Lunch ideas

I need lunch ideas! That is the meal I struggle with the most and then say screw it and get fast food.

Replies

I tend to pack a sandwich of some kind, baby carrots, string cheese, and an ounce of almonds. Sometimes I add a hard boiled egg or clementine to the mix. Sandwiches range from lunch meat and cheese to tuna w/ laughing cow cheese to egg salad to hummus and cheese. Really, whatever is on sale that I can put on a sandwich thin/wrap/pita bread.

cecsav1

Leftovers! Basically lunch consists of the same things I eat for breakfast, dinner, or a snack. I had oatmeal for lunch today. Chicken and broccoli for breakfast yesterday. Lol

joyfullyalive

Soups home made

lindakelly2016

diannethegeek wrote: »

I tend to pack a sandwich of some kind, baby carrots, string cheese, and an ounce of almonds. Sometimes I add a hard boiled egg or clementine to the mix. Sandwiches range from lunch meat and cheese to tuna w/ laughing cow cheese to egg salad to hummus and cheese. Really, whatever is on sale that I can put on a sandwich thin/wrap/pita bread.

star1407

I just had poppy seed crackers with Philadelphia lightest and some pickled onions, it was really yummy. Washed down with tea instead of milky coffee and finished off with a 50cal tree chocolate for a sweet treat. Less than 200 cals!

kdcomstock89

cecsav1 wrote: »

Leftovers! Basically lunch consists of the same things I eat for breakfast, dinner, or a snack. I had oatmeal for lunch today. Chicken and broccoli for breakfast yesterday. Lol

This! The crock pot is a life saver for me, I usually convince myself that after work there is no time to cook dinner so I should get fast food. If I put stuff in the crock pot I don't have that excuse because the food is cooked and ready at home waiting for me. The leftovers are lunches!

JensJourney11

Whatever I make for dinner one night, I portion out the rest and freeze it in smaller portions for future lunches. Things like an egg frittata, pasta bake or chicken breast - they all freeze well and it makes it so much easier in the morning.

ancia_1

just made this, scrambled eggs with ham and veg 250 calories, 28g protein, 4g carbs and 13 g fats , 3 egg whites, 1 egg, ham, mushroom, spinach, baby plum tomatoes, a bit of full fat milk, and on top some pecorino romano

dklibert

The Domestic Geek does YouTube videos with meal prep. She has tons of great ideas. This week she did a veggie fried rice

I make a big pot of soup and usually have that with a side salad. When I worked out of the home I often brought frozen meals and left them in the freezer so I wouldn't be tempted to go out. I would bring salad or fruit to go with from home.

mindysoo

Thanks guys! You've been so helpful!!

fitdaisygrrl

I struggled with lunches too - a lot of temptation to just eat out and make it easier. Last week I made a game plan and made a batch of that Weighwatchers/cabbage soup (broth, canned tomatoes, cabbage, lots of veggies, italian seasoning) and enjoyed a bowl at lunch with a different side to make it substantial- like a sandwich or some laughing cow cheese and crackers. Tuna or turkey sandwiches on low-cal bread. The soup tasted like minestrone and was surprisingly good, and was warm and filling. My new goal is to make my lunches more fun and not even think about eating out as an option.

ellidahl

I find that baked potatoes (or sweet potatoes) are great, topped with tuna mixed with veg, fat-free fromage frais and balsamic vinegar; baked beans; or cottage cheese with veg and chives. Omelettes are great as well, particularly if you bake them in muffin trays, just fill the trays with veg and/or ham and poor on the eggs mixed with spices and bake, that way you can do a couple of lunches in one go and the mini omlettes are so much cuter than one big one!

cfranklin10

1 package of tuna, half an avocado, and some red onion mixed together in a whole wheat pita is sooo good! I found the recipe on this site from someone else and it is so good!!! about 300 cal for it

Tammynado

I think it depends on how you have your lunches - do you work away from the home - do you have a frig and a microwave to use where you work? I do and I keep 1 frozen meal (for emergencies), greek yogurt, fruit, or boiled egg. I keep oatmeal packets and a can of soup in my desk - so I have no excuse to eat bad if I am stuck and can't go to lunch. If you don't have a frig you can use - invest in a good small cooler or insulated lunch bag - they sell small ice packs at dollar tree and pack your own lunches every night before bed so they are ready for the next day - I normally do left overs - I portion out a small amount immediately in a container to eat for lunch the next day or on Sunday i will cook a big soup or stew and put it in containers for lunch for the week - or I cook up a few chicken breast - chop those up and do different things with those for lunches for the week. Sounds like you get stuck and don't know what to do and want to avoid the fast food temptation - maybe try getting into the habit of deciding what you are having for lunch the night before and get it ready - maybe that will help ... lots of other wonderful ideas here too.

buttersbunch

Grilled salmon and steamed veggies!!

buttersbunch

Chili's Bar & Grill:

Tilapia with all the 'extras' requested on the side (to control what you want on it)
and steamed veggies (no butter)

C

buttersbunch

Subway!!

