I need Lunch ideas!
SeminoleFan0514
Posts: 69 Member
Help me out please. I have no idea of what to eat for lunch every day. I used to eat Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Smart Ones, and that kind of thing. They are high in sodium so I am looking for some more things to eat for lunch. I would love to have some ideas of what you eat for lunch.
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bump!0
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Salads are great but with extra virgin olive oil (lightly .50 tblsp) and red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar. This gives you the opportunity to mix it up each day by adding lots of veggies like cucumbers, carrots, celery, red onion, broccoli and maybe even a piece of roasted red pepper. Add about 4 oz+ of yummy protein like Jenni O' Extra lean turkey breast - 98% fat free or albacore tuna in spring water or chicken breast salad. Today I added a hard boiled egg as an extra. I've been alternating these salads or having something like left overs from dinner like grilled chicken, turkey, fish or lean protein with a long grain or brown rice and steamed mixed veggies (broccoli/cauliflower/carrots) or zucchini and squash (whatever is in season) and have lost 23 pounds in 8 weeks with daily exercise and lots of water. Hope this helps!0
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I stick a handful of green leaves on my plate, add some grated carrot, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, or whatever I got. Then I add cheeeeese. 25 grams of feta or tasty or parmesan.... sometimes I have two cheeses, somtimes I add hardboiled egg, tuna or left over chicken, roast meat or potato. The I add a splash of mayo, a splash of olive oil and some white balsamic.
I have a big breakfast and a big Dinner, so a nice midday salad with plenty of protien fills me up0 -
Salads are great but with extra virgin olive oil (lightly .50 tblsp) and red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar. This gives you the opportunity to mix it up each day by adding lots of veggies like cucumbers, carrots, celery, red onion, broccoli and maybe even a piece of roasted red pepper. Add about 4 oz+ of yummy protein like Jenni O' Extra lean turkey breast - 98% fat free or albacore tuna in spring water or chicken breast salad. Today I added a hard boiled egg as an extra. I've been alternating these salads or having something like left overs from dinner like grilled chicken, turkey, fish or lean protein with a long grain or brown rice and steamed mixed veggies (broccoli/cauliflower/carrots) or zucchini and squash (whatever is in season) and have lost 23 pounds in 8 weeks with daily exercise and lots of water. Hope this helps!
Thanks it sure does help a lot! I will have to try this out!0 -
I stick a handful of green leaves on my plate, add some grated carrot, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, or whatever I got. Then I add cheeeeese. 25 grams of feta or tasty or parmesan.... sometimes I have two cheeses, somtimes I add hardboiled egg, tuna or left over chicken, roast meat or potato. The I add a splash of mayo, a splash of olive oil and some white balsamic.
I have a big breakfast and a big Dinner, so a nice midday salad with plenty of protien fills me up
That sounds yummy, thanks!0 -
I stick a handful of green leaves on my plate, add some grated carrot, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, or whatever I got. Then I add cheeeeese. 25 grams of feta or tasty or parmesan.... sometimes I have two cheeses, somtimes I add hardboiled egg, tuna or left over chicken, roast meat or potato. The I add a splash of mayo, a splash of olive oil and some white balsamic.
I have a big breakfast and a big Dinner, so a nice midday salad with plenty of protien fills me up
Oops, I don't know why it did it 2 times!0 -
I love low carb turkey or grilled chicken wraps. I buy the la banderita low carb whole wheat tortilla and kraft free ranch or lite/free italian to add some mositure and flavor and just use lunch meat turkey and use leftover grilled chicken and put in lettuce or spinach with some lite shredded cheese and tomatoes! I love it! Team it up with some fresh fruit and veggies like carrots or celery and its delicious! You can also team it up with some wheat thins/rice cakes/etc to give you a chip like affect
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Because it's awesome!0
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Sandwiches are very filling; egg salad, veggie, lean meat. Sometimes I bring a half sandwich if I bring soup. Smart ones soups are low cal, but they do contain moderate amounts of sodium. Almonds are my secret to getting through the day. I eat them in the afternoon to curb those cravings for vending machine treats.
