What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words healthy, weight loss recipes? Probably something basic and boring like kale salad with a little bit of plain chicken breast.
But, trying to lose weight with healthy choice meals doesn’t need to be boring or tasteless. There are countless delicious healthy lunch recipes that will help you burn those excess calories while actually enjoying the food you eat.
Enjoying delicious food will help you stay committed and motivated to your weight loss journey and get the body you’ve always wanted. Plus, it’ll boost your energy levels and make you feel lighter than ever. And who doesn’t want that? Exactly!
So, let’s take a look at several healthy lunch recipes that you’ll actually look forward to eating.
Most of these meals are packable so you can enjoy your healthy lunch even if you’re at work or school.
This is definitely not your typical weight loss meal. A healthy wrap is the perfect weight loss lunch choice that you can make in advance to enjoy at your lunch break or in between meetings.
Not only that they are easy to make, but they can be more delicious than a regular wrap. Use whole-wheat tortillas, a healthy spread or sauce, and lots of veggies to ensure they are delicious, filling, and will support your weight loss plan.
Here’s just one example of a tasty and healthy veggie wrap.
Ingredients
Whole wheat tortillas
Cucumber slices
Avocado
Edamame
Spinach
Carrot
Hummus
Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation
Spread hummus over your whole wheat tortillas. Add the vegetables. Feel free to change or add more vegetables if you want. Sprinkle with some ground black pepper and roll up your veggie wrap. It’s as easy and quick as it sounds.
This seafood salad is not only tasty but incredibly light and refreshing as well. It’s made with plenty of freshly chopped vegetables, some seriously delicious grilled shrimp, and perfectly seasoned balsamic dressing.
The proteins from the shrimp will keep you full throughout the day while the fresh vegetables will provide you with the daily dose of antioxidants for optimal health. You’ll instantly feel good and light once you try this delightful salad.
Ingredients
Shrimp – ¼ lb.
Romaine lettuce, shredded – 3 cups
Grape tomatoes – ¼ cup
Cucumbers, diced – ½ cup
Green bell pepper, diced – ½ cup
Feta cheese – 2 tbsp.
Basil – ¼ tsp.
Marjoram – ¼ tsp.
Salt – to taste
Pepper – to taste
Oregano – ½ tsp.
Ingredients for the Dressing:
Extra virgin olive oil – ½ tbsp.
Balsamic vinegar – 1 tbsp.
Basil – ¼ tsp.
Marjoram – ½ tsp.
Salt – to taste
Pepper – to taste
Oregano – ½ tsp.
Preparation
First, make the dressing by whisking together the ingredients in a small bowl.
Add the spices to a bowl and mix well. Toss the shrimp in the spice mix to coat. Cook the coated shrimp in a preheated and oiled grill pan over medium heat for 3 minutes on each side. Remove the cooked shrimp from the grill pan. For best results, remove the shrimp from the refrigerator at least half an hour before cooking.
Put all vegetables in a large bowl and mix well. Then, add the grilled shrimp and feta cheese, and top with the dressing. Enjoy!
If you pack this salad in your bento box, make sure you put the dressing in a separate compartment and drizzle over the salad before eating.
Grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook your chicken. That’s because you’re using only a small amount of oil to brush the chicken, thus adding a minimal amount of fat to your meal.
While there are many different ways to dress up poultry, this juicy, zesty chicken is one of the easiest and most delicious recipes you can find.
You can combine it with fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and broccoli or with roasted veggies as a side dish.
Ingredients for 6 Servings
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 minced, garlic cloves
½ cup orange juice
½ cup lemon juice
2 tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried tarragon
Preparation
Mix all ingredients except for the chicken in a resealable plastic bag. Put the chicken breast halves in the bag, seal it, and turn to coat. Put the bag with the chicken in the refrigerator and let it stay for 4 hours.
Remove the bag from the refrigerator, drain the chicken and throw out the marinade. Grill the marinated chicken halves over medium heat with the cover on, or broil 4 in. from the heat for five to seven minutes on each side.
Pack this juicy grilled chicken in your bento box together with some fresh veggies and berries for a healthy dessert.
Eggplants are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals, but low in calories which makes them ideal for a weight loss diet. Using this non-starchy veggie instead of pizza crust allows you to enjoy the taste of pizza without eating plenty of refined carbs at lunch.
Eggplants are pretty mild which means you can combine them with complex flavors and make the perfect base for a recipe, such as this eggplant pizza recipe. They are great to consume when trying to burn excess calories as their flavor and texture allow you to use them instead of higher-calorie foods, such as pizza.
Ingredients (for 2 servings)
Garlic cloves, minced – 2
Olive oil – 1 tbsp.
No sugar added pizza sauce – ½ - 1 cup
Large eggplant – 1
Fresh baby spinach – 1 cup
Yellow onion, sliced – ½
Fresh oregano, chopped – ¼ cup
Mozzarella cheese, shredded – ¾ cup
Sea salt and ground pepper to taste
Crushed red pepper – if desired
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the eggplant lengthwise into ¼ or 1/3 inch thick slices and rub some olive oil on each side of the slices. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and season with some salt and pepper. Bake in the oven until you notice the eggplant begins to cook down, or 7 to 10 minutes.
In the meantime, pour ½ tbsp. olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onion and garlic for 3 to 4 minutes, or until they are soft.
Sprinkle some salt and pepper and add spinach and pizza sauce to the skillet. Continue cooking until the spinach has wilted and the mixture is warm, or about 2 more minutes.
Once you remove the eggplant from the oven, top each slice with the spinach and onion mixture. Season with chopped oregano and cheese. Put the baking sheet back in the oven and bake until the cheese has melted, or about 5 minutes.
Serve while still hot and season with crushed red pepper or fresh oregano.
These four healthy lunch recipes are a great way to start your weight loss journey. They are healthy, delicious, filling, and easy to make, so pick one and try it out today.
Article Posted In: Healthy Lunch Recipes
Tags: healthy lunch, healthy lunch ideas, healthy lunch in office
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Milena is an ESL teacher with over 7 years of experience in writing articles on her favorite topics - food and health. In her free time, she loves trying out new recipes, reading, listening to music, and walking in nature.
