What foods do you consider your essentials?

crazyjkgirl

I'm curious if others eat certain foods almost every single day because of their nutritional value or just plain "yum" factor.

Here are mine:

-Apple
-Some form of cheese (cottage cheese, laughing cow wedge, mini babybel, light string cheese, or fat free cream cheese)
-Pepperidge Farm Light Extra Fiber Wheat Bread OR Joseph's Flax, Oat Bran & Whole Wheat Pita Bread
-Egg Beaters Original
-100 Calorie Bag of popcorn
-Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal
-Some form of chocolate


I eat these items so often it's kind of silly! I'm curious about other people and their lifeline foods!

knittygirl52

My every-single-morning breakfast (unless I'm out of it) is cottage cheese, a banana and a few multigrain crackers. It's quick, easy, and I always enjoy it. I haven't quite reached the same point with any other meal, but that one is completely standard all the time. It makes me sad when I realize I'm out of either cottage cheese or bananas. I don't mind substituting whole wheat toast for the crackers, but the rest of it makes my morning.

kellykat

Peanut butter!

carolemsavoie

I most certainly have 2 have a cup or two of coffee , rice krispies cereal ,orange juice, banana, broccoli,peppers,rice,chicken,lite popcorn ,ice tea are some of my fav foods , I have more ,but want to leave others 2 be able 2 answer .......... I love chocolates also..

acakeforawife

- oatmeal
- cottage cheese
- berries (frozen or fresh, depending on the season)
- spinach
- greek yogurt
- sweet potatoes
- eggs
- avocados
- tuna
- whole wheat pitas
- WATER

If I have all that stuff in my house, I can pretty much manage any meal.

sitasays

My "must haves" are Greek yogurt, McCann's Irish oatmeal, peanut butter, bananas and chocolate whey protein shakes! Also, I keep a hefty supply of frozen fruit in my freezer at all times. My special *treat* is Over the Moon fat-free chocolate milk. That stuff is heavenly...

amberchristi

Bananas are my go-to snack if I get a little hungry - they are super sweet and as long as you stick to the small or medium ones, they're under 100 calories

... I'm also a oatmeal FIEND! I get up every morning and start the day off with oatmeal mixed with brown sugar and cinnamon - yum yum!

TheMaidOfAstolat

Tofu
Edamame
Lentils
Beans
Peanut butter
Quinoa
Almonds
Oatmeal/multi grain hot cereal
Greek yogurt
Tisanes (aka herbal teas)
Whole grain bread
Olive/grapeseed/walnut oils
Fruits/Veggies

tntrav44

EAS AdvantEDGE protein shakes
Light Wheat bread
Jif Low Sodium/Sugar Peanut Butter
Some form of Quaker Mini rice cakes
Crystal Light Popsicles
Atkins Advantage Double Chocolate Crunch Bars
Celery
Broccoli
Tuna
Water

Most of my meals consist of some combination of those foods. Because I'm hypoglycemic, I have to lay off the fruit because of the sugar content Makes me sad. Everything else there though is totally satisfying and yummy!

DeathIsMyGift

I have a strawberry and banana smoothie every (week) day after my work outs. I also eat tons of bananas. Probably 2-3 a day. I would eat nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc) if I could but I recently got braces so that is a no-no

jeniam

Absolutely in the house at all times are:

Oatmeal (steel cut preferrably)
Happy Cow Milk
Fresh Baby Spinach
Tomatoes
Organic yogurt
Wasa Bread
Avocados
Beans (black, kidney, etc.)
Peanut butter
eggs (farm fresh only)
Dill relish - no cals, but lots of flavor so it's a great salad dressing substitute or condiment on bland foods.

And usually cheese although I'm making the effort to switch to 2% (blah!). Cheese is my weakness! I can eat it by the block so I try not to keep it in the house unless I need it!

Patti909

i eat shredded wheat every morning for breakfast ans a piece of fruit midmorning for a snack.

hamiltonba

I felt like I was reading my food listings.....

LittleSpy

I'm echoing a lot here but my *absolute* essentials are --
oatmeal (not instant)
peanut butter (peanuts, salt)
greek yogurt (or homemade yogurt)
frozen broccoli
boneless skinless chicken breasts

byHISstrength

Egg Whites
Whole wheat tortillas
mushrooms
baby spinach
spring mix
peanut butter
avocados
tuna fish
oatmeal
fat free milk
bananas
water
vanilla whey protein powder

FrenchMob

-cottage cheese
-fat free yogurt
-apple
-banana

I have those 4 things every single day no matter what else I eat.

