19 Winter Lunch Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

Make a satisfying lunch with these healthy recipes for weight loss. These lunches are low in calories and high in fiber, which is an important nutrient that helps you feel fuller for longer periods of time. Whether it's Mediterranean Lettuce Wraps or Baked Vegetable Soup, these lunches are delicious, cozy and will help you power through the afternoon.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

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This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

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This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

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Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

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Mediterranean Lettuce Wraps

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A tangy, nutty tahini dressing brings together no-cook ingredients like canned chickpeas and roasted red peppers for these easy meal-prep lettuce wraps. Make these wraps ahead of time for a grab-and-go lunch or dinner. A few wedges of warm pita finish off the meal perfectly.

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Crunchy Mexican Salad with Spicy Cilantro Vinaigrette

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A spicy cilantro vinaigrette gives this black bean salad Mexican flair. We used the beans for protein, but if you have cooked chicken on hand, you can use that instead. Also, if you have it, finish the salad with a quarter of an avocado for a boost of healthy fats.

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Middle Eastern Chicken & Chickpea Stew

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This quick, protein-rich chicken stew recipe gets great flavor from cumin, lemon juice and garlic. Make a double batch and freeze it for a quick healthy dinner. Serve the stew with couscous and steamed broccoli.

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Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

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This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.

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Baked Vegetable Soup

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Originally prepared in the wood-burning hearths of Italian homes, this peasant-style healthy vegetable soup recipe is simple to make in a modern oven. Brimming with artichokes, mushrooms, zucchini and leeks, this easy soup heats up the house as it becomes the perfect warming meal.

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Edamame Hummus Wrap

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Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. Or double the recipe and use the hummus for a healthy snack with cut-up vegetables.

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Tuna & White Bean Salad

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The time-honored Italian pairing of canned tuna and cannellini beans makes a super-simple, satisfying lunch. Serve over salad greens, on grilled whole-wheat country bread or tucked in a whole-wheat pita pocket.

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Italian Vegetable Hoagies

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This delightfully easy, and somewhat messy, sandwich packs a punch with sweet balsamic vinegar, artichoke hearts, red onion, provolone cheese and zesty pepperoncini. We love it for dinner as well as lunch. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. Serve with tomato and cucumber salad.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

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Layering apple slices into grilled cheese sandwiches adds a little crunch to a favorite soup dipper. And creamy butternut squash soup with ginger, cumin and turmeric is a nice change of pace from grilled cheese's usual tomato soup partner. Serve the duo for a comforting and easy weeknight dinner for the family. The soup keeps well in the fridge, so save leftovers for lunch or dinner later in the week.

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Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

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These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

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Open-Face Italian Chicken Sandwiches with Avocado Slaw

The quick tomato topping on these hearty and healthy chicken sandwiches will remind you of pizza. The accompanying slaw swaps out mayo for healthier avocado. Cook the chicken breasts on the grill if you prefer (see Tip) and consider making a double batch of the chicken for lunches and dinners later in the week.

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Green Goddess Salad with Chicken

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In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss and chicken salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. Any extra dressing is delicious served over grilled chicken or flaky white fish, such as cod or flounder.

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Spicy Tuna Wrap

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These tuna wraps were inspired by spicy tuna sushi rolls. We love how they taste with peppery watercress, but other greens, such as arugula, romaine, escarole or even radish sprouts, would taste great in the filling. If you want to play on the sushi inspiration, stir some wasabi into the soy sauce for dipping and serve with pickled ginger. Serve with sliced cucumbers and slivered red onions tossed with rice vinegar, a little oil and a pinch of salt.

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Spinach & Warm Mushroom Salad

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In this hearty mushroom and spinach salad recipe, sturdier "mature" spinach leaves hold up better than baby spinach when tossed with the warm mushroom-and-bacon vinaigrette.

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Tijuana Torta

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A Mexican-style torta is just like a burrito, except the "wrapper" is a hollowed-out roll instead of a tortilla. Here it's filled with mashed spiced black beans and a quick guacamole. Take this vegetarian version to another level (and add calcium) by melting Monterey Jack cheese onto the bean side of the sandwich. Serve with: Grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice.

