Ideas for easy, healthy lunches

whitesatin

We are both at home all day now so having to think of both lunches and dinners every day. I find it bad enough thinking of evening meals but am running out of ideas for lunches.

We generally have either soup (shop bought), sandwiches or rolls, sometimes even porridge, poached eggs on toast etc. etc.

Every day we are increasingly bored with what to have for lunch and I don't want to have to cook twice in a day (not least because of fuel costs) and just wondered if anyone would like to share what you have for lunch with me to give me some more ideas.

I like food but am not that motivated by it - quick and easy is what I like. Also, trying to keep the calories down too.

p00hsticks

I'm in the same boat, so I'll be interested in replies as I struggle too.

We have things like beans on toast, pate with crusty bread, staffordshire oatcakes with mushrooms and cheese, pasta salad

DomRavioli

Try the Old Style board - theres a mega recipe index including lunches.

SailorSam

whitesatin wrote: »

We generally have either soup (shop bought),

I have lots of soup but i'd never even think of going in a shop to buy it. It's so easy to do a slowcooker full that will last for weeks, portioned up in the freezer.

getmore4less

Move the main meal to lunchtime(gives a chance to workit off)

Then look for smaller snack meals at night.

If doing meats do a litle extra and have it as part of a snack the following day(not same day gets boring it will keep for a few days in the fridge) small pasta, salads, sandwiches etc useing the cold meats.

whitesatin

SailorSam wrote: »

I have lots of soup but i'd never even think of going in a shop to buy it. It's so easy to do a slowcooker full that will last for weeks, portioned up in the freezer.

I have made my own soups in the past and I do know what you mean. The problem is, I am not that keen on soup in the first place, having been brought up on it, practically.

Thanks for your suggestion though.

whitesatin

getmore4less wrote: »

Move the main meal to lunchtime(gives a chance to workit off)

Then look for smaller snack meals at night.

If doing meats do a litle extra and have it as part of a snack the following day(not same day gets boring it will keep for a few days in the fridge) small pasta, salads, sandwiches etc useing the cold meats.

A good suggestion re moving main meal. I have been know to do that in the past and, of course, it is what I do on a Sunday most weeks. I will talk to OH re trying that again.

We also tend to keep the "leftovers" of roast dinner for a sandwich on a Monday. OH is keen on that but I don't want sandwiches if I can help it. Perhaps it would be worth doing a small pasta salad with the meat instead. I love pasta but tend to have it in the evenings at the moment. As you say, I could possibly make a bit more and work it off.

Thanks.

PennyForThem_2

Why not try cooking rather than buying shop bought? Now you are retired you have the time to go to the market or look for yellow stickered stuff and make something from that.

Soup is easy - no need for a slow cooker. Maybe you need a liquidiser or food processor both of which can be picked up quite cheaply from Argos or Currys. Just cook in a pan.

If you can cook then I find The fast Diet Recipe Book really good for nutritious healthy and tasty recipes. No need to diet - lots of starters, mains and puds.

PennyForThem_2

ahh just re-read the OP.

Worried about fuel costs but really buying shop processed is far more expensive. Maybe a slow cooker is the answer as uses a minimal amount of fuel - more like same as light bulb, I think. But takes 7-8 hours and needs planning and stuff that can be cooked slow - stews etc.

Savvy_Sue

couscous ... add hot water, stir, leave to stand. Add whatever bits you have to hand.

The other thing to consider is whether you need two meals. We gave up eating in the evening when DH was suffering with a hiatus hernia, and he often got home too late to eat a meal without suffering later. so it's lunch, and then fruit and yoghourt in the evenings. Wish I could say I'd lost weight as a result.

margaretclare

We don't eat a meal in the evening. A good breakfast, a fairly late lunch i.e. much later than 'lunch-time' and maybe a snack around tea-time or later. Once you're no longer rushing out of the house and working you don't really need 3 meals.