Convenience Foods

phillrachel
phillrachel Posts: 36
in Food and Nutrition
Okay I just started tracking a week ago and haven't been doing a great job. I need to get to the store this weekend and purchase tons of veggies and fruit.

I need to know what you guys have as your quick foods for breakfast and lunch. I don't have time to whip up eggs for breakfast in the morning. I normally eat a special k protein meal bar by they are higher in sugar. Also, I have been bringing Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and Weight Watchers meals for lunch.

So give me all your convenient quick foods for a busy mom on the go.

Thanks.
«1

Replies

  • Rose_bee
    Rose_bee Posts: 226 Member
    My quick favorite breakfast: Fage greek yogurt with honey or strawberry (around 150 cals) and water. If I'm extra hungry that morning I'll zap 2 Applegate farms chicken & maple breakfast sausage (50 cals/sausage link).

    Lunch is usually leftover dinner or Subway. Snacks are crackers (rice crackers or triscuits; around 120 cals/serving), and a mini babybel cheese circle (50 cals each).
  • chels0722
    chels0722 Posts: 465 Member
    If you need something quick in the morning, Quest bars are a good choice. They are well rounded with good carbs and protein, not to mention their outstanding fiber content. You can pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds and they are heaven! And they keep you full longer than any meal bar I have ever had!
  • smilingirisheyes
    smilingirisheyes Posts: 149 Member
    For lunch I use the single-serve low sodium tuna pouches with a plastic fork, baggies of carrot chips or other pre-cut veggies, and a baggy of weighed-out nuts. It's kind of a random collection of food, but it's decent for me, filling, and takes about 2 minutes to pack.
  • Stacey_Leeann
    Stacey_Leeann Posts: 23
    I have two children, and work outside the home full time. Every morning I eat two strawberry Eggo waffles, and 1 cup of non-fat or 1/% milk. I also have found out this week that if I go ahead and cut up my veggies on Sunday night and go ahead and put each days worth in a baggie then I can just grab it on my way out the door! For lunch I just make a sandwhich in the morning, or grab a foot long Subway sandwhich, that will be lunch for 2 days! Hope this helps!
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    Breakfast
    english muffins w/ almond or peanut butter and a banana
    eggs, real cheddar cheese slices, english muffin sandwich
    old fashioned oats--make them overnight and do multiple portions

    Lunch:
    canned chili (low sodium varieties)
    hummus, lettuce, and canned tuna in a pita
    bagged salad--add nuts, avocado, lean protein and olive oil
    rotisserie chicken tacos --corn tortilla shells, lettuce, black beans, lowfat cheese
  • kjoy_
    kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
    kashi dark chocolate coconut granola bars are one of my favorites, less calories and half the sugar of special K bars, but twice as big. i also eat no added sugar fruit leathers, whole wheat fig newtons (Barbara's bakery brand), amy's light meals, Evol meals/burritos, Tabatchnick chilis/soups. those are all lower-fat, more wholesome heat-up meals, but you still have to watch the sodium content in any packaged meal like that. check out the natural foods section in your local grocery store, they usually have a lot of healthier frozen/packaged/bagged options. it takes me forever to grocery shop because i read the labels on everything.

    edit: just looked through my cupboard and i think i'm a snack hoarder, but i have

    -salt & vinegar pop chips
    -salt & pepper almonds
    -boom chicka pop lightly sweet
    -larabars (chocolate chip cookie flavor)
    -ThinkThin bars
    -KIND bars

    i have a lot of carb-rich snacks because i run/hike frequently and like to take something that's portable.
  • Brandi1168
    Brandi1168 Posts: 105 Member
    My go-to breakfast choices are either toast with peanut butter and a piece of fruit, or a Luna Bar. Lately I've been eating the multigrain waffles from Whole Foods (365 brand) with blueberry preserves, but that is when I don't have to be anywhere in the morning.

    Lunch is usually a sandwich and chips or veggies. Sometimes I eat leftovers from dinner or a Smart One.

    Snacks are either popcorn, string cheese and fruit, or chips and a 100 cal pack of wholly guacamole.