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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

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Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night. We love the smoky heat from the ground chipotle, but omit it if you prefer a mild chili. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread and coleslaw.

19 Winter Lunch Recipes for Weight Loss (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest lunch you can eat? ›

What you eat for lunch is almost as important as what you eat for breakfast.
  1. Avocado and egg sandwich. ...
  2. Summer rolls with peanut sauce. ...
  3. Quinoa pear salad with spinach, cranberries and pecans. ...
  4. Protein Salad. ...
  5. Loaded Vegetable Sandwich. ...
  6. Lentil vegetable soup. ...
  7. Chicken burrito bowl with rice and beans.
Aug 30, 2023

Should I skip lunch to lose belly fat? ›

Whether you're doing it on accident because of a busy schedule or on purpose because of a bulging waistline, skipping meals is not the best way to lose weight and stay healthy.

How can I drop 10 pounds in 1 week? ›

To lose 10 pounds in one week, you'll need to burn between 3,500 and 5,000 calories more than you consume each day by restricting your diet to small portions of nutritious yet low-calorie foods, and significantly increasing your aerobic exercise with interval training, sports, and other vigorous activities.

How to lose 7 pounds in 7 days? ›

You'll need to eat roughly 1,000 calories less than you normally do to drop a pound every day. Drop carbs from your diet and focus on eating fresh veggies and lean proteins. Aim for 1 hour of aerobic exercise every day to help you burn enough calories.

How do I drop 5 pounds in a week? ›

Losing 5 pounds a week comes to reducing your food intake by 3500 calories over seven days. The value that represents the decrease in calorie intake is known as the calorie deficit. If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit.

What is the best lunch to lose belly fat? ›

14 delicious easy lunches that will help you lose weight
  • Kale salad with salmon and avocado. ...
  • Tuna wraps with pesto and tomato. ...
  • Peanut butter and banana sandwich. ...
  • Brussel sprouts with grilled chicken. ...
  • Tuna salad. ...
  • Veggie burger. ...
  • Fish tacos. ...
  • Burrito bowl.
Nov 10, 2018

What are 7 healthy lunches? ›

The 10 Best Healthy Lunch Foods to Eat
  • Canned Tuna. "Seafood is packed with protein, helping you feel full and satisfied. ...
  • Mini Sweet Peppers. ...
  • Farro. ...
  • Veggie Burgers. ...
  • Ricotta Cheese. ...
  • Black Beans. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Hummus.
Aug 9, 2022

What can I eat besides salad to lose weight? ›

17 Healthy Lunches For People Who Hate Salad
  • Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed. Buffalo Chicken Burrito Bowls. ...
  • Green Goddess Sandwiches. bojongourmet.com. ...
  • Grilled Chicken Veggie Bowls. ...
  • Spanakopita Quesadillas. ...
  • DIY Starbucks Protein Box. ...
  • Portabella Mushroom Pizzas. ...
  • Roasted Vegetables With Shredded Chicken, Parsley, and Lemon.
Apr 27, 2016

Can I eat salad everyday for lunch to lose weight? ›

Can you lose weight by eating a salad every day? "Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

Is peanut butter good for weight loss? ›

Peanut butter may actually aid weight loss. Adults and adolescents who consume peanut and peanut butter regularly gain less weight than others who don't consume these nuts. They're often less likely to be overweight or obese and have lower blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol.

Is lunch important for weight loss? ›

You might think that consuming fewer calories to lose weight is the best option, but skipping meals actually slows your metabolism down and can mean your weight loss stalls. Not only does a big lunch keep your metabolism running at its best level, it also ensures you're using all the energy from the food you consume.

Will I lose weight if I only eat lunch? ›

However, there is little evidence to support the notion that the one-meal-a-day can aid weight loss. One study in a review suggests that intermittent fasting may help people lose weight, though the authors also warn of multiple risks, such as rebound body fat increases.

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