Lunch alternative

lafiesta
lafiesta Posts: 4 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
Any suggestions for alternative for lunch? I'm kicking off my diet this week and I'm trying to find an easy and healthy option for lunch. I currently eat PB&J on wheat bread which I know is not a good option. Any help is much appreciated, thanks!

Replies

  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    Anything you like

    I always do leftovers. I find it easiest to just grab a container and go in the mornings.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    PB&J on wholegrain bread would have been one of my suggestions for a healthy lunch.

    Others - soups, salads, chili, stew, leftovers, sandwich wrap (I like wraps better than regular because I can add more veggies - basically you an wrap up a small salad in there but it's easier to eat), yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit/veggies, hummus and veggie sticks or wholegrain crackers, omelet or frittata ... whatever you enjoy and fits within your calorie/nutrition goals.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    I do leftovers or a salad with protein on it a lot (but I just really enjoy salads). Sometimes I make a bunch of something ahead (like I roast a chicken or slowcook some lamb or pork or a turkey leg) and then use that plus various sides for lunches for the week.
  • Emily3907
    Emily3907 Posts: 1,461 Member
    I am just curious why PB&J is not a good option?
  • Stella3838
    Stella3838 Posts: 439 Member
    I eat half a PB sandwich every day as part of my breakfast. On a super grainy, whole grain bread and natural peanut butter. But even regular PB on white is good as long as it fits in the calorie target. I LOVE PBJ.
  • jagodfrey08
    jagodfrey08 Posts: 425 Member
    I usually eat cold, leftover diced chicken with some type of raw vegetable, and either a slice of bread or a piece of fruit. Whatever you like, really. Walmart carries these Bistro salads that are under 300 calories and a tasty and filling lunch. My favorite is the Caesar salad.
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
    My main was a cheese sandwich today. Tomorrow I plan on a salad. Whatever fits in your calorie and nutrient goals works.
  • StrongGirlFitGirl
    StrongGirlFitGirl Posts: 183 Member
    I try to keep already cut up vegetables on hand - grilled if it's anything that's good grilled - some cooked lean protein and packets of tuna, hard boiled eggs, and cheese sticks on hand so when it's time to put lunch together, I can just toss a bunch of vegetables in a bowl, add protein, grab an egg or cheese, and I'm done. I also end up adding things to salad that aren't "traditional", like cubed bits of potato, nuts, etc., to keep from getting bored.

    Also, leftovers are good, too.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    PB&J on wholegrain bread would have been one of my suggestions for a healthy lunch.

    Others - soups, salads, chili, stew, leftovers, sandwich wrap (I like wraps better than regular because I can add more veggies - basically you an wrap up a small salad in there but it's easier to eat), yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit/veggies, hummus and veggie sticks or wholegrain crackers, omelet or frittata ... whatever you enjoy and fits within your calorie/nutrition goals.

    This. Nothing wrong with your current sandwich but peanut butter is pretty calorie dense so you just need to be mindful of serving size :)
  • mattdhall
    mattdhall Posts: 85 Member
    I've started eating Progresso light soups for lunch some days. They're all less than 250 calories per can. Today I had the Light Italian Style Meatball. It was 160 calories for the whole can. Tasty and filling.
  • 3rdof7sisters
    3rdof7sisters Posts: 486 Member
    I had a really good sandwich today. I used a packet of low sodium, water packed tuna, 1/2 TBSP of light miracle whip, mixed in the tuna and put it on a toasted Brownberry pocket thin. 180 calories.
  • crzycatlady1
    crzycatlady1 Posts: 1,930 Member
    mattdhall wrote: »
    I've started eating Progresso light soups for lunch some days. They're all less than 250 calories per can. Today I had the Light Italian Style Meatball. It was 160 calories for the whole can. Tasty and filling.

    Love these soups-I have around 20 cans in the cupboard right now because my store had them on sale for .99 a few weeks ago :) I really like the chicken enchilada one-I make up the whole can and then add hot sauce and crushed tortilla chips or Fritos to it-still comes out to under 500 calories for the whole thing!
  • ejbronte
    ejbronte Posts: 867 Member
    I prep proteins during the weekend so I can grab and go during the week. Usually it's chicken or steak cut up with a salad and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Today I switched up and finished up some beans in a salad instead. Lately, I've also been making my own breads with all different kinds of flours and techniques (popovers are my latest toy). So I can have a bread-like substance that has my own preferences for fiber, salt and other content.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I make a 'salad' out of 1/2 cup of corn, 1 veggie dog, cherry or grape tomatoes, English cucumber, garlic dill pickle, jarred jalapenos, and various other veggies (today, I added a scallion, a celery stalk, and a handful of bean sprouts—the white crunchy kind). I mix all that up with 1/4-cup of salsa, 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish, and 1 tbsp vegan sour cream.*

    *I'm vegetarian and, while I'm not vegan, I don't eat much dairy. Obviously, if that's not you, go ahead and use real hotdog and sour cream if you like!
  • Theo166
    Theo166 Posts: 2,564 Member
    3rdof7sisters wrote: »
    I had a really good sandwich today. I used a packet of low sodium, water packed tuna, 1/2 TBSP of light miracle whip, mixed in the tuna and put it on a toasted Brownberry pocket thin. 180 calories.

    I also really like tuna fish sandwiches, I'll add some pickle slices and maybe some cheese.
  • jkwolly
    jkwolly Posts: 3,049 Member
    MeganAM89 wrote: »
    I adore pb & j (so long as it's made with raspberry jam) so when I want it I just make sure that it fits into my day.

    Totes HAS to be raspberry.
  • lafiesta
    lafiesta Posts: 4 Member
    You guys are awesome, thank you for all the ideas. The PB&J, to me, is a lot of calories for me. I will definitely try some of these ideas!
  • nowNOTthenmylife
    nowNOTthenmylife Posts: 47 Member
    Quick lunch. A can of beans, sardine, eggs, or avocado and a bag of frozen steamable veggies or frozen rice. Another option is make your own salad. Boiled eggs, a bag of salad and homemade vinegrette or balsamic. That's of you don't have time to cook
  • happyauntie2015
    happyauntie2015 Posts: 282 Member
    As long as it fits in your calories for the day I see no problem with it. I don't eat peanut butter much because I can go way overboard with it especially since what my mind says is a serving and what my scale says is different and I love peanut butter! Lol
  • pebble4321
    pebble4321 Posts: 1,132 Member
    My fallback lunch when there's not much in the fridge or I want to prepare ahead of time:
    - Brown rice, salad (usually presliced coleslaw veggies with no dressing), tuna in chilli oil (I use Sirena tuna and drain the oil) all whacked in a lunchbox in that order. The tuna is spicy enough to flavour the whole lot so it doesn't need any extra dressing, and I just mix it up in the lunchbox before I eat it.
  • AntsyAngler
    AntsyAngler Posts: 58 Member
    I like veggie sushi for lunch sometimes. I make my own with avocado, carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers and take a side of soy sauce and wisabe, but there are pretty cheap pre-made ones available at most markets.
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