    Hope this helps. :)
  • nikb1983
    nikb1983 Posts: 44 Member
    If you're fixing a healthy dinner at night, box up a serving in some tupperware (or whatever) and take that for lunch instead of those frozen meals. I know they're better than other frozen meals but they tend to be small portions and have tons of sodium.
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    Scrambled eggs take about 5 minutes to make - just set your alarm 5 minutes earlier.

    Or make boiled eggs the night before.
  • CTCMom2009
    CTCMom2009 Posts: 263 Member
    I boil eggs for a quick breakfast along with Fage 0% yogurt. I also cut up fruit and veggies on Sunday night and throw those in my lunch with some hummus for a healthy snack. If you have salt cravings, I love PopChips, only 100 cals per serving.
  • Lisapayne76
    Lisapayne76 Posts: 157 Member
    Bump for later
  • believe22
    believe22 Posts: 210 Member
    eggs really don't take that long to cook, I usually make eggs with spinach mushrooms and onions on a bagel thin. English muffin with PB, plain greek yogurt with granola. or smoothies
  • pamelalk
    pamelalk Posts: 70 Member
    i an a working mom too, and i have found that no matter what i have to dedicate at least an hour ever other day or so for prep time. i cut up veggies, make a hugh salad, make up a tuna and celery mixture and always make sure there are hard boiled eggs in the fridge..i also make sure that every couple of days i cook up enough chicken breast to do me for a few days. for breakfast i usually have a salad with a boiled egg and 1 piece of weight watchers toast. all ready to go..for lunch a salad again with a chicken or tuna wrap. lots of fresh fruit ready to grab helps me too
  • Just_Ceci
    Just_Ceci Posts: 5,926 Member
    Breakfast:

    1 T peanut butter on 1 slice 40 calorie bread

    or

    Fruit Smoothie
  • lizpirate
    lizpirate Posts: 92 Member
    I have a bowl of Kashi Go Lean cereal in the mornings. For lunch I keep a box of the Morningstar Black Bean Chipotle Burgers in the freezer at work and I'll have one of those and a salad. Can you do any prep at work--like keep salad makings there and put one together on your lunch break?
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    I have one cup of Greek yogurt and a quarter cup of grapenuts as my quick breakfast. Also good with any kind of berry.

    As for timing, my partner has eggs every morning. He puts a bit of frozen spinach in the pan, gets out the fixings for salad while that is thawing. Breaks the eggs on top the spinach, goes back to the salad... Our salads are:
    2 cups spring greens
    2 flowerets cauliflower
    1 oz. feta
    4 black olives (I usually leave these out, but they are healthy fats)
    2-3 oz. deli turkey slices (I sometimes have tuna, instead)

    We also take nuts and fruit to work with us, as those are grab and go.
  • whatthefitz
    whatthefitz Posts: 10
    I make a big crockpot of oatmeal on Sundays and reheat that for breakfast. I usually do an egg over easy to go with it if I've got 10 minutes. For lunch, I buy those steamfresh veggies, the kind with no sauce or anything, and eat that along with a piece of pre-grilled chicken. The chicken has a lot of sodium but otherwise it's pretty good. I get generic brand veggies and chicken at Sam's Club.

    I totally agree with the other posters suggesting leftovers from dinner too, if you can! They don't always last long at my house with my "little" teenage brother chowing down, unfortunately!
  • now_or_never13
    now_or_never13 Posts: 1,575 Member
    Why not prepare foods in advance? Those quick, ready to grab meals tend to lack nutrition and can be high in sodium, sugars, etc. It really doesn't take a lot of time to prepare healthy meals at home for quick grab and go times.

    When you cook dinner, cook extra portions. When it's ready portion out the extras, put in containers and pop into the fridge or freezer for lunches. It doesn't take much more time since you are already making dinner. Put in some extra veggies, extra meat, etc. If you cook chicken breast for dinner, bake extra. Than take them and than cut some up for salads, wraps, stir frys, etc. Leave some whole for a meal. Cut some up for sandwiches. When you chop veggies for dinner, chop up extra for snacks or to freeze for quick adding to meals.

