Take out help

oualum26 · December 2012

Ok, I don't cook. Ever. I can't do it. I burn scrambled eggs and over cook pasta. I try to cut bread and put massive holes through it. I am kitchen stupid and I also am a work a holic whose hours usually span 11 am to 2am on a daily basis. Therefore, I don't cook.

Any recommendations of places to go? The people at subway know my name and start making my order when I walk in. Just looking for some options to mix up my menu.

edennew · December 2012

Can you heat up food at work? Progresso has a couple of soups that are considered 0 points on Weight Watchers- very low cal. They are high in sodium, but so is a lot of take-out food. I often stock up on soups at work because they are satisfying and usually inexpensive. Also, protein bars (natural, like Quest Bars) are a great work option for one meal replacement.

oualum26 · December 2012

Ya, I have a whole desk drawer filled with soup. They don't fill me though. And apparently I have a sodium issue (I eat too much) but with my lifestyle it's hard to cut down!

Sabine_Stroehm · December 2012

You sound a lot like me.
I gave up and learned to cook a few things.
It was a great decision.

oualum26 · December 2012

I have tried and failed miserably. It's quite pathetic how bad I am.

AllTehBeers · December 2012

I can cook, I just don't like to. Therefore I eat a lot of sandwiches. I use to eat at subway every day too, but that was costing more then I liked so I just bought a loaf of bread and a container of lunch meat. I also eat a ton of salad. Some days for lunch, I dump a whole bag of salad mix, some croutons, olives, presliced mushrooms and dressing in a giant mixing bowl just because I'm too lazy to cook. I buy a bunch of cans of chicken breast (like tuna, but I'm tired of tuna), put it on bread with buffalo sauce and that's it.

Maybe you could try doing the crockpot thing. In the meat section they have a whole kit with meat, potatoes and carrots you just put in with some salt and pepper, turn it on and wait 6-8 hours. I don't see how you could mess that up.

writemusic4him · December 2012

if I have to eat at a fast food restaurant I try to go grilled - McD's grilled chicken sandwich or grilled chicken ceasar salad. French Fries, nuggets & fish patties are all fried. At Taco bell - chicken fresco something or other.

If I dine somewhere in then dressing and condiments on the side so I can put an appropriate amount on. And stick to grilled options as well.

I try to make sure all meals have a protein, veggie/fruit and carb balance in them. So I'll order pot roast and carrots & baked potatoe before I'll order lasanga. I do the same with any microwave meals. I make sure they have all 3 and not just buy one that has chicken & potatoes, but one that also has the vegetable too.

Currently I do a lot of pre- on-line research before I go to a restaurant and look up the nutritional facts before I order. So I can find something that will fit in as close to the amount of calories I have designated for that particular meal. The fast food restaurants often have their nutritional data on printed brochures in their restaurant too.

And then there are always options like Jamba Juice

You could add protein powder, etc.

Firefox7275 · December 2012

I don't actually think eggs or pasta are the easiest foods for beginners - they are not forgiving of over or under cooking at all. Get a slow cooker/ crock pot and a beginner's or children's recipe book or three, everyone can learn to cook something with the right gadgets and some practice. All you do is throw in raw meat, raw chopped veggies, some stock or wine, dried herbs or spice blend, switch on and leave totally alone for many hours and you have several meals. It's humanly impossible to burn, if you overcook it all just falls to bits but still tastes good. Mine also makes perfect steamed rice: you just add a cup or two of rice, a little salt if you wish, water up to the marked line and switch on, the gadget turns itself to 'keep warm' when the rice has absorbed all the water, no timing or stirring. I've been using a rice cooker since I was an incompetent child it's that easy.

Fast food is stuffed with salt even if not sugar, fat and white refined carbs, often low in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre you won't ever be healthy eating that. There are also tons of things you can heat in the microwave without wrecking or prepare and eat cold/ raw/ defrosted. Soup alone won't fill you up, you need some protein and healthy fats.

issyfit · December 2012

Call ahead and order to go from real restaurants, like Applebees, that have some healthy choices rather than stopping for fast food, Study the menu ahead of time online.

clarkeje1 · December 2012

Raw fruits and vegs, nutrients with no cooking involved! Sandwiches too, try tuna with avocado/cucumbers/tomato on whole wheat or peanut butter banana sandwiches. Just watch the sodium on lunch meats.

trogalicious · December 2012

Ok, I don't cook. Ever. I can't do it. I burn scrambled eggs and over cook pasta. I try to cut bread and put massive holes through it. I am kitchen stupid and I also am a work a holic whose hours usually span 11 am to 2am on a daily basis. Therefore, I don't cook.

