What Go To Foods are in your Home at all times?

Hi Everyone,

I need help with an area of weakness. During the week I'm great about tracking and sticking to MFP recommendations. Over the weekend I tend to fall off the wagon, mostly because I'm eating along with my husband and don't have "alternative" foods in the house. On Sat he made Hot Wings with French Fries for dinner. On Sunday it was Baby Back Ribs with Macarroni Salad. The idea of making two different dinners seems exhausting to me. How do you all deal with this? Do you always make a separate dinner? Do you have a go-to quick dinner in the house you eat on the days where "what's for dinner" just isn't an option? I've been making myself a protein shake instead of eating, but I'm thinking this is just a bad idea because it leaves me hungry and I'm still inclined to pick at whatever my husband is eating. I could use some survival tips. I feel like if I don't get the weekends under control I'm never going to lose my weight...
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Replies

  • jess135177
    jess135177 Posts: 186 Member
    You can absolutely have hot wings and ribs. Just make sure they fit into your calorie allowance for the day. I eat what my boyfriend is eating and I usually add a low calorie vegetable side. For the wings I would have added carrot and celery sticks. For the ribs a salad or roasted broccoli.
    You can eat the same delicious foods, just eat less than you normally would.
  • lunarastro
    lunarastro Posts: 32 Member
    I always have a good supply of frozen veggies (mostly broccolli) in the steamable bags. I also always have on hand turkey burgers and salmon burgers. You can cook a salmon burger quickly and eat with a bag of steamed veggies for a filling and relativley low calorie dinner.
  • agar62
    agar62 Posts: 9 Member
    I agree with jess135177! if we go out to dinner on the weekends, I try to stick to water, salad as a side, less calorie main dish. If we stay in, I try to watch the portions. Wings aren't so bad, if you don't partake of the fries. Also, if you know dinner is going to be a doozy on the diet, try to eat light for breakfast and lunch, only drink water, and get a workout in if possible. as long as your net calories don't exceed your daily allotment, then it's ok to eat "bad" foods every once in a while.
  • My girlfriend and I make separate dinners 95% of the time and it works out for us (mostly because she's a vegetarian trying to gain weight, the opposite of me). Then again, unless she's at work, she makes her own dinner and I make mine. I'll admit to being bad an ordering takeout most Friday evenings because it's what the household does, but I'm gonna start curbing that by making sure there are filling foods here that I can have instead without feeling like I'm missing out on a "good" meal (rice and bean chips and hummus is a personal favorite go-to snack of mine). Alternatively, if I know dinner is gonna be highly calorific, I sacrifice some calories in breakfast and lunch and make sure to control the size of my portions (usually by measuring or weighing; it doesn't always deter me from overeating, but alas).
  • jolinemariem
    jolinemariem Posts: 462 Member
    Applesauce yogurt and eggs
  • NinjaJinja
    NinjaJinja Posts: 147 Member
    I have no excuses - there's no one at home to sabotage me. I just do less well on the weekends because the routine that normally limits what I can have and when is gone. Anyway, go to quick meals: canned soup and canned tuna. No cooking required.

    The tuna I eat chilled with black and cayenne pepper and a serving of sour cream and onion pringles. The soups are a meal unto themselves, just find a flavor you like. (My favorite is Campbell's Chunky chicken & sausage gumbo.) Beyond that, those frozen meals are pretty good, but I find the soup to be the best at filling me up.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    You're the only one who can hold yourself accountable for what you put in your face. I'd be floored if my husband took it upon himself to actually cook something.

    He knows what I'm doing food-wise, so he makes accommodations for me, without me asking, regarding certain foods. You'll need to open those lines of communications with him if you want his help and support. If you're still not getting the help you want...

    I keep Healthy Choice dinners in the freezer for quick lunches. They're not too bad on sodium, and usually have decent macros, depending on which ones you choose.

