Do you find it difficult to find tasty healthy easy Slimming World lunch ideas that are not using syns or cost a fortune? Here I share some great Unofficial Slimming World lunch ideas for work or home.
They may help a little depending on what kind of job you do or what sort of lunch you like. Obviously, not all work environments have access to the same amenities so I have tried to give a mixture of healthy lunch ideas.
Just Average Jen is an independent blog and in no way connected with any weight loss plan and no contributors have been trained by them or worked for them. It is the reader’s responsibility to check Slimming World syn values, WW points and any other allowances themselves as those given are approximate.
Choosing lunches for weight loss
If you follow Slimming World, Weight Watchers (WW), Noom or any other weight loss plan you can usually count the ingredients within these recipes in your allowances. It is of course important to check any plan you follow and remember all nutritional information and ingredients are found in the recipe cards.
If you are a driver, carer or need a lunch to take to work on the go then my work lunches on the go guide should help.
Cold packed lunches for work
Taking a packed lunch doesn’t mean you have to use bread and take a sandwich. I have so many unofficial Slimming World lunch ideas for you here that will help keep you interested in healthy food for lunch.
Sticky Chicken Salad
This Sticky chicken salad is a popular choice and can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Sweetcorn Fritter with Rocket and Salsa
This is a lovely lunch as you eat it cold so it doesn’t need warming through but it is a bit more filling than a salad because let’s face it salad can be nice but isn’t always that filling!
Sweetcorn Fritter could be adapted to make other fritters quite easily.
Mango couscous
This mango couscous is a tasty option to consider and is so summery and fruity that it will always make you smile.
Vegetable couscous
My wholesome vegetable couscous recipe is great for work and so filling. Find out more about couscous here.
For a more Mediterranean feel why not try my roasted vegetable couscous with feta.
Your own recipe Couscous
Mixing up some couscous with a salad like diced peppers, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced onions and a little fat-free vinaigrette can make a tasty lunch without all the syns/calories of a shop-bought similar meal.
It can be made more filling with chunks of chicken or other meats.
Starting a diet – my top tips
If you need some top tips to start dieting then this video should help you.
DIY Pasta Salad
Simple and easy just boil some pasta, strain, and allow to cool. Then add in some halved cherry tomatoes, cubed cucumber, diced peppers, some pickled red cabbage in its juice (this helps make the pasta salad less dry), some diced onion and whatever else you fancy!
Fruity pasta salad
If you fancy something fruity and filling but not quite as savoury then how about my fruit pasta salad? Check all my other pasta recipes.
Unofficial Slimming World lunch ideas – Make a fun Salad
A salad doesn’t have to just be leaves, tomatoes and cucumber there are so many great things you can put into a salad.
Ideas include eggs, chicken, Quorn, baby corn, mangetout, sugar snap peas, peppers, beetroot, pickled onions, cottage cheese, pineapple, ham, onions, celery, spring onions, rice, pasta, couscous, apple and so much more the list is really endless so the salad doesn’t have to be boring!
Honey salmon salad
This is a great recipe for a low-calorie easy lunch. Honey salmon salad can be cooked before work or made easily at lunchtime if you prefer.
Piri Piri chicken salad
Making this delicious Piri Piri chicken and adding it to a salad is a great choice for an easy lunch as you can cook the chicken the night before.
Nigerian Jollof Rice
This is so tasty and full of flavour. Making a batch of this for lunches makes a wonderful change. My unofficial Slimming World Nigerian jollof rice recipe is here. I promise once you have tried it you will want to make it again and again!
Vegetable sticks and dips
If you fancy a lighter lunch then vegetable sticks and dips maybe with some cooked chicken or crab sticks too can be really easy and again not need any kitchen equipment. I have some great healthy dip recipes so the choice is yours. These are an easy syn-free snack too.
Crustless quiches
There are so many tasty crustless quiches you can make on the Slimming World plan. These are my favourites – Caramelised onion mini quiches.
Quiche with a crust
If you prefer a quiche with a bit of a crust but that is healthy then how about these pepper quiches?
Sandwich
Why not use your healthy extra b choice and have a sandwich for your lunch if that’s what you fancy or fits well into your lifestyle. There are so many sandwich filings it can give you a good variety but still be on plan.
You could also use your healthy extra a choice as cheese to make a cheese sandwich if you wish.
The only disadvantage with it, however, is of course that it is using that element which means you can’t have it for another meal or snack that day.
How about making some mushroom pate as a filling or perhaps cold doner meat?
