Really picky boyfriend?

l00zrr

So here's the deal: He eats mostly Italian food, pizza, spaghetti, ect.
I need something I can feed both of us, so I can eat healthier, and he can.. well.. eat. LOL.
I've thought about feeding him something else while I eat something healthy, but I hate cooking, and we're on a budget.
Any ideas? c: I like everything but mushrooms and spinach.

horror_hamster

maybe try spaghetti squash instead of noodles. It can be pretty different than pasta, but it can be paired with the same things (sauces, chicken- or eggplant- parm, meatballs, etc.).

switch to whole wheat pastas if you cant cut them out completely. Whoel wheat/whole grain crust for homemade pizza (making these at home is MUCH less expensive than ordering out and can be a fun 'couples' activity)

I know you said you hate cooking, but I doubt you're going to find anything healthy about what you would be ordering regarding these so those are just some ideas

Marianna194

What about stirfry? You can put yurs over brown rice or plain and he can eat his over noodles.

rudegyal_b

so youre asking, how can i eat pizza and spaghetti while keeping it healthy? well you can get thin crust pizza 280-320 cals for 1/2 pizza, and use shirataki noodles for almost zero cals

also learn to cook and learn to love it, especially on a budget it is a must

satikat

spaghetti is easy to have. i eat it at least once a week. I measure my noodles carefully, add 90% lean ground beef (well drained) to the sauce and measure all of that carefully. I skip the garlic bread and add a salad. the cheese filled dishes like manicotti and pizza are harder to work in, but for me it's all about portion control.

ilookthetype

Why can't he make his own food?

Genie30

Making your own sauces can really lower the cals. My standard sauce is;

1 clove of garlic
1 onion
1 bottle/pack passata
2 tbsn tomatoe puree
1 tspn each dried basil and oragano

Dry fry the garlic and onion in a non stick pan, add the other ingredients and reduce until it reaches the desired constancey. Mix in cooked pasta.

I really love to add a can of butter beans and (at the very last minute) stir in some baby spinach. Serve with a side salad.

jhardenbergh

you can make a very thin crust pizza using Josephs Lavish Bread my wife and I will make it once in a while. We crisp the bread (really a big pita) we get about 4 large slices out of it and the bread part is only 100 calories for a full piece, it's about 18" by 12" you can pick any topping. We usually will spread some minced garlic on the bread toast it in oven, add some chicken sausage, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms (delete if you don't like), any other thing you can think of. Put some fat free shredded mozzarella, put back in the oven and wait for the cheese to melt. It's very good and all the veggies make it very filling. Add cracked pepper if you would like as well. We will usually each have a whole pizza and it's under 400 calories. obviously depends on what you put on it. chicken would be good on it as well. It's a very thin crust. My wife and I are also thinking about making calzones with it. The Joseph's Lavish Bread is Oat Flax it's in the database if interested private message me and I can give you all the ingredients.

jhardenbergh

you can make a very thin crust pizza using Josephs Lavish Bread my wife and I will make it once in a while. We crisp the bread (really a big pita) we get about 4 large slices out of it and the bread part is only 100 calories for a full piece, it's about 18" by 12" you can pick any topping. We usually will spread some minced garlic on the bread toast it in oven, add some chicken sausage, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms (delete if you don't like), any other thing you can think of. Put some fat free shredded mozzarella, put back in the oven and wait for the cheese to melt. It's very good and all the veggies make it very filling. Add cracked pepper if you would like as well. We will usually each have a whole pizza and it's under 400 calories. obviously depends on what you put on it. chicken would be good on it as well. It's a very thin crust. My wife and I are also thinking about making calzones with it. The Joseph's Lavish Bread is Oat Flax it's in the database if interested private message me and I can give you all the ingredients.

Genie30

Making your own sauces can really lower the cals. My standard sauce is;

1 clove of garlic
1 onion
1 bottle/pack passata
2 tbsn tomatoe puree
1 tspn each dried basil and oragano

Dry fry the garlic and onion in a non stick pan, add the other ingredients and reduce until it reaches the desired constancey. Mix in cooked pasta.

I really love to add a can of butter beans and (at the very last minute) stir in some baby spinach. Serve with a side salad.

