definitely need the proper tools, makes all the difference in the world!

my favorite lately is taking my normal turkey sandwich on thin sliced wheat bread w/ plain turkey, cheese and mustard-- and throwing it on the george foreman at work for a couple minutes. It's a quick panini and is more satisfying (to me) than just a plain sandwich.

Avocado!!
Raw veggies - sliced cucumber and green pepper, baby carrots
Blueberries (too bad they're so expensive...)
60-calorie no-sugar-added Swiss Miss hot cocoa
Skim milk
Fat-free cottage cheese
Special K 100-calorie fruit crisps (so good!)
Tea

Fat-free canned refried beans. Easy way to add fiber and protein to soups, sandwiches.

Laughing cow cheese. I put this on almost everything. Its great to put on a sandwich, it takes the place of the mayo and slice of cheese. I'll also spread some on a slice of deli Turkey breast, add a cooked egg white and some avocado. YUM!

100 calorie packs.

Fresh veggies

Steamable veggies

Arnolds Multi grain sandwich thins (LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!)

Old fashioned oats with a tbsp of natural pb (mmmm)

Sugar free fudgesicles

Lettuce. Seriously. I was spending 5 or 6 dollars a day buying salads from restaurants. Half a head of iceberg lettuce, one tomato wedge that went in the trash, and some rubber chicken.

I buy 1 romaine, 1 green or red leaf, and one iceberg each weekend, wash it up and package it with a paper towel in ziplock bags. Each night before bed I make up the salad I want, put it in a bowl with a lid, and grab it in the morning on the way to work. I'll put in it whatever I have on hand, cucumber, bell pepper, carrots, whatever. Then chicken, turkey, or tuna. Oh, and my favorite 10 calorie per serving fat free italian dressing. . .

I've spent less than 6 bucks on 7 days worth of salad. It's saving me a bundle, both monetarily and calorically.

Trader Joe's 2% Greek yogurt (I can't stand the FF stuff, but this is great!)
TJ's reduced carb tortillas, only 45 cals
Raw spinach - on sandwiches and salads, in wraps, and cooked to add bulk and nutrition to anything
Lowfat cottage cheese
Eggs/egg whites - I go through more than a carton a week, usually at a 1 whole egg to 2 egg white ratio. Such cheap, easy protein
Nature's Own light wheat bread - No HFCS and only 35 cals a slice
Hummus - on sandwiches and in wraps, used as dip for veggies. TJ's has some that's only 35 cals for a serving, and others I get are only 50 cals. Definitely worth it.
Black beans - Fiber and bulk and nutrition, I just have to carefully watch portion
Bird's Eye frozen pepper stir-fry mix - a mix of bell peppers and onions, SO quick and easy to use at any time.

Of course, veggies of all kinds, chicken, turkey . . . but the ones above are, at this point, necessary staples.

What a great idea for a thread! I'm loving some of the ideas I'm getting from here!

I'm all about easy and convenient. If it's not then I'm probably not going to bother.

60 calorie sugar free jello pudding snacks (yummers - can't tell they're sugar free)

Gorton's grilled fish portions (a little high in sodium but that's a dragon to slay another day)

tuna fish in water

grapes (to me they're like a dessert type treat - yum!)

egg beaters / egg whites

Ohhh . . . I forgot a new favorite.

Thomas Everything Bagel Thins. It's the best part of a bagel and only 110 calories.

Laughing Cow Cheese - queso flavor - yum
Salsa
Prewashed Spring Greens
Presliced mushrooms
blue cheese (obviously a tiny amount)
Mini Luna bars
Bran cereal
Arctic Zero

I think I need to check out the laughing cow cheese. I got some light string cheese and am not impressed. No flavor!

Frito lay brand baked tortilla scoop chips.
Trader joes trek mixes ( different trail mix combos)
Salsa
Fat free refried beans, black beans
Flat Out wraps
Sandwich thins
Spending the little extra on good deli turkey and roast beef
Good Parmesan cheese. Tiny amount packs a ton of flavor
Popcorn made in my stovetop whirly pop with a small amount of olive oil.

And I'll throw my hat into the aspartame ring. The Target brand packets have no calories and have helped substantially with my water intake.

~Fruit, fresh or dried..apples, cherries, bananas, apricots, strawberries
~Jello Mousse Temptations - a quick chocolate fix for 60 cals
~Progresso/Campbell's Select Harvest/Cup-a-soup
~Egg beaters
~Instant strawberries and cream oatmeal
~Healthy Choice meals when I need a meal super quick!

I forget one. Boneless skinless chicken breast.

I prolly eat it 4 times a week when I'm on plan. I can do so much with them I never seem to get tired of it.

[QUOTE=goodforme;3574519]Lettuce. Seriously. I was spending 5 or 6 dollars a day buying salads from restaurants. Half a head of iceberg lettuce, one tomato wedge that went in the trash, and some rubber chicken.
QUOTE]

Same for me, lettuce is my favorite food.

Also here in my town they sell tortillas made with prickly pear that are 13 calories each with lots of fiber.

Nthing the roasted vegetables. Especially roasted slices of eggplant and portobello mushroom. (One 5-inch wide mushroom is 30 calories!) I make them for sandwiches at least three times a week, with shavings of parmesan or gran padano cheese.

Also shredded cabbage, what they call on the Low Carb forums Crack Salad. The secret is slicing it really really thin (I use a mandoline). It's not so bitter and "cabbagey" that way.