    For breakfasts, take a few minutes when you have it and cook up a few eggs.. just fry them in a pan. Than leave them in the fridge and it's quick to pop onto a piece of toast, bagel or english muffin for a quick breakfast. What I used to do when I needed something quick was mix up a few eggs in a container and than pop into the microwave for a few mins. Take out and pop on a bagel or bread. Quick and easy breakfast.

    When you have a free day or a few few hours, make a huge bowl of salad so you can just grab some for either dinner or to pop into a container for lunch at work. Add some of the chicken that was cooked and cut up and you are good to go. You can do the same with either turkey, steak or another meat. You can also take some of that salad or prepared lettuce and put into a wrap or onto a bun/bread for a sandwich. I did this all the time when I was working a lot and didn't have a lot of time. Make a big pot of chili or soup. Portion into containers and freeze for quick lunches that are much better for you than those frozen meals... and it works out to be much cheaper. I have done the same with pastas.

    There are tons of ways to make good food when you don't have a ton of time.
  • CallieM15
    CallieM15 Posts: 910 Member
    What about boiled eggs? I start the eggs , go shower, and by the time im out the eggs are boiled, leave them in cold water while i dress/makeup, then peelegg quickly and eat in either car, or at work.

    If not... greek yogurts are fast and easy, microwaveable oats, peanutbutter/banana...
  • hobbitgeekgirl
    hobbitgeekgirl Posts: 30
    I found a muffin recipe that uses oat bran (to help keep full), made sure it has fruit in it, substituted splenda for the sugar, and it has eggs. I usually whip them up on the weekends and keep them in the fridge to grab on the go. Usually does a decent job until lunch. Message me if interested in the recipe, but not sure if that is more prep than you want during the week. You do have to keep them in the fridge or freezer though because they do not contain preservatives.
  • triciab79
    triciab79 Posts: 1,713 Member
    I use to do a protein shake for my first snack/meal of the day. Lots of vitamins and protein, low carbs, and it really couldn't be any quicker or easier. I eat about every 2 hrs so the fact that it doesn't keep me till noon is not an issue.
  • bonitacash08
    bonitacash08 Posts: 378 Member
    I buy the preseparated egg whites (kind of like egg beaters but the only ingredient is egg white). You can just pour a bit into a saute pan and scrambled eggs don't take too long. I literally give myself enough time to brush my teeth and put on pants before I leave for work and I make myself a breakfast and lunch every morning in about 10 minutes.

    My usual breakfast:
    Low Carb Tortilla (80 cals)
    4-5 tbs egg whites (~35-45 cals)
    3 oz. Sauteed Mushrooms (20 cals)
    Sauteed Spinach (~20 cals for 2 cups uncooked)
    ______
    ~160 cals total!

    Yum and the protein and fiber keeps me full for hours!! Plus I have enough calories left over to have coffee with real creamer lol
  • SweetestLibby
    SweetestLibby Posts: 607 Member
    Why not prepare foods in advance? Those quick, ready to grab meals tend to lack nutrition and can be high in sodium, sugars, etc. It really doesn't take a lot of time to prepare healthy meals at home for quick grab and go times.

    When you cook dinner, cook extra portions. When it's ready portion out the extras, put in containers and pop into the fridge or freezer for lunches. It doesn't take much more time since you are already making dinner. Put in some extra veggies, extra meat, etc. If you cook chicken breast for dinner, bake extra. Than take them and than cut some up for salads, wraps, stir frys, etc. Leave some whole for a meal. Cut some up for sandwiches. When you chop veggies for dinner, chop up extra for snacks or to freeze for quick adding to meals....There are tons of ways to make good food when you don't have a ton of time.

    I do this every week. I don't have a lot of time during the week for cooking with work, school, and the gym so I use the weekends for meal prep.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I definitely need to do all my prep the night before .....breakfast ideas.