CannibalisticVegetarian

How about small personal pizzas? I've gotten some of my recipe ideas from here: http://blackgirlsguidetoweightloss.com/what-are-you-eating/the-pizza-gallery-who-says-you-cant-have-pizza/

But as for my own, I used the following: 1 flat out wrap (to suffice for the dough, and good for when you don't feel like the hassle), 2 tablespoons of ragu pizza sauce, 4 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, crumbled and spread out among the pizza (I hear feta and goat cheese are really good if you don't want mozzarella). I also added roasted red peppers for the sweetness, and cherry tomatoes which worked.. but aren't a must. I only used them because they were on the verge of going bad anyway. You can always pick and choose of course.

jhardenbergh

you can make a very thin crust pizza using Josephs Lavish Bread my wife and I will make it once in a while. We crisp the bread (really a big pita) we get about 4 large slices out of it and the bread part is only 100 calories for a full piece, it's about 18" by 12" you can pick any topping. We usually will spread some minced garlic on the bread toast it in oven, add some chicken sausage, grilled onions, peppers, mushrooms (delete if you don't like), any other thing you can think of. Put some fat free shredded mozzarella, put back in the oven and wait for the cheese to melt. It's very good and all the veggies make it very filling. Add cracked pepper if you would like as well. We will usually each have a whole pizza and it's under 400 calories. obviously depends on what you put on it. chicken would be good on it as well. It's a very thin crust. My wife and I are also thinking about making calzones with it. The Joseph's Lavish Bread is Oat Flax it's in the database if interested private message me and I can give you all the ingredients.

It can be a little high in sodium because of the sausage and bread but eliminating the sausage and going with chicken would make it much less and finding a low sodium cheese.

AppleADayAmber

how about tofu noodles in the pasta? i believe they are spelled shiritake or something like that?? and u can swap out pizza crust with a whole wheat tortilla or personal pitas and load on the veggies!

jhardenbergh

maybe try spaghetti squash instead of noodles. It can be pretty different than pasta, but it can be paired with the same things (sauces, chicken- or eggplant- parm, meatballs, etc.).

switch to whole wheat pastas if you cant cut them out completely. Whoel wheat/whole grain crust for homemade pizza (making these at home is MUCH less expensive than ordering out and can be a fun 'couples' activity)

I know you said you hate cooking, but I doubt you're going to find anything healthy about what you would be ordering regarding these so those are just some ideas

I actually enjoy spaghetti squash more than actual spaghetti, I have only eaten real spaghetti once since January. It's not worth the carbs in my opinion.

l00zrr

Why can't he make his own food?

Thought I should reply to this one first. He has a birth defect, and only has one arm.
EDIT : Sorry, cut off my thought process there. He CAN and DOES cook. It's just easier for me.
He also works 12 hours a day, and goes to school, while I have no job.

Also, I CAN cook guys. (: I just hate it.

I'll try some of the ideas, thanks!
Like the sauce ideas the best ;D

litlpineapple

I'm in a similar situation - my fiancee wants to eat what he wants, usually not thought of as the most "healthy" meals, and I'm not going to cook separate. If you're going to cook, cook - make your own sauce and prep your entree as much as possible. It will save you on money, taste and nutrition.

We have at least one vegetable side with every meal. So, if it's super cheesy or high in calories, I have more vegetables and he's happy to have more of the entree. Guys naturally progress more calories than women apparently.

Be aware of portion control. I have pasta and bread and potatoes - just in moderation.

I cook mostly Italian style and when he's having Chicken Parmesan over spaghetti with zucchini. It's a baked cutlet and the taste is just as good, I have mine without cheese and over more zucchini than pasta.

Read the packages of any and everything that you buy that's processed. Once you start comparing and understanding what you're eating while following serving sizes you'll get a good grip on calories.

Good luck! It's more planning but it's worth it!

l00zrr

I'm in a similar situation - my fiancee wants to eat what he wants, usually not thought of as the most "healthy" meals, and I'm not going to cook separate. If you're going to cook, cook - make your own sauce and prep your entree as much as possible. It will save you on money, taste and nutrition.

We have at least one vegetable side with every meal. So, if it's super cheesy or high in calories, I have more vegetables and he's happy to have more of the entree. Guys naturally progress more calories than women apparently.

Be aware of portion control. I have pasta and bread and potatoes - just in moderation.

I cook mostly Italian style and when he's having Chicken Parmesan over spaghetti with zucchini. It's a baked cutlet and the taste is just as good, I have mine without cheese and over more zucchini than pasta.

Read the packages of any and everything that you buy that's processed. Once you start comparing and understanding what you're eating while following serving sizes you'll get a good grip on calories.

