HEALTHY LUNCH IDEAS

Healthy Lunch Ideas

You need to eat lunch. But sometimes, the prospect of coming up with creative, healthy ideas for homemade lunches is far less appealing than taking the easy way out and grabbing something quick around the corner—often at the expense of your wallet and your waistline. Instead of struggling, try some of these healthy lunch ideas to refresh your meals. Many of them can be made for dinner and the leftovers saved for lunch. (Just be careful to hide them from your coworkers.)

Tangy Noodle Salad This light and refreshing salad makes a great lunch. Double the recipe and serve it for dinner alongside barbecued chicken, as well.

Sushi Pockets This quick and healthy lunch idea also makes an excellent appetizer or party canapé.

Guacamole, Egg & Arugula on Crackers The simple combination of ingredients and diverse textures in this lunch offer a twist to the traditional sandwich.

Almond-Currant Couscous Crunchy toasted almonds add flavour and nutrition to this simple couscous dish. Top with grilled chicken or tofu to make it more filling.

Squash and Chickpea Stew The orange colour of squash signals beta carotene, a plant pigment that’s a potent disease-fighter. And this is a meatless stew, so the total fat content is minimal. Like all good stews, this is a fine make-ahead recipe.

Grilled Chicken, Aged Cheddar & Chutney Sandwich This stuffed whole-wheat pita is an excellent addition to any summer picnic outing, as well as a great meal at home any time of year.

Bulgur Wheat and Shrimp Salad A coarsely ground wheat grain, bulgur has already been parboiled, so it’s quick to prepare and makes an ideal pantry standby to use in salads, as well as in hot dishes. This nutty-textured, colourful salad is full of goodness, and is very attractive to the eye.

Millet with Spinach and Pine Nuts Bright green spinach and orange apricots add rich colour and flavour to this healthy, easy-to-make grain and vegetable dish.

Fruity Pasta Salad Pineapple and pear give this salad a sweet accent, while balsamic vinegar adds a delightful piquancy. With lean ham, cheese, fruit and vegetables all adding their own nutrients to balance the pasta, the result is a marvellous dish.

Coronation Chicken Specially created for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, this curry-flavoured salad with a fruity pilaf makes a lovely summer dish. Often made with cream and mayonnaise, this version cuts the fat content down significantly.

Fried Rice with Tofu and Vegetables If you’ve been looking for a tasty tofu recipe, your search is over. Here, tofu is marinated in a sweet and savoury sauce and stir-fried with plenty of vegetables.

Hot and Spicy Black Bean Dip Update your party menu with a chili-laced bean dip that’s practically fat-free and an excellent source of fibre. The dip can also be spooned onto plates and served as a light lunch, accompanied by warm whole-wheat pita bread.

Roasted Vegetable and Pasta Bake A hearty vegetarian dish packed with flavour, this selection of vegetables—butternut squash, asparagus and leeks—is roasted in garlicky olive oil, then tossed with chunky pasta shapes and a cheese sauce.

Vegetable Tart Provencale Brimming with the sunny flavours typical of southern France, this delectable tart is perfect for a lunch or light dinner. An easy-to-assemble, herb-scented crust is the perfect partner for heart-healthy fresh vegetables.

Lentil-Tomato Stew with Browned Onions This hearty vegetarian main course is rich in dietary fibre and also offers more than 300 percent of the daily recommended intake for beta-carotene.

Rustic Broiled Vegetable and Rigatoni Salad Broiled vegetables are delicious with chunky pasta in a tangy dressing. Serve this salad as a light lunch or as an accompaniment to broiled poultry or meat, when it will serve 6 or 8 people.

Sesame Pork and Noodle Salad With its typical Chinese flavours—ginger, sesame, soy sauce and rice vinegar—this salad makes a delectable dish for either lunch or dinner. It is particularly nutritious as most of the vegetables are raw.

French Tuna and Bell Pepper Salad This colourful salad is full of varied flavours and textures. Chunks of tuna, wedges of potato, crisp beans and tangy tomatoes make for a quick and easy summery meal. Serve with crusty whole-wheat baguettes.

Asian-Style Chicken and Pasta Salad Pasta bows taste deliciously different when combined with an exotic dressing of fish sauce, fresh red chili and rice vinegar in a moist chicken salad. Fresh crunchy vegetables complete this well-balanced main-course dish.

