Lower fat / lower calorie family dinners

[OMGitsnotgood]

I'm trying to lose weight slowly in a sustainable way. We eat fairly healthily anyway, my downfall is the extras (crisps, cheese, wine) which I am cutting down on quite successfully. I'd like to shave a few calories off evening meals where possible. Rest of the family is slim so I don't want to subject them to super low calorie meals. I can reduce my portion size and increase my vegetable portions, and I am exercising now several times a week.

I am interested in lower calorie dishes people have come across which are tasty & satisfying whilst being lowish calorie (500 -600 ish all in?)

Thanks

Some of the lower calorie dinners I've made just for me and DH (kids eating something a bit more calorific!) are:

• Roast broccoli & salmon fillets with a dressing of fish sauce and lime, and peanuts and coriander on top
• Purple sprouting broccoli, soft boiled eggs, caper sauce
• Dhal, roast cauliflower, pickles, yoghurt
• Baked sweet potatoes, guacamole, feta cheese with a tomato, red onion, chili, lime and coriander salad alongside
• Jacket potatoes, sour cream, hot smoked salmon with chopped beetroot and cucumber salad alongside
• Baked feta with tomatoes, olives, capers and red onion - eaten with wholemeal pita
• Udon noodles with veg broth, soy, sesame oil, chopped spring onions and a soft boiled egg

Chilli. Ultra low fat mince 80gish grams per person. Quinoa not rice, 400-500kcals per person
Spag bol. Low gat mince again 70g pastamax
Slow cooker chicken curry (bung 100g chicken per person, 1/2 tin of tomatoes per person, 100g of frozen cauliflower, spinach if kids will tolerate (mine wont)curry powder, garam masala. Cook, add low fat yoghurt at the end),qiuinoa not rice. 300-450kcal per person
Anything fish based pasta and tomatoes sauce

I tend to just double the carb for those needing more calories

A good place to look for healthy inspo which families all eat is gousto recipes - that's where I get my inspo!! It has a load of lower calorie recipes.

Stir fry is always a winner for me, home made curries, chillies, spag bol. Lower fat meat used and bulk it out with vegis!

Well done on doing what you're doing x

imagine a toddler plate

each small compartment meat&sauce (or equivalent) and carbs
large compartment (steamed) veg or salad.

that will get the proportions about right.
if you can swap carbs for wholegrain/skin on/sweet potato

I make mashed potato with half cauliflower, half potato. Nearly half the calories, plus you use less butter to mash it, as the cauliflower doesn't absorb it.

I also make tray bake vegetables, with some sort of protein. I eat that, but add a quick carb for my family. Tonight they get couscous with the roasted butternut, tomatoes, courgette, chickpeas and feta. I skip the carbs.

The vast majority of dishes I cook come in under 500cal. I only use a spay oil when frying and prefer tomato based sauces over creamy ones. I think it helps that I love veg and that makes up a big part of the meal. You can add sides and extras to add calories.
Things like vegetable chilli, with add ons of sour cream, guacamole, tortilla chips
Sweet potato and cauliflower curry with optional naan and popadoms
Pasta arabiata, optional grated cheese and garlic bread.
Cajun chicken breasts with salad. Put chicken in buns for buns for those who want more.
Cod wrapped in pancetta with roasted veg, optional wedges.
Stir fry with chicken or prawns rice noodles stir fried veg, option for egg fried rice.
Shakshuka with optional yoghurt and sour dough

Great ideas and advice, thank you