Unless you work those hours 7 days a week, you can learn how to cook.. and just a lot of it at a single go. Figure out how to bake chicken. Buy an entire package of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Bake them off on your day off. Pre-portion and go.

Canned tuna packed in water works as well.

It just sounds like excuses are easier.

bbgughj · December 2012

Learn how to cook because dieting and eating out will not work out too good . Good luck .

cfregon · December 2012

Why not eat things that don't require cooking? In about 5 minutes I can fill a big tupperware with lettuce, cut bell pepper, tomato, broccoli (slivered nuts, cheese, boiled egg) and it makes a huge satisfying lunch. You can get premade dressings, salsa, or mix one (I get ranch packets, put it in my shaker bottle with some skim milk and light sour cream and call it good- directions on the box are pretty fool-proof). What about some sandwiches? Whole wheat organic breads, any number of veggie combos on there (I like sprouts, avocado, cream cheese and tomato) and maybe some tuna or low sodium deli cuts. You don't have to cook to eat well and eat fast. Also, crock pot cooking isn't too challenging. You throw the ingredients in, turn on low, walk away. It's hard to burn unless it runs out of liquid (for mine you'd have to leave it unattended for 24 hours if it starts filled to the top with water) before it gets dry enough to burn.

Or.....get spouse/significant other who cooks.

Molly_Maguire · December 2012

Learn how to cook because dieting and eating out will not work out too good . Good luck .

If you want to eat healthy with low sodium, you pretty much HAVE to learn to cook. Long term, there just aren't any take out foods out there that will get you to your fitness goals. Prepared food will always hinder you, if that's all you're eating.

Start small, just make sandwiches. Then slowly try new things, AND DON'T GIVE UP IF IT FLOPS THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES. Keep at it, and work around the problem areas. If you burn eggs and overcook pasta, it sound like you just need to get your timing down. Timing has nothing to do with being a bad cook, it's just...well, timing! Set an alarm for the pasta and eggs, look on the box or online for exactly how long they need to be cooked, and over how much heat. As for cutting holes in bread, you just need to learn better technique. Anything you do "wrong" in the kitchen, there are a hundred Youtube tutorials showing you how to do it right.

Don't use "I can't cook" as an excuse! You could even invite a friend who is good at cooking over to give you some pointers, then sit down and have the meal together.

DavPul · December 2012

But the Eat This, Not That book. There are several (all of them good) but make sure that you get the one for restaurants. They have all the popular places and give you choices of food that you'll actually want to eat instead of a bunch of salads or unseasoned chicken or something.

Seriously, that book turned my entire weight loss progress around. There's no way I would have been able to reach my goal weight if I had to keep eating chicken and rice for 6 months. I lost almost all my weight eating at fast food joints.

Learn how to cook because dieting and eating out will not work out too good . Good luck .

ignore this. Worked like gangbusters for me. And before someone says "but what about your (insert X health indicator), I turned 40 this year and had a second kid. That means I had a battery of tests done for everything both by my doctor and by my insurance company when I got additional life insurance. Not only are did all my tests come back normal I'm willing to bet they are better than most everyone here.

Natihilator · December 2012

I try to cut bread and put massive holes through it.

NOW I know where this gif came from!

oualum26 · December 2012

Ok, I don't cook. Ever. I can't do it. I burn scrambled eggs and over cook pasta. I try to cut bread and put massive holes through it. I am kitchen stupid and I also am a work a holic whose hours usually span 11 am to 2am on a daily basis. Therefore, I don't cook.

Unless you work those hours 7 days a week, you can learn how to cook.. and just a lot of it at a single go. Figure out how to bake chicken. Buy an entire package of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Bake them off on your day off. Pre-portion and go.