Creamy Turkey Salad with Grapes and Pecans With its wonderfully contrasting tastes and textures, this salad makes a satisfying main course that is luxurious without containing a lot of saturated fat. It is the perfect recipe for roast turkey leftovers.

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A.)Healthy Break Fast Ideas

Do you struggle with finding enough healthy breakfast ideas like I do? I hope the following list will help, but be sure to check back in the comments below, I’m hoping many of you will share your best healthy breakfast ideas, too!

First, if you’re sick of trying to figure out what is “good for you” and what is “bad”, or which foods are healthier alternatives when grocery shopping, check out the new Real Food Ingredient Guide, or for even more help, watch the video about the Real Food for Rookies class!

Since writing Monday’s post about breakfast cereals (and another one “What’s wrong with breakfast cereals?”), and especially after reading Shauna’s comment there, I’m re-thinking whether we should go back to not buying any boxed cereals again, Kashi or not, extruded or not. With boxed cereals, we’re spending a lot more money for a lot less nutrition…doesn’t make sense. If it weren’t for my complaining teenager, it wouldn’t be as big a deal. The others just happily eat whatever I put in front of them, my husband included – he’ll eat whatever we have here, and thankfully is completely on board with our goal of eating healthier. But our oldest is not as easy to please (not unusual for a teen, I know) and loves a bowl of cereal now and then. More and more, I’m going to focus on the healthier options below…as a matter of fact, I’ve got some oatmeal “soaking” right now for breakfast in the morning! (See the post at the oatmeal link below if you don’t know what I mean by “soaking” – and don’t worry, not long ago, I didn’t have a clue either.) Update: see this recipe for homemade healthy breakfast cereal!

Is there such a thing as a healthy breakfast juice?

10 HEALTHY BREAKFAST IDEAS:

Note: Some of these are really carb-heavy, so if you’re watching your carbs, beware.

Healthy AND tasty waffles/pancakes recipe – serve with real maple syrup. Be sure to freeze extras to pop into the toaster on busy mornings for a quick breakfast. You could serve these with some farm-fresh sausage or bacon. (With no MSG or nasty preservatives.) ***Here is a blender batter pancake recipe that incorporates more varied grains and is 100% whole grain, and yummy, too! Here’s a pancake/waffle recipe using sprouted grains.
Organic Oatmeal – you can make extra of this, too, and warm it up the next day for another fast breakfast. Also, try Sue’s baked soaked oatmeal recipe. Or this homemade healthy breakfast cereal!
Healthy Egg Recipes – we eat a lot of eggs with cheese or egg sandwiches. Our favorite recipe at this post is the “French Toast Frittata” (which has its own post now!) – it’s fast, easy, and everyone loves it.
Organic Homemade Oatmeal Bars/Granola Recipe – this one is great not just for breakfast, but for a quick snack anytime.
Smoothies – I freeze any extra in popsicle makers for a treat later. These are a great way to get more coconut into your diet, too.
Good ole’ toast is best with whole grain fermented or sourdough breads (here’s info on my homemade bread) with things on top like organic peanut butter, plenty of butter, organic or homemade jams with less sugar, raw local honey, etc.
Whole milk yogurt – even better: homemade raw milk yogurt. Remember, it’s not easy to find something other than low-fat yogurt, but whole milk products are much healthier! (I buy Stonyfield or Brown Cow brands.)
Fresh fruit – preferably local and organic.
Certain breakfast cereals as a “compromise” food – read this post on breakfast cereals for more information. Also, check out the recipe for Graham Cakes in the comments at that post, too.
Sometimes if we’re on the go or if the kids aren’t in the mood to sit down long enough to eat breakfast, they’ll just have some cheese and/or dried fruit, like organic raisins.
OK, I know I said 10, but here’s one more that I added later: Gail’s Healthy & Easy Breakfast Burritos
And another one: Judy’s breakfast casserole
Don’t forget about breakfast meats, like bacon or sausage, from a local farm who raise their animals well, or from another source for healthy meat.
Try this quick Real Food Protein Drink that isn’t made from an unnatural protein powder but instead it’s made with traditional, superfoods!
What a great idea for make-ahead sausage, egg & cheese biscuits from Megan in the comments at another post: I know it can be hard having breakfast on the table every morning before the hubby leaves. This is what works perfectly at our house. I make up a batch (12-14 at a time) of soaked, whole wheat biscuits. I then cook a lb of sausage (shaped into patties) from a local farm and a dozen or so free range fried eggs. I then assemble them and freeze (I was really unsure of how the fried eggs would taste after being frozen, but it works just fine). Every night before we go to bed we take one out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw. In the morning he just pops it in the toaster oven with a small slice of cheese and he has a very filling, homemade breakfast ready to go every morning even if I’m not up yet. This has made such a difference for me knowing that I don’t have to get up even earlier than him every morning ( I have a toddler and another one on the way). I know, I know, it would be even better if breakfast every morning involved fruits and veggies; but we’re getting there, one step at a time.
See #5 at this how to make foods ahead post for fast fresh-baked muffins in the morning.
I’ll add this one from the comments (forgot to include it with the original post): homemade ice cream for breakfast! Obviously the kids love it, and the ingredients are so good for them – with less sugar than they’d have on a pancake!
I am the omelet QUEEN!