    3/4 C Kashi Go Lean mix in: Dannon Light & Fit, 1/4 C frozen raspberries, 1 TBL sliced almonds. 250 Calories ... 16.8 gms protein, 10.5 gms fiber, 4.6 gms good fat ..... keeps me full until lunch. At night, place dry ingredients in a sandwich bag .... ready to mix with yogurt and berries in the a.m.

    5 minute oats can be started the night before.... cutting cooking time in half. Place oats in a covered ceramic dish .... add boiling water (cover) and soak overnight. In the morning add your toppings and microwave 2 - 2.5 minutes. CorningWare covered soup mugs are perfect for this.
  • sprintto50
    sprintto50 Posts: 410 Member
    I grab an english muffin with peanut butter for breakfast. I can eat it when I get to it. I make soup in batches and freeze it in lunch size containers and also bring leftovers or a microwave entree. For a treat I sometimes make a toasted PB and J at work using packets I "borrow" for our local breakfast place.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    Make breakfast burritos! I made 20 and froze them all and had a 3-minute breakfast prep for 2 weeks.

    Just make A LOT of scrambled eggs (add some veggies), bacon and shredder cheese... add to whole-wheat tortillas and wrap! Then wrap them all in plastic wrap and throw them in the freezer.
  • al369
    al369 Posts: 170 Member
    Prep the night before. Cook on Sunday and have leftovers on Mon-Tues for lunch.

    My go to breakfast is overnight oatmeal in a jar. Or eggs. They take 5 minutes! I'm a busy, full time working, single mom and I find time to make my own food. You can do it, you just have to choose to.
  • HMD7703
    HMD7703 Posts: 761 Member
    Okay I just started tracking a week ago and haven't been doing a great job. I need to get to the store this weekend and purchase tons of veggies and fruit.

    I need to know what you guys have as your quick foods for breakfast and lunch. I don't have time to whip up eggs for breakfast in the morning. I normally eat a special k protein meal bar by they are higher in sugar. Also, I have been bringing Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and Weight Watchers meals for lunch.

    So give me all your convenient quick foods for a busy mom on the go.

    Thanks.

    Busy mom here too!
    The mornings are crazy in my house, so I try to prepare the night before. I wish I remembered to do a huge prep on Sunday nights like the other posters suggested. Sigh. Anyway, every morning it takes me about 5 mins to grab my breakfast and make lunch. (I do make the kids lunches the night before and try to prep most of mine the night before as well.)

    B - protein shake or coffee and Special K Pastry Crisp (OMG like Skinny Girl Pop Tarts YUM)
    L - low carb tortilla, lunch meat, cheese and mustard. I bag them separately instead of making the wrap in the morning - that way it doesn't get soggy by lunch. I make baggies of whatever I have around - nuts (almonds), olives, Wholly Gauc 100 cal pack, protein bar (Atkins) or protein shake post lunch.

    Like others have said, I try to cook enough at dinner to make a small lunch for the next day.

    Question: Can you not get up a bit earlier to make Breakfast and Lunch? Or prep the night before?
  • phillrachel
    phillrachel Posts: 36
    Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will write down a ton of the ideas and add them to my grocery run for the weekend.

    I think I will get better at making healthy quick breakfasts at home once my daughter starts Kindergarten in August. I should get in the habit now though. I will have to feed her breakfast every morning. Now she eats at daycare.

    I need to make healthier dinner recipes too. I do bring leftovers but need to bring more healthy leftovers. And I agree on the big salads being made on the weekend and cutting up veggies. Wish I liked more veggies though.

    I can't wait for Spring and Summer when we get fresh fruit and veggies in our stores for a reasonable price. I live in the Midwest where winter never ends and good fruit and veggies at a good price are nowhere in sight. Bought strawberries yesterday and they were not so great. It was a real let down!
  • filthyfit12
    filthyfit12 Posts: 80
    If you need something quick in the morning, Quest bars are a good choice. They are well rounded with good carbs and protein, not to mention their outstanding fiber content. You can pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds and they are heaven! And they keep you full longer than any meal bar I have ever had!

    ^ This.

    Also, freeze ziploc bags with smoothie ingredients in them. Pop them in the blender in the morning and you're good to go!

    Or grab a handful of nuts!

Categories