When you have a busy lifestyle, how can you have a weight watcher-friendly lunch? In a world filled with the latest low-carb craze, it seems everyone is looking for ways to continue to enjoy their favorite foods but in a healthier way.
Try a Weight Watcher Friendly Lunch Served in a Bowl
I don’t know about you but one of my all-time favorite comfort foods are sandwiches. Sandwiches are a lunch staple, but the bread can pack in unwanted carbs. Don't sacrifice your beloved sandwiches – just transform them into tasty low-carb bowls! Ditch the bread and pile all the fillings into bowls on top of crisp lettuce or nutrient-rich greens. Subway and Jersey Mike’s already jumped on the bandwagon of low carb bowls based on sandwiches, and you can too!
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The easiest way to turn a sandwich into a bowl is to deconstruct it. Take out the bread; add lots of lettuce or spinach and your favorite low carb toppings. Here are a few of my favorite sandwiches deconstructed into a bowl that is still delicious, filling and cuts the carbs. These will fill you up so you aren’t reaching for the chocolate later, and the best part is you won’t feel like you’re just eating a salad!
How Many Points Are In These Recipes?
With the new PersonalPoints Plan, points can vary for each individual person based on their unique list of zero point foods. Points can also vary with different brands. Please use your recipe maker to determine your exact points.
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1. BLT Bowl:
This bowl delivers the classic flavors of a BLT sandwich – crispy bacon, fresh lettuce and juicy tomatoes. It's all drizzled with a tangy sriracha mayo dressing.
Customize it: Add sliced avocado, cucumber, sprouts or red onion for extra crunch and flavor.
Tips To Make This Recipe Even Better:
- Crisp up the bacon to your liking and chop it up into nice size pieces.
- If you like bigger bites, cut the tomatoes into wedges instead of dicing them.
BLT Bowl
One of the most classic sandwich combinations, crispy bacon and lettuce with juicy tomatoes and a creamy sriracha dressing.
Ingredients
- 2 slices Turkey Bacon
- 2 oz Cherry Tomatoes (sliced in half)
- Iceberg Lettuce (or your choice of greens)
- 1 Tbsp Fat-Free Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp Sriracha
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- chopped chives (optional)
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- In a serving bowl, toss together your lettuce of choice, the chopped bacon, and tomato. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a separate bowl mix mayonnaise with a dash or two of Sriracha and lemon juice. Add this to your bowl as a dressing.
- Top with the chopped chives to your liking
Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 101Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 26mgSodium 899mgCarbohydrates 9gFiber 2gSugar 6gProtein 6g
*This is an automatic calculation by a third party app*
*TIP: You can also add additional toppings like spouts, cucumber; avocado…the list goes on.
2. Cuban Bowl:
All the flavors of a Cuban sandwich like garlic-citrus pork, ham, pickles and Swiss cheese but served over lettuce instead of bread.
Customize it: Swap in shredded chicken or steak for the pork. Top with extra pickles.
Cuban Bowl
I know, I know… one of the best parts of the Cuban is that crisp pressed panini-style bread. I promise you will not miss it!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pork loin, lean, center cut
- 4 oz deli ham cut into cubes
- Spring mix lettuce
- 4 oz. Fat Free Swiss cheese shredded
- 1 cup diced dill pickles
- 4 cloves garlic crushed or finely diced
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- Zest of 2 limes plus the juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Take your cut up pork loin and add it to a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie.
- Add the lime zest and juice from 1 lime, salt and pepper, 1 tsp oregano and 2 crushed cloves of garlic.
- Let marinate for 2-3 hours in the fridge.
- Heat a pan and add olive oil.
- Add half the pork and cook until done.
- Remove from pan and cook the remaining pork. (It should be firm to the touch with no pink but have a nice crisp on the outside.)
- In a small bowl whisk together the zest and juice from the second lime, the remaining garlic and oregano, the mustard, and some olive oil to create a dressing.
- Layer the spring mix with the cooked pork, ham and Swiss cheese, as well as the dill pickles.
- Drizzle with the dressing and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 414Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 128mgSodium 825mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 2gSugar 9gProtein 44g
*This is an automatic calculation by a third party app*
3. Meatball Sub Bowl:
Swap sliced bread for lettuce and pile it high with sauce-covered meatballs, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Satisfying and comfy but less carbs.
