I need healthy lunch ideas, pretty please

I like to get (one) piece of 100 calorie sandwich bread (whole wheat), toast it, put mustard, lettuce, spinach and tomato on it, and 1 or 2 thin slices of low fat low salt turkey. Yummy little sandwich, and the toasting of the bread just makes it even better. Also have a low fat yogurt and a bottle of water too

I eat baby spinach and a pouch of tuna (in water). Total calories are approximately 120 and you do not have to add any dressing. Its healthy and filling.

Hi my name is Andrew. Today I had tuna and 2 boiled eggs and cheese stick. it filled me up honestly and I felt good. Yesterday I had a microwave meal 300 calories and it was filling. Tomorrow I will definitely hit up subway for turkey n cheese on wheat. Hope this helps

i usually try to eat something high in energy and watch my calorie count. i by sara lee whole wheat bread that like 45 calories per two pieces.

I make a little extra at dinner time and then take it the next day for lunch. Or, I eat peppered turkey on a sandwich thin with mustard, but i usually prefer left overs from the night before.

I love the starkist tuna pouches. I mix one with 1 T of light miracle whip and eat it with 100% whole grain crackers, a romaine and spinach salad with Kraft light italian and a serving of fruit. Less than 400 cals and it is a decent amount of food.
Lean Cuisine makes some pretty good frozen dinners. They are the top nutritionalist recommended frozen entree. One of those plus fruit or a salad is great for lunch.

This what I usually eat:

-Turkey sandwich/whole wheat bread
-Turkey meatballs w/ salad (I make ahead and they reheat well)
-Tuna salad w/ crackers
-Chicken w/ lettuce, cucumber, feta cheese, and lite caesar dressing in pita
-Baby bell cheese spread on celery and carrots
-Left over dinner (I will make extra a few nights per week so I don't have to prepare lunch)
-Wraps w/ chicken (many different kinds/do search under community on here for wrap ideas). I'll grill some chicken on George Foreman grill on weekend and keep in fridge to make in wraps during the week
-Egg salad (on crackers or wheat bread)
-Shrimp salad on pita
-Frittatas (I work from home a few days during the week so I am home to cook lunch)
-Soup and salad
-Celery with reduced fat peanut butter

I have a hard time with lunch ideas too. There was a wrap idea post on here recently that was GREAT and so many yummy wrap ideas that I'm going to try!

Cottage cheese with tomato (or peaches or pineapple), a couple oz of cheese and an apple, tuna sandwich, egg salad sandwich I don't know, these are my most frequent lunches

Welcome to MFP. I checked out your lunches and you have a wide variety of foods you have eaten for lunches. I am usually in a hurry on my way to work, eating in the car. My lunches are usually something I prepare in the morning and eat in the car. I tend to eat mostly protein and veggies . I eat chicken breasts, crab delights, baggy of carrots, veggie burger on a flat out wrap, salad, tuna in packages, cheese sticks, cauliflower, yogurt. I also made homemade white chicken chilli, turkey meatloaf, turkey burgers, and one of my favorites is Bistros chicken/artichoke/mozz. cheese brat like sausage. Very low calorie and warms in microwave in less than a minute. I am a pretty boring eater. I started on here on Nov. 13th, trying to get a jump start on weight loss so I found staying simple with my eating would get quicker results. Tonight was the first time I had pasta and I feel blah! I tend to eat more of a variety for dinner with my husband and kids. When I make dinner for them, I try to stay away from the carb. portion or if I do have some, it is a very little. Great job on the weight loss!!! You can request me as a friend if you like.

I like these high fiber low carb tortillas called Ole Xtreme Wellness High Fiber tortillas. They have 71 calories, 220 mg sodium, 8 g protein, 12 g fiber. They are really yummy too.

I put a little sandwich meat on them (I buy reduced sodium at the deli), spinach, and a mustard and roll up. Or I'll put some hummus and some peppers on and roll it up. I've also done grilled chicken breast, a sauce/dressing/mustard (in moderation), romaine or spinach, and roll up.

A lot of times, I have a protein shake. I'll usually use some avocado, berries, protein powder, almond milk, cinnamon, and spinach. They're really good and filling.

A sweet potato with just a little bit of Smart balance light spread, cinnamon (I like a lot of cinnamon), and a teeny touch of brown sugar (1/2 to 1 tsp) I mix it up together so that it's spread evenly. With a cup of milk or a yogurt.

A flat pizza. Use one tortilla, spread 1/4 c. spaghetti sauce on, sprinkle on 1/4 c. of either part skim or fat free mozzarella cheese, top with all the veggies you want, and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Sometimes I'll just have a Fit & Active 5 cheese lasagna (Aldi's version of a WW or Healthy Choice or Lean Cuisine type meal). They're only a buck, and they're not as bad as they may sound. They actually have less sodium than some of the other brands.

A spinach and fruit salad: chopped spinach, berries of choice (I like sliced strawberries and some blueberries), halved grapes, sliced almonds, chopped red bell pepper, and some berry vinaigrette of choice (I like the Wishbone superfruit berry). It's good with some grilled chicken breast cut up in it too.

Peanut butter and banana quesadilla: a tortilla, spread with 1 TBSP of peanut butter. Cut a banana in thirds long ways and place on one half. Drizzle lightly with honey. Fold over. Heat in a pan so that the tortilla is slightly crisp-flip and repeat. Remove, cut in thirds (shaped like pie slices), and enjoy. These are SO GOOD. Also good with smashed black beans and some reduced fat or fat free cheddar cheese in it.

Sometimes I have something super simple: Greek yogurt and a piece of fruit.

