Healthy simple and inexpensice lunches? ideas anyone?!
I really want to lose weight but I find myself having to choose between getting healthy groceries or filling up my gas tank!. So I always end up getting pastas frozen food!.
What are some ideas for healthy and inexpensive (a few ingredients) and simple (if possible) foods!?
I eat oatmeal and a fruit for breakfast, thats pretty much my only healthy meal!.
Any ideas would be great!!
thanks Www@FoodAQ@Com
What are some ideas for healthy and inexpensive (a few ingredients) and simple (if possible) foods!?
I eat oatmeal and a fruit for breakfast, thats pretty much my only healthy meal!.
Any ideas would be great!!
thanks Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Hi,
you could make some sandwiches - use whole grain bread, mustard or a dab of mayo or extra-virgin olive oil, and then some leafy stuff:
spinach, romaine, basil, the darker green the more nutrients
couple slices of tomato, avocado, onion, or some sprouts
then try a morningstar farm veggie burger, or some lean deli meat, a piece or two of fake bacon
and maybe a nice slice of provolone or mozzarella - but, fatty and high calories!.
snag a bit of each at the beginning of the week and make a different sandwich every day!.
bring a yogurt for dessert!.
bring some nuts and dried fruit mix to snack on!.
bring some fruit - an apple a day!.!.!.
you could also make soup very easily - buy or make some chicken stock/broth, add some vegetables - potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, beans/lentils, bay leaf, maybe some canned diced tomatoes, some herbs, salt and pepper, bring a thermos of that to start off your lunch to help fill you up!. watch the sodium content of the broth/stock!.
it's definitely cheaper to make your own food, and way healthier!.
you could make fajitas - tortillas, spiced and shredded chicken, bell pepper, onion, and maybe some tomato, wrap it up before you go to work, and nuke it for 40 seconds on high!. maybe snag some sauce packets from taco bell!.
pitas are also a good bread alternative, try to find whole grain!. they can get soggy, so you might want to stuff them at lunch instead of in the morning!.
eat a variety of colors (veggies and fruits) to maximize nutrient intake!.
drink plenty of water, and guzzle a glass 15 minutes before eating - it takes 20 minutes for the brain to register fullness!.
eat 6 or so small healthy meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism on high, to help burn calories!.
try to find a store that sells things in bulk (like sam's or costco - but there is a membership fee but there's almost no way to not make up for it in a year) so you can buy lots of broth, bread, nuts, vegetables CHEAP, frozen veggies & fruits, meats, etc!.!.!. when i make soup i just grab a can of everything and toss it in!.
soup is so versatile, you can make anything you want!. try not to overcook it so some of the nutrients remain in the vegetables!. spinach and parmesan is about my favorite soup in the world!. but, soups are filling, cheap, and as nutritious as you make them!. they can be an appetizer or the meal!.
if you have a really good little thermos you could make a smoothie in the morning and have that for a mid-morning snack!. i use frozen fruit (strawberries, berries, bananas, etc!.!.!.), tofu, 2 splenda packets, a teaspoon of vanilla, maybe some ice, and maybe chuck in some lemon or lime juice or cinnamon!. sometimes i also add a dash of heavy cream, yogurt, or vanilla flavored soy milk, just for good measure!. very healthy little snack - and very filling!.
eat lots of high fiber foods - it will help you feel fuller longer!. i eat total cereal with vanilla flavored soy milk - total is like eating a multi-vitamin in every serving, read the label! high in fiber and minerals, etc!.!.!.
try these sites for other ideas:
http://www!.foodnetwork!.com/food/show_ek/!.!.!. ("healthy appetite with ellie krieger" in case the link doesn't work)
http://www!.flavorsofamerica!.com/
ellie has lots of healthy snack ideas and info - she is on once or twice a week if you want to try to catch her show, very informative!. she has a great easy recipe for edamame hummus that you could use on anything while getting your soy proteins, some garlic, and vitamin c!.
healthy flavors is on pbs, dunno about where you live!.
