What foods do you consider your essentials?

crazyjkgirl
crazyjkgirl Posts: 123 Member
edited September 20 in Food and Nutrition
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!
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Replies

  • knittygirl52
    knittygirl52 Posts: 432 Member
    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
    kellykat Posts: 180 Member
    Peanut butter!
  • 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
    acakeforawife Posts: 207
    - 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. :smile:
  • sitasays
    sitasays Posts: 24 Member
    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...
  • 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
    TheMaidOfAstolat Posts: 3,222 Member
    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
    tntrav44 Posts: 100 Member
    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
    DeathIsMyGift Posts: 434 Member
    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
    jeniam Posts: 13
    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
    Patti909 Posts: 36
    i eat shredded wheat every morning for breakfast ans a piece of fruit midmorning for a snack.
  • hamiltonba
    hamiltonba Posts: 474 Member
    I felt like I was reading my food listings.....
  • LittleSpy
    LittleSpy Posts: 6,754 Member
    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
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    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
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    -cottage cheese
    -fat free yogurt
    -apple
    -banana

    I have those 4 things every single day no matter what else I eat.
  • LongMom
    LongMom Posts: 408 Member
    Activia Yogurt
    Instant Oatmeal or Cream Of Wheat
    Mandarins / Clementines

    I have these three things at least every week day!
  • cardswimmom
    cardswimmom Posts: 71
    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
    jillybeanruns Posts: 1,420 Member
    - 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
    courtney_love2001 Posts: 1,468 Member
    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
    Crunchytxmama Posts: 169 Member
    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
    heather62803 Posts: 266 Member
    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
    lelesmama Posts: 26 Member
    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
    aerobicgirl Posts: 354 Member
    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
    leavinglasvegas Posts: 1,495
    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__
    dragonfly__ Posts: 172 Member
    Strawberries. When they are in season I will have them almost everyday as my afternoon snack.
  • allykat8
    allykat8 Posts: 237
    ~ Peanut Butter
    ~ Slim-A-Bear Klondike Bar
    ~ Greek Yogurt
    ~ Watermelon, Apple, Strawberry, or Oranges
    ~ Special K Protein Meal Bar
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    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
    shellshalla Posts: 263 Member
    peanut butter
    chicken
    tilapia
    steamed veggies
    brown rice
    eggs
    oatmeal
    tuna
    apple, banana, or grapes
    rice cakes
  • jaylu
    jaylu Posts: 158
    *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
    colavitas Posts: 4
    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.
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