Little to No Meal-Prep Time
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It would take 2 hours max to make enough meat to last for a weeks worth of meals.
Success boil in a bag brown rice takes 10 minutes to cook in the microwave.
Steam fresh veggies take 5 minutes tops.
You have the time, trust me.0 -
I have time for meal prepping, but totally understand that not everyone does. Most grocery stores have pretty decent delis or salad bar areas now, and you can find a lot of healthy options there including not just salads but boiled eggs, chicken breast, etc. Of course you have to choose carefully because of hidden calories and fat in dressings and sauces, but it's better than frozen meals all the time.
I second all the comments about the crockpot. It does all the work while you're away. But a similar trick is sticking things under the broiler. A few pieces of salmon or chicken breast under the broiler right when you get home, and by the time you're done changing your clothes dinner is ready!0 -
I've had phases of life where I didn't have much time at all to cook, and certainly not an hour or two to prep meals. Here are a few things that helped me:
- Fully cooked frozen meats--chicken breasts, diced chicken, meatballs, etc. Can microwave them for super fast prep, or can add to recipes if you have the time. Can do a quick stir-fry type dish, add sauce & rice, etc.
- Frozen veggies--I used to buy the single-serving microwavable packages, but the steam in-bag types are quick and easy, too.
- Single serving rice cups.
- Fully cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store--pair with veggies or whatever, and I can get a few meals out of one, or can portion out and freeze the extra meat, and use for future meals.
- I'm not opposed to breakfast for dinner. Only takes a few minutes for scrambled eggs and toast. Or cereal.
I have more than one crock pot, and I hardly ever use them. As much as it sounds like a great option, I can't seem to get it together enough to do the prep work to make it happen.
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I hardly ever eat meat at lunch so friend me for some ideas. I weigh and add up calories for large batches of ingredients then dish it all out into glass bowls that I freeze. As long as you weigh all the food to start, you will log all the calories, so don't worry about being completely accurate with each bowl. I was trying to get all the grams even for each ingredient in each bowl at first but it was way too much time wasted and I log all the calories over the course of me eating everything I cooked. An hour or 2 makes about 6-7 lunches. I do the same with smoothies. Each lunch and smoothie has about 6-10 different foods. I eat like this 5 days a week. I throw in whatever I have and what looks good at the time.0
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I don't love frozen food (including stuff I made myself and like), so I do something every few days and 1) have it as a meal or 2) have it as a side.
In 8-12 mins, you can brown onions & lean ground beef, and throw that into whatever for protein (pasta, sandwich, bean dish as below, wrap, sandwich)
Like this amazing 20 min chili dish
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/236609/black-bean-chilli
That one's a bit complicated
- you can get any kind of (canned) beans or lentils done in 10 mins or less - easy, with onions, garlic, maybe red wine
You can combine bean stuff with chicken too (roasted - buy cooked from deli/grocery store). The chicken can also go in whatever. Or have the beans with a bit of cheese and salsa on their own in a wrap
Steak - grill (or sautee in butter like i do, calorie rich but goooood) - 5-8 mins (depending on how you like it)
I prepare rice or potatoes (boiled) and have that in the fridge to throw into things for a few days. Not much - 1/2 cup potatoes, 1/4 cup rice, just to take the edge off the meat and beans.
So, the meat, beans, and rice or potatoes are done and in the fridge; just have a salad or steamed/boiled veg with that.
OR
Find a line of boxed food that fits your cals and eat that. Blue Menu (Canadian brand) has saved my butt in the past. For lunch - Subway, no *kitten*. Ah right, you hate sandwiches - I don't know, you can't have it all.
Another shortcut: half a can of soup (whatever you like) + 1/4-1/2 cup of beans is a pretty filling lunch.0 -
Week nights, I put frozen veggies in pyrex with frozen protein (chicken tenders, "chicken tenders," frozen fish) or a tuna/salmon pouch. I store them in the fridge overnight and pack them up in the morning. I microwave on power level 7. All nice and moist. It's just dumping stuff in a bowl.0
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Fake crab sticks, chopped on salad, with dressing. Microwaveable rice bowls. Frozen salad shrimp, thawed under water, also on lettuce. Frozen vegetarian patties. check the organic aisle for premade soups - tomato, mushroom, borcolli soups are all good. Frozen fish fillets are great with squeezed lemon. Eggs, or egg beaters. Egg beaters + a couple tablespoons of flour + berries or sliced banaas. Cook it like a pancake.
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I guess my question is, what is a good alternative to meal-prep for lunches? I like the Lean Cuisines a lot, but was wondering if any other people have a good option for lunches at the office?
