Healthy lunch ideas?

Any healthy lunch ideas? Please share down in the comments

Replies

  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    edited February 2021
    I had a smoked ham and Gouda cheese sandwich with lots of mustard and a tiny bit of mayonnaise on whole wheat. 450 calories. Pretty dang good.
  • briscogun
    briscogun Posts: 1,138 Member
    I'll have a tuna fish sandwich for like 200 calories (lite wheat bread, lite mayo, lettuce, tomato). Pair it with Greek yogurt for a nice 300 calorie lunch with good protein.
  • goal06082021
    goal06082021 Posts: 2,130 Member
    What does "healthy" mean for you?

    This week I have some DIY Lunchables for my midday meal. Deli ham (14g), gouda slices (60g), oyster crackers (15g), pistachios (14g), red pepper hummus (28g) and baby carrots (54g), and a hard-boiled egg (60g). 424 calories for the lot, 18g carbs/28g fat/24g protein.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    edited February 2021
    I had salad the last two days, with some homemade sauerkraut, avocado, and a few dried cranberries and nuts. One day the protein was medium boiled egg, today was some lefftover rotisserie chicken. Many times I make chipotle adobo roasted cauliflower with mushrooms and chickpeas😋 Tomorrow I'm probably having pesto zoodles and shrimp.
  • Hope_bay74
    Hope_bay74 Posts: 273 Member
    I had roasted chicken today for lunch with half a sweet potato. It was so sweet there was no need to dress it with anything
  • freda666
    freda666 Posts: 338 Member
    Crispbreads and Dairylea or Laughing Cow. Suits me.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    What do you currently eat/like? I usually don't eat breakfast, so might have a vegetable omelet with cottage cheese or smoked salmon or some avocado or fruit on the side. I also love salads (with a ton of different veg and some fat in the dressing I make and maybe some nuts or seeds or cheese or olives) plus some source of protein, and since it is winter, soups or chili. I also often just have dinner leftovers from the night before (or a couple of nights before).
  • reversemigration
    reversemigration Posts: 168 Member
    Leftovers, often. Or I'll meal prep a one-pot sort of meal and portion it out for the days ahead.

    Another tried-and-true for me lunch is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (sometimes with regular pb, sometimes with reconstituted powdered pb) on 100% whole wheat with fruit, raw veggies, and maybe some yogurt on the side. Feeds my inner child and fits my nutritional needs.

    I think the key, for me, is planning it out a bit in advance. Pre-logging, as well as just being able to grab the already made meal out of the fridge on my way out the door, makes lunch easy. I need lunch to be easy! (On a side note, this makes it much easier to deal with very well-intentioned co-workers who offer treats or some of their food. "Very kind of you to offer, but I've already packed.")
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    I instapot chicken on the weekend and then portion it out with veggies during the week and reheat in the microwave.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I pack a big salad almost every day. It's my "raw" meal of the day- lots of fresh veggies (tomatoes, cukes, radishes, celery, carrots) and lots of leafy greens ( kale, bok choy, napa cabbage, spinach), a bit of protein (usually beans, hummus, or tofu) and some spices and vinegar for flavor.
  • KrisJ125
    KrisJ125 Posts: 93 Member
    edited February 2021
    If you like tuna and avocado try this: https://natashaskitchen.com/avocado-tuna-salad-recipe/
    You can scale it down easily and eat it on bread or as a salad. I use the solid white tuna packed in water and add back a good quality oil like olive or avocado (instead of the junky oil in canned tuna). Lots of protein and good fats here plus fiber.
  • ChickenKillerPuppy
    ChickenKillerPuppy Posts: 297 Member
    I eat 4oz of deli turkey on a whole wheat wrap that is 60 calories, and use one tablespoon of light mayo, some red onions, and lettuce. I have a non-fat Greek yogurt with it and some cut up veggies (usually cucumbers and celery). Pretty delish and filling for me, and it's about 340 calories.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I usually have leftovers from the night before and tuna salad sandwich a couple times per week. Grilled some shrimp last night with rice pilaf and asparagus and as usual, made enough for lunch today minus the asparagus, so I had a garden salad with rice pilaf and grilled shrimp for lunch today.
  • rterm
    rterm Posts: 13 Member
    I often have half a grapefruit, Trader Joes Hummus, and a half dozen marinated olives with a small piece of pita bread. I try not to eat a lot of calories for breakfast and lunch, so I can enjoy a more substantial dinner (with wine).
  • briscogun
    briscogun Posts: 1,138 Member
    What does "healthy" mean for you?