Canned tuna packed in water works as well.

It just sounds like excuses are easier.

I do work those hours 7 days a week. No joke. I've tried baking chicken, it was way too dry and couldn't be ate.

oualum26 · December 2012

Thanks everyone for the help. And I'm not making excuses, but here's a serious question/problem. Don't you guys get sick of the same thing over and over again? Raw veggies and sandwiches get boring after awhile. And that's the one thing even I can't mess up. But after day after day eating them, I can't even look at them, then go grab a whopper.

Does anyone else feel this way or am I a freak?

trogalicious · December 2012

Thanks everyone for the help. And I'm not making excuses, but here's a serious question/problem. Don't you guys get sick of the same thing over and over again? Raw veggies and sandwiches get boring after awhile. And that's the one thing even I can't mess up. But after day after day eating them, I can't even look at them, then go grab a whopper.

I don't get sick of eating healthier every day. It makes the moments when I don't eat super healthy even more satisfying. After 150lbs lost, I can't think of a single thing that is as tasty as the satisfaction of knowing that I'm this much healthier and in control of my own life.

If you want to cook, youtube can help. If you can't find time to took, make time. You found enough time to post and reply to the thread here on MFP. In that time, you could've found a few recipes on skinnytaste and practiced. It takes time and practice to learn how to cook. Crockpots are a great start as many people have recommended. You don't HAVE to eat fast food and you don't HAVE to believe that you can't cook. It just sounds like you're approaching the kitchen with a very defeatist attitude.

Molly_Maguire · December 2012

This:

You found enough time to post and reply to the thread here on MFP. In that time, you could've found a few recipes on skinnytaste and practiced. It takes time and practice to learn how to cook.

and this:

It just sounds like you're approaching the kitchen with a very defeatist attitude.

oualum26 · December 2012

Thanks everyone for the help. And I'm not making excuses, but here's a serious question/problem. Don't you guys get sick of the same thing over and over again? Raw veggies and sandwiches get boring after awhile. And that's the one thing even I can't mess up. But after day after day eating them, I can't even look at them, then go grab a whopper.

I don't get sick of eating healthier every day. It makes the moments when I don't eat super healthy even more satisfying. After 150lbs lost, I can't think of a single thing that is as tasty as the satisfaction of knowing that I'm this much healthier and in control of my own life.

If you want to cook, youtube can help. If you can't find time to took, make time. You found enough time to post and reply to the thread here on MFP. In that time, you could've found a few recipes on skinnytaste and practiced. It takes time and practice to learn how to cook. Crockpots are a great start as many people have recommended. You don't HAVE to eat fast food and you don't HAVE to believe that you can't cook. It just sounds like you're approaching the kitchen with a very defeatist attitude.

Sorry that I apparently I suck. I'm posting this at work, on my break. You know, cause I'm working 12 hours today, I'm allowed to take a few breaks. And I've tried. Many times. None have worked. I've wasted hundreds of dollars on food that has been ruined by my hands.

So defeatist? Probably cause I've been defeated. This post hasn't helped me either.

bobbiebearden · December 2012

I agree that supplementing your diet with some home-cooked meals is important, but I am also not a master chef. Here are a few things I have found that are quick and around (or under) 500 calories and 20 grams of fat:

Jimmy John's: Turkey Tom with cheese, easy mayo
Jack in the Box: Chicken fajita pita + egg roll
Chipotle: Chicken bowl with brown rice, salsas, cheese. I sometimes add some guacamole or sour cream if it fits in my calories for the day, but this adds significantly to fat and calories.

Othere than those, the crock pot has become my best friend! Get on pinterest in your down time at work and look for slow cooker recipes. There are TONS out there and they are EASY!

Good luck on your journey!

trogalicious · December 2012

Sorry that I apparently I suck. I'm posting this at work, on my break. You know, cause I'm working 12 hours today, I'm allowed to take a few breaks. And I've tried. Many times. None have worked. I've wasted hundreds of dollars on food that has been ruined by my hands.

So defeatist? Probably cause I've been defeated. This post hasn't helped me either.