These ideas aren’t just for breakfast. We’ll often have blueberry pancakes or egg sandwiches when we need a quick dinner…or for those times I forget to make anything until it’s 5:00 and Kent is on his way home!

B,)Low Calorie Lunch Ideas

I recently wrote an article on Low Fat Breakfast Ideas and lo and behold, it has gotten lots of positive responses. Awesome! So, I thought readers would enjoy another article for Low Fat Lunch Ideas.

This article will cover my personal favorite low calorie lunch recipes and ideas. I realize that eating lunch is different for everyone since some of us eat it at home, some of us it eat at work, and some of us eat it while traveling or holding it as they drive in the car. That being said, I'll provide some tasty options for no matter your life style and give you a healthy eating strategy for picking the right foods at lunch time to give you lots of energy and help you with weight loss, if that is what you desire.

Oh, and if you are looking for quick & easy healthy Breakfast Ideas, too, you can find that link right here! Low Calorie Breakfast Ideas. Now, let's move on to the low calorie lunch ideas!Fast Food Lunches Are Negatively Affecting Our Health!

But, when you stop to evaluate the situation you'll begin to realize the following:

1. Most of the time, you can easily create a lunch for as much as or even less than the cost of a fast food lunch. Don't fall for the affordable factor!

2. If you do it right, you can prepare your lunches ahead of time and won't have to worry about rushing around to find a satisfying lunch. Don't fall for the convenience!

3. If you have the right recipes, you can create your own lunch that is equally and flavorful and tasty as the latest fast food creation. Don't fall for the flavor!

4. Stop and think about it - every single time you eat fast food you feel groggy, sluggish and sleepy within an hour or two. This is because of all the nasty processed ingredients, unhealthy oils and preservatives that could probably preserve a corpse. Don't fall for the need to feel full now and absolutely awful later!

Luckily, for you - there are many quick, healthy and easy low calorie lunch ideas that you can make at home and bring them with you wherever you go. They all taste great (trust me, I'm a picky eater!) and are really affordable to throw together, as well.

Low Calorie Lunch Ideas

Here come the ideas for a healthy, delicious and flavorful lunch!

I find that I personally feel the most full when I combine protein and healthy, whole-grain carbohydrates. Some may feel otherwise, but if you're constantly eating a lunch that consists of mostly bread, pasta and some processed cheese. You're probably not going to feel that hot a few hours down the road. I have anemia and used to have hypoglycemia so I am very focused on my diet and ensuring that I eat the right balance of foods so I don't feel weak all the time.

That being said, I don't have tons of time to make menus for lunch ideas for myself and loved ones. Instead, I make lists of all of my favorite foods for each meal. If you've already read my low calorie breakfast ideas article, you'll already have a good idea of what I'm talking about. I also outline a healthy eating strategy in another article on how to eat to lose body fat. You can check that out right here: Healthy Eating Strategies or find the article at the end of this page to look at later.

