With the temptation of fast food and coffee shops on every corner, it can be difficult to make healthy choices at lunchtime – especially if you are back working in an office.
A typical meal deal style lunch of a shop bought sandwich, packet of crisps and fizzy drink can easily add up to nearly 1000 calories! We always encourage everything in moderation, but if you’re looking for a healthier option for lunch, here are some of our favourite swaps.
We’ve rounded up our top ten lunches that we guarantee will taste delicious and keep you full until dinner. The best bit is that each dish comes in at less than 500 calories!
Caramelised Onion Cheese Toastie
Sweet caramelised onions and gooey cheese make this toastie an indulgent lunchtime treat! There’s no fancy equipment needed, and it’s ready in just 25 minutes. We’ve even added soft mushrooms and earthy spinach to this Caramelised Onion Cheese Toastie so it’s full of goodness and only 237 calories.
BLT Pasta Salad
A BLT is a lunchtime favourite, and our twist on this classic sandwich transforms it into a satisfying pasta dish that’s light and fresh. At only 448 calories, why not make up a batch of this BLT Pasta Salad the night before and take the leftovers in a packed lunch?
Ham, Leek and Potato Soup
Just four simple ingredients make up this hearty Ham, Leek and Potato Soup. It’s so easy to rustle up using your Instant Pot or slow cooker: simply pop your ingredients in and leave it to bubble for a few hours while you get on with your day! Our recipe makes six portions so you have plenty to put in the freezer for those times where you aren’t able to start from scratch.
Cheese and Onion Pasties
Popular bakery chains sell pastry laden pasties but the calories soon add up! Our Cheese and Onion Pasties contain only 330 calories, whereas the shop bought versions are around 450. We’ve used a clever ingredient to create a pastry-like case that doesn’t go soggy or split. They’re freezer friendly too! I
KFC Rice Box
Forget the drive through, our KFC Rice Box is a healthier fakeaway that’s less than 500 calories! It’s also budget friendly: you can batch cook the chicken and add whatever leftover fridge veggies you have to your savoury rice. Serve with fresh salad and you have a hot, filling lunch in less than half an hour!
Hummus Style Dip
For a low calorie lunch that doesn’t need any cooking, our Hummus Style Dip is a real people pleaser. It can be blitzed in minutes ready for spreading, dipping and scooping!
Having a pot of hummus style dip in the fridge means you can decide what you’re feeling like that day. At only 177 calories, serve with warm pitta bread, spread on a sandwich or add your favourite crunchy chopped veggies.e like carrot, celery and cucumber.
However you have your hummus style dip, it’s sure to become a lunchtime favourite in no time. Psst… try adding some chilli powder if you prefer more spice!
Quiche Lorraine
Eggs are a staple food at any time of the day, including in this savoury Quiche Lorraine that’s just 336 calories per serving. We’ve used traditional bacon, onion and cheese, but you could try whatever veggies you like including broccoli, mushrooms and fresh peppers. Try experimenting with different combinations to find your favourite!
Chicken Tikka Kebabs
Packed with protein and fragrant spices, these Chicken Tikka Kebabs are lean and light at 206 calories, especially when served with a rainbow of fresh salad leaves, cucumber, radishes and tomatoes. You can slice them up into wraps or pitta breads, or even add a pile of fluffy white rice for something more substantial.
Greek Salad
Nothing says summer lunch quite like a crisp green salad! A traditional Greek Salad includes lashings of olive oil and olives, but our slimming friendly version skips the oil and shows that you can still enjoy a Mediterranean style lunch without compromising on calories!
The salty feta cheese complements the zingy dressing perfectly; it’s hard to believe it’s only 94 calories per portion.
Yorkshire Pudding Wraps
Tortilla wraps, pitta bread, wholemeal rolls – you name it, we’ve probably had it for lunch as a sandwich. But what if we told you that Yorkshire Pudding Wraps make a light, fluffy ‘wrap’ for a deliciously different sandwich? The wrap holds together perfectly when stuffed and uses up any leftover batter from a roast dinner. It’s tasty hot or cold, whatever fillings you choose: cheese, bacon, deli meats and salad all work really well! Each wrap is 281 calories which is a significant saving on a shop bought wrap.
What are your favourite lunches under 500 calories? We see so many slimming friendly suggestions over in our Facebook Group so if you’re not already a member, you can join our community and let us know yours!
