Low kcal lunches

[itbemay1]

Hi all

Any ideas for easy low cal lunches? I work in the NHS and have to eat at my desk, there is a kettle and microwave we can use but during pandemic I have been so busy & tired I have literally been eating pot noodles every day . So in the spirit of NY I want to start eating better, need to lose a few pound too. Help appreciated, what do you take for easy lunches?

Thanks

[Georgyporky]

A wide-mouth thermos could be a good idea, fill it with hot lc food, maybe last night's leftovers, soup etc

[SpaceOp]

I used to bring in a tupperware with a piece of hot smoked salmon, some pre-cooked rice and uncooked spinach (splash the spinach with a few drops of water) and microwave the lot for 2 minutes. With a little pot of creme fraiche on the side as a dressing. I stopped doing it simply because it was quite expensive with the salmon, but definitely a good option for a few times a week. At home, DH and I quite often have smoked mackerel with a tomato and onion salad and either a bit of bread or leftover potatoes if we have them.

Soup in a thermos is always good. I'm currently experimenting with soups to make in batches for lunches. Recently did a thai style coconut and chicken soup with noodles that I'm planning to do another batch of for me and Dh to have for lunch during the week. I like it as most of my soups are veggie and I thought the bit of protein from the chicken would be good to be more filling. If you want lower cal, go for a broth version rather than coconut milk.

If you can be bothered with the faff of good salads, they are great packed lunch t options. Add new potatoes or noodles or a slice of bread to add some carbs and make it more filling. Lettuce, cucumber, noodles, spring onions, beef and peanuts with a soya sauce and lime dressing (add chopped coriander and mint and chilli) is v low cal and tasty. Our favourite filling salad (I have mine without carbs at all and Dh gets a few sliced new potatoes) is lettuce, cucumber, peppers, chicken, avocado, feta cheese and pine nuts. Dressing is olive oil, lemon and greek yoghurt mixed to taste. Add mustard and seasoning to taste.

Roasted/baked chicken pieces, if you do them (tray bake style) are very easy to toss a couple extra in and eat those the following day for lunch. Long-stem broccoli microwaves easily and well or when steaming/boiling veg add your lunch time vegetables but take them out early, dunk in cold water then add to your chicken tupperware and just microwave them all together at lunch.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Roast a load of vege and mix with Ainsley Harriet cous cous. Warm it up in the morning and take it in a food flask.

Or picnic food - falafel, olives etc.

I can't eat soup fast enough for our very short lunch breaks!

[SpaceOp]

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Roast a load of vege and mix with Ainsley Harriet cous cous. Warm it up in the morning and take it in a food flask.

Or picnic food - falafel, olives etc.

I can't eat soup fast enough for our very short lunch breaks!

My spinach and pea soup can basically be drunk... that might work for you!

[Vitaminsss]

M&S has a low calorie ready meal range - maybe browse it on Ocado to steal ideas for what you can make at home for work?

I used to work in an office pre pandemic so tbh I would just buy lunch whilst out. Soup is my go to option - it doesn’t have to be boring or bland. I’m vegetarian so my food tends to be naturally low cal

[Vitaminsss]

M&S balanced range

& Count on us range

Just as an example of the wide range of options for low calorie meals!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

SpaceOp

[Vitaminsss]

First link should be this!

[itbemay1]

@Georgyporky I've got one of those, good idea glad I kept it now it the last spring clean.

@SpaceOp some great ideas here, thank you

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ha! Mine is constantly interrupted so I understand about the soup! Cous cous sounds good also.

@Vitaminsss that's a good shout! I will have a look for some ideas

Thanks all! I can't face another pot noodle!!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Just remembered Spanish omelette - make one on a Sunday and it'll last a couple of days. Delicious!

[SpaceOp]

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Just remembered Spanish omelette - make one on a Sunday and it'll last a couple of days. Delicious!

I'm not stalking you, I promise but...

Yes to this. I used to do this but have gone off eggs but DH, who exercises a LOT, finds it really great when I do one on the weekend and he can have slabs every day.

[ThatIsNotMyUsername]

Homemade soup (lentil is my favourite) and oatcakes.

[Elouera]

In addition to the above soup ideas, have you heard of shiritaki noodles? Some brands are barenaked noodles, zero noodles and slim noodles. They are almost calorie free, and can be added to a variety of dishes, without added Kjs. I've bought them in sainburys, tescos and holland and barret (when they have the 1p deals on).

The noodles are thin, but some brands also make a flat version, similar to fettucine and small pieces similar to a rice shape. The texture is more chewy than regular pasta, and I personally only add it to soups and stir fries with multiple other ingrediants. I tried it just mixed with pesto and it was awful!

Tom yum soup, vegetable stir fry, tomato/basil soup, chicken noodle soup can all be flavoursome, without the calories.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Stalk away, Space.

I'm funny about eggs but Spanish omelette is cooked solid so I'm fine with that. I don't eat eggs that move.

[itbemay1]

Spanish omelette is a great idea! I'll have a look for those noodles. Thank you

[lazylinguist]

Quite surprised to see Spanish omelette suggested as a low calorie option! The eggs, potatoes and large quantity of oil you need to cook the potatoes and onions in the traditional version I have make it a pretty high calorie thing!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

It's easy to make without loads of oil though. And other than that it's just a couple of potatoes, eggs and an onion.