7 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Weight Loss

If you wish to lose weight, you certainly know that burgers and pizzas won’t get you there. You need to make sure you have healthy meals throughout the day. After my article about “The Ideal Breakfast-7 Breakfast Ideas”, I’m bringing to you 7 healthy lunch ideas for weight loss. Mind you, eating clean doesn't mean you have to feed on tasteless food. I hope you enjoy these healthy and absolutely delicious lunches!

 

Lunch 1: Pizza Burger

Ingredients:

• 1 vegetarian burger
• 1 whole-grain hamburger bun
• 2 tablespoons canned pizza sauce
• 1 slice part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 small apple

Make It: Warm burger and place on bun; top with pizza sauce and cheese. Microwave sandwich for 20 to 30 seconds to melt cheese; add fresh basil. Serve with apple on the side.

Lunch 2: Turkey, Avocado, and Hummus Wrap

Ingredients:

• 1 whole wheat tortilla
• 2-3 tablespoons red pepper hummus
• 3 slices low-sodium deli turkey
• 1/4 avocado, sliced
• Pickle slices

Make It: Spread tortilla with hummus, and then layer on turkey, avocado, and pickle slices. Roll, and then slice. Makes 1 wrap.

Lunch 3: Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 4 teaspoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 pound cooked and peeled small shrimp
• 1 cup thinly sliced red, yellow and/or orange bell pepper
• 1 cup seeded and thinly sliced cucumber
• 1/4 cup mixed chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, cilantro and/or mint

Make It: Whisk lime juice, fish sauce, oil, brown sugar and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add shrimp, bell pepper, cucumber and fresh herbs; toss to coat.

Lunch 4: Hummus and Roasted Veggie Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 soft tortilla shell
• Handful of your favorite veggies (try spinach, tomatoes, and zucchini)
• Hummus
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Crumbled goat cheese

Make It: Roast veggies for about 20 minutes at 350°F with the olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Top your favorite type of tortilla with hummus (store-bought or homemade), add the roasted veggies and some goat cheese, and then bake for 10 minutes at 350°F. Slice and enjoy!

Lunch 5: Sweet Tuna Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 can tuna in water, drained
• 3-4 tablespoon sweet relish
• 2 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon honey mustard
• Salt and pepper
• Optional add-ins: onions, baby carrots, cucumbers, celery, corn, dried cranberries, or chopped grapes

Make It: Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix together and enjoy on top of a bed of lettuce, in a sandwich or pita, or scooped up with your favorite whole-grain crackers.

Lunch 6: Southwest Chicken Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
•  1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 pound chicken, cooked and diced
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups quinoa cooked
• 1 cup low fat plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• Salsa

Make It: Sautee vegetables in olive oil until tender. Add the spices and chicken to the vegetable mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Combine quinoa and the vegetable mixture, then stir in Greek yogurt. Last, stir in cilantro and top with salsa.

Lunch 7: Italian Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup tomato, chopped
• 1 cup zucchini, chopped
• ½ cup green onion
• 1 cup leaf lettuce, shredded
• ¼ tsp. basil
• 4 tbsp.fat-free Italian dressing
• 1/8 cup (1 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

Make It: Toss tomato, zucchini, green onion, lettuce, basil, and Italian dressing in a bowl. Sprinkle each serving with mozzarella cheese. Serves four. One serving equals 1 vegetable, ¼ dairy, and ½ free exchange.