Healthy lunch ideas for weight loss and work

Healthy lunch ideas when you are trying to lose weight are probably the one thing that most people struggle with most. This week, I am sharing a few lunch suggestions, which I hope you will find helpful. Sandwiches are so easy to make and can be very tasty and filling, however they are usually not compatible with weight loss. It’s not to say you cannot have a sandwich in Slim R Us, of course you can, but it’s what goes into it that really matters! I always recommend preparing a filling, tasty and interesting lunch that will keep hunger pangs at bay.

If you tend to buy your lunch in a deli or canteen every day, ask the chef to put together a nice, healthy lunch platter for you. Honestly, this is such an enjoyable meal, lasts much longer than the 6 or 7 bites of a sandwich, that is probably overpriced in the first instance!

 

A CRISP GREEN SUMMER SALAD –

Asparagus, lettuce, olives, cucumber, capers.

Serve with baby potatoes, either steamed or oven baked. Hot or cold!

A nice vinaigrette to serve :

4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

A Tbsp apple cider vinegar (Tesco, Aldi or health food shop)

1 tsp honey for sweetness

Finely chopped shallots & parsley.

Season with ground pepper.

What can I take for lunch instead of sandwiches?

 

Lunch preparation can actually start the night before while you are making dinner. If the oven is on, add some extra meat, chicken or fish that can be eaten cold the next day. Small tins of sweetcorn or mixed beans make a great side dish! Think about pre-cooking some baby corn on the cob. BLT cups which are layers of bacon, lettuce and tomato with some crackers instead of bread would make a fantastic lunch.

Lunch on the go!

A healthy lunch box with grapes, apple & crispbread with ham, fat free mayonnaise, shredded carrots.

 

What to eat when you don’t know what to eat?

 

Don’t you hate it when you are really trying to stay on track and just struggle to come up with an idea for lunch? Somehow, breakfast or dinner never seems to present as many problems!

 

Hard-boiled eggs are a great filler. Either plain or devilled, which gives extra flavour and seems even more filling!  I have a good video demo of the devilled eggs on Slim R Us!

If you have access to an oven or microwave, a baked potato with beans would be perfect! Don’t forget about pasta and rice salad dishes. Fill with delicious chopped vegetables and season nicely with your favourite dressing. These can range from a home-made salad dressing, a balsamic vinegar dressing, even green pesto sauce. Remember, when you are trying to lose weight, tasty food has to be a priority, otherwise you will get bored very quickly.

Healthy lunch ideas for work

 

Most of us breathe a huge sigh when asked for lunch suggestions. Just be a little adventurous. Prawns are so easy to add. You can buy them pre-cooked or stir-fry them yourself.  The advantage to cooking them at home is that you can season as you wish. Garlic and chilli make a great seasoning for prawns! Pop over to the homepage after you finish reading the blog and complete the Health Screen.  It takes less than a minute, and it makes you think about your eating habits! The bonus is that  you are sent a free 3-day meal plan of suggestions for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

 

PASTA AND PRAWN SALAD

Add frozen garden peas, cherry tomatoes & lime slices to make a zesty prawn salad with pasta.

SPICY THAI DRESSING.

50 mls fish sauce

2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

1 Tbsp honey

Splash rice vinegar

1tsp each minced red chilli & garlic.

 

Healthy lunch ideas for weight loss

 

CRISPBREAD FILLERS

A simple lunch or snack of crispbreads with cucumber or tomatoes & soft fat free cheese spread, like cottage cheese or quark.

To take the sharpness from fat free cheese, add some finely chopped chives or season with a little ‘Tikka’ powder.

Lunch or as a snack, this Muesli from Slim R Us  makes another tasty filler.

Home-made Muesli is not just for breakfast, it also makes a great lunch and in this instance, I exchanged the porridge oats for Weetabix, just for a change.  The ingredients are simple and if you are taking it to work, you could make this in a little cardboard coffee cup. Layer by starting with the fruit. Crumble the Weetabix and then add a dollop of yoghurt. Continue with another layer until all the ingredients are used. If you are using porridge oats, it is the same method. Then place in the fridge for a couple of hours.

1 or 2 Weetabix or 1 oz porridge oats.

A small fat free yoghurt

Fresh or frozen fruit.