I also like the Lean Cuisines quite a bit (Ginger Garlic Stir Fry with Chicken today) but like you, they don't always fill me up. They are easy to "make" and when I find them on sale ($2 to $2.50 each) they're reasonably priced.
What I've started doing is bringing along good food to supplement. I may have some Greek yogurt for a snack around 10am, then lunch around 1pm, then maybe some baby carrots & a couple ounces of hummus in the afternoon. All that is about 600 calories. Alternately, I'll bring in bananas, oranges, plums, nuts, string cheese, etc.
I'd like to make my own lunches but with three kids and both my wife and I working, i'd rather spend my time on other things.
Congrats on your upcoming wedding, you'll make a beautiful bride!
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I make big pots of food at the weekend, it takes an hour and most of that is just simmering ..
I then keep it in Tupperware or freeze it
Recent big cook jobs which give me lunches across the week and some dinners all around 3-400 calories
Salmon fish cakes (I have about 30 frozen) - eat with a salad or in a sandwich
big veggie stew, precook rice and grate cheese .. 100g rice, 500g stew, 10g cheddar
Squash risotto with bagged salad greens
Chicken cacciatore (again with the rice and salad)
Spinach, squash and feta, potato topped pie and salad
Etc
Squash Risotto sounds amazing... *drool*
Maybe I'll start using my crockpot more frequently... I saw a Pinterest Board with crockpot recipes.
There's also a lot of thread on some great and simple Crockpot Recipes here on the site, you could do a search and see what you find.
That would definitely be helpful and simplify things for you. Also cooking up things while studying might help out. Put some eggs on to boil, have rice cooking or beans, things like that when you're studying near by would help have some quick foods for you to put together during the week.
Good Luck 0 -
dawnmcneil10 wrote: »Crockpots are your best friend right now. Make up things like chili, meat sauce, breakfast casserole, pulled pork. I absolutely love a microwaved sweet potato topped with pulled pork and cheddar cheese. Russet potatoes microwaved aka baked topped with chili is another great lunch meal.
I also make up black beans in the crockpot, with your schedule you could soak them while away from home all day, get home at night, rinse and then add fresh water and cook overnight, they'll be all ready to roll in the morning for you to pack into containers.
Thanks for the reminder...I need to get cooking on some black beans. So simple to do and handy to have on hand. So versatile for salads or to toss in recipes.
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- Agreed on Amy's..bit higher priced but as SofaKing6 shared... much more substantial and very good choices and if you can only eat 1/2 you can save the rest for a later meal. I've never had one I didn't like of the Amy's brand.If you like the frozen meals, try Amy's - there's a 'light & lean' set of dishes that are really tasty and much more substantial than Lean Cuisine or WW meals.
Oh, I didn't realize they had 'light and lean'. I'll have to check it out, think I've only had her regular frozen.0 -
If you like the frozen meals, try Amy's - there's a 'light & lean' set of dishes that are really tasty and much more substantial than Lean Cuisine or WW meals.0
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I make big pots of food at the weekend, it takes an hour and most of that is just simmering ..
I then keep it in Tupperware or freeze it
Recent big cook jobs which give me lunches across the week and some dinners all around 3-400 calories
Salmon fish cakes (I have about 30 frozen) - eat with a salad or in a sandwich
big veggie stew, precook rice and grate cheese .. 100g rice, 500g stew, 10g cheddar
Squash risotto with bagged salad greens
Chicken cacciatore (again with the rice and salad)
Spinach, squash and feta, potato topped pie and salad
Etc
Squash Risotto sounds amazing... *drool*
Maybe I'll start using my crockpot more frequently... I saw a Pinterest Board with crockpot recipes.
1 butternut squash
2 tsp light olive oil
1200ml stock
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 celery stick, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bay leaf
2 tsp dried thyme
250g risotto rice (we like carnaroli)
fry light
Salt and pepper
I adapted this http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/13012/simple-squash-risotto
Use fry light on the roast squash and salt and pepper
Add 2tsp oil to nonstick pan after softening onion and celery in a bit of the stock before throwing in the rice
It really doesn't need the wine, extra butter or extra oil or even cheese cos it's yummy
Makes 16 lots of 100g (90 cals per 100g) 350g is a decent lunch and about 300 calories -keeps a week in Tupperware in fridge
@rabbitjb Thanks for the share, you Rock 0 -
Week nights, I put frozen veggies in pyrex with frozen protein (chicken tenders, "chicken tenders," frozen fish) or a tuna/salmon pouch. I store them in the fridge overnight and pack them up in the morning. I microwave on power level 7. All nice and moist. It's just dumping stuff in a bowl.
Great idea! I do something very similar but add grains and beans.
Seriously, a couple hours of prep on a Sunday and you can have meals for weeks!
