Help! Post Your Cheap, Easy, Healthy Lunches Here!
vzucco
Posts: 229
I really need you guys' help. My boss just had a baby and wants to shed a few pounds so she has asked me to be in charge of our company's lunches! I have a 30 dollar a week budget to feed 3 hungry girls 5 lunches. They need to be filling, not just a salad. But the key here is healthy and tasty. I would really appreciate some ideas. Thanks in advance!
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Replies
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I've just had a VERY late lunch and not only enjoyed it but feel full also......yes the basis was a salad but I sprinkled over it a very low fat ceasar salad dressing, grated some cheese over it, added half a tin of pink salmoln and it came to less than 250 calories...you could then have ryvitas or maybe bread sticks (about 22 cals each)...you could also make a fruit salad for afters0
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Thanks furby1! Anyone else??0
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Salsa chicken: Throw chicken breast, salsa, and black beans in a crock pot. Cook till you can shred it, drain and serve on whole wheat tortillas.0
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Are you to prepare lunch or buy it already prepared?0
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I like doing turkey lettuce wraps!
Pick lean ground turkey (whatever your budget will allow) and season it up however you like. I personally like garlic powder, onion powder, green onion, and a little salt and pepper (or mrs. dash). Throw in a few tablespoons (I usually add about 5 total in the end) of teriyaki sauce or lite soy.
Then, after I brown the ground turkey I throw in some veggies - carrots, bell peppers, onion, mushrooms and sautee them in the pan with the turkey to the desired crispness.
Then load up large pieces of lettuce with the stuff and you have a really really delicious lunch It holds up in the fridge really well - so if you wanted to make it the night before that's no problem Each girl should be able to eat at least two huge wraps if not more!0 -
Cook one cup of long grain brown rice (dry). That will make about two cups cooked. Take one can of cooked chicken breast (213 grams) and split it three ways (71grams) and place into the bottoms of three 1 1/4 cup tuperware containers. On top of the chicken, I shake some cumin and garlic powder. Then fill the rest of the containers with cooked brown rice (about 2/3 cup each). Refrigerate. You have three days worth of lunches. You can use soy sauce or teriyaki sauce instead of spices. Its low fat, high protien/fiber.0
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My Mom pre makes rice and puts it in her Greek yogart with Vanilla and Cinnamon for her lunch....0
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My Mom pre makes rice and puts it in her Greek yogart with Vanilla and Cinnamon for her lunch....0
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Are you to prepare lunch or buy it already prepared?
I have access to a full kitchen so I can cook or prepare anything, just can't spend a long time doing it because I have to get back to work. So they have to be easy.0 -
soups are great - low fat and filling.0
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Thank you guys, these are all great ideas! Please keep them rolling!0
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i made some cous cous (bought a huge container at the farmers market for $2.50) added a little crumbled feta, grape tomatoes and sauteed spinach with garlic to it... then a few grilled shrimp. it was fabulous, very filling and cheap0
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My favourite at the minute is wholemeal pitta bread stuffed with ham, feta and spinach - it's a good combination of carbs protein and fat to keep me full all afternoon :-)
I've also done pitta with tuna salad in or egg mayo. All pretty cheap and dead tasty. I think I'd be lost without my pitta breads!! xx0 -
Are you to prepare lunch or buy it already prepared?
I have access to a full kitchen so I can cook or prepare anything, just can't spend a long time doing it because I have to get back to work. So they have to be easy.
I'd keep whole grain wraps and green leafy vegetables on hand. Add to that tuna, chicken or egg (or tuna, chicken or egg salad), baba ganoush, hummus, or other bean dip, then add a few choppped/shredded veggies and you have a tasty, filly and healthy lunch wrap in just minutes.
You can also fill them with shredded chicken or refried beans, reduced fat cheese and salsa for a tasty lunch burrito.0 -
I make a large version of this "salad" and eat it for a few days:
Chicken Breast (shredded)
Garbanzo Beans - 1 can, drained
Chopped Red Bell Pepper
Chopped Cucumber
Diced Tomato
Chopped Red Onion
Feta Cheese
Dressing:
1/4ish cup EVOO
A few table spoons red wine vinegar
Dash of oregano
I don't measure much, I just throw things together until it looks pretty. It's best if you let it sit overnight. It's delicious & filling!0 -
soups are great - low fat and filling.