LongMom

Activia Yogurt
Instant Oatmeal or Cream Of Wheat
Mandarins / Clementines

I have these three things at least every week day!

cardswimmom

I eat these things EVERY day...no exception!

eggs
spinach (in three of my meals)
all natural turkey or chicken breast
alfalfa sprouts
low fat swiss and cheddar cheese
multigrain bread
almonds
apple
banana
clementine
organic peanut butter

jillybeanruns

- almonds
- banana
- carrots
- orange
- apple
- greek yogurt
- cottage cheese
- strawberries
- egg whites/hard boiled egg

I eat those every day at some point. I also eat 2-3 servings of some whole grain/whole wheat bread (pita/mini bagel/sandwich thin/bread/english muffin) every day...but it varies from day to day. And of course, cheese...but the type also varies.

courtney_love2001

lunch meat
cheese
high fiber bread
light english muffins
100% all egg whites (I add a serving of this to 1 regular scrambled egg for extra protein and bulk)
bananas
baby carrots
lettuce/spinach
cereal
peanut butter
zucchini
greek yogurt
chips
frozen bags of veggies
luna bars
coffee

If I run out of any of these I pretty much head to the grocery! I eat a sandwich and chips everyday for lunch. I have a few things that I cycle for breakfast, and many of them are up above. Dinner is usually more up in the air...I love to cook and will use seasonal veggies and different meats/proteins and a carb. I rarely eat the same thing for dinner more than once a month if not longer. Love to switch it up for dinner!

Crunchytxmama

coffee (this has become my dessert in the evenings as well as my one cup in the AM)
stevia
apples
natural peanut butter
double fiber english muffins
butter (I have a little with my breakfast every morning...the carb/fat combo really helps me get through my morning workouts)
zucchini or broccoli

I eat/drink these in some form almost everyday.

heather62803

My everyday essentials

Special K cereals
Whole Wheat or Multi Grain Arnold Rolls
Buena Vida Low Carb Wraps
Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh Chicken or Turkey
Kraft Fat Free Shredded Mozarella Cheese
Baby Spinach
Sargento Light String Cheese
Low Fat Peanut Butter
Schwan's Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Filets
Schwan's Fajita Chicken

And once a week we head to Panera Bread Company for a meal out -
I always get Garden Vegetable Pesto Soup, Smoked Turkey Sandwich, and the French Baguette Mmmmm - makes me want to eat out tonight!

lelesmama

I have a strawberry and banana smoothie every (week) day after my work outs. I also eat tons of bananas. Probably 2-3 a day. I would eat nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc) if I could but I recently got braces so that is a no-no

Can you do sliced almonds? They are in the baking aisle and wouldn't do as much damage to your braces??

aerobicgirl

foods i consider essentials are frosted mini wheats, oatmeal, raisins, broccoli, yogurt. thats usually my breakfast, and lunch snacks, then dinner is a good dinner, some form of meat (no red meat) (chicken, salmon, fish etc) with veggie.

leavinglasvegas

Every morning I HAVE to have Grapefruit. My other staple fruits are pineapple, clementines, bananas, canteloupe, apples, strawberries, and watermelon.

My kitchen must always have nuts/seeds for snacks and salads.

I'm always stocked with beans, lentils, and legumes in all varieties. Plus rice, never white, but always a a variety. Brown Basmati is my fave!

The veggies I NEED everyday are: Broccoli, onions, peppers, carrots, baby spinach, lettuce, and zucchini.

EVOO is a must! So is garlic, organic sea salt, soy sauce, curry, lemons, limes, avacodos, light vanilla soy milk, agave, fresh tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, salsa, hummus, and vegan chocolate.

Those are alot of staples, lol. But if I'm stocked with all that, I'm a happy camper!

dragonfly__

Strawberries. When they are in season I will have them almost everyday as my afternoon snack.

allykat8

~ Peanut Butter
~ Slim-A-Bear Klondike Bar
~ Greek Yogurt
~ Watermelon, Apple, Strawberry, or Oranges
~ Special K Protein Meal Bar

aippolito1

Tilapia. It's cheaper and lasts longer than buying chicken, I get my omega-3s, and since I have eczema that REALLY helps with my skin, it's higher in protein than chicken (I compare it to chicken 'cause it's my favorite!!) and I can throw it in the oven while I'm in the shower after a work out and it'll be ready once I'm dry and ready to snarf it down! :happy:

shellshalla

peanut butter
chicken
tilapia
steamed veggies
brown rice
eggs
oatmeal
tuna
apple, banana, or grapes
rice cakes

jaylu

*vanilla fat free yogurt - i love it,its like dessert

*any kind of fruit - pineapple,blueberries+strawberries most though (afore mentioned yogurts gets teamed with the fruit for breakfast every single morning)

*turkey - less calories than chicken but still yum!

colavitas

SALMON
OATMEAL WITH CINNAMON
GRAPEFRUIT
LIGHT YOGURT
ALMONDS
BROCCOLI
CHICKEN
TOMATOES
WHEAT PASTA
WHOLE GRAIN BAGEL.... NOT WHEAT WHOLE GRAIN!! LOW FAT STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE AND STRAWBERRIES IS MY FAV BFAST
SPECIAL K

IM NOT TOO BIG ON CARBS. ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY.