Free easy to make low-carb lunch recipes for all-day energy at work

Many of us start the day with a healthy breakfast and prepare a nutritious dinner, but it’s during the day that the wheels can easily fall off – and the kilos can pile on – especially during winter when hot chips seem more appealing than cold salad.

Unfortunately it won’t just be your waistline which will suffer. Poor midday eating habits contribute to lethargy, high stress and succumbing to the 3pm sugar frenzy – whether you’re a high-powered professional or a manic mum on the go.

Here, Colette Heimowitz, Vice President of Nutrition and Education at Atkins Nutritionals – and diet advisor to Kim Kardashian – shares her top tips and low-carb lunch recipes to curb the cravings and keep you looking good, and feeling healthy, all winter long.

1. Go low-carbohydrate

Appealing as they may seem when it’s cold outside, starchy staples such as white bread and rice, pasta, hot chips and baked potatoes are packed with empty carbohydrates that will leave you feeling bloated, fatigued and flat for the rest of the day.

Instead, opt for a protein like meat, chicken, fish or tofu, and pair it with a fresh salad or side of warming steamed greens and good fats to enjoy long-lasting energy throughout the day.

2. Don’t skip meals

Forgetting to eat lunch altogether isn’t the way to maintain concentration throughout the day – or lose weight. Skipping lunch will leave you ravenous mid-afternoon, which is a surefire strategy to cave in to those sugar-laden cravings once your energy starts to dip. If you have to grab something on the go, opt for a tasty low-carb option such as Atkins Advantage Fudge Caramel 60g bar, with only 2.9g of carbs and 15g of protein its sure to keep you feeling satisfied for longer.

3. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute lapses

By planning your lunch choices ahead you’re more likely to forgo fast food and fill up on fresh options instead. Leftovers are a top pick – just make more salad or stir-fry the night before and add a piece of cooked protein to pack extra punch. Low-sugar fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are excellent snack picks, as are small containers of nuts, carrot and celery sticks with homemade hummus, or for something a little more convenient opt for a low carb bar like Atkins Advantage Cappuccino Nut.

4. Moderation is key

Adding protein and good fats into your lunch will help you feel full for longer – but portion control is king. Protein such as lean meat, fish or tofu should be limited to around the size of one fist, in addition to healthy fats in the form of a quarter of an avocado, or a dash of olive oil. Salad and nutrient rich low carb veggies can be the size of two fists. If you’re dining out with work, avoid pasta and rice and pick side salads over chips or mashed potato.

5. Watch what you drink

Many popular beverages are packed with carbohydrates (a 600ml bottle of Coke contains 13 teaspoons of sugar, 250ml of apple juice has five teaspoons of sugar and 27.5 grams of carbs) so opt for mineral water and herbal teas instead, or try an Atkins ready-to-drink shake instead of your mid-morning latte.

6. Make your own

With a little preparation you can make your own delicious low carb lunches to enjoy at work.

Try out one of the winter warming recipes below:

Pesto Zucchini Pasta with Eggs

Serves 1, 7g of carbs per serve.

Ingredients:
1 small zucchini
4 halved cherry tomatoes
Fresh basil
1 tbsp basil pesto (choose a pesto with less than 2g of carbs per 1 tbsp serve)
1 egg (if an egg is too tricky for work, swap this out for ¼ bbq chicken without the stuffing).

Method:
Spiralise or peel zucchini into spaghetti length pieces. Poach, fry or boil the egg – leaving the centre slightly runny – and set to side. Mix pesto through the zucchini, then place in the microwave for around 20 seconds to warm. Transfer the zucchini mix onto a bowl or plate, add cherry tomatoes, basil pieces and top with the egg, and enjoy!