Lower Calorie Supper Suggestions Please.

Eenymeeny

I'm looking for a lower calorie alternative to the "traditional'' 2 pizzas that we share with visitors on their weekly visit as we are all trying to lose weight.
(Two women who would realize that it's a good thing and would appreciate it, two men who would think that I'm trying to starve them!)
Thanks for some good ideas provided here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5361233
I'm thinking that nice rolls, as an open sandwich with a filling that doesn't contain too much mayonnaise would still be a treat but hopefully less calories than pizza followed by cake! Maybe a plate of sandwiches and a plate of crispbreads with a nice topping? Some crudites?
A nice lower-calorie desert to follow would be good too if anyone has some ideas please.
If they could be made in advance would be helpful too. I like to be with friends when they visit rather than in the kitchen!
Thanks for any suggestions or links

FairyPrincessk

Meals where people control their own can help with this. A few ideas:

-Jacket spuds with serve yourself toppings
-Burritos (try in bowls, layered to avoid the wraps)--seasoned rice, spiced beans, salsa, avocado, salad smidge of cheese and cooked diced lean meat. Load up on the beans, salad and salsa (esp. if homemade) and keep the other fillings to small amounts and this can be very healthy.
- Tapas-- try to mix in roasted veggies and several salads with things like olives and small chunks of cheese, prawns or chorizo.
-Steamed spring rolls--make your own, don't buy them and steam them don't fry.

HTH!

bossymoo

I would step away from the bread! A good chunky soup can be very satisfying- chorizo adds great flavour to a bean soup and a little goes a long way.
HM potato wedges can be good if cooking spray is used rather than oil. Slimming world recipes are good ones to use as they employ real ingredients cooked healthily.

MandM90

What about a couple of curries and rice? You could make the curry earlier/the day before and just reheat and make some rice on the evening. Maybe a veggie one (spinach and potato/dhal/cauliflower/chickpea) and a chicken one), just steer away from bases too creamy. Then, as an above person said, people can help themselves, and any leftovers can be frozen for another night.

Or a veggie packed pasta dish?

Or homemade falafels, salad, wraps, crudit!s, chilli sauce and hummus...again people can just help themselves.

krlyr

Some ideas for healthier versions of a pizza - http://greatist.com/health/make-healthier-pizza

mildredalien

Curry is a good idea - those on a diet could have a vegetable side and a small portion of rice, those not could have a larger portion of rice and/or naan bread. There are a couple of nice recipes from the Hairy Bikers online that cut out a lot of the very high calorie curry ingredients (coconut milk etc).

Otherwise I mean it's OK to eat pizza SOME of the time! Do you normally get takeaway pizza? Some of the thin crust pizzas you can buy in supermarkets are not too high in calories actually, if you have half and a nice salad on the side. Or you could share one large ish pizza between four, and those not on a diet could have some garlic bread or something as well instead of just salad.

maman

Not sure whether it needs to be finger food or if you sit down for your food with friends.


I'm another that would recommend Slimming World recipes or tweaking things you'd normally cook. Have a look on the SW website for some ideas or google.


Tonight we're having BBQ pulled beef (cheating a bit as I got it on offer in Lidl but pulled pork/beef is easy to make) with patatas bravas, mushrooms and some broad beans & mange tout.


Like you I don't like being stuck in the kitchen when we have people round so a hearty casserole (beef in red wine?) or a chicken jambalaya is easy to cook and doesn't need watching. For casseroles I put all the veg in it an then just do a bowl of new potatoes.

My go to pudding is to put all the ingredients for a DIY Eton Mess on the table. So a bowl of strawberries/raspberries, mini-meringues and cream or fat free thick yogurt (like Total 0%) and let people help themselves. Slimmers can stick to the yogurt and fruit if they want but mini meringues aren't that high in calories either.


ETA: this Hairy Bikers recipe is brilliant
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/braised_steak_with_gravy_24508
as it only has a tsp of cornflour between 4 people. It's great with chips or with veg for a roast type meal.

Eenymeeny

Thanks for all of the advice and links, especially the braised steak recipe Maman. It looks lovely, although more the type of thing that we would have for 'tea' as are some of the other ideas which I'll certainly try for us.
I should have explained that, to us, supper is a light bite before bedtime. To be honest, we've all admitted that we don't usually eat that late but feel that you have to provide something when visitors call. We've probably just had a full, cooked meal about three hours previously! So it's probably finger food rather than knife and fork. (I have said, that in my mother's day it would have been a cup of tea and a biscuit!)
We also have a vegetarian amongst us so that's where the cheese pizza, quiche etc started. I have looked at the thin crust pizza that I buy and as mildredalien suggested it's only 240 cals for a quarter so not too bad. Especially as it's only once a week! We do usually have salad with it and I was thinking that if I made a slimming world quiche with it, that would help with the men who will just clear the table whatever's there!
Slimming world recipes are a good idea, I'll certainly have a look at them. You've reminded me that I used to use meringue nests quite often so I'll certainly check that out.
Thanks for all of the suggestions you've certainly inspired me!

maman

Glad to be of help:).


I buy the mini meringues in Sainsbury's, they're 16 cals each compared with 53 for a nest.


Crustless quiche/frittata/Spanish omelette is a good idea as it's the pastry that's the least healthy part. I often make a quiche with a mashed potato base which men seem to love as it's more hearty and filling. Salad is great alongside but pickles (beetroot, cornichons, pickled onions, pickled cabbage) are low cal and easy too, far better than coleslaw or anything with mayo.