For lunch, I create my meals by selecting the right combination of food from the following categories. My lunches typically have:

Pick 2 Protein Servings or Double Up on One Item!
Hard Boiled Eggs
3 oz of low sodium ham
3 oz of turkey bacon (2-3 slices)
3/4 cup of egg whites or egg beaters
1 oz of low-fat string cheese or shredded mozzarella
2 oz of low-fat cream cheese

Pick 2 Veggie Servings

1 sliced tomato
1/2 cup of salsa
1/8 of an avocado
1/2 cup of carrots
1 cucumber
1 cup of salad (I almost always have one salad with my lunch)
1/2 cup of green beans
there are tons more veggies to choose from - eat your favorites!

Pick 1 Carbohydrate

Whole Wheat 8" Tortilla
2 Slices Whole Grain Bread
1/2 of a Whole Grain Bagel
1/2 cup of Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Arnold's Sandwich Thins (my favorite!)
Other low calorie, whole grain, lunch bars (Kashi, etc.)

I know for a fact that you'll be able to find at least 3 items under each category that you like! If there aren't enough or you need more variety, do your research and find the serving sizes of your favorite foods to incorporate in your lunch. By rotating these options daily, you'll be able to create tons of fun and tasty low calorie lunch ideas. By selecting the appropriate number of items from each category, you'll probably have about a 300-350 calorie lunch. Make sure to add some healthy olive oil, etc. to up the calories a bit as a good rule of thumb for lunch is 400-500 calories. Eating too little can give you limited energy and also plateau your weight loss goals.

Low Fat Lunch Recipes

Now, onto the yummy, flavorful lunch recipes!

Asian Inspired Chicken Fried Rice

5 oz of shredded, cooked chicken (or tofu or lean beef!)
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
shredded carrots
water chesnuts
thin onion slices
1 tbsp of olive oil
low sodium soy sauce ( to taste)
chicken broth (optional)
fresh ginger (or ginger powder, if it's all you have)
fresh garlic (or garlic powder, if it's all you have)

Directions:

Make a small frying pan and coat with 1 tbsp of olive oil. Turn the temperature to medium heat. Carmelize your thin onion slices along with your garlic and ginger (to taste). Once the onions are cooked to your liking, add in the shredded carrots and water chestnuts. Pour in the brown rice and the shredded chicken, stirring to absorb the oil and flavor of all the other ingredients. Add low sodium soy sauce, to taste!

If you find your rice gets a little too dry, simply add some vegetable or chicken broth to add moisture whenever you feel the mixture requires it.

After everything is heated throughly, eat and enjoy! If you're cookling for your work lunch, simply cook the night before and heat up in the microwave at work.

Savory Grilled Mozzarella & Tomato Sandwich

1 Arnold's Sandwich Thin or two slices of whole grain bread
2 slices of fresh mozzarella (about 2 oz)
3 thin slices of fresh, ripe, roma tomatoes
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
fresh basil leaves

Directions:

Assemble your sandwich by drizzling a bit of olive oil and balsamic on each piece of bread. Layer a slice of tomato, mozzarella, and so on until your sandwich is assembled. Place some basil leaves on the top layer. Place the second piece of bread on top and stick in a panini grill or in a toaster oven until brown and the contents of the sandwich are fully heated.

Strawberry Spinach Balsamic Salad

5 oz of cooked chicken or tofu
2 cups of washed, dry spinach leaves
1/2 cup of sliced strawberries
1 tbsp. of crushed walnuts
1 tsp. of olive oil
1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Simply toss all ingredients together and serve on a chilled plate with a side of grilled whole wheat bread for a delicious meal!

C,)Healthy Lunch Ideas Kids

Busy kids need a healthy school lunch to boost their energy and help them concentrate and learn in the afternoon. With our top lunch box tips and a 5-day lunch box meal plan, you’ll find packing a healthy lunch to nourish your kids a breeze!

Ensure you include a range of fresh fruit and vegetables and vary the food daily so kids don’t become bored.

Top tips for a healthy lunch box

Always include fresh fruit and vegetables. Vary the selection to keep it interesting.

Offer a variety of whole grain breads, rolls, pita bread and flat breads.

Use avocado as a spread instead of butter or margarine.

Use reduced fat dairy foods. Cheese and yoghurt are ideal.

Kids need a serve of protein at lunchtime. Ensure you include lean meat, egg, peanut butter, chickpeas or tuna.