Good luck! It's more planning but it's worth it!

c: Thank you.
I'll try it, without zucchini. I'll substitute something else.
Can't keep the zucchini down lol.

litlpineapple

c: Thank you.
I'll try it, without zucchini. I'll substitute something else.
Can't keep the zucchini down lol.

No problem. Once you pick a vegetable you like you can cook it any way with low cals - boil it, sautee with olive oil and spices, bake, or serve cold in a "salad". We eat zucchini, corn, string beans, potatoes, broccoli and carrots a lot. :happy:

carrie_eggo

Meal planning helps. I have a picky husband and 2 picky little boys. Usually I have to plan all my meals and snacks for that day in the morning or the day before and then fill in my calories around what I log for dinner......So if I know we are having cheeseburgers or pizza or spaghetti for dinner, I log that in at the beginning of the day and then plan my other foods around that. It's just easier than eating something different than what they eat....and cheaper. And I eat spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti.....usually

l00zrr

Meal planning helps. I have a picky husband and 2 picky little boys. Usually I have to plan all my meals and snacks for that day in the morning or the day before and then fill in my calories around what I log for dinner......So if I know we are having cheeseburgers or pizza or spaghetti for dinner, I log that in at the beginning of the day and then plan my other foods around that. It's just easier than eating something different than what they eat....and cheaper. And I eat spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti.....usually

Great o:
Sounds like it would work.
Just have to decide what we're having LOL.
I don't have a problem with MY calories, just have a problem finding foods we BOTH enjoy.

fordster99

Try switching to extra lean ground turkey instead of hamburger (its about as cheap) as well as whole wheat pasta for any pasta dishes and for pizza, make your own at home. I still eat pepperoni pizza on occasion because I make it at home using a whole wheat pocket bread, a little sauce, a few slices of turkey pepperoni and some low fat mozzarella cheese and bake it for 10 to 15 min and its delicious. I add a salad on the side and I have pizza and salad for about 400 calories and I don't feel like I am missing out. The key is to learn how to make those things you love healthier so that neither you or your boyfriend feel deprived.

4thehardman

Meal planning helps. I have a picky husband and 2 picky little boys. Usually I have to plan all my meals and snacks for that day in the morning or the day before and then fill in my calories around what I log for dinner......So if I know we are having cheeseburgers or pizza or spaghetti for dinner, I log that in at the beginning of the day and then plan my other foods around that. It's just easier than eating something different than what they eat....and cheaper. And I eat spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti.....usually

Great o:
Sounds like it would work.
Just have to decide what we're having LOL.
I don't have a problem with MY calories, just have a problem finding foods we BOTH enjoy.

I do the same thing. My dh cooks at the weekends because he enjoys it but he lets me know the ingredients so I can plan my other foods and exercise around his often more calorific meals.
In the week I eat light with the kids at their mealtime and he eats what i cook for him when he gets home,

4thehardman

Meal planning helps. I have a picky husband and 2 picky little boys. Usually I have to plan all my meals and snacks for that day in the morning or the day before and then fill in my calories around what I log for dinner......So if I know we are having cheeseburgers or pizza or spaghetti for dinner, I log that in at the beginning of the day and then plan my other foods around that. It's just easier than eating something different than what they eat....and cheaper. And I eat spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti.....usually

Great o:
Sounds like it would work.
Just have to decide what we're having LOL.
I don't have a problem with MY calories, just have a problem finding foods we BOTH enjoy.

I do the same thing. My dh cooks at the weekends because he enjoys it but he lets me know the ingredients so I can plan my other foods and exercise around his often more calorific meals.
In the week I eat light with the kids at their mealtime and he eats what i cook for him when he gets home,

Toenges1

I have a very nummy recipe that I got on this site and my kids and husband love it. It is low fat Chicken Nuggets with marinara over whole wheat noodles.

For the Chicken Nuggets:
Take one pack of bonelss/skinless cx breast and cut into bite sized nuggets.
In a small bowl, put 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
In a separate bowl mix 4-5 Tbsp of Whole Wheat Bread Cumbs and 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese (the powder kind)

Dip the chicken Nuggets in the olive oil, then the bread crumb mix and place onto a greased cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 425..flip them after the first 10 minutes.

While that is baking, boil some whole wheat spaghetti noodles according to package direction.

For Marinara- so simple and delish:
Take 1 Tbsp of Olive oil and heat in a sauce pan. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook for about a minute..then add a
28 oz can of crushed tomoatoes and heat it up. Then add some dried oregano, dried basil, salt and pepper - some crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little spicier sauce.

