Healthier pre-packaged snacks and quick meals?

MisterDerpington

I get really tired of having to prepare every damn thing I eat. To the point where I just don't and end up eating junk food. Clearly it's part of a bigger problem than just that, but I'm trying to take care of one facet of it, which is my lack of healthy snacks available in the home. I'm hoping for some stuff that won't require any prep besides opening it or microwaving it. I have a tendency to eat volume too (since I am a big dude), so nothing crazy expensive please.

__freckles__

The only meal where I get away with this is breakfast when I eat greek yogurt, throw in a scoop of whey protein and some grapes. In to see what other people say cuz I HAAAAAAATE cooking.

Oh and my go-to snack is a protein bar.

Gyroid

Most of those meals will be terrible for you. Its just a fact that they have tons of bread, tons of sugar or tons of salt.
It's part of the process in preserving them and it will be with them for a long time to come.

That being said, you have the same problem I had. I hate cooking with a passion.
So finding a diet that worked for me was really hard.

But, I will take a crack at this:
Meals you can eat:
Prepackaged sandwiches- This could be turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly.
They are in gas stations and you can get them at wal-mart at times (I haven't been in the states in a year, if I am wrong I apologize)

Microwavable meals- Lean Cuisine, Banquet meals (the single serving ones) these are LOADED in salts, but they are easy to make and all the calories you are eating is on the package.

Prepackaged salads- these can be bought anywhere! They are at wal-mart for sure, and you can get little sizes or big sizes in any bag you want. the only think you have to be careful of is the dressing used. but other than that, you pop it open put in it a bowl and eat! ^_^

Some of the best things you can eat that require no prep:
Apples, Oranges, Bananas, carrots, Rinse and go! have a bag of baby carrots ready to go and you are golden! ^_^
Celery with peanut butter (not too much) is great too! (I do ants on a log, celery with a little line of peanut butter and raisins)

Dried fruit!
This is the easiest and best decision I have ever made.
It stays good for so long and it always hits my sweet spot when I need to have something to snack on!


If your problem is cooking every day for yourself, you could always try freezer meals! ^_^ I like these because it means I cook on one day and eat a good variety on the other days by just opening up my freezer and doing it! ^_^

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/04/top-10-freezer-meals-2/

I use that site, (though some of it is more expensive for me, since I am out of the country) its good for cheap and easy to make food that you freeze for later.

I hope any of this helps.

MisterDerpington

Thanks for the suggestions Gyroid. The problem is really that I graze more than eat specified meals. Instead of going down to Wawa and buying a pint of B&J and some chips, I was thinking I could keep things in the house that would keep me away from doing that. Just "not eating" isn't going to do that for me. Especially since I do keep odd hours.

sbear867

Bump

Gyroid

All of the things I suggested are about eating. I couldn't survive if I couldn't graze a little! ^_^

Dried fruit is best, with regular fruits second, (in my opinion)
Veggies are always good.

EDIT:
Freezer meals are ready to go after microwaving them usually. (I forgot to add that to the last post)

MisterDerpington

All of the things I suggested are about eating. I couldn't survive if I couldn't graze a little! ^_^

Dried fruit is best, with regular fruits second, (in my opinion)
Veggies are always good.

EDIT:
Freezer meals are ready to go after microwaving them usually. (I forgot to add that to the last post)

I appreciate the suggestions. I would've loved that budgetbytes link before, but depression has kicked my love for cooking in the *kitten*.

blably

why wouldnt you get over the hate of cooking for lets say 3 hours one day in a week? i can suggest you a few things you can then freeze and just microwawe the whole week then?

i really dont know, i cook 'in bulk' and then mostly heat it since i work mon-fri 6am-6pm

michellemybelll

If your problem is cooking every day for yourself, you could always try freezer meals! ^_^ I like these because it means I cook on one day and eat a good variety on the other days by just opening up my freezer and doing it! ^_^

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/04/top-10-freezer-meals-2/

I use that site, (though some of it is more expensive for me, since I am out of the country) its good for cheap and easy to make food that you freeze for later.

I hope any of this helps.

that website is cool. does she have the nutrition break down of her recipes listed somewhere too?

BonnieandClyde29

I do that too sometimes, but the best thing to do is make or pack something way before you have to go in pre plan it. Otherwise granola/fruit/nut bars, fruits, and a lot of water....I almost never buy any junk anymore for snacks, do I on occasion? Yeah alright I'm human! lol.....also Lay's has BAKED chips, which for a small bag is only like 130 calories which isn't bad considering most are crazy higher than that!!!