Customize it: Use turkey or chicken meatballs. Add sauteed peppers and onions.
Meatball Bowl
Meatballs are the ultimate comfort food, and this bowl of meatballs gives off all the best meatball sub vibes without the bread!
Ingredients
- 1 pkg frozen turkey meatballs (cook following package directions)
- 1 1/2 cup Quinoa (or if this isn't zero points for you, go with a leafy salad base!)
- 1 cup zero point marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded fat free mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded fat free parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a serving bowl layer spinach or other favorite leafy green along with the quinoa and warmed meatballs and sauce.
- Top with the shredded cheese
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 270Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 30mgSodium 984mgCarbohydrates 25gFiber 4gSugar 5gProtein 21g
*This is an automatic calculation by a third party app*
*Note: The combination of the greens and quinoa add fiber to keep you fuller longer.
4. Chicken Salad Bowl:
Make a flavorful chicken salad with celery, mustard and mayo then serve it over leafy greens and top with vegetables.
Customize it: Use buffalo chicken and top with blue cheese crumbles.
Chicken Salad Bowl
This healthy chicken salad is so filling and flavorful, you’ll never go back to eating dull salads again! Every time you bite into this dish, your mouth is greeted with a lively crunch. All of that flavor without any guilt!
Ingredients
- 5 oz can chicken drained
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 stalk finely chopped celery
- 2 tbsp chopped walnuts
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients until desired consistency.
- In a serving bowl, layer your lettuce or leafy green of choice.
- Add a scoop of chicken salad.
- Top with cucumbers and bell peppers if desired.
Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 236Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 38mgSodium 749mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 19g
*This is an automatic calculation by a third party app*
5. Shrimp Taco Bowl:
Seasoned crispy shrimp on a bed of cabbage, pico de gallo, cilantro and a squeeze of lime. All the fixings of a taco without the tortilla.
Customize it: Swap shrimp for grilled chicken. Add avocado slices.
Shrimp Taco Bowl
A shrimp taco bowl is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a summer day. It is a bowl filled with crispy, lightly-seasoned shrimp, along with a fresh mixture of crunchy lettuce, tomato, and cilantro, topped off with a generous squeeze of lime.
Ingredients
- 12 oz package Medium, frozen peeled and deveined shrimp thawed and rinsed
- 1 tbsp. flour
- 1 tsp Slap Ya Mama Seasoning (or any Cajun seasoning)
- Shredded cabbage/coleslaw mix
- Diced fresh cilantro
- Pico de Gallo
- Lime Wedges for serving
Instructions
- Coat your thawed and rinsed shrimp in a bowl with the flour and Cajun seasoning.
- In a saucepan over medium heat cook the shrimp with olive oil until pink. The flour will give them a nice crisp coating. If gluten is a worry you can skip the flour.
- In a serving bowl toss the shredded cabbage with the cilantro. Top with the shrimp and Pico de Gallo. You can serve it in a bowl on it's own or on top of spinach leaves. Add some lime wedges to squeeze on top and a dressing won’t even be needed.
Notes
If you really want to kick things up a notch, try the Chipotle Vinaigrette!
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Nutrition Information
Yield 2 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 133Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 10mgSodium 1023mgCarbohydrates 18gFiber 4gSugar 8gProtein 3g
*This is an automatic calculation by a third party app*
Create Your Own Combination Recipes
The key to a great and easy sandwich bowl is taking your favorite deli meat, some lettuce or cabbage, add in some great veggies (cucumber, peppers, avocado, tomato), make a simple dressing with olive oil, some spices and toss in some mustard and mayonnaise. Below is a list of ideas of things you can choose from to make your own sandwich bowl. The possibilities are endless!
- Lettuce (romaine, spring mix, spinach etc.)
- Cabbage
- Rice (brown)
- Quinoa
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Olives
- veggies (cucumbers, peppers, carrots etc.)
- Chicken Breast
When it comes to dressings, you have to be careful of the sugar content and fat content. Keep an eye out for Walden Farms Dressings, they are the best! You can also check out my recipe for Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps, which has a recipe for a cilantro lime dressing that is dynamite!.
What are some other ideas you can think of for bowls?
Comment below and share your ideas! You should also check out my recipe for Egg Roll in a Bowl! (Yes, I love bowls!)
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I always was concerned in this topic and still am, thankyou for putting up.