By this time the nuggets and noodles should be ready to go. Plate the Noodles, put some chicken nuggets on top of the noodles and then puor the marinara sauce over everything.

Serve with a side of steamed broccolli or green beans...so good my kids have asked for it every week since I started making this a month ago.

I have Mexican low fat recipes as well if he likes Mexican, let me know. Enjoy.

l00zrr

I have a very nummy recipe that I got on this site and my kids and husband love it. It is low fat Chicken Nuggets with marinara over whole wheat noodles.

For the Chicken Nuggets:
Take one pack of bonelss/skinless cx breast and cut into bite sized nuggets.
In a small bowl, put 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
In a separate bowl mix 4-5 Tbsp of Whole Wheat Bread Cumbs and 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese (the powder kind)

Dip the chicken Nuggets in the olive oil, then the bread crumb mix and place onto a greased cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 425..flip them after the first 10 minutes.

While that is baking, boil some whole wheat spaghetti noodles according to package direction.

For Marinara- so simple and delish:
Take 1 Tbsp of Olive oil and heat in a sauce pan. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook for about a minute..then add a
28 oz can of crushed tomoatoes and heat it up. Then add some dried oregano, dried basil, salt and pepper - some crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little spicier sauce.

By this time the nuggets and noodles should be ready to go. Plate the Noodles, put some chicken nuggets on top of the noodles and then puor the marinara sauce over everything.

Serve with a side of steamed broccolli or green beans...so good my kids have asked for it every week since I started making this a month ago.

I have Mexican low fat recipes as well if he likes Mexican, let me know. Enjoy.

Holy crap that sounds good.
He hates Mexican xD Even though he's a full blooded Mexican.
Thanks so much! I'll have to try this.

vernie87wb

I have a very nummy recipe that I got on this site and my kids and husband love it. It is low fat Chicken Nuggets with marinara over whole wheat noodles.

For the Chicken Nuggets:
Take one pack of bonelss/skinless cx breast and cut into bite sized nuggets.
In a small bowl, put 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
In a separate bowl mix 4-5 Tbsp of Whole Wheat Bread Cumbs and 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese (the powder kind)

Dip the chicken Nuggets in the olive oil, then the bread crumb mix and place onto a greased cake pan. Bake for 20 minutes at 425..flip them after the first 10 minutes.

While that is baking, boil some whole wheat spaghetti noodles according to package direction.

For Marinara- so simple and delish:
Take 1 Tbsp of Olive oil and heat in a sauce pan. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook for about a minute..then add a
28 oz can of crushed tomoatoes and heat it up. Then add some dried oregano, dried basil, salt and pepper - some crushed red pepper flakes if you like a little spicier sauce.

By this time the nuggets and noodles should be ready to go. Plate the Noodles, put some chicken nuggets on top of the noodles and then puor the marinara sauce over everything.

Serve with a side of steamed broccolli or green beans...so good my kids have asked for it every week since I started making this a month ago.

I have Mexican low fat recipes as well if he likes Mexican, let me know. Enjoy.

Wow thank you for this recipe! It sounds soooo good! I think Im going to make this tomorrow, actually.

Toenges1

Does he like Buffalo Chicken wings..I have a fantastic recipe for that which is low fat.

l00zrr

Does he like Buffalo Chicken wings..I have a fantastic recipe for that which is low fat.

I wish LOL.
It's cool. We're working things out as we speak (:

RillSoji

"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."

Otherwise I'd tell him to make his own food. I guess I'm lucky my hubby has learned to like a variety of foods for my sake. And I still make him a mean pizza (and other favorite foods) on occasion.

msarro

Spaghetti squash, tofu shirataki noodles may work too. Pasta in itself isn't a bad meal, just make sure you're eating whole wheat pasta, in the correct portions. You can also give eggplant parm a try too.

PlanetVelma

Check out skinnytaste.com - there are a ton of great recipes on there.

Also, do you have a crockpot? There are a lot of great soup/roast recipes that are super easy to make. I'm in love with my crockpot.

I just made the 3 bean crock pot turkey chili this weekend. We had lots of leftovers, so that's always nice. Sometimes I'll have a baked potato w/ some chili on top - very yummy and filling!

I made minestrone last week and also made the loaded baked potato soup as well. Neither one were crockpot recipes but were super easy.

I do lots of meal planning and cook about 4-5 days worth of suppers in one day.