    This week I have some DIY Lunchables for my midday meal. Deli ham (14g), gouda slices (60g), oyster crackers (15g), pistachios (14g), red pepper hummus (28g) and baby carrots (54g), and a hard-boiled egg (60g). 424 calories for the lot, 18g carbs/28g fat/24g protein.

    That-Sounds-Good-Ill-Have-That-Dumb-and-Dumber.gif
  • Courtscan2
    Courtscan2 Posts: 499 Member
    I eat the same boring lunch 5 days a week. Just a big salad with mixed greens, carrot, cucumber, celery, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, Feta cheese, roasted chicken breast, lemon infused olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
  • Rocketman98
    Rocketman98 Posts: 9 Member
    For me it is usually leftovers. We plan on Sunday the meals for the following week. I always make a batch of something as a backup. Usually that will be goulash with wheat pasta, jambalaya, or a one pot meal I can eat. This helps me on the days where last night dinner was not what I wanted the next day.
  • stephie_nyc
    stephie_nyc Posts: 96 Member
    I've been working remotely the past few weeks so I can make Kodiak pancakes. I have them with a side of Greek yogurt, cinnamon, and Walden Farms pancake syrup. I've just been craving something sweet and warm for lunch lately.
  • TayaCurragh
    TayaCurragh Posts: 709 Member
    My lunch is around 300 calories. I tend to eat the same few meals with slight changes:
    - Pasta salad
    - Eggs and soldiers
    - Sandwiches - egg or cheese, with fruit
    - Cheese toasties (usually weekends)
  • sailor789
    sailor789 Posts: 33 Member
    tuna w/triscuits and green beans
    sweet potato with diced chicken cooked with tomato paste and onions scooped on top of the potato
    black bean sandwich w/tomato
    avocado/chickpea hummus with veggies
    banana, blueberry, carrots, spinach shake
    try to eat between 250-350 cals
    clean, green eating
    DASH diet
  • Poobah1972
    Poobah1972 Posts: 943 Member
    edited February 2021
    My typical lunch is left overs from the night before... So today it's a broiled Hot Italian sausage (~175 calories, with onions (10 calories), cheddar cheese (100 Cals), mustard, a touch of horseradish mayo (40 Cals cause it's really strongly flavored), in a Josephs Low Carb Pita (50 calories). Always extremely satisfying!
  • ridiculous59
    ridiculous59 Posts: 2,906 Member
    In the cooler months I make a crockpot full of soup on Sunday and then have it every day for lunch with a side of protein (can of tuna, leftovers from night before, etc). In the warmer months I make a huge salad on Sunday and do the same thing.
  • MinTheKitCat
    MinTheKitCat Posts: 174 Member
    I love breakfast but am rarely hungry in the mornings, so I'll usually just have a cup of coffee and maybe a piece of fruit, then have a 'brunch' lunch so I can have my breakfast foods :) Yogurt parfaits, omelets, eggs and toast with avocado, breakfast salad, eggs, oatmeal and spinach bowl. On weekends I do a real brunch - usually a waffle or some toast, eggs, and fruit.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    A protein, a starch, and a vegetable.

    Today that is leftover potatoes and chicken with tahini sauce, and broccoli made fresh.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,835 Member
    Poobah1972 wrote: »
    My typical lunch is left overs from the night before... So today it's a broiled Hot Italian sausage (~175 calories, with onions (10 calories), cheddar cheese (100 Cals), mustard, a touch of horseradish mayo (40 Cals cause it's really strongly flavored), in a Josephs Low Carb Pita (50 calories). Always extremely satisfying!

