MEAL PLAN IDEAS: CHALLENGE

Okay, here's a challenge for everyone. Let's help each other with some ideas for meals. Let's post some of our meals that we routinely eat or really like at this stage in the game. Here's the challenge part: Meals are 400 calories or less and high in protein Snacks are around 100 calories - post them too! We can start saving these ideas up for future meal Here's a few of my favorites: ***************************************** Homemade McMuffin 1/2 Thomas's Light whole grain english muffin 1 scrambled egg (cooked with Pam butter flavored cooking spray) 1 slice colby/jack cheese Protein: 17 grams Calories: Just under 300 ******************************************** Power Oatmeal 1 Pack Quaker Weight Control Cinamon Oatmeal 1 scoop Chocolate protein powder (I use unjury) (tastes like hot chocolately pudding!!) Protein: 27 grams Calories: 260 ********************************************* Burger! 1 All American Grilled Boca burger (I cook mine in a pan with PAM spray) 1 small grilled onion (sauteed in butter flavor PAM) 1-2 TBSP of stoneground mustard Protein: 14 grams Calories: 125 with mustard & onions (Boca plain: 90 calories) *********************************************** I'll add some more later.... i just wanted to get everyone started... Come on! Let's share some ideas!! Hugs, Pam

I don't cook a lot because it is just me so I really love Lean Cuisines and South Beach frozen meals. I look for the ones that have lots of protein and under 300 calories. They are just the right amount of food. And, I love oranges for snacks, I crave them!! Yesterday I was at a Ruby Tuesdays and had the salad bar. I stopped eating the salad after I got some protein and went back to get some mandarin oranges and ate about 1/2 cup!! They tasted better than candy to me. I also love sun flower seeds, they have protein and it takes awhile to crack the shells so they are fun to eat. Thanks for the ideas!! Jo

And here's a yummy soothing snack: Hot Cocoa (Homemade) for one cup: Mix together in a cup: 2 TBSP plain hershey's cocoa powder 2 packets of splenda pinch of salt Heat one cup of milk in the microwave Pour the hot milk over the stuff in the cup & mix well Add just a dash or so of vanilla flavoring & mix again. SOOOOOO yummy! with 2% milk: 130 calories, 5 grams fat, 8 grams protein, 12 carbs

Last of this, but here is a site which promotes FAST FOOD as a 400 calorie meal choice... http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/diet/plans/articles/0,,284559_582700-3,00.html

Last of this, but here is a site which promotes FAST FOOD as a 400 calorie meal choice... http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/diet/plans/articles/0,,284559_582700-3,00.html

400-Calorie Lunches Two dozen ways to get your midday energy boost. McDonald's: Chicken McGrill (400 calories) or four Chicken McNuggets plus a small fries (420 calories total). Burger King: Four Chicken Tenders and a small fries (400 calories total). Or, for 50 calories less, swap the fries for a small order of onion rings. Wendy's: Large Chili with Cheddar cheese and saltines (395 calories) or Grilled Chicken Sandwich (300 calories) and side salad with low-cal dressing (125 calories). SubwaySubway: Any "7 Under 6" sandwich (230 to 320 calories), Subway's Select Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sandwich (380 calories) or Subway's Select Red Wine Vinaigrette Club Sandwich (350 calories). Bu****ch out: The moment you add mayo, oil, or cheese, the calorie count starts climbing. Dairy Queen: Grilled chicken sandwich (310 calories) or DQ Homestyle cheeseburger (340 calories). Stay away from the fries: At 350 calories for a small order, they're over 100 calories more than McDonald's and Burger King fries. Taco BellTaco Bell: Two soft tacos with chicken (190 calories per taco), two soft tacos with beef (210 calories per taco) or taco salad with salsa, without the shell (420 calories). Be very wary of the burritos: The plain bean burrito is a healthy 370 calories, but the Grilled Stuft Beef Burrito takes a giant leap up to 730 calories! Generally, the simpler the dish, the fewer the calories. KFCKFC: Tender Roast Sandwich without sauce (260 calories), Tender Roast Sandwich with sauce (390 calories) or individual Popcorn Chicken (450 calories). Steer clear of the "classic" KFC meals: One Original Recipe fried drumstick is 140 calories, and one wing is 150. And you've got to ask yourself: When's the last time anyone ate just one wing? Arby'sArby's: Regular Roast Beef sandwich (350 calories) or Light Grilled Chicken sandwich (280 calories). Careful with the curly fries: A small order starts at 310 calories -- more than the entire chicken sandwich! Boston MarketBoston Market: Marinated grilled chicken (230 calories per breast) with new potatoes (130 calories) or quarter-pound skinless white-meat chicken (170 calories) with butternut squash (150 calories). Look out for the Chunky Chicken Salad -- it sounds healthy, but at 480 calories per three quarters of a cup, it's a little bit of bird for a lot of calories. Pizza Hut: Two slices of Thin 'n Crispy Cheese Pizza (200 calories per slice). The golden rule of pizza eating: Thinner crust and fewer toppings equal fewer calories (except vegetable toppings, which are virtually calorie free).

Supposedly a healthy BLT http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/favorites.asp?kw=Low%20Calorie%20Sandwich%20Recipes&favoriteid=8&showfavs=true&showrecipe=true Healthy BLT Servings: 4 Prep Time: 15 minutes Ingredients - 4 MANNY'S® 8" Fajita Style Flour Tortillas - 6 tablespoons fat free mayonnaise - 1 package HORMEL® BLACK LABEL® Fully Cooked Bacon - 4 lettuce leaves - 2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced Directions Spread each flour tortilla with mayonnaise. Top with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Gently fold two sides of tortilla inward and roll up. Eat as a sandwich, or if desired, slice for an appetizer. Nutrition (per serving) 290 Calories 12 Grams Fat 15 Grams Protein 35 Milligrams Cholesterol 31 Grams Carbohydrates 860 Milligrams Sodium

Also, found these on the below website Eggplant, Roasted Red Peppers and Mozzarella Sandwich Salmon With Olive Relish, Asparagus and Herbed Brown Rice Crab Salad in Zucchini Bowls With Whole-Grain Rolls and Zesty Olive Oil Honey "Fried" Chicken With Red Potatoes and Broccoli (No sugar count I can find) http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0846/is_10_22/ai_101678979

I tried something new this morning! I fixed up a batch of buckwheat pancake mix and added a scoop and 1/2 of unjury unflavored protein powder. Cook as usual. 10g of protein per pancake plus fiber! I put reduced sugar strawberry jam on top, but you could use sugar free syrup. Wendy

Hello! One of my fav. soups right now is tortilla soup! Very EASY to make at home and taste great left over! 1 can of beef broth (low fat/low sodium) 1 can of chicken broth (low fat/sodium) Shredded chicken or beef (you can use as much as you like!) Even the canned chicked is good! 1 cup salsa (la victoria type) 1 tsp cumin Fry up some strips of corn tortillas or you can use tortilla chips! grated mont. jack cheese or mexican cheese (Cotija is really good!) Chips and cheese go on top of soup and serve! My family loves this! I have even made this with left over pot roast meat too!! Yum! According to Fitday it's about 250 calories and 10 grams of protein! for a one cup serving. I add more meat to raise the protein!