GOOD DINNER MEALS FOR UNDER 500 CAL!! HELP!?

MAGWAG
MAGWAG Posts: 5
edited September 29 in Food and Nutrition
Is there any good meals ya'll have tried or made that is under 500 calories. Like pasta's, meatballs? , uhm, chicken parmesans? How about good meat meals? Please let me know your secrets! :]

Replies

  • Dippydog
    Dippydog Posts: 154
    bump
  • kristy_estes21
    kristy_estes21 Posts: 434 Member
    I have some recipes on my blog... kmoss91581.wordpress.com
  • sunrise84
    sunrise84 Posts: 18
    Boneless grilled (or griddle) pork loin center cut with steamed veggies. Use a small amount of olive oil to keep the chops moist and tender. I recently had this meal. Had I not had the mac and cheese, it would've been under 500. Check my diary for some other foods that you may like and can mix and match.
  • Nomomush
    Nomomush Posts: 582 Member
    I absolutely LOVE my homemade chicken sweet potato chili. So yummy and only 257 calories per serving. It's a complete meal with good protein and carbs.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    I made pasta and meatballs yesterday. use extra lean ground meat, and my secret is a add 1/2 a cup of ground up beans, i have used kidney and black beans, to the meatball mix. It cuts the fat per serving. I use liquid egg whites instead of whole eggs to help bind it too. the beans make the meat tender it is very nice.
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    I like to saute 8oz. of mushroom, add Scallops and cook until white. Remove from heat and top with an oz. of shredded Monteray Jack or pepper jack cheese. Put the cover back on the dish about a minute to melt the cheese. Very nice with broccoli or asparagus.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    pasta is going to be tough for < 500 especially with meat. If you do a tomato based sauce with just veggies you could probably stay under 500. Grilled chicken breast or fish with a steamed veggie side should be < 500. A wrap or salad with a small amount of lean meat and a vinegrette dressing should do it.
  • lemonadem
    lemonadem Posts: 398 Member
    bump!!
  • NikkisNewStart
    NikkisNewStart Posts: 1,075 Member
    Almost every single meal I make is under 500 calories... a proper portion of a lean protein and 2 veggies can be had for under 300 calories easily... I made lasagna last night for 233 calories (recipe on blog)... unless you are covering everything with cream or frying it... you should be able to make almost anything you like to eat under 500 calories.

    The best place to start is by trying to make the meals you currently eat healthier by changing some of the ingredients or the way you prepare it... you can shave off numerous calories by lowering the amount of butter you use, grilling instead of frying, substituting yogurt for heavy creams, etc...
  • bubblesburst80
    bubblesburst80 Posts: 1,130 Member
    i make a chicken curry with spices, tinned tomatoes and fat free natural yoghurt, whatever veg you want
    brown onions, add spice
    brown meat
    add tomatoes, simmer
    add yoghurt to consistansy desired
    add any extras i.e. pepper, mushroom
    leave to simmer while you cook your rice

    2 onions, 4 chicken breast, 2 tins of tomatoes makes enough to feed 7 of us - 2 adults 5 kids,
  • RachelLovitt
    RachelLovitt Posts: 35 Member
    I like a mixed greens salad with cucumber, carrot, tomato, queso fresco (fresh lowfat cheese), kalamata olives, and a lean protein such as grilled chicken sausage, steak, or chicken. Add a bit of balsamic vinegar, herbs, and olive oil... Yum! Depending on your protein serving and the amount of cheese, this hovers around 500 calories.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I made pasta and meatballs yesterday. use extra lean ground meat, and my secret is a add 1/2 a cup of ground up beans, i have used kidney and black beans, to the meatball mix. It cuts the fat per serving. I use liquid egg whites instead of whole eggs to help bind it too. the beans make the meat tender it is very nice.

    Silken tofu is also a good added to meatballs. I saw someone use this in Asian dumplings on the Food Network once and gave it a try. It gives the meat a very smooth texture and doesn't change the taste at all.
  • cheshirequeen
    cheshirequeen Posts: 1,324 Member
    all my things are vegan, but california harvest veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix, baked potato with seasoning, or some butter, just enough for flavor, and usually have a vegan chik n patty or chik n fingers. Or some pasta pesto, throw in bunch of veggies, a little pesto, and some pasta, i have fussili personally, or have a huge salad, again, mines vegan, but of course lettuce, some low cal meats, i love tofurkey, some cheese, low cal or regular, some dressing, i personally have 1000 island and make sure you measure, and throw in any other veggies or course, and some croutons, but not that many. my salad is personally huge and usually around 350 calories. good luck.
  • drdenise
    drdenise Posts: 87 Member
    You should purchase Clean Eating Magazine. Or the Clean Eating "Diet" books. They have outstanding recipes for all meals, and they are WONDERFUL! Lower calorie recipes for your favorite meals. I have made chicken strips for my son, stuffed pork loin, etc. Even desserts!
  • kristy_estes21
    kristy_estes21 Posts: 434 Member
    I have some recipes on my blog... kmoss91581.wordpress.com