Add a chilled bottle of water and limit juice.

Keep it fresh - packing the lunchbox It’s important to keep food in the lunch box cold to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.

Pack the school lunch in an insulated lunch box and include a small freezer brick or freeze a bottle of water and pop it into the lunchbox to keep food cool.

Helpful tips for adding fresh fruit and vegetables to lunch boxes

Kids like fresh fruit cut and ready to eat. Fruit salad is the ideal lunch box solution; it’s colourful, easy to eat and bursting with vitamins.

Offer different seasonal fruits each day for a change in flavour, colour and texture.

Freeze fruits in the summer or for sport days. Simply pop the frozen fruit into a small sealable plastic bag or airtight container.

If including whole fruit in the lunchbox, select fruit that is a suitable size for a child to easily hold in their hand and eat (this is particulary important for younger children).

Peel and slice or cut fruit if possible and choose seedless varieties of grapes, watermelon and Imperial mandarins.

If you’re added tomato to sandwiches, place the tomato between fillings and not directly onto the bread. This prevents the bread becoming soggy.

When using avocado, mash or drizzle with a little lemon or lime juice to prevent the avocado from discolouring.

Mild tasting and crunchy lettuce varieties like Iceberg and Oak leaf and Lebanese cucumbers are ideal for kids.

Add leftover (or cook extra) roast pumpkin or sweet potato to sandwiches, wraps and roll fillings. Naturally sweet and loaded with beneficial antioxidants, roast vegetables team well with a range of fillings.

Make salads or salad sandwich fillings interesting by using a range of vegetables like grated carrot, snow pea sprouts, lettuce or rocket or baby spinach, sliced celery, tomatoes, avocado and cucumber.

Use a vegetable peeler to slice cucumber into thin ribbons for sandwich fillings.

D.)Healthy Lunch Recipes

It's time for a little midday magic! Forget that same-old lunch you keep serving and try something new. Our recipes make it easy with hundreds of fast, fresh and tasty lunches the whole family will love.

Also check out our new recipe galleries for back-to-school fare at 20 Quick and Easy Lunch Recipes and 20 Dinner and Lunch Duos!

Sandwich Recipes Start by giving your sandwich selection a boost. We've got new twists and old favorites, from Asian Turkey Meatball Wraps and Brown-Bag Bean Burritos to Stovetop Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Salad Recipes

It's easy being green, thanks to these quick and easy salad recipes. These gems feature kid-friendly ingredients, including pasta, crisp lettuce, healthy vegetables and even popcorn.

Soup Recipes

Soup fills little (and not-so-little) tummies with the goodness of vegetables, cheese and pasta. Break out the crackers and dig in!

Egg Recipes

Get cracking on lunch with our kid-friendly Hashbrown Quiche, Egg in a Hole and Frittata. Preheat the skillet now!

Comfort Food Recipes

Warm your family's hearts and tummies with comfort foods like Macaroni and Cheese, Irish Chicken Stew with Dumplings and Quick and Easy Tuna Casserole.

Grilling Recipes

It's time to fire up the grill! Play it safe with our Quick and Easy Cheeseburgers or go exotic with our Barbecue Teriyaki Pork Kabobs or Chicken and Bacon Kabobs. Whatever you choose, you'll love these meals.

Stir Fry & Noodle Recipes

Make lunch in a flash with healthy stir fries and noodles. Some of our favorites: Garlic Chicken Stir Fry, Broccoli Beef and Easy Pad Thai Noodles.

Mexican Recipes

Ready for a mid-day fiesta? Then serve up some Cheddar and Chicken Enchiladas, Black Bean Quesadillas or Chicken Chimichangas.

Pizza Recipes

Pizza on a bagel or hamburger bun? Ranch sauce instead of tomato? Get these and more surprising pizza-related recipes now.

Kids' Favorites Recipes

If you're ready to earn #1-mom status, try some of our kids' favorites recipes. A few worth mentioning: Sloppy Joes, Chicken Nuggets and Pizza Chicken Rollups.

Pasta Recipes

Toss your traditional lunch and opt for a quick and healthy pasta, instead. We love Bow Tie Pasta with Smoked Sausage, Penne with Peppers and Creamy Tomato Pasta.

