Ugh, Lunchtimes...

[Seb2891]

So, I'm sure I can't be the only person with this constant dilemma.

Lunchtimes at work have become something of a stagnant routine.

I make myself salads everyday to eat, but they are a repeat of either Chicken (and or Crabsticks) / Tomato/ Carrots and mixed salad + low calorie dressing.

When it comes to food, I'm definitely not the creative type, and I don't really have a lot of time to prepare food each day so I find myself falling into the same thing, because (a) it's convenient, and (b) I know the calorie intake everyday which means I don't have to recount the calories every day something is different.

I was wondering if anyone knows of something that has calories amounts, that adds a bit of variation to lunchtimes at work that doesn't take a lot of prep work and yet is delicious, and nutrious, without loading up on the calories.

Thanks in advance guys 🙂

[MagsOnTheBeach]

I make a big pot of spaghetti sauce or chili and then serve it over thinly sliced vegetables.  It's my favorite lunch because it's pretty easy once the sauce is made.  A hot lunch is just more satisfying.  Here is the chili recipe I use with nutrition information:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/three-bean-and-beef-chili-recipe-1917076

The spaghetti sauce is in Marla Heller's book DASH Diet for Weight Loss.

Because these are pretty big batches, I make one and freeze half and a week later make and freeze half of the other.  Then I have a whole month's worth of lunches from cooking just 2 times.

[SantiR]

Have you tried making some soup? That's what I do!

It's easy, healthy, abundant, and not expensive. All you need is some chicken breasts, lots of veggies, salt, and some boiling water. 

The good thing about soups is: there are plenty of types and ways to make soup. If you search on the Internet I'm sure you will find tons of simple soup recipes you can start cooking today.

You will not get tired of this if you cook different kinds each time! Give it a try! 

[Daves_Not_Here]

Frozen dinners.  Zero prep and the nutrition info is right on the package.  And you can find them for $1 each.

[rangyamala]

Option 1(avoiding grains)- Stir fried or steamed veggies, soups, lentils and beans.

Option 2 (with good carbs)- Quinoa/brown rice/freekeh/bulgur which just needs boiling + your choice of salad/veggie/quick curry + protein source

Option 3- Pack your salad into a whole wheat sandwich with some light mayo/cheese.

[emili]

@Seb2891 I am one of those lucky people that can eat the same thing over and over and love it just the same. However, I have a 14 year old that makes announcements every other day how boring his lunch is and he gets Doritos! (sometimes :)) Soup is an excellent idea. It also freezes well so you can eat it twice and freeze the rest for the following week. I also love cottage cheese- but not by itself so much. I put chocolate cereal in it- dessert for lunch. I have a fruit and hard pretzels with it. 375 calories for the whole thing. I do the full serving of cottage cheese and half the serving of everything else. 60 or so calories for fruit. The crab sticks you mention, if you get spicy mustard and make a crab salad you can have it on a bagel thin which are 100 calories or less. Mustard is 0 and the crab depends on what you eat. Throw lettuce and tomato with a side of pickles and pretzels- eating like a king.

[pnw_eileen]

I often package up leftovers from dinner.  Today it was raw cabbage (last night that was coleslaw but this didn't have the dressing - saving some calories!), 1/2 of a raw sweet potato w/ a pinch of salt, smoked pulled pork (no bbq sauce, just plain).  It was salty, crunchy, sweet.   Pretty darn good.

I like a tuna sandwich.  Or just tuna or egg salad w some veggies scoopers.  I use tons of celery and raw peppers and dress w/ 1/2 low fat mayo 1/2 greek yogurt.

Hummous w/ veggies is also good

Soup, chili are mainstays for me in the winter

If I'm really lazy (and I am really lazy several times a week!), I stop at the grocery on the way to work and grab one of those bagged salads.  I keep my own dressing here at work so I know what is in it and helps to control things. 

I know I'm weird but I love artichokes and i'll cook up several and then have one for lunch and never get tired of them. 

Regardless, I try to fill my lunch up with as many veggies as I can.  Keeping raw celery, carrots, peppers & cucumber around make this easier.  And, I always take along two pieces of fruit.  One for lunch and one in case I'm starving at some point during the day

[Daves_Not_Here]

I didn't initially offer this idea, because I wanted to respond directly to the question.

However, I find that reducing variety in my meals saves time, makes for easier logging, and makes it much easier to hit my macro-nutrient and caloric targets.  I'll make a batch of some concoction with 8 servings, and that's 8 meals I don't have to plan or cook.  Lazy and mindless works for me!

[genaw]

I'll go with frozen entrees and add a side salad because sometimes, its just not enough food to fill me up. kashi makes some very healthy options. they are high in fiber though so if you work around people they can tend to make you gassy if you arent used to it.