Dinner ideas?

I am a night student and I am sick of eating frozen meals and the like for dinner...

So does anyone have any fast, healthy dinner ideas? I would like to keep dinner around 500-600 calories.

One thing I love doing is stir fry veggies, they only take about 5 minutes to cook.  I buy the frozen ones, but just the plain ones and not the ones that include seasonings as they are too high in sodium for me.  I prepare them according to package directions.  I like to add a little bit of low sodium soy sauce or teriyaki sauce and season with garlic powder and a little red pepper. 

If I'm really pressed for time, I'll drain and rinse a can of beans and throw them in at the end, just long enough to heat them up, and maybe toss in a few peanuts.  Those both add a good amount of protein (and beans are a cheap way to do that.)  Or you can always brown some chicken breast strips, if you have time, and throw them in.

Serve over some brown rice (which you can cook ahead of time in quantity, keep in the fridge, and heat up in the microwave) and you have a filling, quick meal that'll make you two or three servings to reheat later.

i live alone so when i cook, i make a whole recipe and then freeze the left overs.  it's a great way to get a good meal when you are too tired or busy to cook, all you have to do is microwave them.    i also eat lots of big salads. 

there are many good recipes on this web site. i make the apple oatmeal ww muffins  and they are great to take along in my purse when i'm going out and will be out during a meal so i don't stop for fast food.  they are very good and filling.

sometimes i just do a frozen dinner too, but only once or twice a week.   just do some planning ahead (on your days off) for those busy days and your life will be so much easier and stress free...and you won't be tempted to eat stuff that isn't healthy.   i am actually enjoying my diet this time!  :O) 

Thanks for the ideas so far! Anyone else?

Grilled chicken is always pretty easy and quick, especially if you have a Forman grill served with veggies (can grill them too or stem them).  Soup is pretty easy and can be made ahead of time, can even make a large batch and freeze some for later.  I buy hogie buns that have only 100 calories (they are a little small) and spray with can't believe not butter spray & garlic salt, shaved ham/turkey with a slice of reduced provolone,place on baking sheet for 10 minutes with a side salad or cup of fruit.

I like Lean Turkey burgers on the forman...buy a pack of 4 premade, freeze individually and put on the grill frozen.  They are juicier and still only take about 5 min.  I add steam in the bag veggies...since those go in the microwave and I can cook both at the same time. 

Or I'll heat up veggie burgers, since they are fast.

I also like low fat feta cheese on my steam in the bag veggies.

Hope that helps

Definitely the homemade frozen dinner idea, I do that ALL the time with chili and cornbread, both of which freeze beautifully!

Also, boca burgers or other veggie burgers are so quick and easy and so yummy! I make a cheeseburger out of a boca burger, a slice of cheese, some baby spinach, pickles, a whole wheat bun, some mustard, tomato and onion! It came out to under 275 calories, and it would have been less had I used a cheese that wasn't full fat! This leaves plenty of room for either some baked butternut squash fries (YUM! you can make them ahead and freeze 'em!) or a little dessert!

Also, boca "tacos" I just buy their meatless crumbles and heat them up, toss them in a low cal wrap, top with a little cheese sauce, salsa and lettuce. Soooo good, and quick, too. You can make it quicker by using canned beans instead of the crumbles.

I know those were both meatless, I don't know if you eat meat. I do, and LOVE red meat, but these are so yummy and quick I can't help myself sometimes!

Omelets are super quick, too!

Crack open a can of fat-free refried beans, spread about 1/3 to 1/2 the can on a tortilla, add some salsa and just a touch of cheese (diet permitting). Roll it all up, and microwave for 3 or 4 minutes.

Bocca burgers are also quick and easy. Just nuke or grill one, and put it in a whole wheat pita with some lettuce and tomato and ketchup.

Microwave a modest-sized potato. Split it open and top with steamed broccoli and cottage cheese. Nuke another minute so it gets all warm and melty. Add crushed black pepper.

Or top the potato with canned, rinsed black beans, a little cheddar, and a lot of salsa.

I do the stir-fries all the time too. Last night I used prepared stir-fry veggies from the produce section. I tossed them in to the wok with canned chopped garlic (a great time-saver), and one dried chili pepper. For protein I rely on flash-frozen chicken breasts or shrimp. To defrost quickly, just put them in a bowl, and run them under the tap with hot water. Then add to the stir-fry to cook. Add a bit of soy sauce at the end. Serve over rice - I have a programmable rice steamer so I usually have fresh rice warming in it, which makes it easy and quick.

Eggs and toast make a quick and easy dinner. Serve with a side of dark green veggie like spinach or kale or broccoli rabe.

Salad provides endless options... start with greens, add whatever fresh veggies or fruit you have on hand, then add a protein such as shrimp (simply defrost under the tap for a few minutes), canned tuna (try mixing with yogurt instead of mayo), diced leftover chicken, hard-boiled egg, or beans.

Tuna sandwich is quick and easy.

Pasta is also easy, just boil water and crack open a can of sauce. You can make up a whole package of pasta and then reheat all week long. If you want something a little different, try topping pasta with feta cheese, steamed broccoli, fresh basil, crushed red peper. Mmmm. Or try pasta tossed with chicken sausage, a can of diced tomatoes, sliced kalamata olives, and spinach.

If you have a Trader Joe's around you, check their frozen food section for flash-frozen fish in individual serving sizes. I like their crab cakes and salmon roulette. Just defrost under water, then grill it up in a skillet. Serve with rice or pasta or couscous (which is very easy and fast to make), and a dark green veggie or two.

Those are all our stand-by's!

i like to use fat free spray to fry zuchinni slices, canned mushrooms, canned diced tomatoes,black beans and some spaghetti sauce. when its all warm, throw it over some whole wheat pasta. this dinner is really good and full of fiber and protein. its about 300-350 calories.

Tomato soup (a little high in sodium) but quick and easy..add basil and artichokes and top with a tiny sprinkle of mozz. cheese

sandwiches - any kind, use a wrap or lettuce or rice cakes for less calories

stir fry is excellent, takes less than 20 minutes to make and eat, use Worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce for less sodium

pasta with a tossing of olive oil, parmasan cheese and fresh basil (pasta = ~200, olive oil ~120, cheese + basil 30 for a total of 350 calories)

salads with eggs

it is also easier to "cook ahead" and make like three servings of a meal and then you can take those with you and pop in a microwave

good luck 

Original Post by peach8321:


pasta with a tossing of olive oil, parmasan cheese and fresh basil (pasta = ~200, olive oil ~120, cheese + basil 30 for a total of 350 calories)

 This is honestly my favorite meal and I use it as a side dish too! I like taking a bite of my lean protien and it makes for an excellent flavor combination :)