hope you find some good and affordable things to eat!Www@FoodAQ@Com
you could make some sandwiches - use whole grain bread, mustard or a dab of mayo or extra-virgin olive oil, and then some leafy stuff:
spinach, romaine, basil, the darker green the more nutrients
couple slices of tomato, avocado, onion, or some sprouts
then try a morningstar farm veggie burger, or some lean deli meat, a piece or two of fake bacon
and maybe a nice slice of provolone or mozzarella - but, fatty and high calories!.
snag a bit of each at the beginning of the week and make a different sandwich every day!.
bring a yogurt for dessert!.
bring some nuts and dried fruit mix to snack on!.
bring some fruit - an apple a day!.!.!.
you could also make soup very easily - buy or make some chicken stock/broth, add some vegetables - potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, beans/lentils, bay leaf, maybe some canned diced tomatoes, some herbs, salt and pepper, bring a thermos of that to start off your lunch to help fill you up!. watch the sodium content of the broth/stock!.
it's definitely cheaper to make your own food, and way healthier!.
you could make fajitas - tortillas, spiced and shredded chicken, bell pepper, onion, and maybe some tomato, wrap it up before you go to work, and nuke it for 40 seconds on high!. maybe snag some sauce packets from taco bell!.
pitas are also a good bread alternative, try to find whole grain!. they can get soggy, so you might want to stuff them at lunch instead of in the morning!.
eat a variety of colors (veggies and fruits) to maximize nutrient intake!.
drink plenty of water, and guzzle a glass 15 minutes before eating - it takes 20 minutes for the brain to register fullness!.
eat 6 or so small healthy meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism on high, to help burn calories!.
try to find a store that sells things in bulk (like sam's or costco - but there is a membership fee but there's almost no way to not make up for it in a year) so you can buy lots of broth, bread, nuts, vegetables CHEAP, frozen veggies & fruits, meats, etc!.!.!. when i make soup i just grab a can of everything and toss it in!.
soup is so versatile, you can make anything you want!. try not to overcook it so some of the nutrients remain in the vegetables!. spinach and parmesan is about my favorite soup in the world!. but, soups are filling, cheap, and as nutritious as you make them!. they can be an appetizer or the meal!.
if you have a really good little thermos you could make a smoothie in the morning and have that for a mid-morning snack!. i use frozen fruit (strawberries, berries, bananas, etc!.!.!.), tofu, 2 splenda packets, a teaspoon of vanilla, maybe some ice, and maybe chuck in some lemon or lime juice or cinnamon!. sometimes i also add a dash of heavy cream, yogurt, or vanilla flavored soy milk, just for good measure!. very healthy little snack - and very filling!.
eat lots of high fiber foods - it will help you feel fuller longer!. i eat total cereal with vanilla flavored soy milk - total is like eating a multi-vitamin in every serving, read the label! high in fiber and minerals, etc!.!.!.
try these sites for other ideas:
http://www!.foodnetwork!.com/food/show_ek/!.!.!. ("healthy appetite with ellie krieger" in case the link doesn't work)
http://www!.flavorsofamerica!.com/
ellie has lots of healthy snack ideas and info - she is on once or twice a week if you want to try to catch her show, very informative!. she has a great easy recipe for edamame hummus that you could use on anything while getting your soy proteins, some garlic, and vitamin c!.
healthy flavors is on pbs, dunno about where you live!.
hope you find some good and affordable things to eat!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well buying soy nut butter and jelly and a loaf of bread is good for lunch if your not allergic to soy or to nuts!.
a lot of supermarkets have BB Tuna on sale get 10 cans for 10!.00 that is great on bread or over lettuce
believe it or not I buy Ball Park Turkey franks they are truly the best tasting frank I have ever eaten with store-brand sauerkraut and mustard!.!.!.you can get a package of 6 for 2!.50 that would be 3 meals right there if you eat two per meal!.
also you can get a very large yogart at the supermarket and mix that with some oats!.!.!.!.that could be like 4 or 5 servings
Those are the cheap alternatives that I use in between getting sushi and soy beans for lunch!.!.!.!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
a lot of supermarkets have BB Tuna on sale get 10 cans for 10!.00 that is great on bread or over lettuce
believe it or not I buy Ball Park Turkey franks they are truly the best tasting frank I have ever eaten with store-brand sauerkraut and mustard!.!.!.you can get a package of 6 for 2!.50 that would be 3 meals right there if you eat two per meal!.
also you can get a very large yogart at the supermarket and mix that with some oats!.!.!.!.that could be like 4 or 5 servings
Those are the cheap alternatives that I use in between getting sushi and soy beans for lunch!.!.!.!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com
I try watching what I eat too!