Falafel in a wrap or on its own
My easy falafel recipe is great for lunches in a wrap, perhaps with some mango chutney, or on their own with a yoghurt dip.
Spinach and pea frittata
This spinach and pea frittata is such a tasty easy recipe to make and full of iron and other nutrients.
Curry Loaf
Again this doesn’t require any kitchen equipment so ideal if you work out and about or just don’t feel like queueing for the work microwave!
The curry loaf is easy to make and you could make it at the weekend or the night before the choice is yours.
Rice salad
For an easy work lunch or buffet meal how about this easy chicken rice salad?
Need snacks?
If reading this has made you hungry and you just want to click and order some tasty snacks then remember that you can get past this by finding something else to do.
Plan snacks for the next few days that fall within your plan using my guides. Perfect if you have a chocolate craving or just fancy a nibble!
There are many ideas in my snacks ideas guide and if you are peckish.
Remember next week though to add some snacks to your meal plan so you can stay as on track as possible.
Hot lunch ideas for work
Slimming lunches – Soup
Taking soup is really easy in a Thermos Flask as some keep food hot for a whole 24 hours so even long-distance drivers can have something warm. It is usually perfect for Slimming World if you make it yourself too!
There are so many different soups that you don’t have to get bored.
Check out my yummy soups round-up full of tips to make the soup more filling and lots of different recipes. Here are some popular ones:
- Tomato soup that tastes like heinz
- Mushroom soup
- Minestrone soup
- Hearty vegetable pasta soup
- Celery soup
- Broccoli and stilton soup
- Italian meatball soup
- Butternut squash soup
- Red lentil soup
Slimming lunch ideas for work – Leftovers
If you have access to a microwave at work or like me are lucky enough to work from home then this is perfect for a filling and easy meal at lunchtime.
It is so easy to just make a bit extra and saves so much time the next day! Check out my recipes for lots and lots of ideas! Pasta meals are particularly good to reheat.
Etsy for weight loss
If you are like me and like buying fun new items to motivate your weight loss, then here are my favourites. Etsy is great for items for the kitchen and weight loss goodies. I could spend hours browsing there.
There are so many great food diaries too so you can record your meal plans and track your weight loss to keep a record of the good and bad weeks. Click the photos to have a look for yourself.
Jacket Potatoes
If you have a microwave at work could you take a potato and the filling separately and microwave a potato at work?
Most cafes or restaurants do jacket potatoes too so it is a quick easy choice.
It might not be for everyone but it is pretty easy to do and very cheap so maybe just the right meal idea for you?
There are over 20 different jacket potato filling ideas in my dedicated jacket potato guide.
Unofficial Slimming World syn free lunches – Pasta, Chilli or Curry in a Flask
If you have a food flask then there is nothing stopping you from taking foods like this in it and keeping it hot until lunch. Runnier foods work better in them I find but see how you get on.
Depending on the consistency of your meal you can sometimes get away with a drinks flask too if it will pour out of the neck.
A few recipes I can recommend for a food flask are:
- Italian meatball soup
- Turkey chilli
- Chilli Con Carne
- Mixed meat paella
- Vegetable and chick pea paella
- Chicken and bacon carbonara
- Spaghetti bolognese
- Butternut squash risotto
- Mushroom risotto
Tuna poke bowl
This is an easy and quick recipe for lunches if you like something a little different then the Tuna Poke bowl could be perfect for you.
Quesadilla
This tasty quesadilla recipe would be great to make the night before as a low syn work lunch. A change from sandwiches and leftovers and it feels so special too.
Stuffed peppers
These Stuffed peppers are great hot or cold and a lovely dish to enjoy for lunch as a break from sandwiches, soup or leftovers!
Roasted vegetable salad
If you want a warm salad with a difference then this roasted vegetable salad could be perfect for you.
Shakshuka
An easy hot lunch recipe all the family can enjoy together. Check out my Shakshuka recipe and tips to see if it could be the perfect Slimming World lunch for you.
Starting a diet or getting back on plan
If you are looking to start a diet, or even kickstart a diet you already follow, then a fresh start can be just what you need. Check how many syns (approx) are in your favourites or how many calories if you follow another plan so you can regain control.
Stop kidding yourself about the clothes size you are and what you weigh but instead find out for sure, make plans and move forward.
Meal planning can make a big difference so why not grab a notebook and plan this week’s meals?
Lunch on the go & healthy lunches to buy
If you are looking for the syns of products you could buy for lunch then here are some Slimming World lunch on the go ideas and their syn values.
