Is pasta salad a healthy lunch?!

[Rainydays55]

I’m trying to loose a few pounds, especially around my stomach area, I’ve cut out bread as much as possible and have been taking pasta salads to work for lunch instead . I admit I’m not doing much exercise so I can’t expect miracles but I’m not noticing a difference at all for cutting out bread! What are healthy lunches to take to work?! And any tips to loose a few pounds would be very appreciated!

Well pasta is just soggy bread, really.

Make it more salad than pasta, be careful with the dress g which could either be oily or sugary and be sure to include plenty of lean protein.

You need to do both diet and exercise, even if the exercise is just walking

It is food and all food is healthy. Smoothies, diet foods, cereal bars, meal replacement shakes are not healthy but they are crap, not food.

Not the way I make it

It's the cheese cubes that cock it up

How is it better than bread the ingredients are virtually identical!?

Surely it depends in what type of pasta and what type of bread?!
Wholemeal bread V white pasta covered in most- not the same.

I’m trying to lose a bit if weight. I’ve had pasta salad for lunches and dinners and I’m losing two pounds a week!

I’d say if you have a measured amount of pasta, with lots of roasted/steamed veg, and NOT loads of Mayo (you can make a healthy dressing with low fat Greek yogurt, add some mustard and balsamic vinegar) that is a healthy lunch.

If you eat in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. If you don't, you won't...

Another vote for looking at Team RH.

Cold pasta has a lower GI index than hot pasta, so gives better long release energy, but it’s still carbs. I’d highly recommend green lentils (tinned cooked), added to a salad of veg leftovers, v healthy, filling and tasty!

Count it out on MFP. Totally depends on how much pasta you use, how much mayo etc. I like roast butternut in a salad - substantial but surprisingly low in calories. And lots of protein.

As other posters said it’s all about calorie deficit and in my experience it’s really difficult to achieve this when you eat more than a little carbs.

I would load the salads with as much protein and leaves, veg etc as possible with a very low fat dressing. If you can get away with no carbs great but if you need them then try a low cal bread or a very small portion of pasta, rice, cous cous

I lost quite a bit by having protein with a small bag of microwave veg. The protein was usually sliced deli chicken breast, usually peri peri or bbq, sometimes salmon flakes or prawns.

LOSE its LOSE.

Do you want healthy, a calorie deficit or both?

Pasta can be quite calorific. Weigh your cooked pasta and see what the calories are then measure the other stuff you are adding to it. If it turns out to be a 750 cal lunch then you would be better off with 2 slices of bread & lean chicken.

Substitute it with wholewheat pasta as it should keep you fuller for longer.

They tend to have way more calories than a simple sandwich.

@Hardertobreathe

Do you want healthy, a calorie deficit or both?

Pasta can be quite calorific. Weigh your cooked pasta and see what the calories are then measure the other stuff you are adding to it. If it turns out to be a 750 cal lunch then you would be better off with 2 slices of bread & lean chicken.

90g of uncooked pasta = 180g cooked = approx 334 calories. If you had a bit of olive oil, veg and chicken you will get a substantial nutritious meal for approx 450-500 calories that will keep you full.

2 slices of bread with chicken is going to make you hungry again in 1-2 hours even if you’re eating higher calorie bread.

It’s like asking if a sandwich is a healthy lunch - it depends but it certainly can be. If you’ve got plenty of salad vegetables, use wholemeal pasta and don’t go overboard and cover it with Mayo/cheese/oil then yes. Measure out the pasta and other calorific ingredients (don’t bother with measuring salad veg!) to help you stay in your calorie limits.
And there is nothing wrong with bread!

Depends. Are you:-

1. Adding some veggies to pasta, or
2. Adding a small amount of pasta to veggies?

You haven't given any information about what you actually eat. Cutting out bread isn't going to make anyone lose weight. How is the rest of your diet? How many calories are you eating?

@doadeer

Not really... I would do a salad with grains instead - lebtila/ quiona /vulgar wheat / cous cous / brown rice etc and lots of veg

If the OP has a respectable job she won't want vulgar wheat.

Vulgar wheat

It all depends on your serving sizes. Yes, you can have pasta, but it ideally needs to be 3/4 salad and 1/4 pasta per serving.

White pasta is as crap as white bread. It’s basically junk food as it makes your blood sugar sky rocket.
Use wholewheat pasta instead. However, very little point in cutting out bread while eating pasta as they are the same in terms of effect on the body.

Pasta salad doesn't really mean anything.
It could be fairly low in calories if that's what you want, but it could also be hugely calorific.

Use wholemeal pasta, loads of veg & sald items & fat free dressing. I normally do carrot, peppers, cucumber, tomato, onion, raw mushrooms & radishes. I use Kraft fat free French dressing, sea salt & black pepper, then add some protein, I use smoked salmon trimmings if I am broke or chicken breast chopped in to cubes.

More vulgar wheat please

I came to recommend giant coucous but I just found out it's a type of pasta, so that doesn't really help you!

I do like pearl barley in salads though, and green lentils, as they are a bit more chunky.