"Fast" Food the Healthy Way

SunnyLuc87
SunnyLuc87 Posts: 60
in Food and Nutrition
I have a very busy schedule right now and I basically have very little time to prepare/cook food during the week. I have been relying on a lot of convenience foods for lunch and dinner, like low-calorie frozen meals and canned soups. I know these really aren't so healthy and I wish I could eat things that are not just low in calories but actually good for me. I am going to be shopping for groceries again this weekend, and I'm not sure what to buy. I don't want to buy a bunch of food that will go to waste because I don't have time to cook it, but I know something has to change.

Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for healthy, low-calorie, balanced meals that can be prepared/cooked with very little time?

Replies

  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    Cook meals on the weekend, eat during the week. You can even make your own frozen entrees if you like.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Meat, eggs, fish, veggies ... Yup, cook it up in advance and eat during the week.

    A tuna bake can last days (tuna+veggies+tomato/sour cream+cheese, cook in oven until cheese is golden) ...

    Hard boiled eggs are a great snack ...

    Concentrate less on calorie quantity and more on quality, more filling.
  • tinad120
    tinad120 Posts: 267 Member
    Frozen veggies are my quick fix- the ones without the sauce.
  • momtokgo
    momtokgo Posts: 446 Member
    Do you use a crockpot at all? Its a lifesaver for us some days, it only takes 10 minutes to prep and get everything into it for dinner and we have a hot meal at the end of the day.
  • bastokes88
    bastokes88 Posts: 15
    Especially as the weather cools, I like to make big soups. They last me for days and days, and they only get better as they sit! For quick fixes, I also like frozen veggies that you can steam in the microwave. I keep them in the freezer at work for snack attacks. Fresh fruit is also portable and quick.
  • VanessaGS
    VanessaGS Posts: 514 Member
    I usually have frozen meals for lunch. I find that I like Healthy Choice the best of all. The ingredients seem better and even though they can be high in carbs and sodium I seem to balance perfectly on my MFP numbers. You just have to balance it all out. Plus it's better on the wallet.
  • chljlleal
    chljlleal Posts: 229 Member
    In the summer - cooked meats with ready prepared salads
    In the winter - stick the slow cooker on before going to work so it is ready for when I get home. Must point out that this is considered torture by my husband who works from home quite a bit!
  • ExcelWithMel
    ExcelWithMel Posts: 192 Member
    I do a lot of cooking one day a week and then have 2-4 servings that I can put in the fridge or freezer. I also do like Amy's Organic foods if you need something prepackaged. They're more expensive than say a Lean Cuisine, but a much better option IMO.
  • akoivisto
    akoivisto Posts: 141 Member
    Especially as the weather cools, I like to make big soups. They last me for days and days, and they only get better as they sit! For quick fixes, I also like frozen veggies that you can steam in the microwave. I keep them in the freezer at work for snack attacks. Fresh fruit is also portable and quick.

    I agree with this 100%. Big Soups only get better after they sit, so not only do they last longer, it gets, strangely, more appealing!

    That and a poster also mentioned Crock Pots; gods gift to families right there!

    *Father of two here I loves my Crock Pot!
  • silvernik
    silvernik Posts: 8 Member
    One of my secret bulk meals is to make up a gallon batch of chilli in a giant saucepan. It's not just (meat or veggie) mince, tomatoes and kidney beans, but it also contains carrots, courgettes, peppers and spinach which really bulks it out and loads it up with yummy veg. But, I only put a little bit of spice in it so that it can be used as more than just chilli

    I then freeze it in portion sized bags and it becomes the following meals:
    * spaghetti bolognaise
    * chilli with jacket potato (spicing up to taste whilst warming through)
    * lasagna (just add some lasagna sheets and sauce)
    * tacos / fajitas / nachos
    * mexican lasagna (using tortilla wraps and a blackbean & lime mix instead of pasta and white sauce)
    * cottage pie (with some potato on top)

    Oh and the chilli is only about 250 cals per portion - It's fab!
  • Mrsfreedom41
    Mrsfreedom41 Posts: 330 Member
    Pick up a rotissorie chicken at the super market and it will make quite a few meals. Eat without the skin tho to lessen the calorie intake. First night I eat the breast with a very large green salad, second day, a half of chicken sandwich with a salad and if any left over from there, pick off all the chicken and make some kind of chicken casserole with lots of veggies and some cheese. These usually last a couple days in my house. Hope this helps you.:flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • ConnieM20
    ConnieM20 Posts: 493 Member
    bump
  • ExcelWithMel
    ExcelWithMel Posts: 192 Member
    Also easy meals. Yesterday took 20 oz. Jennie O' Turkey 93%, 3 eggs, 1 cup quick oats, 3/4 of a can diced tomatoes, 1 package of onion soup mix.

    Mix it all together, then put the remaining 1/4 tomatoes on top. Put in a greased 4X8 pan and in the oven at 325 for 90 minutes.

    It took 5 minutes to put together and I cut it into 6 servings.

    Fast and healthy, and YUMMY!
  • crazycakez
    crazycakez Posts: 24
    This time of year, I make a big salad in the morning. Just whatever fresh produce I have on hand (lettuce, raw spinach, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc) and a protein. I try to roast a whole chicken on the weekend or grill up several chicken breasts that I can just toss in, but if you don't have time for that you can always get the ready-to-eat Short Cuts or whatever. Put it in a cooler and it's ready to go at lunch time.

    In the fall/winter, I agree with PP who mentioned Crock Pot meals. Big soups, pot roast, etc are awesome and you can get several meals out of it. Also cooking a big meal when you can (the weekend, your night off, whatever) and then portioning out several meals for the week. Bonus points if you can freeze some of the leftovers for an easy-to-grab meal later! Soups are great for that.

    For breakfast on the go, my go-to is either hard boiled eggs or a protein bar year-round.
  • fitmek
    fitmek Posts: 277 Member
    I have not given up fast food entirely. I just choose my meals carefully. I eat oatmeal or egg beaters for breakfast, occasionally I will have a Smart Ones meal (the french toast is mega good, and so is the eggs and hashbrowns!!)

    Lunch is usually a 6 inch sub from Subway, no dressing, unless it's spicy mustard, and no cheese. Baked chips, and some kind of fruit for afterwards. Or, I will get the grilled chicken salad from Chick Fil A, with the fat free honey mustard dressing and NO croutons. I still use the sunflower seeds, as it's a good source of iron and protein and I never use the entire packet of dressing.

    Don't forget, Panera has good soups and salads well under 300 calories and you can skip the bread and get an apple, or fruit cup!

    I should cook more....but I just don't. I usually cook 3 meals at home during the week, and we have a quick dinners the other 2 nights, like cereal or grilled cheese, lunch meat sandwiches etc. I hate cooking.....I love baking but no one in my house will eat anything sweet, so I end up eating it all (healthy recipes and all), so I rarely bake, unless I plan to give all the finished product out to friends hehe.
  • Mistyblu08
    Mistyblu08 Posts: 580 Member
    slow cookers work really well for this - throw your food in the morning and its done when you get home plus you have lunch for the next day and the next....some slow cookers have recipes that come with them but there are tons of recipe books out there now with healthy things that make it easy:)

    also beer can chicken in the oven or bbq- flavored chicken from grocery store - 1 can beer or soda - 1 chicken holder(should also have at the store) and roaster for oven or just set on top of grill on bbq- stick with auto pop-up timer ( they have those at grocery store too)....throw a couple sweet potatoes or a squash in with it - 45 min later while you get kids homework done or whatever cleaning or a workout in and its complete :) soooooo nummy :)

Categories