#1. No one has said you suck. You've been busy beating up yourself about how you can't cook. You're busy beating yourself up, not any of us.
#2. Sorry you're taking it that way, but there seems to be an undertone of a defeatist attitude with a lot of your posts.

That's awesome that you have a steady job and a good work ethic. Awesome. Congrats. Feel better?

I'm not posting here in an effort to make anyone feel bad. You post, I respond with what I see. I'm sorry it may not sit well with exactly what you're looking for, but I've been in those shoes as well. I've been down that road. I couldn't cook and actually had the fire department called to my apartment once because I tried to do so. That was embarrassing. So I tried to find "healthy" food at fast food places. No dice. I just got back up, dusted myself off, and kept trying. Of course, this is my opinion, but that's the best approach for eating healthy.

If you want it bad enough, you'll try again. You'll make time for it.

..but the first step is to stop making excuses, beating yourself up, and whining on an internet forum when someone gives you the advice you need, but not what you want. Good luck.

cfregon · December 2012

Don't feel down because of these responses... I know how it can be to work long hours (I work 60 hours a week and I'm a full time MA student at university). It's important to take time for yourself though, wherever you can find it. I try to get a jog in 3 times a week, even if it's only for 30 minutes. I prep my dinner and food for the next day all in about 45 minutes at night when I get home (while watching something on netflix, because it doubles as my wind-down time). Even working 12 hour shifts (I'm working one right now), with eight hours of sleep, travel time, and time to get ready in the morning, you're still left with 3 hours a day to get that work out or cooking bonanza in.

I can sympathize with getting bored of raw foods (just because you're bored of raw food, doesn't mean your bored of healthy foods as stated above). Difficulty level is cooking, which is important because your sodium levels (from subway, chipotle, anything convenient) are sapping what little energy you have when at home.

Maybe you could check out the Green Giant and Steamfresh Steamers. They still aren't perfect, but they're much better and easier- plus they're a meal seasoned and ready to go. They're also warm, not raw! Try cooking once or twice a week en mass- Make a tray of individually wrapped burritos you can heat up- Low sodium/carb whole wheat tortillas, some low fat or vegetarian beans, a little low fat cheese, and maybe some veggies. Don't cook it at all, put it together raw and microwave it later.

Get some Pita Bread or tortillas, stuff them with low fat cheese, tomato sauce and veggies or ham for homemade pizza pockets. To cut sodium, forego the cheese and look for low sodium sauces. These things don't require cooking until you microwave them to eat and they have more veggies and less sodium. You can even buy pre-cooked chicken strips (for salads usually) to put into these dishes for some meat.

Don't get discouraged hun. You can add me if you'd like other ideas or just want to skim my diary. I'm in the same boat work wise as you are, but I've cooked professionally.

PikaKnight · December 2012

Sorry that I apparently I suck. I'm posting this at work, on my break. You know, cause I'm working 12 hours today, I'm allowed to take a few breaks. And I've tried. Many times. None have worked. I've wasted hundreds of dollars on food that has been ruined by my hands.

So defeatist? Probably cause I've been defeated. This post hasn't helped me either.

#1. No one has said you suck. You've been busy beating up yourself about how you can't cook. You're busy beating yourself up, not any of us.
#2. Sorry you're taking it that way, but there seems to be an undertone of a defeatist attitude with a lot of your posts.

That's awesome that you have a steady job and a good work ethic. Awesome. Congrats. Feel better?

I'm not posting here in an effort to make anyone feel bad. You post, I respond with what I see. I'm sorry it may not sit well with exactly what you're looking for, but I've been in those shoes as well. I've been down that road. I couldn't cook and actually had the fire department called to my apartment once because I tried to do so. That was embarrassing. So I tried to find "healthy" food at fast food places. No dice. I just got back up, dusted myself off, and kept trying. Of course, this is my opinion, but that's the best approach for eating healthy.

If you want it bad enough, you'll try again. You'll make time for it.

..but the first step is to stop making excuses, beating yourself up, and whining on an internet forum when someone gives you the advice you need, but not what you want. Good luck.

^Everything he said....nothing else to really add.

weightnomore33 · December 2012

If you must do fast food get the kids meal. and don't get the fries ever

nejaustin · December 2012

Do you have a friend that cooks? Maybe you could buy premade meals from her. Especially if they are single. I like to cook, but since there is only me I eat the same meal for a week. I would love to have someone to split the bill with so I could cook several different things a week.