All kinds of ways to have a veggie salad there, with any of their meats on top! Just bring your own dressing, or ask for one 'on the side' and forgo the cheese, etc... unless you've accounted for it!

buttersbunch

Chick-Fil-a:

Two side salads (request extra veggies, no extra charge!) and grilled chicken nuggets to divide between them!

buttersbunch

Red Robin!!

ANY of their burger or chicken sandwiches can be made with a HUGE lettuce wrap (instead of bun) and they have BOTTOMLESS veggies or side salads!! So filling & delicious!!

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srv524

I don't do greens so...today might be a ham sub or chicken finger sub. There, I said it...

jennyd67

I have been making mason jar salads to take to work. I make 4 of them on sunday and have them for the week. I like to make ones that have either some grain, pasta or beans in them to make them filling. This week is a Greek Quinoa salad. You can google for recipe ideas, there's lots out there. Mason jars are pretty cheap and can be used forever (though I bought pretty green ones that cost a little more, just because).

JustinAnimal

For the sake of your waistline and finances, I'd recommend bringing a lunch to work every damn day. I tend to other go with leftovers from our healthy dinners, or simply pack what I call component lunches. Leftovers are usually taco salads, fried rice (with mostly stir-fried vegetables, eggs and tofu), rice and beans and a protein, beet salads, etc. Component lunches do a better job of being cheap and hitting my macros. I'll pack things like: 10 almonds, a banana, an apple, cottage cheese, full fat plain yogurt, carrot sticks or other raw veggies, hardboiled eggs, chicken breast, ground turkey, baked tilapia.

Ugh... all of this healthy talk is making me want a taco. Good luck, OP.

UPOLegend

I tend to bring in a sandwich, usually ham, chicken, or turkey with a cheese spread like Laughing Cow to replace my usual mayo, nothing worse than a bone dry sandwich! Also, I bring in fruit to snack on and I'm a sucker for crisps so more often than not those too though I'm trying to opt for Mini Cheddars instead as they're more filling, seems generally healthier and about the same calorie value as a bag of crisps.

Sometimes I bring in a salad, I buy a bag of salad leaves and add cucumber, tomatoes, gerkins, beetroot, peppers, silverskin onions, a few olives and a protein which is usually roasted chicken breast.

I have a microwave at work but never used it, really should start.

michellecfawcett

I LOVE to do a wedge of Laughing Cow swiss cheese, Boar's Head low sodium turkey, and raw spinach leaves on a Fiber One honey wheat wrap. It's low calorie, but still super filling! I pack that everyday for lunch and make some minor adjustments like switching turkey for ham or the swiss cheese for a different kind to put a little variation in my lunches. I then pack it with pretzels, or a yogurt, or peanut butter and apple slices!

cappi29

Today I am doing lunch / dinner prep for the week. I bought 2 packages of raw chicken tenders. I am cooking in a variety of flavors, craked pepper, parmesan, ranch and italian. Throughout the week I add these to salad . Or make wraps with them. Pair this with cheese, salad, raw veggies or cottage cheese.

dotti1121

buttersbunch wrote: »

Chick-Fil-a:

Two side salads (request extra veggies, no extra charge!) and grilled chicken nuggets to divide between them!

This sounds delicious!

dotti1121

jennyd67 wrote: »

I have been making mason jar salads to take to work. I make 4 of them on sunday and have them for the week. I like to make ones that have either some grain, pasta or beans in them to make them filling. This week is a Greek Quinoa salad. You can google for recipe ideas, there's lots out there. Mason jars are pretty cheap and can be used forever (though I bought pretty green ones that cost a little more, just because).

Are there certain salad ingredients that don't do well in the jar after 4 days?

Afura

Lunch is the meal I do awesome on, because I prep for the week on Sunday. I usually have chicken thighs and 2/3 servings of vegetables (yay steam-in-a-bag makes that easy). Sometimes I'll mix up the meat with hamburger, and the veggies I like to differ (carrots, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli, peas, etc).
I portion it out in Rubbermaid's 2 section square Takealong container (one side meat, one side veggies), I can freeze them and in the morning pull one out, usually put a bit of Trader Joe's sriracha bbq sauce on the meat (or salsa verde, etc). Heat it up at lunch for a few minutes and good to go. 4oz chicken thighs, 2 servings green beans 1 serving cauliflower and the bbq sauce was around 238 calories, wiggle room for breakfast/lunch calories (and that morning coffee).
If I hit fast food I'll usually get Wendy's ultimate grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad, or a wrap from chic-fil-a.
A lot of people eat last nights dinner for lunch, perfectly tasty option and you can pre-portion right from the clean up. I usually portion my dinner for more dinners.

If you want to get really pretty, or see some awesome lunches people have put together, there's a bento thread in the Recipes list that has some creative ideas, even if it's just "here it is, last night's dinner for lunch".