Vegetable Recipes Team that sandwich or burger with crispy, seasoned French fries, onion rings, or healthy vegetables.

Tuna Recipes Whether baked into a creamy casserole, tossed with noodles or melted in a sandwich, tuna is a lunch-time favorite.

Cheese Recipes

Whether you serve it in a soup, a pasta or in a salad, kids love cheese!

Chicken Recipes

Kids love chicken, so why not serve it up mid-day? Whether your family likes theirs grilled, baked or served in a casserole, we have the recipes you need to please.

Beef Recipes

When you want lunch to serve filling protein, iron, zinc and B vitamins, consider these quick and easy beef recipes for lunch. Sizzling Steaks take mere minutes on the grill, and kids always go for the cheesy goodness of Quesadillas and Enchiladas.

Dessert Recipes

A light, sweet treat at lunchtime is just the thing to boost your mood! Whether you and the kids love cookies, brownies or cakes, we've got the dessert recipes you crave.

E,)healthy snack ideas

Healthy Snack Ideas

Snacking is often regarded as a bad behavior and restricted or eliminated from our diets. However, snacks can be an important part of your nutritious eating plan if the foods you choose are healthy and contribute to a well-balanced diet.

Snacking is not just for children — adults need snacks as well. Healthy snacks provide extra energy for exercise or help sustain energy until you eat a meal. Choosing healthy snacks between meals can also prevent overeating by reducing hunger at mealtimes.

Snacking can be good for you, but remember — snack calories count in your total calories for the day. So, make sure to pick healthy, low-calorie snacks and skip the junk food.

Calorie-Free Snacks

Salad greens (lettuce, spinach and romaine)
1 cup raw vegetables (cucumbers, mushrooms, celery or broccoli, for example)
Frozen Crystal Light Popsicle
Diet Jello
Bouillon or skimmed broth (preferably low-sodium)

Very Low-Calorie Snacks

5 Saltine crackers
2 cups air-popped popcorn
3 graham crackers (2 1/2 inch square pieces)
1 rice cake with 1 tbsp. part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large carrot with 1 tbsp. fat-free dressing
1 small piece of fruit (apple or pear)
1 medium piece of fruit (peach, orange or nectarine)
1/2 small banana
1 tbsp. raisins
1 slice lean turkey or chicken cold cut
1 ounce low-fat cheese
1/2 cup sugar-free pudding made with non-fat milk

Low-Calorie Snacks

Toasted English muffin with jelly
1 small tortilla with 1 ounce low-fat melted cheese and salsa
1 cup cereal with 1/2 cup non-fat milk
Small baked potato with salsa, non-fat sour cream or non-fat yogurt topping
Mini-pizza: 1/2 English muffin or bagel with 1-ounce low-fat cheese and tomato sauce
12 baked tortilla chips with salsa
1/2 bagel with alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, tomato and non-fat cream cheese
1/2 sandwich made with lean turkey or chicken, lettuce, tomato and mustard
Grape Nuts (1/3 cup) with 4 ounces non-fat vanilla yogurt
Small whole-wheat plain bagel
12 Baked Lay's potato chips
Baked apple sprinkled with cinnamon
Large frozen banana with 1 tbsp. peanut butter
Non-fat cottage cheese with fresh fruit
8-ounce carton low-fat or nonfat yogurt
1/2 cup sugar-free or fat-free ice cream

Recipes

Try these recipes with your family and make snack time a healthy and fun activity.

Party Parfait (serves 2)

You will need:

2 cups plain or vanilla non-fat yogurt
1/2 cup fresh fruit
1/4 cup whole grain cereal

To prepare:

Fill two parfait glasses half full with yogurt (approximately 1/2 cup in each)
Layer 1/8 cup of fruit on top of the yogurt
Sprinkle a little cereal on top of the fruit
Layer another 1/2 cup yogurt into each glass
Add another 1/8 cup of fruit on top of the yogurt
Finally, sprinkle on the remaining cereal
Chill until ready to serve

Bananas on a Stick (serves 6)

You will need:

3 bananas, peeled and cut in half widthwise
1/4 cup all natural peanut butter (such as Adam's) softened
1/4 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, low-fat granola or crispy rice cereal
6 popsicle sticks

To prepare:

Push one popsicle stick into the cut end of each banana
Lightly spread the peanut butter onto the bananas
Roll the banana in the nuts or cereal
Serve immediately or wrap the bananas in waxed paper and freeze for at least 3 hours for a fun frozen treat.