Yes !! Another great idea. Soups, stews or chili in a crock pot is super easy and healthy.0 -
bump to read later0
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Rice & beans are healthy, low-fat, filling, and cheap! Soak some black beans over night, throw them in a crock pot (I'd definitely have them invest in one if you don't have one) with some spices, and serve over brown rice. Fresh peppers and/or cilantro is a great topping.0
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this is delicious: http://cheese.food.com/recipe/israeli-couscous-salad-with-asparagus-cucumber-and-olives-169832
and this: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mediterranean-Eggplant-and-Barley-Salad-235753
and definitely soups -- very low cal!0 -
I brought my own chicen breast on taco day at work and made a chicken taco salad. I used their lettuce, cheese and light sour cream, adding my own chicken breast (I used half of one of the Hillshirt Farms Garlic and Herb breasts) and added a packet of 100 calorie Wholly Guacamole. Was super delicious and very filling. I crunched up my own lower sodium tortilla chips w/ lime flavoring on top, it didn't take that many chips to add a big crunch.
I also like turkey zucchini burgers made with ground turkey, shredded zucchini, bread crumbs and onion soup mix (I think)....I found the recipe on Pintrest was very yummy0 -
My household monthly budget just went down last month by about $850, so I'm about to need to start being very creative and CHEAP with my meals. 'Bumping' this so I can come back later & check out all the great ideas. Thank you!0
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TUNA STACKERS
2 CANS TUNA
4-5 HARD BOILED EGG WHITES
1/2 CHOPPED GREEN BELL PEPPER
1/2 CHOPPED RED BELL PEPPER
1 TBSP. DICED RED ONION
1/2 CUP FROZEN PEAS
1 TOMATO DICED
SEASON WITH BALSAMIC VINEGRETTE
A LITTLE PARMESEAN CHEESE
GARLIC SALT AND PEPPER
LEAVE IN FRIDGE OVERNIGHT
STACK ON CRACKERS OR BREAD
SERVE OVER SALAD
GREAT WITH CUCUMBER SLICES OR CELERY TOO
YOU CAN STUFF RAW BELL PEPPER CUPS WITH THIS TOO
I USE FROZEN PEAS BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE TUNA COLD WHILE IN TRANSIT
SUPER FILLING, HIGH PROTEIN, FIBER, LOW FAT AND LOTS OF VEGGIES!
THIS RECIPE WILL EASILY FEED 3 GIRLS0 -
I love to take a boneless chicken breast I cut it in half (long ways)...beat it until thin. Then put asparagus on top & roll it up. You can add cheese to the inside also. I season the top with a little chicken rub. I cook it about 25 mins on 350...It's all very tender, and juicy. It reheats well for the next day.0
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1 egg
50g quark
add filling(toms,cheese,mushrooms, ham ect)
a crustless quishe nice and creamy!
bake in oven until set! :bigsmile:0 -
Whole wheat tortillas - fill them with chopped tomato, avacado, green/orange peppers, onion, spinach, arugala, etc. I use a little bit of light/fat free sour cream. It's delicious and inexpensive!!
*If you have an oven in the kitchen at work, toss the tortillas in for 3-5 minutes at 350 degrees - I think they are a little better with some crispness to them0 -
I found that zucchini turkey burger recipe on Pinterest too and I've been meaning to try it! Thanks for the ideas!0
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1 egg
50g quark
add filling(toms,cheese,mushrooms, ham ect)
a crustless quishe nice and creamy!
bake in oven until set! :bigsmile:
This looks great, but what is quark? Am I missing something here?0 -
Thank you guys so much! I have a ton of ideas now that I know they will love0
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1 egg
50g quark
add filling(toms,cheese,mushrooms, ham ect)
a crustless quishe nice and creamy!
bake in oven until set! :bigsmile:
This looks great, but what is quark? Am I missing something here?
doyou guys not have it,ok its a little like philadelphia but healthier! and no flavour! :bigsmile:0 -
Salsa chicken: Throw chicken breast, salsa, and black beans in a crock pot. Cook till you can shred it, drain and serve on whole wheat tortillas.
This!!!
I also put 3 chicken breast in a crockpot with Frank's Hot sauce (about 2 Tbls) and 1/2 a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix. Six hours shred chicken makes alot for 6 servings and it's 82 calories for the mix. You can put is on a bun or tortilla or chips. Last night I used a 100 calorie bun with light moz. cheese lettuce and tomatoes, it was amazing!!!! My husband, who hates diet food, didn't even know it was low cal!!!0
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