Batchelors Pasta n Sauce syns (all approximate)
- Chicken and mushroom 65g – 1 syn
- Tomato and basil 65g – 1.5 syns
- Spicy arrabbiata 65g – 1.5 syns
- Rich bolognese 65g – 2 syns
- Cheese and broccoli 65g -2.5 syns
- Cheese and pancetta 65g – 2.5 syns
- Mac n cheese 65g – 3 syns
- Big pots 85g Chicken and mushroom – 1.5 syns
- Big pots 85g Cheese and Broccoli – 3.5 syns
- Big pots 85g Mac n cheese – 4 syns
- Big pots 85g American style mac n cheese with bacon – 4 syns
- Big pots 85g American style mac n cheese with garlic mushroom – 4 syns
Mug Shots syns (all approximate)
- Korma rice (60g serving) – 1.5 syns
- Mexican rice (60g pot) – 1.5 syns
- Creamy cheese pasta (68g pot) – 3 syns
- Minestrone pasta (60g packet) – 1.5 syns
- Sweet chilli noodles (60g packet) – 1.5 syns
- Teriyaki Noodles (60g packet) – 1 syn
- Cajun pasta (60g packet) – 2 syns
- Chorizo and olive rice (60g pot) – 1.5 syns
- Jalfrezi rice (60g pot) – 1 syn
- Cheese and broccoli pasta (68g pot) – 2.5 syns
- Pulled pork noodles (56g pot) – 1 syn
There are lots of other flavours with varying syns up to 5 syns a pack for the soup in wild mushroom flavour.
Bachelor’s Super Noodles syns 75g pots (all approximate)
- Chicken – 7.5 syns
- Curry – 7.5 syns
- Bacon – 7.5 syns
- BBQ Beef – 8 syns
Batchelor’s cup a soup to go syns (all approximate)
- Tomato 33g pot – 6.5 syns
- Chicken 23g pot – 4.5 syns
- Cream of vegetable 38g pot – 8.5 syns
- Chicken and vegetable with croutons 34g pot – 7 syns
Batchelor’s Super rice and sauce syns (all approximate)
- Chicken and mushroom 60g pot – 1 syn
- Mild curry 60g pot – 1.5 syns
- Sweet and sour 60g pot – 1 syn
- BBQ beef 65g pot – 1 syn
John West lunch on the go syns 220g pots (all approximate)
- Mediterranean style tuna salad – 5 syns
- French-style tuna salad – 5.5 syns
- Italian-style tuna salad – 5.5 syns
- Moroccan style salmon salad – 3 syns
- Thai style salmon salad – 2 syns
- Mild curry tuna salad – 6 syns
- Tuna, lime and cracked black pepper salad – 6 syns
- Tuna, tomato and black olive pasta salad – 5 syns
More you may enjoy healthy living
Fancy 4 weeks of lunches already planned out for you? Check this lunch plan to save you time.
I have other guides to recipes with specific ingredients/diets so do go and have a look at those too. Recipes with chicken, vegetarian and vegan recipes, how to use quark and quark recipes, how to cook the perfect rice and recipes with rice, butternut squash tips and recipes and many more just check out my recipes directory. Be sure if you check out anything though to look at the tasty desserts I share and see what you would enjoy.
There are many different lunch ideas across the world such as Dal-Rice in India, Ploughman’s Lunch in UK, Barbecue Ribs in the USA etc. What do you enjoy for lunch?
Other articles you may find helpful
If you are looking for a new diet to try and still undecided check out my full weight loss guide with lots of different plans. Many of these plans would fit well with these unofficial Slimming World lunch ideas as they are essentially just healthier choices! A few popular ones are:
Weight loss and Exercise Support
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Have a good look around and see how I can help you achieve your weight loss goals. Request my free resources to get you started too!
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Your recipes are fantastic! Incorporating them into my lifestyle.
Thanks for the great ideas!
Love the lunch ideas, when it comes to lunch I really struggle with healthy options
These are great suggestions… every picture I looked at made me more and more hungry and my mouth started watering hahahah (I haven’t eaten yet today lol)
That first pic looks like a beautiful lunch! And here I am munching on chips at 11pm hahaha Oh geez
I’ve really been struggling with what to eat for lunch as I try to find healthy options. Thanks so much for sharing this with us!
These lunches look great! I am always looking for healthy lunches that I can take to work with me or make quickly at home.
Yum, I like a lot of your choices! I enjoy having soup for lunch with a salad.