Other Ideas

Some other quick and easy ideas are to use cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of sandwiches or Jell-O.

Prepare the sandwiches and then use the cookie cutters and be as creative as you can.

Make Jell-O, pour into a sheet pan and chill until set. Remove the sheet pan from the refrigerator and use the cookie cutters to make the shapes. Remove them from the pan with a spatula.

F,)Healthy Dinner Ideas

Healthy Dinner Ideas

Want something healthy for dinner, but running out of ideas and don’t have enough time! Try out some quick dinner healthy food, which can be prepared in no time. To know more about healthy dinner ideas, read on...

At last, people have started to believe that good health begins with a healthy and balanced diet. A number of healthy breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner recipes have been circulating all over the world now. Healthy dinner recipes are aimed to provide, at least, the minimum daily requirements of nutrients and vitamins. It’s not necessary to know many recipes to have a healthy dinner, but instead, one just needs to know about the healthy foods they can have. Here are a few set of foods that would serve as quick, easy and healthy dinner ideas.

Chicken

Chicken is generally the name that comes in everyone’s mind when you talk of a healthy dinner. You can enjoy chicken for a healthy dinner but, with reduced work and time to prepare. For example, instead of battering and deep frying, remove the skin and bake it. Add topping of herbs, salads and spices and you have a healthy food for dinner, ready in no time. This way you still get all the nutrition minus fats and carbohydrates.

Salads

Healthy dinner not necessarily has to include vegetables or poultry. Salads make a great healthy food too, for example, tossed salads are one of the best healthy meal options available. They require absolutely no time to prepare. Besides lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and cucumber cuttings, add slices of apples, few sunflower seeds, raisins or dried cranberries, etc. This salad preparation is heavy and full of nutrients. If you want a lighter preparation, get a packet of pre-packed salad from the market, and douse it with vegetables, fruits and red wine vinegar.

Fruit Salads

Fruit salads, like salads, take no time to prepare, and are high in vitamins and nutrients. Chopping some apples, cantaloupes, watermelons, bananas, dry fruits, etc. takes no time and yet they make a delicious and light preparation for dinner.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are staple lunch food for many Americans. People overlook the fact, that it can be a perfect healthy food for dinner also. All you require is a whole wheat bread with toppings of tuna or lean lunch meats, small amount of condiments, and vegetables. To add a little more variety, include sliced fruits.

Vegetables

People have a misconception, that a healthy dinner should include just the meats and salads, which isn’t so. Normal everyday vegetables are important source of nutrients too, but just be careful while preparing it. Healthy dinner ideas are those which may include the use of beans or other sources of proteins from vegetables, which cut the amount of cholesterol intake that is often found in meats. For example, a meal prepared by pinto beans, with fresh coleslaw and sliced tomatoes, is simply a nutritious delight.So is a meal prepared by stuffed bell peppers. Here are the directions to prepare it.

Cut a large bell pepper into two parts, remove the seeds and the stem portion

Use baked turkey, and mix it with wild rice, herbs and spices of your preference

Fill the empty cavities of bell pepper with the prepared combination and top with low fat mozzarella cheese

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, and the meal is ready

The melted cheese is added because it adds taste to the meat and rice combination.

If you have knowledge about the foods that are healthy, you will have no problems in preparing and following a healthy diet for dinner. What you need to keep in mind is that anything low in fat, carbohydrates and cholesterol, makes a healthy dinner food. Also, meals which are fried in oil, aren’t a good idea for a healthy dinner.

G,)Healthy Office Lunch Ideas

Health conscious individuals are often concerned with the foodstuffs that enter their body and the way they affect their energy levels at work. If you are the type who treats your body like a temple you'll no doubt be familiar with the daily quandary over what to eat for lunch.

Office work requires focus, organisation and planning, which can only be promoted through implementing a healthy lifestyle replete with fruits, vegetables, slow releasing carbohydrates and lean meats. But sadly, nutritionally heavy foods are often thought to be lacking in flavour and texture. This doesn't have to be the case!