But my favorite way to tackle lunch is to set aside a serving from dinner the night before. I put such care into my dinners that it is always low cal, yummy and healthy. Plus by setting aside a serving, you can be sure you don't eat to much at dinner.0 -
Salads in Summer - I make a stantard 'basic salad (e.g. baby spinach leaves/lettuce/tomatoes/onions/peppers/cucumbers - whatever is available) and combine some form of protein (feta or smoked salmon or ham or chicken etc).
I dont bother with 'dressing' as I find that if I make it the night before and add in a bit of ground black pepper the flavors combine to make a natural (and delicious) dressing with the salad juices.
Soups in winter - I make up big pots of soup and freeze portions for quick easy lunchs/dinners. Very low-cal and super cheap too!
Leftovers - these days there are more and more leftovers as I realize that I have 'historically' cooked way to much food!
But once again I freeze portions for quick and easy lunches/dinners.0 -
My new favourite lunch:70g Quinoa cooked in one veggie stock cube (chicken or beef would be yummy too, but I'm a veggie), with a carrott cut into chunks and a few springs of mint. Season with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. A super filling lunch for around 300kcals. If you want the extra protien some chicken or fish would be great with it.0
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bump! :happy:0
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i recently found that going to the grocery store and buying health vs. junk is only about 10-20 more of your money if not less. I just bought some snap peas, lima beans, boneless chicken, fruits/veggies. i like to make a side salad and use walden farms cal free ranch, then for the main course i'm having grilled chicken, green beans, limas, and carrots. whatever you like switch it up, make it fresh and from the earth. good luck!0
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I always have a sandwich! It's just easiest for me to make and the fastest. I put four oz of roast beef or turkey on two slices of whole wheat bread with some lettuce and tomato and black pepper and a slice of cheese. Yum!0
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I'm a leftover kind of girl. I always make a little extra at night so that I can take it for lunch. It usually tastes better the 2nd day too
If leftovers aren't your thing this is my go to chicken salad that can be eaten on top of lettuce, in a wrap, or on a pita to mix it up.
1 cup shredded chicken (rotisseries is best)
1 6 oz plain greek yogurt
feta to taste
red or sweet onion diced to taste
1/4 cup cucumber diced
1 spoonful low fat cottage cheese
1/2 of a lemon's juice
salt, pepper, & garlic to taste
Mix it all up and enjoy!
Sooooo good! Full of flavor.0 -
Thanks so much for all the ideas! I really do appreciate it so much and I will be using a lot of these!!0
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bump0
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I like a lot of variety in my lunches so I alternate what I bring quite a bit. Some of my lunches from last week:
Salad with grilled chicken, cucumbers, tomatoes, 5 whole wheat ritz cracker with 3 low fat turkey slices, handful of grapes and raspberries.
Leftover spaghetti squash lasagna (from www.skinnytaste.com) with a side salad and some spanish peanuts.
Adult "lunch-able" - Whole wheat ritz crackers with sliced cheese and deli meat, handful of baby carrots, strawberries & some nuts.
I always have a morning and mid-afternoon snack to keep myself satisfied as well. Usually nuts, fruit or carrots.0 -
Lean Cuisine and other frozen meals are garbage! Loaded with sodium and unhealthy carbs, processed meats...yuck!0
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Glad you ditched the frozen meals. I like to make brown rice and black beans. I add a little chichen and then mix in salsa..I feel like I'm eating at Qudoba. It's filling and healthy. You can also add all the veggies you want to make it even more healthy. Good luck.0
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I'll do a cup of couscous with a cup of roasted veggies (lately squash, zucchini, and eggplant) and a sprinkle of romano cheese, maybe with some diced tomatoes.
A cup of pasta topped with roasted eggplant, roasted tomatoes, and 1oz mozzerella.
Salad with grilled chicken breast and balsamic and oil.
Pita with hummus and diced tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives.
A cup of rice with half a cup of black beans, topped with salsa, cilantro, and a lime squeeze.
Leftovers are great. Sandwiches are nice too.0 -
my favourite lunch is a soup & sandwich!
Buy some low sodium soups or make your own in bulk & freeze it.