    I keep almond butter, natural peanut butter, low sugar jellies, english muffins, eggs cheeses like Asiago (lots of flavor for a small amount), oatmeal & bacon at all times.
  • I usually don't make two dinners. I eat about 4 oz of whatever the protein is and will just make sure I skip the fries, macaroni salad, etc. I usually have several bags of frozen veggies on hand, chicken, and Light Progresso Soup (160 calories for the whole can). The soup is the quickest solution to "what's for dinner" because it heats up in a quick second. When my sons want a pizza or mcdonald's night - they eat that and I eat the soup.
  • Baby carrots. Organic apples. Raw nuts. Cheese. Oranges. Tangerines. Eggs. Plain chips.
  • svsl0928
    svsl0928 Posts: 205 Member
    As long as you fit them in the calorie count you can eat those foods. Make sure you use portion control. Also, if my husband wants French fries, I may eat a baked potato or salad instead. I keep fruit, spinach, yogurt, 100 calorie nuts, lightly salted pringles and fiber one bars in the house.
  • Foodiethinking
    Foodiethinking Posts: 240 Member
    I make a massive base mince sauce which I thrown a load of vegetables like celery and peppers etc then heat it up and add garlic and herbs for bolognese, gravy granules for shepherds pie then cumin and kidney beans for chilli. My recipe is done in the slow cooked and the base is under 200 calories per portion!
  • bkw99508
    bkw99508 Posts: 204 Member
    I just have a portion that will fit into my daily goals.

    For example....last night for dinner the main dish was salmon. I asked my husband what he wanted as sides and this was our conversation (keep in mind he is not counting calories at all):

    Me: What do you want as sides to go with the salmon?
    Him: What I want and what I get are 2 different things.
    Me: Try me, what do you want?
    Him: Mac & Cheese
    Me: With salmon????
    Him: Yes
    Me: Okay.....

    So I made mac&cheese AND broccoli. He ate "some" broccoli and the mac&cheese. I didn't want to "burn" my calories with mac&cheese (had my heart set on mint chocolate chip ice cream) so I ate salmon and broccoli.

    So to answer your question....I try to always have mint chocolate chip ice cream in stock at all times. :)
  • freddi11e
    freddi11e Posts: 317 Member
    cook your dinner before he cooks his..... heck maybe him seeing what you're cooking will inspire him to join in. It's hard for me to sit back when my friends are all eating in'n'out haha.. i just make sure i already ate. And i ALWAYS eat a 60 calorie Dulche De Leche pudding after dinner... actually that's a lie, i have two hahah... i make sure i have something sweet after. And hey, 60 calories is less than an apple!!!

    bottom line: compromise with your husband. either cook your dinner first, or chew gum until he's done, and then you can take over the kitchen!! lol
  • daisybug72
    daisybug72 Posts: 8 Member
    I generally cook. If he's having something higher fat - sausages, burgers, I often have fish, but we eat the same sides. If it's a higher cal meal and I want that (like pizza or lasagna) I make broccoli or another veg and eat that too. Or I'll have a bit of protein (yogurt, hard boiled egg) about 30 min before meal. That fills me up so I don't over indulge in the higher cal item, but still eat a small bit to satisfy my craving.
  • cmm7303
    cmm7303 Posts: 423 Member
    On Sundays I make all my food in advance (weight, measure, label all of the cooked meat) so I have it for the week. Half goes in the Fridge and half goes in the freezer. On Wednesday I pull the frozen stuff out into the fridge for use the next few days.

    Sometimes I'll measure out 10 servings of chicken, 10 of rice, 10 of the veggie I'm using, 10 of cheese and make something big, and then cut it into 10 portions (because then I know what the cal count is) and then I'll have one, save one for the next day, the kids will have one each, the husband will have two, the roommate will have two and then they all have two servings left to squabble over.

    But yes, it it generally separate meals.

    I generally have a lot of bagged spinach, salad dressing, good cheese, TJs ground beef and broccoli in the house. For easy prep, canned chicken (in water) makes for easy meal prep...you know what the cal count is, and then you just add up whatever you cook it in.
  • nburdzel
    nburdzel Posts: 6 Member
    I try to have the following go-tos on hand at all times; they are good for a light lunch or snacks, especially if you are trying to eat low/no carb:
    -hard boiled eggs - you can eat them as is or make egg salad and eat in lettuce wraps instead of bread
    -cans of tuna - can make tuna salad and eat with celery, instead of making a sandwich
    -carrots & hummus
    -almonds
    -celery & peanutbutter
    -perdue pre-cooked grilled chicken strips - can add to a salad, or can make a quick stir-fry with a bag of frozen veggies

    Good Luck!!
  • kikisalander
    kikisalander Posts: 23 Member
    Beans, chicken, peanuts, popcorn, salad mix, veggie burgers, bananas, frozen veggies
  • MattQuinnFitness
    MattQuinnFitness Posts: 15 Member
    For awhile my go to food has been eggs. It's quick to make. I can cook eggs while cooking other stuff if I am cooking for my family. but what I discovered this last week is SteamFresh Bags of precooked food. It was about 400 calories for the dinner and was really low on the fat side! it was only $1.27 a bag and It was a good amount of food. I might eat more vegetables with it though.