There's an abundance of tasty morsels out there that can satisfy your taste buds whilst promoting a healthy heart and inducing a happy colon. The humble salad has a reputation for being bland and tasteless but the addition of simple ingredients that pack a punch into any lifeless leafy concoction can be priceless. Pickles, spices and roasted vegetables can make a dull salad into a thing of beauty. The action of roasting a simple carrot or tomato with a little olive oil (full of healthy fats), salt and pepper can intensify flavour no end leaving you with a bursting palate of choice flavours to enjoy.

For those who love a spicy lunch add pickled jalapeno peppers or a dash of Tabasco to a roast chicken salad. Use tuna fish, cannellini beans, sweet corn, beetroot, peppers or cold cuts of meat left over from Sunday lunch. Add simple lemon or vinegar based dressings that taste just as good as creamy sauces loaded with calories.

Create multigrain open faced sandwiches filled to the brim with lean chicken slices, a dollop of mayonnaise and seasonings to avoid extra carbohydrates. Try home-made soup that easily be jazzed up with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and a crusty roll or heat up wholemeal pitta bread to eat with a humous dip as a snack.

For those with an unstoppable sweet tooth, exotic fruits like mangoes and pineapples can be far more exciting than apples and bananas. Juicy and colourful, they can be eaten at any time of the day without the guilt that comes with scoffing a mid-morning chocolate bar.

So tomorrow morning when you leave for your Bristol or Westminster office space don't forget your lunchbox filled with healthy delights and delicacies. It's much easier to be healthy than you'd imagine – all you need is a little forethought and some culinary imagination.

H,)Healthy Brown Bag Lunch Ideas

You may have a couple of brown bag lunch ideas that are all set and ready to go, but have you considered what you’ll do when you get the munchies in between meals? Snacking at work is hard to avoid. You either end up reaching for a candy bar at the vending machine, or you’ll mindlessly snack away on something greasy and unhealthy while you’re seated at your desk.

To make sure that you keep up your habit of eating healthy, it’s a good idea to include some healthy snacks along with your brown bag lunch. Experts say that it’s okay to snack for up to three times a day, but only in between meals, and for a limit of under 200 calories per serving. Just be sure that you don’t exceed your daily calorie intake. Here are some ideas for healthy snacks:

Trail Mix

This is a great go-to snack that you can keep on your desk. For when you feel the need to reach out and munch on something, this trail mix will do the trick. Just combine the following: ¼ ounce of unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, ¼ ounce of dried cranberries, half an ounce of almond nuts, 1 tablespoon of pitted and chopped dried dates, and for a little kick, you can add 1 ½ teaspoons of unsweetened or sugar-free chocolate chips. Just mix all the ingredients in a bowl, and you have a healthy 102-calorie snack. You can munch on this guilt-free, because you’ll be providing your body with a good dose of fiber, vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

Fruity Snacks

Almost all fruits are great to pack into your brown bag. This is one of the most recommended options for healthy snacking, as it is all-natural and chockfull of vitamins. Munch on an apple, pear, banana or a citrus fruit in between meals. You can even dig into berries, cherry tomatoes or grapes while you’re behind your desk.

If you want to take your fruit snacking to the next level, why not mix it all up for a scrumptious fruit salad? Here’s a refreshing and citrusy recipe you can try. In a bowl, simply mix together some fresh berries, seedless grapes, peach or apricot slices, apple slices and banana slices. Pour a cup of fresh orange juice over it, and refrigerate. Just bring a cup of this fruit salad to work the next day, and you can enjoy this 105-calorie snack.

If you want to power up with some calcium, mixing berries and fruits in fat-free yogurt makes for a tasty and healthy snack. You can jazz up some plain sugar-free yogurt with your favorite fruit, and even choose how chunky you want your snack to be.

Anything with Peanut Butter

As long as you use regular, non-chunky peanut butter, then you’re in the clear with this tasty treat. Some people even love this so much that they lick it off a spoon as an afternoon snack. Try spreading some peanut butter on a banana or apple for some tasty, fruity munchies. Or, you can dip vegetable sticks or whole grain crackers in a jar of peanut butter for a tasty treat.

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Healthy lunch ideas for work

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