small sliced of toast, tppoed with about 40g of philedelphia extra light betwwen them, slice a tomato on top, stick under grill for 5 mins and tht's about 200 cals.

    Boomshanka,

    Andy
  • sarahknelson
    sarahknelson Posts: 1
    I like my coffe too! I use fat free creamer, no-calorie sweetner, and skim milk, and it still tastes great!. I find that fruit is very filling! I also exercise a lot even when I'm just watching tv!
  • jdutmel
    jdutmel Posts: 2 Member
    Aunt Millies 5 grain bread is only 80 calories for 2 slices. Add some turkey for around 45 calories, lettuce and honey mustard. Then a pickle on the side.
  • hungrymarathongirl
    hungrymarathongirl Posts: 444 Member
    I usually have soup and salad. Weight Watchers Smart Ones soup has between 60-90 cals per cup. Or flavored tuna on a wrap (about 200 cals).
  • sweetheart03622
    sweetheart03622 Posts: 928 Member
    eek! drinking your calories can be such a killer! Someone just told me about sara lee pita pockets (about 80 cals each). Stuff one of those with oodles of veggies and a little lean protein. I'm planning on having one for lunch on Sunday with some tuna, a bit of low-fat mayo, some mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, etc. The whole thing should come in at about 200-250 calories and is loaded with veggies and protein!
  • tarbinator
    tarbinator Posts: 7
    How about a nice turkey sandwich, filled with lots of fresh veggies on two Orowheat Sandwich Thins? I love these thins. Two of them are only 100 cals!

    Lisa

    2201661.png
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  • carrieliz81
    carrieliz81 Posts: 489 Member
    Soup is a great suggestion, esp the lower cal brothy ones like chicken noodle or vegetable or vegetable beef...

    Today I ate basically nuts for lunch.... mixed nuts for 260 cals and a peanut granola bar for 170...
  • ShrinkinMel
    ShrinkinMel Posts: 982 Member
    Hey there. :)

    I like to have big salads with lots of fresh "veggies"(technically fruits) such as cucumber, tomatoes and I really love red bell peppers. If you have calories through on some protein and it should be filling with a tall glass of water. Sometimes my salads stuff me but I use like 3 cups of spring mix lettuce.

    I like turkey sandwiches too they are usually filling with some carrot sticks or something.
  • knovello82
    knovello82 Posts: 110 Member
    Lean sandwitches are great...like turkey on wheat. It doesn't make me feel that full, but around 1 or 2, if I can wait that long, I'll have a granola bar or something. I love my coffee too, but I drink mine black.
  • thefreemans28
    thefreemans28 Posts: 267 Member
    I've started adding grapes to my lunch. They are packed with juice and are incredibly filling!!!
  • xp0sed
    xp0sed Posts: 173 Member
    My usual is either; tuna sandwich, turkey sandwich/wrap or homemade egg mcmuffin (no meat). I then will add veggies like carrot sticks and cucumber.
  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    a light soup (progresso) or a salad with some grilled chicken and a low cal dressing
  • thefreemans28
    thefreemans28 Posts: 267 Member
    Also, when I pack a salad (which is almost every day) I try to add a meat to it to help keep me full longer. Here are a few ideas I do...

    Ground Turkey with fat free sour cream, salsa, and chopped peppers and tomatoes
    1/2 a can of Tuna with fat free honey dijon dressing and 1 hard boiled egg
    flaked crab meat with honey dijon dressing
    grilled chicken with a fat free dressing and veggies
  • ShrinkinMel
    ShrinkinMel Posts: 982 Member
    Oh yeah I agree on the Tuna. I've started having mine with lime juice seasoning and just a touch of Italian or vinaigrette is wonderful and filling. Sure saves the Miracle Whip(can't stand mayo) calories.
  • momof3babes
    momof3babes Posts: 103
    bump
  • Rubie81
    Rubie81 Posts: 720 Member
    All great suggestions. Going food shopping today.
    I've been doing a lot of spinach wraps with low cal cheese and lot's of hot sauce.
    Will have to try tuna. I have tons of tuna at home just never have any idea what to do with it.
    Thanks everyone.
  • QueenofCups
    QueenofCups Posts: 365 Member
    I have found wheat thins and hummus to be very filling. Also, grapes mixed w/ low cal vanilla yogurt and then a high protein bar (sometimes I save the bar for after workout b/c I am always starving after exercising).

