Easy yet healthy lunches

[crazycanuck]

Since we have a weight loss thread a happenin, I'd like to hear your thoughts on lunches.

What do you eat for lunch when watching/thinking about your weight?

I want to eliminate brown bread but like the idea of small pita bread shells..ok or not ok? Perhaps twice a week with some vegemite.

Throw me your thoughts..

c

[singletrackmind]

Same as usual, but less of it.
Half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat, cheese and mustard, carrot, apple, milk water or tea.

[kelownagirl]

I eat the same stuff every day. Trying to get more protein and veg. I pack up 3-4 days worth and keep it in the fridge at work. Rarely cut veg. ahead of time. When it's warm out, I don't eat the soup, have more raw veggies instead. Once in awhile, I cut up 1/2 oz cheddar into my soup.

1/2 cup cottage cheese
50 gr. lean deli ham
1 cup Campbell's Select Minestrone
1 ryvita whole grain cracker

1/2 - 2 cups raw veggies - carrots, snap peas, red peppers, tomato

312 calories 33 carbs 5 fat 31 protein (*without the raw veg)

[OakLeaf]

I actually try to eat a larger lunch, and make it the main meal of the day like they do in Europe. It's much easier then for me to eat a smaller dinner and eliminate nighttime snacking.

And to make it "easy," and disrupt my cooking habits as little as possible, it's often a large helping of leftovers from dinner the night before.

[Andrea]

A powerbar harvest bar (or similar high protein/fiber bar) with gobs of no sugar added peanut butter on it (sometimes I just dip the bar in the jar of peanut butter) or a whey protein shake made with vanilla soy milk and fruit-flavored Kefir Yogurt with a slice of whole wheat bread/peanut butter

I love peanut butter

These are both small meals, but I eat about 5 times a day.

[uk elephant]

When I make an effort to bring a particularly light and healthy lunch, I'll pack a big salad with a little bit of vinaigrette dressing on the side. I tend to make the salad just out of whatever is in the house. Some for of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, peppers, apple, nuts, mushrooms, leftover chicken, or whatever else we have. And I bring a slice of whole grain bread with some strong cheddar to go with it just because salad alone never seems to keep me satisfied for long. Then for mid morning/afternoon snacks I'll bring fresh fruit and/or lowfat yogurt.

[GLC1968]

8 times out of 10, my lunch is leftovers from dinner the night before. When that's not available, I'll throw some cooked chicken in with a pile of frozen veggies and then nuke them when I get to work. I also will make salads (usually the night before) and then throw some tuna and balsamic dressing on it when it's time to eat it. I also like to make big pots of chili or veggie stews on the weekend and pack them into individual serving sizes. I load up the freezer and then on any given day, I've got an easy 'go to' option when there isn't much else available.

I try to keep my grains to 2 servings a day when I'm trying to lose weight. I like grains for breakfast, so I try to avoid having them with lunch (if I can), so that I still have that option available for dinner. Because of this, I don't remember the last time I had a sandwich for lunch!

[LBTC]

We make big meals whenever we can - healthy, interesting meals with lots of veggies and a good balance of protein. We have a small serving for dinner, then package up the rest for lunches, freezing them if there are enough. I bring a raw veggie snack for mid morning, which usually goes better with a hard boiled egg, have my nice healthy lunch, and snack on fruit and rice crackers in the afternoon. I believe that healthy snacks, a large breakfast, large lunch and small dinner is the healthiest distribution of food. Focus on getting your 8-10 servings of veggies and fruit a day and you'll be surprised how fun a challenge like that can be. Oh, and my favourite salad does not require any dressing: tomato, cucumber and avocado seasoned with pepper, cumin and dill. Yummy! Used like this I can make an avocado last for three or four meals/snacks.

Have fun with your food, CC!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[RoadRaven]

I want to eliminate brown bread but like the idea of small pita bread shells..ok or not ok? Perhaps twice a week with some vegemite.

Throw me your thoughts..

Takes thought, rolls it up aerodynamically and hoofs it across the ditch...

"Vegemite with everything!!!! Yeah baby!"

[madscot13]

I know you are asking about lunch, but i like to start with a strong breakfast! Somethings with eggs or flax because I love protein and I think a little bit of fat goes a long way towards making you feel fuller.

As far as lunch goes, I actually eat a larger lunch then dinner. But I eat a post dinner snack. I think bagels with peanut butter are an easy, cheap, and filling meal. ahem I am in college however.

Some people are not going to believe me but I think when you are trying to lose weight the sugars you eat are just as important as the fat. All of those things can be stored as fat and when you are trying to lose weight, it makes sense to watch your sugars too. try cutting down on refined sugar: this includes anything with corn syrup: candy, pop, ketchup, gads, even cakes and cookies. replace pop with tea, because it is the motion of drinking that you are used to- not the flavor or the pick me up, which you still get with tea, without the empty calories.

[Over50Newbie]

I either have homemade soup that I have cooked over the weekend and stored in little plastic containers with yogurt and fruit, or I have one of those vegetarian "fake" chicken patties on a whole wheat bun with marinara sauce and a slice of red onion.

If I am in a hurry, and there is a microwave available, I love the Kashi frozen meals. My favorites are the Chicken Florentine, Southwest Chicken, and Black Bean and Mango ones.

Lynette

[surgtech1956]

I am eating way toooooo much for lunch. I know my portion sizes are to big.

For lunch I usually bring a salad(gave up the cheese on it) - I hate fat free dressings and will eat one of those big pretzels with it or a bowl of soup, or I will bring a sandwich and have a bowl of soup. I get sleepy in the afternoon.

For breakfast I've been eating oatmeal(quick cooking) - about a 1/2c - 3/4 c.

I don't ususally snack. I eat breakfast about 7:30am and lunch is usually 1:30pm and dinner is between 6:30/7:00 pm.

[xboxchamp593]

All right, I am 24 years old. I just had a fasting glucose test and it was 65 which sound low to me and I also have had hypoglycemic symptoms for the past year. I am looking for a diet and exercise ideas for one that is hypoglycemic. I have never done any diet or taken diet pills. Can you suggest me for any effective diet? Any helpful recommend will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Starfish]

I don't discriminate much between different types of food...I'll eat the same types of food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, whatever.

Right now, what seems to be working well for me is eating 5-6 times/day. I usually eat lunch and an afternoon meal, and sometimes the last meal, at work. Three things are key in keeping me on track for at work eating: portion control, ease, and easy calorie counting for my food log.

These days, it is a lot of:

Eating Right frozen meals (I keep several in the work freezer)
Packets of oatmeal with some slivered almonds tossed in
Lowfat yogurt with slivered almonds and fibre one cereal
Microwave-ready soups
Ready-to-eat, no-draining-needed tuna fish tubs (expensive, tho)

I wait and eat the stuff that takes more prep at home (vegetables and stuff)

[Pedal Wench]

Wow -- the timing of this thread is perfect. After 20 years, the kitchen at work is closing down tomorrow, the chef laid off, and no more breakfasts, lunches and salad bar. I'm gonna be brown-bagging it for the first time in my professional life. I've stocked up on the cups of microwavable soup, bags of salad, tuna-in-a-pouch, sprouted wheat bread, and apples. Oatmeal and soymilk/cereal for breakfast.

Whenever anyone left the company, they all instantly lose a good 10 pounds. Hopefully, I'll follow the same route.