    Also as of today I need to lose 110.6 Pounds more to lose!
  • reneeileen
    reneeileen Posts: 455 Member
    Frozen vegetables and salad greens. I try to find as many different types of frozen vegetable mixes as I can to keep it interesting. Buffalo wings I de-bone and put on top of a salad. I like to make my own dressing because I can keep it low cal and make it more delicious that a bottled low-fat dressing. The ribs I would probably do a mixed vegetable with it.

    If you are making a different meal try to have a few things that will take minimal effort to make. Maybe check out hungry girl. She has a bunch of 5 minute recipes that are low cal. She uses a lot of processed ingredients but if you don't mind they are quick and easy to keep around.
  • lmhbuss
    lmhbuss Posts: 282 Member
    The things I always have on hand are:
    fresh fruit
    hummus
    pretzels
    eggs
    lean turkey lunchmeat
    good bread...I am a bread snob, if it isn't tasty, get it away from my face.
    bagged salad mixes
    popcorn
  • SMarie10
    SMarie10 Posts: 956 Member
    I had to stop at the store to pick up more eggs, because that is something I don't like to be out of. I'd suggest the following items

    Oatmeal, sweet potatoes, almond milk, popcorn (kernels and air pop it yourself). peanut butter, almonds. tea / coffee and honey.
  • 1ZenGirl
    1ZenGirl Posts: 432 Member
    My weekends are very unstructured and my eating used to be as well. So now I make sure that my meals and snacks are posted before I even go into my weekend. One less thing to worry about.

    I keep fruit, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, hot chocolate, cheese and nuts around. But I don't just pick, pick, pick. I measure and weigh everything.
  • ShellyBell999
    ShellyBell999 Posts: 1,482 Member
    Peanut butter, bananas, protein powder, bacon and wine.
    ETA: ice-cream!! *smh, how'd I almost forget that??!?
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Peanut butter, high fiber/high protein cereal, quinoa (make a big batch at once), egg whites, protein powder/smoothie ingredients, canned beans (rinse first).

    Can you talk with you hubby about finding modified recipes that you guys can both eat? His food choices will probably catch up with him someday--you'll be helping his health while making it seem like he's doing it to help you out! :)
  • I use baked turkey meatballs. I make packages of five meatballs and freeze them then pull one package out in the mornings on the days my family will be home. I have something yummy on hand and then can easily resist pizza or nachos or whatever else husband and three boys can eat. The key is flavor so you don't feel deprived and can manage feeling hungry. Use lots of spices and flavors, soy sauce and teriyaki are great!
  • strongestgirl10
    strongestgirl10 Posts: 26 Member
    Salad bags, tuna, chicken thighs, rice cakes, turkey, mixed veg bags, oranges, bananas, yogurt cups, nuts of all sorts, peanut butter, cheese strings and protein powder.
  • kelfran1
    kelfran1 Posts: 1,213 Member
    eggs
    carrots and hummus
    carrots and nut butter
    mixed nuts

    These are the foods I always stock to snack on.
  • tugten
    tugten Posts: 73 Member
    eggs only use half the yolks, wild salmon in packets , bananas, spinach for low cal baked spinach bites , beans, romaine lettuce, carrots, cooked chicken, oatmeal, low cal cheese, pita bread, tea with low fat milk , frozen fruits and veggies.

    Make most of your dinners on the weekend. Have them ready. That way you know exactly what you're having and avoid the temptation. And make do ahead treats as well. I slow cook sliced apples and add oatmeal and cereal for crunch topping
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    To answer the title:

    When I shop, I buy meat, dairy, breads and cereals, fruits and veggies, and then I replenish my supply of staples such as flour, sugar, pasta/rice, seasonings, condiments, etc. I typically don't buy anything that I'd call a "go to" food because with the exception of a few family favorites, we eat a lot of different things.




    To answer the OP:

    The only time I make separate meals is when I want to eat something that my husband can not due to Crohn's disease, like tacos or chili.



    We eat ribs as often as we can afford to do so, but we never get the baby-back style. I like the STL style or the country style. There isn't enough meat on the baby back ones.
  • LH85DC
    LH85DC Posts: 231 Member
    We always have:

    peanut butter (make our own), avocadoes, clementines, apples, english muffins, bacon, chicken sausages, ground turkey, bell peppers, chocolate and baby carrots.

    Other things rotate. As for OP- I almost never make separate meals. I may make an extra or different side dish, or we may have different snacks, but only cook one meal.