Sticking to a nutritious diet when you want to lose weight is already a lot to think about. It can be challenging to come up with snacks and lunches that help you stick to a low-carb diet when you don’t have much time to spend each day. Well, that is unless you’re willing to eat the same boring foods day after day after day.
Luckily,My Fit Foods has plenty of ideas for low-carb meals and how to save precious time in your busy mornings by prepping the night before.
Low-Carb Meal Prepping
When it comes to saving time in the morning, we know you need to make every second count. Between getting ready for work, getting the kids ready, walking the dog, feeding the family, and remembering to grab your coffee, it’s easy to understand why lunches and snacks get forgotten in the mad scramble to get out of the house on time.
Then you’re at work, and lunchtime rolls around. Your stomach is grumbling, and you didn’t bring anything nutritious. So, your only options are to spend money on food from the cafeteria or grab some fast food so you make it back to your desk in time. There goes your nutritional plan for the day.
But what if it didn’t have to be that way? Instead, why not try some of these easy recipes that can be prepared the night before so you don’t get caught without healthy, affordable food when it’s time to eat? Let’s dive into the low-carb possibilities, shall we?
Shrimp, Sausage, and Veggie Skillet
Protein is a fantastic way to keep you feeling full and energized throughout the day without loading up on carbohydrates. Thisawesome meal only takes about 20 minutes to make, so it’s great for days when you need something fast. Try either chicken or pork sausage; it’s totally up to you. We recommend using large shrimp since they’re so low in calories but savory and satisfying.
You’ll need:
- Large or jumbo shrimp
- Olive oil
- Yellow squash
- Pork or chicken sausage
- Red bell pepper
- Zucchini
- Asparagus
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cajun seasoning
Simply chop up everything into a bowl. Then, add olive oil and Cajun seasoning and swirl around until everything is evenly coated. At this point, simply put the bowl into your fridge and wait until the next morning or whenever you want to eat the meal.
Once it’s time, put it all in a skillet turned up to high. You only have to cook it for between five to seven minutes. A good rule of thumb is to watch the shrimp and see when they’re completely pink and steaming. Take everything out, wrap it up and watch your coworkers eye your lunch in envy.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
The great thing aboutlettuce wraps is that they’re easy to transport. By keeping the materials separate on your way to work, you won’t have to worry about soggy lettuce by the time your lunch break rolls around. It’s best to eat these wraps when the filling is hot, but they don’t taste half bad cold either.
You’ll need:
For the Sauce
- ⅓ cup of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
- 1-2 teaspoons of Sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon of coconut or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon of lime juice
For the Chicken
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 pound of ground chicken
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- ½ cup of chopped carrots
- 1 head of butterleaf lettuce
Mix up the sauce first, and then put it aside. Cook the chicken with the olive oil in a skillet for three to four minutes. Then, add the carrots and cook for another three minutes. Finally, add the garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. Then, add your sauce in, and let the whole thing simmer for another three minutes. That’s around a 12-minute cook time, and you’ve made the filling for your wraps.
Bring the filling in a separate container from your lettuce, so assembling these delicious wraps is easy when it’s time to eat. Enjoy!
Egg Roll Unrolled
The best part of any goodegg roll is the filling. If you don’t want the extra carbs that come from the wrapping, skip it with this cool recipe and get to that yummy goodness in a bowl. Simply make this dish in about half an hour and then keep it in the fridge for some great lunches in the upcoming week.
You’ll need:
- Ground pork
- Slaw
- Monk fruit
- Liquid soy seasoning
- Garlic
- Apple cider vinegar
- Sesame oil
The first step is to add the apple cider vinegar, monk fruit, and liquid soy seasoning together to make the delicious sauce. Then, you’ll want to cook the pork in a skillet for around 10 minutes until the meat has browned. If you notice a lot of grease collecting at the bottom of the pan, we recommend pouring it out before you move on to make the meal healthier.
This is when you add garlic, ginger, and sesame oil to the pain. Mix everything up, and let it cook for another minute. You’ll enjoy the wonderful smells filling the kitchen. Next, add your slaw and mix around, letting the whole thing cook for another few minutes. Don’t let the cabbage in the slaw completely soften, just enough to mix in with the pork. Finally, add the sauce and mix it thoroughly. Take it off the heat, and your egg roll filling is ready.
Convenient Salad Jar
It might seem unconventional, but jars aren’t just for liquids. They can also be used to hold the layers of your salad separate from each other and make the whole thing portable for busy days. Thischicken salad jar is the perfect snack or lunch during a long day of work when you need something cute and fun to pep you up.
Whether you want to make your own ranch salad dressing from scratch or buy something from the store, these salad jars are easy to make and don’t require much more than 30 minutes to fully prep. They can last in the refrigerator for multiple days without getting soggy or spoiling because of how you stack the ingredients.
You’ll need:
- Chopped chicken
- Ranch dressing
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Cheese
- Any other veggies or toppings you like on your salad
- Medium-sized glass or plastic jar
This recipe is especially simple. Just chop your chicken and put it in the pan for around five minutes. You don’t need to worry about seasoning it since it’ll be mixed in with your salad dressing eventually, and you don’t want to overwhelm the dressing. If you’re going to make your own salad dressing, this is the time to do so—more on that in the next section.
Then, slice up your veggies and shred some cheese. Once everything is ready, you’ll want to layer it specifically in the jar. Put the dressing at the bottom, then layer in the chicken. From there, toss in the veggies however you like, just as long as the lettuce is at the top. It’s the most delicate of your ingredients and shouldn’t be weighed down by anything.
When it’s time to eat, just shake it up and pour out the salad into a bowl. You’re ready to go with a delicious, nutritious meal. Yummy!
Making Your Own Dressing
Homemade salad dressing is a nice treat if you have a little extra time to put into your meal prep. Keep in mind that it should last in the fridge for about a week after it’s made, so you’ll only have to make it once a week for your daily salads. Plus, it’s super simple and easy to make.
Just mix together ranch seasoning, yogurt, mayonnaise, buttermilk, and a small amount of lemon juice. For one tablespoon of most of those ingredients, you’ll use one teaspoon of lemon juice, which means it’s also easy to remember, and you’re free to make as much (or as little) as you want for the upcoming week.
Want fewer calories? Simply swap out the buttermilk for regular milk if you want to save some calories in the dressing and make it a little healthier. Although, we think that you deserve a nice treat for working so hard toward your nutrition goals.
Wrapping Things Up
To save even more time on your low-carb meals, check out ourlow-carb dinners. You get all of the fresh ingredients you need to make a fantastic meal in minutes. Our prepackaged foods are delivered anywhere aroundour stores, right to your door. Just keep them in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready, and then simply pop them in the microwave. And voila! You’ve got instant nutritious meals that are ready in a snap when hunger strikes. It’s the perfect plan!
Sources:
14 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas Perfect For Bringing To Work | Tasty
30 Low Carb Recipes You Can Meal Prep | Sweet Peas and Saffron
Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Vegetable Skillet | The Recipe Critic
Egg Roll in a Bowl (30 min, low carb) | Sweet Peas and Saffron