Low Carb Healthy Lunch Recipes

Delis are wonderful outlets full of enticing smells and vibrant colours.  And if you can avoid the breads and pastas (yes, we know it’s hard!) then your local deli is just the right place for those who are on a low carb, high protein diet.

Bursting with of meats, cheeses and marinated olives and vegies of every description, the deli allows you to have a different lunch every day of the week. While we don’t recommend you eat too much processed meat because of the high salt content or too much full fat cheese (obviously because of the high fat content), it’s fine to treat yourself to these tasty morsels every so often.

If you do opt for full fat cheese on occasions, have it cut thinly sliced so it will be easier to roll into tasty wraps, and you’ll end up eating less that way.  Experiment with different leafy greens, such as rocket, radicchio, or spinach with your meat wraps and try to include some roasted and marinated vegies as well. 

Roast beef rollups

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 16 slices of roast beef
• 4 slices of provolone cheese
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 16 romaine lettuce leaves

Directions:

1. Lay the slices of roast beef flat on a cutting board. And evenly divide the cheese among the slices.
2. Mix together mayonnaise and mustard and spread on cheese.
3. Top each with a lettuce leaf and roll up.
4. Lay on a serving plate seam-side down.

Chicken salad with crumbled boursin

Boursin is an all-natural Gournay cheese (named after a small town in France) that comes in a delicious variety of flavours and has fewer than one carbohydrate per serving.  You can buy it from your local supermarket or deli and it adds unparalleled flavour and a creamy contrast to the tender roasted pepper, crisp carrot, and diced chicken in this recipe. 

Serves 4
Ingredients:

• 6 cups mixed greens
• 1 cup sliced roasted red bell peppers (from a jar)
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• 500grams cooked skinless chicken breast, diced
• 8 tablespoons garlic and roasted red pepper boursin cheese
• Your favourite low carb salad dressing

 Directions:

1. Divide greens among four salad bowls.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine peppers, carrot, and chicken and toss to combine.
3. Evenly divide chicken mixture among the four salads.
4. Top with crumbled Boursin and drizzle with dressing.

Gazpacho with avocado

Gazpacho is a chilled soup that is especially satisfying on a hot summer day. It is naturally high in vitamins and minerals and low in carbohydrates.   

Serves 4 
Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely diced peeled cucumber
• 1 cup finely chopped capsicum
• 1 cup finely diced, seeded tomato
• 1 cup finely diced celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
• 2 cups tomato juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or more
• to taste Zest and juice from a lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Diced avocado 

Directions:

1. In a blender add parsley and onion and blend on high for 1 min.
2. Mix the rest of the vegetables with, parsley, tomato juice, lemon zest and juice, and all the seasonings in a large bowl.
3. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight to develop the flavours.
4. Serve chilled, garnished with diced avocado.