    There's a recipe on my blog for vegetarian polenta lasagna that is delicious!! A lot of my recipes come from Oxygen magazine.
  • funkyspunky871
    funkyspunky871 Posts: 1,675 Member
    http://sophiessweeties.onsugar.com/Fauxballs-duex-ways-8610837 - I used Laura's Lean Ground beef 4% fat instead. Each meatball came out to be 62 calories.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/148232-inside-out-egg-rolls?hl=inside+out+egg+roll#posts-2268133 - I left out the oil and added zucchini, mushrooms, and a couple of tbsps of House of Tsang's Classic Stir Fry sauce.


    I had four meatballs with a cup of "inside out egg roll" (and some stir fry sauce/soy sauce) for lunch today for only 350 calories. I'm soooo stuffed. I've never been this full on just 350 calories. :D I could only eat half my dessert and now I'm just waiting for the fullness to pass so I can actually go out and exercise! Lol.
  • nickscutie
    nickscutie Posts: 303 Member
    go to Eating Well's website, they have a whole section dedicated to dinners under 500 calories.
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    How about breakfast for supper?
    2 Al Fresco Sweet Italian chicken sausage (260 cal), 2 jumbo eggs (180 cal) and a cup of spinach.
    Saute the sausage, add the spinach and cook down. add eggs and you have a high protein dinner for under 500 calories. Mushrooms are a good substitute for spinach and 1 oz. cheese can be in place of one of the sausages.
  • alisont91
    alisont91 Posts: 54
    This site has some good recipes and they have 500-calorie dinners for seafood, vegetarian, chicken etc...
    http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/weight_loss_diet_plans/diet_meal_plans/eatingwell_s_500_calorie_dinner_challenge
  • Foxworth81
    Foxworth81 Posts: 124 Member
    I absolutely LOVE my homemade chicken sweet potato chili. So yummy and only 257 calories per serving. It's a complete meal with good protein and carbs.

    This sounds so yummy. I love sweet poratoes. Would you mind sharing this recipe with me?
  • eimaj5575
    eimaj5575 Posts: 278 Member
    Stoffers cheese raviollis are really good and its only 310 calories for a cup of them so it leaves u extra calories for a slice of garlic bread.
    I know its not the healthiest meal but I'm italian and I need my pasta every now and then. I'm 30 pounds down so far 18 of the pounds have been lost on myfitnesspal. This sight has really changed my life! Hope this helps for pasta craving :)
  • lemasney
    lemasney Posts: 67 Member
    There are thousands of great meals under 500 calories. You can eat anything and have it be under 500 calories, for that matter. The things you mentioned all have portions that are 500 calories. Pasta with meatballs, or ravioli, for example, is about 500 calories in a store bought can, like Chef Boyardee. You won't be able to eat a standard restaurant style serving of chicken parm for 500 cals, but you could certainly have a portion of it for 500 cals. Good luck.
  • evonday
    evonday Posts: 141 Member
    Here's a great chicken recipe, if you pair it with a side salad, steamed veggies or some fruit it could easily be under 500 cals.

    Garlic Cheddar Chicken

    Ingredients

    * 1/2 cup butter
    * 4 cloves garlic, minced
    * 3/4 cup dry bread crumbs
    * 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    * 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
    * 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley
    * 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
    * 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
    * 1/8 teaspoon salt
    * 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded thin


    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
    2. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, and cook the garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.
    3. In a shallow bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, parsley, oregano, pepper, and salt.
    4. Dip each chicken breast in the garlic butter to coat, then press into the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with any remaining butter and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.
    5. Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

    Calories: 406 | Total Fat: 25.2g | Cholesterol: 130mg
  • GreatSetOfBrains
    GreatSetOfBrains Posts: 675 Member
    bump
  • SweetSammie
    SweetSammie Posts: 391 Member
    Later this week I am going to try to make a lower calorie shepherd's pie. The plan is to use 1/3 finely chopped portobello mushroom and 1/2 ground beef. If it's good I will post it.
  • jstaff87
    jstaff87 Posts: 9
    Turkey burgers on sandwich thins w/ whatever toppings you prefer (I like swiss, tomato, and avacado) are great. I had that the other night with grilled asparagus on the side and it was under 450 cals for the whole thing. Also kabobs are a good option. I do them all kinds of ways with chicken or shrimp and veggies them marinade and grill them. If you want to message me I can send u some recipes :)

    I also post a lot of healthy meals with pictures on my facebook "like" page if you or anyone else on here would like to check it out! Tonight I am going to make spaghetti squash! Hope it turns out good.
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jackie-Stafford/145460822234962
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