Cook some brown rice or quinoa (20 mins)
Bake boneless skinless chicken breasts with various spices (30 mins)
Chop and sautee whatever veggies you like (or use frozen for even less time)
Open some cans of beans (black, red, chickpeas)
Chop up the chicken and then measure chicken, rice/quinoa, beans, and veggies into Ziploc baggies or tupperware containers and stick in the freezer. These make what I like to call "Yum Bowls" of healthy deliciousness!
Just put in a bowl and microwave. I like to dump it on top of fresh salad greens. Add hot sauce or other seasonings if you like.
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definitely check out crock pot recipes- throw stuff in in the morning and dinner is served when you get home. Most crock pot stuff makes great leftovers too so next days lunch just needs to be thrown in tupperware.
(I am a big chicken eater) - slow cook a big batch of chicken one day a week (if you have to leave it in for a really long time I have found that not thawing it, just throwing it in the pot frozen helps keep it from over cooking and drying out.) I shred it and keep it in the fridge, then its handy to throw on salads, in wraps, make chicken salad for a sandwich, throw together a pot pie, or anything else fun you can think of.
ground turkey is cheaper than beef where I live right now, and I like it because its lower fat, I really like it in tacos, or enchilada casserole (found this gem online and love it, it also tastes good as leftovers - brown 1 lb meat - i use turkey - mix with 1 10 oz can of enchilada sauce, put 8 biscuts (the refrigerated ones out of the can) in a baking pan, pour the meat/sauce over it and bake for 35 mins 350. Top with cheese and bake another 10 mins)
Try to use your sunday the best you can. I buy a bunch of veggies when I grocery shop and chop them all up afterwards and bag them into servings/snack packs so when I am packing my lunch I just can grab stuff and throw it in my lunch box.0 -
Hearts_2015 wrote: »dawnmcneil10 wrote: »Crockpots are your best friend right now. Make up things like chili, meat sauce, breakfast casserole, pulled pork. I absolutely love a microwaved sweet potato topped with pulled pork and cheddar cheese. Russet potatoes microwaved aka baked topped with chili is another great lunch meal.
I also make up black beans in the crockpot, with your schedule you could soak them while away from home all day, get home at night, rinse and then add fresh water and cook overnight, they'll be all ready to roll in the morning for you to pack into containers.
Thanks for the reminder...I need to get cooking on some black beans. So simple to do and handy to have on hand. So versatile for salads or to toss in recipes.
Well finally picked up my black beans to soak and cook. lol
Also posting so this it'll get a bump for those looking for meal prep ideas 0 -
Love the name!!!RaeBeeBaby wrote: »Week nights, I put frozen veggies in pyrex with frozen protein (chicken tenders, "chicken tenders," frozen fish) or a tuna/salmon pouch. I store them in the fridge overnight and pack them up in the morning. I microwave on power level 7. All nice and moist. It's just dumping stuff in a bowl.
Great idea! I do something very similar but add grains and beans.
Seriously, a couple hours of prep on a Sunday and you can have meals for weeks!
Cook some brown rice or quinoa (20 mins)
Bake boneless skinless chicken breasts with various spices (30 mins)
Chop and sautee whatever veggies you like (or use frozen for even less time)
Open some cans of beans (black, red, chickpeas)
Chop up the chicken and then measure chicken, rice/quinoa, beans, and veggies into Ziploc baggies or tupperware containers and stick in the freezer. These make what I like to call "Yum Bowls" of healthy deliciousness!
Just put in a bowl and microwave. I like to dump it on top of fresh salad greens. Add hot sauce or other seasonings if you like.
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Honestly, when its a priority...it becomes a priority. You could get up early. You could go to bed later. You could skip one gym session to prep food. You could take some weekend time. If none of these are something you're willing to consider, then maybe begin to consider that you may not be ready yet. Which is ok! Be realistic, is all.
Great advice!!! loved it.
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Be a full-time Project Manager and a full-time Master's student at the same time while trying to plan a wedding and you will see what I mean. My days are jam-packed.
I'm not asking for time to meal-prep, I'm asking for alternatives. Thanks![/quote]
I understand your pain being super busy. It makes it very hard. What I do is cook a bigger than normal meal for dinner and freeze the leftovers. I know that you may think "I don't want to eat for lunch what I had for dinner, that is so boring". But you can do this a few times, keep on with you Lean Cuisines too so that you have a stock of frozen meals. Then if you have a stock of them when the research gets really heavy, you grab one include a pre-made salad or some more veggies and there you have it!
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I keep a little store of things at work in the fridge...hummus, pita, fruit, yogurt, cheese. No prep involved at all! Good luck!0
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