What are healthy options to choose for lunch?

Question

I usually eat a salad but w/o protein on it, I never get full and am craving carbs when I get home from work. I bought those "lean pockets" and "South Beach Diet pizzas" but I hear they are actually very bad for you. I need something more filling to eat especially when all my co-workers order take out all the time and I'm left with a measly shriveled salad...

Answer 1

Salads can be delicious it depends what you put in it. I need to include carbs and protein in my lunch or I end up hungry shortly afterwards. I take salad for work most days and my co-workers tends to look at my lunch enviously while they eat meat pies and other junk. My favourites two favourites would be:

-thai chicken - wombok/chinese cabbage, bean sprouts and chicken (you can put in some rice noodles in you want some carbs), red onion, dressed with fish sauce, lime, garlic and chilli
-tuna salad - sml tin tuna, capsicum, cucumber, red onion, green beans (fresh not frozen) cooked potato diced, boiled egg, black olives dressed with fat free dressing.
I cannot stand salads with lettuce....

I also like cous cous cooked in chicken stock with coriander lime juice and almonds added served cold with some green salad and cooked chicken - this is good when I have a long day at work as all this fills me up.

I like to use lots of colourful veggies in my salads, then they look bright and colourful and I don't feel like I am missing out. Good luck finding your perfect lunch!!

Answer 2

What do you eat for dinner? Instead of purchasing frozen meals that are really not that great for you, what about packing some leftover dinner to warm up? That's what I do and everybody is always oohing and aahing over my lunch.

You could also give salads one more try. Salads can also be so delicious and filling too. The lettuce that you choose to use is the first step to a great salad. Choose a nice leafy green like romaine. Get creative with your healthy add-ons, there are so many to choose from: tomatoes, celery, guacamole or avocado, tuna, cucumber, jicama, parmesan cheese, carrots, boiled egg, broccoli, pineapple, sunflower seeds, chicken breast, chickpeas, pickles, red onions, strawberries, cauliflower, green beans, salsa, feta cheese, mushrooms, etc. Don't ruin the health factor with a lot of fatty dressing. Choose a vinaigrette with an olive oil base rather than a creamy base. I really simply like olive oil and a good quality balsamic vinegar. Make sure to pack anything that is even slightly moist in a seperate baggie or container. Pack some whole wheat crackers or bread instead of low fiber croutons.

Pasta salads are great too. You can make a batch and bring it to work a few days in a row. There are tons of recipes out there according to your taste preference. I trust the epicurious website for recipes over any other site. You can also make a fruit salad dressing by combining low fat vanilla yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, and honey. Pack this in a different container than your cut fresh fruit and mix together right before eating. Homemade soups are also easy to pack.

For days when you are feeling tired and don't feel like packing your lunch you can have a stash of frozen foods in the freezer just in case. Look for the Amy's brand frozen foods. They are much healthier than other frozen foods and they are really tasty as well. My favorites are the lasagnas, but I've never tried anything that I didn't like.

Good luck with your lunch!

Answer 3

I found these Thai kitchen soups that are packaged like Rama noodle but are made with rice noodles and do not have MSG. They cook up great in a microwave and are only .89 cents. Then I get some frozen pre-cooked shrimp and throw in a handful when I make the soup. Shrimp has a bunch of protein. It has such great flavors that you feel like you are eating something special!!

Answer 4

Try some tofu on your salad to give it a different twist. It's a great source of protein and is more filling.

Answer 5

You could add protein to your salad -- like cheese, sunflower kernels or pine nuts, or hard boiled egg. Also, maybe some yogurt on the side or for a snack later on.

Answer 6

Eat something with protein and whole grains.The high fiber will slow your blood sugar drop.

Answer 7

make your own foods (these will have far less additives, salt etc than pre-packaged options) - then you can make salads, either with leaves, pasta, rice, potates, pulses etc, and mix them with things you likenthe best - thus making your lunch more appetising to you as well