I need ideas...

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
I need ideas...
7
Wed, 04-06-2005 - 6:52pm

...for low calorie/healthy entrees and snack foods I can stock up on at my boyfriends' house that don't require a lot of prep work. I usually end up spending 2 nights a week at his house, and we generally eat something high fat or fast food. I need some ideas that I can keep on hand that won't go bad too quickly...so far I've come up with--

Lean Cuisine or Lean Gourmet frozen dinners
94% fat free popcorn
veggie burgers

Does anyone else have any other ideas?? Fresh fruits would be a good idea, but I will only eat them if they are really fresh, which means I would pretty much have to go buy them before I go to his house anyway and eat them that day or I probably wouldn't eat them. I have a lot of other things I usually eat, but it's such a pain to have to pack food for work and pack food to take to his house and then have to remember to take it with me when I get off work (aside from the fact that I would then have to turn around and remember to bring it back with me the next day)...


 


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 11:01am

Do you have a George Foreman?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 11:14am
How long does yogurt stay good for? I eat a lot of it, but usually I'll buy only enough to last a week because I'm afraid it'll go bad. Do you think it would be good for a couple weeks or more? There is a grocery store near his house, but it's a pain to get to most nights. He lives right near a major interstate and the grocery store is right off the interstate. Also, just getting from my work to his house is a major pain too, because traffic is always backed up, and now they're doing construction. He does have a Foreman grill...maybe I'll just buy a bag of frozen chicken breasts to keep on hand. That's a good idea.


 


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 12:49pm

I have started OAMC...once a month cooking....in a variation

Example: When boneless skinless chicken breast were on sale for 1.49 a pound I bought 30 pounds, and spent a day cooking...I have a stack of recipes that freeze well....I then put single meals together in frezer containers....perfect for lunch, cheaper then "light" frozen dinners, and I know what I am eating....and everything is pre-portioned!!

I will also put together 2-4 entrees in a container that can go straight to oven or microwave....quick family dinners when I pair with a bag of salad, and a fresh veggies....

one of these in an small ice chest will stay close enough to frozen for the day to be more then safe, even if you slip this into a soft insulated bag, which is easier to carry if you commute. The frozen entree keeps the veggies and salad fresh and cold, and has time to thaw a little during the day for quicker heat up. PLUS both of you get a healthy home cooked meal....Or once a month bring 5-10 entrees over and keep them in his freezer.

I used to do this when I was dating my BF, before we moved in together. He loved the home cooked meal, I knew I would be eating healthy, and it was almost like a picnic....Also there were VERY few dishes and cleaning up afterward....

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 1:38pm
The pre-cooked foods sound like a good idea, but I get stuck on what to cook. About the only thing I do with chicken is season it up kind of mexican and use it in chicken tacos, salads, and even sometimes mix it with rice. What kinds of meals do you cook with chicken that freeze well? I need to get some new recipes for meals anyway.


 


Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-31-2004
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 5:47pm
Yogurt has an expiration date on them...I think they can last for 2 weeks so try to get the freshest yogurt.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 10:29pm

I have a yogurt/last day of sale story.

Once I was picking some out at the grocer and a woman walked up to me and told me her brother works for some yogurt company (a name brand i cant remember) and he told her they have to make the date on yogurt so it will last SIX WEEKS after the date on the bottom --- I never let it go that long but have eaten it a month out of date and never had a problem. (She told me this when the brand name stuff was on sale and I probably wondered out loud how long it could go.)

Can you believe that ??? LOL

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2005
In reply to: weird_me2
Thu, 04-07-2005 - 11:25pm

Lean Pockets are great for a quick meal. I eat one every day at school.
Pair it up with a green salad and fat-free, sugar-free pudding.

What about buying a loaf of whole wheat bread and a package of low-fat turkey and cheese? If you keep the bread in the fridge it will stay fresh longer.

Chicken noodle soup or any low-cal, low-fat soup could be paired with a bag of salad or sandwich.

Whole wheat pasta w/ a tomato sauce is quick and easy and keeps until you use it.

Stir-fry chicken in 2-Tbs. light soy sauce and the juice of 1/2 orange. Add steamed 5 min. rice. Chop up fresh veggies or open a bag of frozen. Once they're cooked you can't really tell the difference.

I always look at when the dairy and bread products expire and pick the items with the dates farthest from when I buy them.