Start Simple (lunch)

For lunches, we stick to soups, sandwiches, or frozen dinners. We picked a specific calorie number and we stick to it. Scott can afford a few more calories than I so his cutoff is 350. Mine is 300.

We shop at Target because it is the nicest place we can go that still has good prices on their frozen meals. We shop for Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, and Smart Ones, although in the Banquet meals you can get a delicious turkey dinner (problem is sodium content). I prefer the pot sticker meal, french bread pizza (Okay, I don’t stick like glue on that one since it’s 10 over, but I only let myself get it once a week), and pumpkin ravioli (the taste surprised me!). Healthy Choice Café Steamers are delicious in every flavor except the Thai-Style Chicken. Neither of us enjoyed that one. Smart Ones aren’t quite as filling, but they have this one vodka cream sauce which I find incredibly delectable. Scott likes the Steamers as well, plus Smart Ones traditional lasagna and spaghetti with meat sauce. He also likes the Lean Cuisine pizzas and Lean Pocket Quesadillas.

Soups are a great way to go now that Progresso and Campbell’s have made so many advancements. Check the labels – often you can have the whole can plus a serving of reduced fat Ritz for less than 300 calories. A word about salt: The Mayo Clinic and other reputable sources claim there is no health benefit for choosing sea salt over regular salt; the only difference is in the taste.

Sandwiches are so quick and easy. Toast is a great snack. Bread is rather necessary in our house, but there are great options. Sara Lee makes a multi-grain and a whole wheat bread, both of which are just 45 calories a slice (serving size is 2 so the package will read 90 calories). Add lean lunch meat (shop around and make sure you measure the amounts) and low fat cheese (Costco has a lean variety pack; Kraft American is low in calories) and you can have a sandwich under 250 calories – leaving plenty for a small bag of Baked Lays or some carrots and dip. Don’t like wheat bread (like me?) Wonder makes a low calorie, nutrient rich alternative at 50 calories a slice (100 in a sandwich) so that you get the health benefit of whole wheat in a nice white flavor. (Compare to most breads that are 100-120 calories for just one slice) I also like Miracle Whip on my sandwiches and that is something you can buy fat free and it still tastes good.