My favourite is called Fall Harvest Soup:
2 Tbsp butter or oil
1 Large onion, chopped
2 Large leeks (white part only), chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Large potato, peeled & diced
1 Cup chopped celery
1 Cup chopped carrots
1 Medium butternut squash, peeled & diced
1 Large tart apple, peeled & diced
5 Cups of chicken stock (I use vegetable because I am a vegetarian)
1 Tsp thyme
1/2 Tsp ground allspice
1/4 Tsp nutmeg
salt & pepper
Saute onion, leeks and garlic in butter in large pot over medium heat until soft. Add potato, carrots, celery squash, apple and stock. Bring to boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Add seasonings.
Puree mixture until smooth in blender or food processor. Return to pot and heat well, but do not boil.
Serve piping hot, garnished with minced chives or green onions.
Yield: 6-8 servings
looks like baby food, tastes like heaven0 -
I eat WW and Lean cuisine but the sodium doesn't really affect me....I did make sandwiches for awhile but I got tired of them.
Sara Lee 45& delightful bread (2 slices)- 90 calories
1oz cheddar Cheese - 110 calories
Oscar Meyer Deli turkey - 45/50 calories for 6 slices
1 snack pack of mini rice cakes - 90 cal/bag
Total 335 cal for lunch!0 -
bump0
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I do a lot of the options mentioned.
I also love big veggie wraps w/ hummus and any vegetable I have in the fridge wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla. Or, mmmmm, avocado!
Cottage cheese and grape tomatoes are a favorite of mine.
Mini-frittas are delicious and easy to make ahead and heat up at work. Mix up eggs, milk, and any fillers you love (I adore spinach, mushrooms, and cheese...peppers are good, so are onions, just anything works...even some meat if you want). Spray a muffin tin w/ cooking spray. Add egg/vegetable mixture to each tin and bake at 350 deg F until set. Pop them out and freeze...then they can be reheated for lunch or breakfast.
I also love homemade granola and yogurt for lunch.
OR...a great big smoothie.0 -
I love lentil soup. I make it once in a while and pack in baggies then freeze them. I pull one out to take to work and dump it in a mug and microwave it. Once you can make lentil soup, you can pretty much use the same recipe but with garbanzo, split peas or lima beans. I try not to but I enjoy it the most with a piece of baguette bread. I know its the summer but I love soups anytime of the year.0
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Diced Sweet potato, black beans, and (barbeque) rice... Easy to prepare in the microwave and very filling0
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I'm a sandwich, salad, leftovers kind of person. If I have something in the fridge from the night before: Awesome. Sandwich: meat, cheese, condiment, lettuce, tomato, various veggies, etc. Salad? Tons of veggies, different dressings, sometimes combined with a sandwich or leftovers on top.
Usually between the leftovers, sandwiches/wraps and salads I never eat the same thing twice for lunch in one week.0 -
Personally, for me salads don't leave me satified and I get bored and you know what happens then.
I find soup is filling and you can make so many kinds that I haven't been bored and I eat them every weekday for lunch. I usually do a double batch on the weekend and freeze half. That way I always have a few varieties in the freezer to choose from.
Canned soup is very high in sodium so it's best if you make your own. Not only can you use the low sodium, low fat broth but you can leave out things you may not like. For me it's peas and mushrooms. There's a whole world of flavors out there from spicy korean beef to Sausage, Kale & Lentil to Mexican Meatball. Your tastebuds will be dancing with happiness and you'll actually look forward to lunch instead of it being a chore to chomp through yet another bowl of greens.
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a salad now & then as a side, but it just doesn't fill me up more than an hour as a meal..
Cooking Light, Better Homes & Gardens special cooking editions, Weight Watchers and Eating Well magazines are great resources for soups & stews. And don't forget the internet and your own imagination. The majority I've made are under 300 calories a cup!0 -
I do lunches that I can make on the weekend ahead of time.
I pre-make salads with all the good veggies you like and use the Bolthouse dressing (they are yogurt or olive oil based and pretty good). Add a greek yogurt or grilled chicken/tuna on the salad and you're good to go.
There is also a good black bean/quinoa dish that I like to make (low in sodium high in fiber and protein) that I got off of the allrecipes.com website. I separate out into serving size portions and store.
I also will cut up fruit and make 1.5 cup servings ahead of time or cut up apples to grab and go.
Hope this helps -- Good Luck!0
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