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Low-carb lunch the key to all-day energy at work

Too frantic for anything but fast food? Does a healthy lunch seem too hard? When it comes to eating right, lunch is the time it can all go wrong, but luckily there are healthy recipes and eating habits that will help you to avoid the 3pm dip.

Too frantic for anything but fast food? Does a healthy lunch seem too hard? When it comes to eating right, lunch is the time it can all go wrong, but luckily there are healthy recipes and eating habits that will help you to avoid the 3pm dip.

Many of us start the day with a healthy breakfast and buy all the best ingredients to prepare a nutritious dinner, but it’s during the day that the wheels can easily fall off – and the pounds 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.

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 hot, and feeling healthy, all winter long…

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.

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.

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.

Make your own- With a little preparation you can make your own delicious low carb lunches to enjoy at work. Why not try out one of the winter warming recipes below:

 

Eggplant Melts

Atkins Eggplant Melts

Serves 1, 4.1g of carbs per serve.

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 eggplant

40g tasty cheese

Fresh coriander leaves

1 tomato sliced

Method

Slice eggplant into thick slices and drizzle with oil. Cook for around 20 minutes on a sandwich press or under the grill or until eggplant has softened. Remove from the heat, and place the crispiest side bottom down. Arrange tomato evenly on the eggplant slices, and top with cheese. Place eggplant under the grill – or if using a sandwich press combine two eggplant stacks to face each other like a sandwich. Cook until cheese melts, and finish with fresh coriander leaves. For additional protein try adding sliced ham or chicken.

 

Pesto Zucchini Pasta with Eggs

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!

 

Taco lettuce wraps

Taco lettuce wraps

Serves 1, 6.8g of carbs per serve.

Ingredients

For mince:

1tbsp olive oil

½  tbsp diced onion

1 small clove garlic, crushed

150g beef mince

1 tsp taco seasoning (choose a taco seasoning with less than 3g of carbs per 2 tsp serve)

1 tbsp water

For wraps:

2 cos lettuce cups

3 halved cherry tomatoes

¼ avocado, cut into pieces

Method

To make the mince:

Pre-make taco mince the night before. In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until they begin to caramelise. Add in mince and cook until brown. Add in taco seasoning along with a tablespoon of water, and stir until all the mince is covered. Remove from heat to cool, and refrigerate overnight.

On a plate lay out lettuce leaves. Heat mince until warmed through, and evenly soon mixture into the leaves. Top with cherry tomato and avocado pieces, wrap (or leave open), and enjoy!

Do you prepare your own lunch, if so, what’s your favourite recipe?