A few helpful things would be:
Eggs
Ham / Roast Beef / Turkey
[Make a sandwich, low cal!. bread & cheese!]
Fruit
Yogurt! Yummy!.
Nothings wrong with a little breakfast for lunch! ;)
You can always make yourself some vegetable stew!.
Look up a good recipe, it'll last you all week!
Www@FoodAQ@Com
A few helpful things would be:
Eggs
Ham / Roast Beef / Turkey
[Make a sandwich, low cal!. bread & cheese!]
Fruit
Yogurt! Yummy!.
Nothings wrong with a little breakfast for lunch! ;)
You can always make yourself some vegetable stew!.
Look up a good recipe, it'll last you all week!
Www@FoodAQ@Com
well if you have access to a microwave:
**Brown rice and Beans (any kind, pinto, black and refried are my favorite), (in a burrito if you'd like that better, whole wheat tortilla)
*Brown rice and steamed vegetables (I love Green Giant simply steam, they're very low calories and have good seasoning! Try the baby vegetable medly, brown rice re-heats very well, make a batch every few days and use it in dishes, eat half the steamed veggies for dinner and bring half to lunch)
*Leftover whole wheat pasta and marinara sauce (I live alone so an easy one pot dinner is: cook pasta, drain add some pre-made sauce like prego, stir over the still hot burner so the sauce gets warm and eat! This makes great leftovers for lunch too)
*Leftover Soup or Chili (there are healthy brands and a can is never more than a dollar and makes two meals for one person)
*If you have a grocery outlet, they always have lean cuisines in the freezer section for much cheaper than normal grocery stores and keep your eye out for sales at your normal grocery store!.
Cold Lunch:
*SALAD! add some nuts, seeds or beans to make it more filling (check out Linens and Things or Bed Bath and Beyond, they have cool containers to pack your salad and dressing separate, plus a built in ice pack)
*Sandwiches, cucumber and cheese is really good, but cheese is kinda've pricey, so I'd go with natural peanut butter and jelly, on whole wheat bread!. Or, tuna is super cheap and so is canned chicken if you eat either of those, but mayo is really bad for you, so mix it with non-fat yogurt (with tuna you can't tell the difference, not sure about chicken, I think non-fat plain yogurt is super disgusting by itself so don't base it on that)Www@FoodAQ@Com
**Brown rice and Beans (any kind, pinto, black and refried are my favorite), (in a burrito if you'd like that better, whole wheat tortilla)
*Brown rice and steamed vegetables (I love Green Giant simply steam, they're very low calories and have good seasoning! Try the baby vegetable medly, brown rice re-heats very well, make a batch every few days and use it in dishes, eat half the steamed veggies for dinner and bring half to lunch)
*Leftover whole wheat pasta and marinara sauce (I live alone so an easy one pot dinner is: cook pasta, drain add some pre-made sauce like prego, stir over the still hot burner so the sauce gets warm and eat! This makes great leftovers for lunch too)
*Leftover Soup or Chili (there are healthy brands and a can is never more than a dollar and makes two meals for one person)
*If you have a grocery outlet, they always have lean cuisines in the freezer section for much cheaper than normal grocery stores and keep your eye out for sales at your normal grocery store!.
Cold Lunch:
*SALAD! add some nuts, seeds or beans to make it more filling (check out Linens and Things or Bed Bath and Beyond, they have cool containers to pack your salad and dressing separate, plus a built in ice pack)
*Sandwiches, cucumber and cheese is really good, but cheese is kinda've pricey, so I'd go with natural peanut butter and jelly, on whole wheat bread!. Or, tuna is super cheap and so is canned chicken if you eat either of those, but mayo is really bad for you, so mix it with non-fat yogurt (with tuna you can't tell the difference, not sure about chicken, I think non-fat plain yogurt is super disgusting by itself so don't base it on that)Www@FoodAQ@Com