    I can't stand soup. :P
  • rudyhessur
    rudyhessur Posts: 1
    I do baked oatmeal and yogurt, maybe some fruit too if I'm feeling "brave". I'm recovering from anorexia, so I'm in the process of trying to introduce new food,but do something about my nutrition. I got the baked oatmeal recipe from an online blog... It's been really safe for me. I realize I probably shouldn't eat it as "meal", but hey... Baby steps. My favorite is cinnamon and Pumpkin spice... I might get brave and add some chocolate chips someday =P

    Anyway, it's pretty easy...this is for the cinnamon one
    1/2 c rolled oats
    1/4 tsp cinnamon
    2 tbsp of a sweetener, or sugar. You might use more, but 2 is fine for me
    1/4 cup of apple sauce
    1/4 of milk of choice, apple juice or water
    1/4 tsp vanilla
    Pinch salt

    If you want to add a richer flavor, put a bit of margarine or butter in there. I'll also add a tbsp of some sort of nut butter in order to get that extra bit of protein and fat...

    So, mix it all up and stick it in a small baking dish (like a mini cake!) bake at 375 for 20 minutes. I like to broil mine for an extra 5 minutes. My brother adds raisins as well... I guess you can add anything.

    It tops about 190-200 for the basic recipe
  • fitbobvt
    fitbobvt Posts: 6
    Three egg whites, one regular egg, diced peppers, mushrooms and onion, one tbs to sauté - salt and pepper amazing and just over 135 calories!
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Tuna salad, full of protein, keeps me full for hours!
  • 1ZenGirl
    1ZenGirl Posts: 432 Member
    soup = low calorie + filling

    Hey that was my idea!! Soup with fiber in it like beans....mmm mmm good!
  • Buksh12
    Buksh12 Posts: 203 Member
    Ok im just gona be completely honest and its the whole reason i struggle. soup sucks its liquid and unless im splodging a full sandwich in it im not happy! :blushing: as for salads and tuna.. i dont eat tuna.. and if i make a salad it may aswell be a mixed grill by the time ive put my "extras" on it! :( i suck at dieting! food is too nice!
  • micheleld73
    micheleld73 Posts: 914 Member
    Oh yeah I agree on the Tuna. I've started having mine with lime juice seasoning and just a touch of Italian or vinaigrette is wonderful and filling. Sure saves the Miracle Whip(can't stand mayo) calories.

    Try tune with 1/2 avocado...it's creamy and oh so yummy!!
  • Rocklinite
    Rocklinite Posts: 30 Member
    I like to mix it up and I stay around 300 calories or less. Today I had a very filling smoothie with almond milk, protein powder, 1/2 banana and a big handful of spinach/kale mixture. I also like turkey sandwiches on sandwich thins. I'm a fan of Miracle Whip so I measure out a couple of tsp. I also like baked chips (1 bag). Usually in the afternoon around 3pm, I'll eat a light yogurt with a tsp. of nuts mixed in.
  • lavaughan69
    lavaughan69 Posts: 459 Member
    A typical lunch for me is a packet of instant oatmeal with a little splenda for sweetness and a 1/2 apple sliced into it. My side dishes are sliced cucumber, baby carrots a plain greek yogurt and the other half of my apple. Sometimes I treat myself with a 60 cal. chocolate pudding cup. I hate salad so I never opt for that. Alternatively I swap out oatmeal with soup and a slice of light rye bread that I toast w/ a tiny pat of butter.
  • bettycrockernot
    bettycrockernot Posts: 18
    Today I had a .5 oz can of canned chicken breast with a tsp of light miracle whip and some chopped up celery for a crunch on whole wheat. Was really good and low calorie.

    When I have tuna, I like to mix it with a little bit of mustard and wrap it in a bed of lettuce. Really low cal!
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