Homemade Hummus, fresh sugar snap peas, & 1 cup of fruit....The hummus keeps you stomach satisfied.

I am boring and eat the same thing for lunch everyday. Once a month I splurge and go to Whole Foods (though it is easy to overeat there).

Lunch:
Two whole wheat pieces of Arnold's bread
Tabasco Coarse Ground mustard (2 tablespoons)
Two slices of Thin n' Trim turkey (or whatever low-fat/low sodium version they have)
A slice of provolone or munster cheese
1 cup of baby spinach leaves

I generally eat a snack before leaving work of:
1 gala apple
1 Chobani yogurt
1 serving of whole raw almonds (28 nuts)

And a Kashi bar before working out.

I consider this whole thing my "lunch" as I eat it over the course of 5 hours. Keeps me powered through the afternoon slump and helps get me jazzed up about exercising after work.

I have to mix mine up some. I don't like eating salad a whole lot when it's cold outside. I'll usually take a lean cuisine, but keep an eye on the sodium in these, or a lean pocket or a can of soup as my staple. Have to watch the sodium levels in canned soup too. Then I bring along some string cheese, a fruit and a veggie. Sometimes I substitute apple sauce for the string cheese. Just depends. When it's a little bit warmer I usually throw in some hearts of romaine and baby spinach together for a salad and add tuna from a pouch and a bunch of veggies. Optional on the dressing. Starting out is the hardest and most overwhelming part because you have to look at all these labels and figure out how to balance everything. You'll be able to do it.

Hello Holly.

I am pretty new to MFP as well, however I have been calorie counting for quite a few months using the Calorie King books.

I am no expert, however I find that if I have a bigger breakfast and lunch that it fills me up throughout the day more and therefore having less snacks and more protein and smaller meals for dinner. However, I resist myself to only having within a certain amount of calories in each section.

Breakfast I like to have approx. 200 - 300 calories. Porridge with honey, small bowl of cereal using skim/low fat milk, slice of toast (wholegrain) with spread or an egg or fruit and yoghurt. I barely ever drink fruit juice anymore as it usually is full of sugar. However I occasionally buy a brand here in Australia that is Nudie and it's 100% orange juice. Delicious!

Lunch: I have become obsessed with what we have over here in Australia are Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and Weight Watchers meals and I ALWAYS check the nutritional information on the back to make sure it is about that 300 calorie mark. They are full of vegetables and tasty! They fill me up and they are generously priced (I always go for the brand that is on sale at the supermarket). However, if I don't have that I will make myself a 97% fat free leg ham or chicken (sliced & no skin) and salad sandwich. I jam pack that sandwich full of salad (only a small amount of meat - say 10-20grams/ 2-3 slices) or you can toast it too (watch the cheese though... it's 70 calories for 1 slice of 25% less fat cheese). Others I know like tuna sandwiches and yoghurt for lunch. Make sure your eating wholegrain bread. It is full of great grains and low GI so it fills you up for longer.

Snacks: I have truly become obsessed with almonds and other nuts lately. They are filling and full of all the good fats our bodies need! 25grams or almonds (approx - 20- 30 nuts) is only 160 calories! Low fat Yoghurt is always good for a snack - check the nutritional information though --- many yoghurts say they are low fat however they still have hundreds of calories! I go for yoghurts that are approx 60-75 calories per little tub. I also love Weight Watchers diced fruit - low in calories and delicious! Fruit is always a winner for a snack. 2 fruits per day if I can and as many vegetables as I can (which are usually are mostly in the healthy choice meals I have for lunch). I try to eat approx: 100 calories on snacks (if I am hungry or haven't had enough fruit/dairy or protein).

Dinner: I try to have approximately 300-500 calories. I try to avoid too much pasta or rice. I try to eat more protein and vegetables for dinner. Small amount of meat (100grams - palm of my hand sized) or either beef, chicken or lamb. I occasionally will eat a heavier meal as my partner enjoys a lovely ravioli which is full of calories, however I will always half/quarter my portion size (Ravioli is approx: 700 calories.. Just by halving it it only a 350 calorie meal (PERFECT!).

I am no saint. I go off the roller coaster. But I figure we can almost eat whatever we want on most days, as long as it remains under our calorie count. I am a school teacher and find it easy with lunch as I take fruit or yogurt for morning tea and lunch a healthy choice/lean cuisine meal. However I do need some chocolate here and there. A burger occasionally and tonight I am eating pizza as I baby sit some students (whoops!!!) Nonetheless, I ensured I burned off 400 calories today to compensate for tonights pig out! Low calorie jelly is delicious too.

It's probably extremely hard for you as you don't just have to worry about yourself, you have a family and I have my partner who is doing weights and exercise like crazy and wants to eat as many carbs and protein as possible and is ALWAYS eating & hungry!!!

Good luck on your journey. Trust me, I need it too! But have a look for those already made meals in your supermarket for lunch and look for 350 calories or less. And avoid fast food... it's tasty but doesn't fill you up for long and is full of hidden sugars that turn into fat if they're not burnt off. I always think to myself ... "Is it worth it... to burn that one Big Mac burger (495 calories) off I need to do go to the gym for an hour and a half or jog for 87.5 minutes" --- and that's just the burger!! Always drink low calorie drinks Pepsi Max in Australia is 1 calorie for one 250mL glass. And we have Diet Coke that contains no caffeine that's 1 calorie. A medium mcdonalds coke (410mL) is 145 calories!

:-) Good luck!

Wow! Awesome ideas. I'm sitting here taking notes.

Holly, looks like you've got some grocery shopping to do.

Others hit on my lunch ideas. I do lots of spinach salads w/fruit or veggies. Like to add tuna too.

Good luck! Great question, and love the thread.