BonnieandClyde29

Rice cakes too (Quakers I think), baked chips, baked chips!!! lol

clarkeje1

Some things I go for that don't take a lot of prep time:

-Lean cuisine
-Soup
-Sandwiches
-Granola bars
-Cereal
-Oatmeal
-Yogurt
-Fresh/raw fruits and veggies

Just watch the sodium! I don't eat more than 1 lean cuisine a day if that, and if I have soup I try to follow the portion size (generally 2 portion sizes in 1 can)

acpgee

Raw veggies (carrot sticks, green beans) dipped in hummous.

mockchoc

Also remember being up on your feet cooking burns more calories than sitting around. One of my bigger friends always logs his cooking calories burned. It's in the MFP exercise data base and if they is something that might encourage you to cook more then you're killing two birds with one stone.. homecooked food and burning some calories!

It says 30 minutes of cooking burns 58 calories under cooking and food preparation.

bfitgirl

If you are a grazer its hard to ever feel satisfied, I too have days where I'm constantly standing looking into the fridge! I try to make it so that I really know what I'm doing, if the snack is too easy to pop one snack after the other, you'll have consumed loads of calories before you can blink!

Make some protein buns and freeze them, so you know they are there if you need them, but they will require you to extract and microwave to defrost or just thought of this buy the protein bars and freeze them then warm them up in micro. Some folks here would say 'mindful snacking'

Rotisserie chicken is the food I buy if I'm feeling a ravenous day ahead, also sliced meat, where you can roll it up. Prepared shop brought soup can last up to 10 days.

A good tip is always cook an extra serving for dinner and to put in fridge, it helps keep off the panic of 'nothing to eat'

JessiBelleW

I like crackers..... For my snacking. Either with cheese or with hummis and chicken or avo and chicken, sometimes with somked salmon and cream cheese or with peanutbutter ect. I make little snack plates.

Couple of crackers, a carrot maybe an apple and some grapes. SET

In terms of quick meals - I can't for the life of me cook rice with out a cooker - so I buy those bagged rice that you throw in the microwave - 2m and my carbs are done. grab a chicken from the supermarkets and you have 2/of a meal. Omlett? Throw some eggs in a pan and bam.

You could go the other way and use a crockpot/ slow cooker - all you do is chop things, throw them in and walk away - this would suit your odd hours as it will stay hot and all it will take is a few minutes prep time. My dad does roast chicken in his and I love all combos of stew- add meat, veggies and potatoes and cover with stock.

You can buy premade low sodium soups in the supermarket - these are pretty sweet. I saw you say you have quite a few calories - I would make some microwave potatoes to go with those . Wash potatoes - pierce skin with knife or fork (that bit is important) put in microwave- check and turn over half way through.

jlahorn

I like to cook, but it's often more work than I want to bother with on weekdays.

I live off of:

greek yogurt
apples
bananas
roasted unsalted almonds
pre-cut, pre-washed broccoli and cauliflower steamed in the microwave for 90 seconds
pre-washed mushrooms straight from the package
dried cranberries in boxes like raisins (Sun Maid and Ocean Spray)
Crispy Green freeze-dried pineapple (expensive, but delicious)
air-popped popcorn with a little garlic olive oil
pre-packaged salads from Safeway, Fresh & Easy, or Whole Foods (skip the dressing - many salads don't need dressing to be delicious. Buy those
takeaway salads from some local restaurants (ditto on the dressing)
Subway 6-inch turkey subs
Pita Pit wraps with hummus + lots of veggies
The occasional Amy's low sodium or light & lean bowls

and obscene amounts of coffffeeeeeeee.

All of these are very quick, very low-effort and pretty healthy. Many of them are good grazing options, and there's enough variety that I rarely get bored.

mo7882

The safest filling food you can get from the supermaket is Soup!

There are some great soups 200/300 calories range, that are low in sugar and low in fat. You could eat it with a slice of brown bread and rice cake. Its much better than the junk you will get in a fast food shop and its easy to microwave in the middle of the night.

I also hate cooking but it more tollerable with the tefal actifry cooker. I go to the local butchers and throw 2 kilos of meat which last me for a week. It can also cook all your veggies for the week in one go.

WarriorReady

A quick snack would be to beat a couple egg in a coffee mug, add some salsa pop in the microwave for a minute, stir and add a little cheese and pop back in for another 30 seconds to a minute depending on your microwave.