    I may have to look into those pitas... I've been making meals that include a low carb Tortilla that claims 70 calories but is actually 120 once I add back in the calories for the 12g of fiber they deducted, lol.

    I make Quesadilla type sandwiches out of them... Deli meat, cheese and tomato and onion, eggs, baco and cheese, etc... Would the Joseph's work for that? I really need just enough tortilla/wrap to make them hand edible, my creations are always soiling out the borders and that's fine as long as they maintain integrity
  • goal06082021
    goal06082021 Posts: 2,130 Member
    Poobah1972 wrote: »
    My typical lunch is left overs from the night before... So today it's a broiled Hot Italian sausage (~175 calories, with onions (10 calories), cheddar cheese (100 Cals), mustard, a touch of horseradish mayo (40 Cals cause it's really strongly flavored), in a Josephs Low Carb Pita (50 calories). Always extremely satisfying!

    I may have to look into those pitas... I've been making meals that include a low carb Tortilla that claims 70 calories but is actually 120 once I add back in the calories for the 12g of fiber they deducted, lol.

    I make Quesadilla type sandwiches out of them... Deli meat, cheese and tomato and onion, eggs, baco and cheese, etc... Would the Joseph's work for that? I really need just enough tortilla/wrap to make them hand edible, my creations are always soiling out the borders and that's fine as long as they maintain integrity

    They took out the calories from the fiber because your body can't actually access those - you get 70 usable calories out of that tortilla and the rest just vibes its way through your system.
  • Poobah1972
    Poobah1972 Posts: 943 Member
    edited February 2021
    I may have to look into those pitas... I've been making meals that include a low carb Tortilla that claims 70 calories but is actually 120 once I add back in the calories for the 12g of fiber they deducted, lol.

    Um... I've definately always counted Total Carbs - Fiber - Sugar Alcohols = Net Carbs

    Although I am aware that soluble fiber can be counted as having 2 calories per gram.... Insoluble fiber can be counted as 0.

    Also I believe that the breakdown of soluble fiber in the guts by bacteria, produces short fatty chains and isn't completely comparable to Carbs or sugar... Although I'm not up to snuff on this stuff.

    Same with Sugar Alcohols, not all of them are created equally and they can very widely...

    In this area I keep it real simple. (Got enough to concentrate on... lol)

    PS. Josephs makes excellent Lavash(Sp) Bread as well and can be used in multiple ways, from making crackers to pizza's and off course amazing wraps. And I would say hell yea, Josephs rock.. I sometimes open the mini-pita's up and stuff them and other times i just fold it around whatever I'm eating.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    Lentil soup that I make from orange lentils, broth, and various spices. A carton of less-sugar Chobani nonfat greek yogurt with ~15-20 g walnuts, along with an apple. Open face, no-sugar-added peanut butter & banana sandwich with a mug of broth. Various veggies with 2 TBSP of hummus and a carton of non-fat greek yogurt (fage is my current favorite) and an apple. It's been so cold here this month that I am gravitating toward hot food.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,835 Member
    Poobah1972 wrote: »
    My typical lunch is left overs from the night before... So today it's a broiled Hot Italian sausage (~175 calories, with onions (10 calories), cheddar cheese (100 Cals), mustard, a touch of horseradish mayo (40 Cals cause it's really strongly flavored), in a Josephs Low Carb Pita (50 calories). Always extremely satisfying!

    I may have to look into those pitas... I've been making meals that include a low carb Tortilla that claims 70 calories but is actually 120 once I add back in the calories for the 12g of fiber they deducted, lol.

    I make Quesadilla type sandwiches out of them... Deli meat, cheese and tomato and onion, eggs, baco and cheese, etc... Would the Joseph's work for that? I really need just enough tortilla/wrap to make them hand edible, my creations are always soiling out the borders and that's fine as long as they maintain integrity

    They took out the calories from the fiber because your body can't actually access those - you get 70 usable calories out of that tortilla and the rest just vibes its way through your system.

    Right, but other foods I eat don't count their calories that way as far as I can tell and I find it easier (or more consistent) to account for the fiber. For example the bread I eat occasionally definitely includes its 2 grams of fiber in the calorie count.