VelociMama · December 2012

There are some really good books you can get to help with basic kitchen skills:

Now You're Cooking is one of the best for a novice: http://www.amazon.com/Now-Youre-Cooking-Everything-Beginner/dp/1883791006/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200890881&sr=8-1

The Joy of Cooking is also fantastic and has a TON of recipes: http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-75th-Anniversary-2006/dp/0743246268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356902002&sr=1-1&keywords=joy+of+cooking

Crock-potting is by far the easiest and least time-consuming cooking method, and it's almost foolproof as long as you follow the directions.

Tons of good recipes for slow-cookers out there.

BlueObsidian · December 2012

I don't actually think eggs or pasta are the easiest foods for beginners - they are not forgiving of over or under cooking at all. Get a slow cooker/ crock pot and a beginner's or children's recipe book or three, everyone can learn to cook something with the right gadgets and some practice. All you do is throw in raw meat, raw chopped veggies, some stock or wine, dried herbs or spice blend, switch on and leave totally alone for many hours and you have several meals. It's humanly impossible to burn, if you overcook it all just falls to bits but still tastes good. Mine also makes perfect steamed rice: you just add a cup or two of rice, a little salt if you wish, water up to the marked line and switch on, the gadget turns itself to 'keep warm' when the rice has absorbed all the water, no timing or stirring. I've been using a rice cooker since I was an incompetent child it's that easy.

This. It's amazing how a couple easy (and fairly inexpensive) gadgets can make cooking so simple. I actually used to be a chef, but my slow cooker is still one of my favorite tools. It's just so fast and easy on days I'm busy. I love making beef stew, chicken and dumpling, or even a whole pot roast (want an easy recipe - just put a beef roast and a jar of tomato sauce in the crock pot and cook on low for 8+ hours. Easy!).

If you go to the baking and spice aisle at your grocery store, you should see a bunch of seasoning packets. McCormick actually makes blends just for slow cookers, with easy directions on the back. I love the beef stew one. It's high in sodium, but an easy way for a novice cook to get the hang of using a slow cooker. I like to portion up the extras into individual tupperware containers so they are ready to grab and go (you can even freeze them if you get bored eating the same thing multiple meals in a row).

As far as the overcooked chicken breasts, there are a couple ways to solve this. One is to add a cup of chicken stock (or even water) to the bottom of the pan and cover it with foil. However, even easier is to get a good thermometer. I love my probe thermometer - it is a thermometer on a cord that attaches to a display panel. This means I can leave the thermometer in the meat while it cooks and check on it whenever I want. It even has a little timer that will beep when the meat gets to the temperature you set it at. No more dry chicken, turkey, etc.

Alex_is_Hawks · December 2012

your attitude is a tad defeatist....

if you are going to eat out, you will have high sodium..its the nature of processed food....

you can learn....everyone can learn...you may never be good at it...but it sounds like you've decided you can't so that you won't have to try.

the crock pot is a simple place to start, the trick is that you have to watch your time....that is all....can you watch your time with your job? so that you can manage your breaks? then you can watch your time with a crock pot....and if things in it got too dry, then you forgot about it and left it too long and didn't watch the time.

same thing with bread...being in a rush and hacking at it will leave it with holes....you have to be patient....are you not patient in your day to day work?

its applying the SAME theories to it....that's all....

but i think you've decided that cooking will not work for you so it hasn't.

we will our truths sometimes....we will them to happen more than they happen to us and I think that's the case here.

drusilla126 · December 2012

I don't cook either. No time. I'm up at 5am and going until 7pm. By then I throw together some scrambled eggs when I'm feeling ambitious but that's all I can make. Eating out costs a lot but lots of restaurants are posting nutritional information now. Boston Pizza even! Pizza Pizza has nutritionals up and their new personal 10" Fresco pizzas are delicious and not complete diet busters. Subway obviously (although holy sodium.) Pita Pit is good but again pricey. McDonald's has nutritionals and some okay options for what they are. Domino's pizza also has stats up but you have to do the math.

Take out help

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