Must-Haves

SymphonynSonata
SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What are some must-have foods, prepackaged foods, snacks, fruits, vegetables, drinks, liquor, whatever that you ALWAYS have to have on hand that are a big part of your ability to stay focused on your calories and comfortably meet your goals? Or that you just have to keep around because it's so good, or that is surprisingly low calorie for how good it is?
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Replies

  • littleandysmom
    littleandysmom Posts: 173 Member
    Eggs
    Cottage Cheese
    Berries
    Almonds
  • letmerun
    letmerun Posts: 15
    Carrots, bananas, eggs, red kidney beans. Some herbs and spices (cayenne pepper, rosemary, etc).
  • viglet
    viglet Posts: 299 Member
    I like having cottage cheese in the fridge because if all else fails, I know I can mix it with cinnamon and BAM got myself a lovely snack.

    My stupid guilt lately has been mini breton crackers. About 20 of those babies for 100 calories!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    What are some must-have foods, prepackaged foods, snacks, fruits, vegetables, drinks, liquor, whatever that you ALWAYS have to have on hand that are a big part of your ability to stay focused on your calories and comfortably meet your goals? Or that you just have to keep around because it's so good, or that is surprisingly low calorie for how good it is?

    I typically have the following on hand.

    Greek yogurt (yoplait non fat 50 cal 8g protien)
    Lean cuisine chicken in wine sauce...for quick lunches
    Stouffers skillet meals - quick dinners
    Shrimp to add to skillet meals for protien
    Canned salmon, crab, marble cheese, toppable crackers, avocadoes for lunch
    chocolate (milk chocolate)
    vodka 40 calories an oz, mixed with club soda and water flavor or diet cran/pom juice (10calories a cup)
    Eggs always
  • katro111
    katro111 Posts: 632 Member

    vodka 40 calories an oz, mixed with club soda and water flavor or diet cran/pom juice (10calories a cup)

    Oooh, that sounds awesome! May have to steal your idea... lol

    I always have on hand:
    Eggs
    Cheese
    Low sodium lunch meat
    Chicken breasts
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    bump! Love the ideas :-)
  • A_nori
    A_nori Posts: 30 Member
    Eggs
    Tortilla wraps
    Lower calorie microwave meals for lunches on days I need something quick
    Popcorn
  • sbarella
    sbarella Posts: 713 Member
    Red peppers and strawberries. I'd eat them even if they were packed with trans fats.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    The foods that are must haves for me depends on my day, week, or mood. Each week is different for me because the only foods I don't eat are the ones I don't like.
  • Followingsea
    Followingsea Posts: 407 Member
    Roasted garlic hummus.

    I am addicted.
  • DrJenO
    DrJenO Posts: 404 Member
    Bourbon
  • thevoice1973
    thevoice1973 Posts: 55 Member
    - Eggs
    - Milk, 2%
    - Red peppers
    - Almonds w/sea salt
    - Greek yogourt
    - Seedless raspberry jam
    - Cream cheese

    - Six Star Whey Isolate protein (Decadent chocolate!)
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    Chocolate and chips for the indulgence.

    Yogurt, fresh fruit, nuts, eggs for the healthier side.
  • Iknowsaur
    Iknowsaur Posts: 777 Member
    - Protein Powder
    - Bananas
    - Yoghurt (greek for smoothies, yoplait for snacks)
    - Old fashioned oats
    - Frozen spinach for smoothies
    - Frozen berries for smoothies and oatmeal
    - Brown sugar or maple syrup for oatmeal
    - Barilla plus pasta
    - Red wine tomato sauce
    - Parmasean
    - Skim milk
  • jlynnm70
    jlynnm70 Posts: 460 Member
    Fresh veggies (I love them all so it doesn't matter as long as the fridge is stocked).
    My chicken breast lunch meat (I seem to take that for lunch often - as it's easy, I know how many slices are a serving and when all else fails it's there)
    Cheese
    Egg Whites

    and


    WINE.....I love my red wine, I have a glass most nights and have it fit into my calories. I pretty much gave up my regular soda (yes I have had a few-but it's mostly gone) I refuse to give up my wine too.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    eggs
    bell pepper
    mushrooms
    cheese
    baby carrots
    frozen spinach, broccoli & berries
    Fage 0% plain yogurt
    100% whole wheat bread

    If all else fails I can sauté some of the veggies and have that for a meal with some cheese & Sriracha on top.

    Also...in the cabinet I must have one or all of the following; semisweet chocolate chips, marshmallow crème, Nutkao, cookie butter, peanut butter, and a selection of unsalted nuts. I cannot tell you how many times this has helped me avoid going out for ice cream or to buy a full-size chocolate bar. I know these can be triggers for some people...for me they are not. I could never have a package of Oreos, Chips Ahoy, or Halloween/Easter candy around...I'd eat it all. My husband's kind of like that with ice cream, I think. But these things are perfect for me to get that sugar/fat fix and put cravings to rest.
  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Food I always have on hand because it's low cal and healthy or filling:
    -Morning star 1/4 lb black bean burgers (Costco, lives in the freezer, takes 2 mins in microwave, very filling, high protein)
    -Baby carrots
    -Bananas
    -2%Cottage cheese and jarred peaches (yes the peaches are in a light syrup, but I try to shake a ton of it off. fresh peaches are nice but don't keep well).
    -TEA omg so much tea. Way better than juice and just as fruity.
    -Mr Jack's Special salsa (medium) from Costco because 10 calories per 30 g is awesome.
    -Tableside brand greek yoghurt guacamole (Costco, in 70 calorie pre-packaged pouches)

    Food I always have on hand because I can do moderation:
    -Individually wrapped chocolates (truffles, dove chocolate squares, anything that you can have 40-60 calories of and walk away)
    -Tostitos scoops. Yeah, they're salty and high fat, but they are also only 140 calories for 1 serving (28 grams). I will often have a 1/2 serving plus a 70 cal guacamole and feel like this is a lifestyle change, I can have delicious things, etc.
    -Individually packaged ice cream treats. I really like skinnycow ice cream sandwiches and Giant Food house brand Big Tub Of Low Fat Ice Cream. One serving is usually between 140-160 calories.
  • OkamiLavande
    OkamiLavande Posts: 336 Member
    My must-have foods may sound silly, but that's because I don't diet I just eat the stuff we have around the house because that's how things are being a college student at home with no money. :laugh:

    -CHEESE - I cannot stress cheese enough. I cannot live without cheese.
    -Meat - Be it lunch meat, beef, pork, chicken, fish, I've gotta have my meat.
    -My 45 calories and delightful bread - I prefer the taste of this to other breads and it makes just as good as sandwich to take to school

    Those are really my only must-haves because they make me happy~
  • McKenzieLeigh
    McKenzieLeigh Posts: 113 Member
    Greek yogurt
    Bananas
    100 calorie wholly guacamole!!
    Wheat thins (to dip in the guacamole)
    Thin mints
    Mushrooms
    Eggs
    Popcorn
    Lean Cuisine
    String Cheese
    Pears
    Frozen Grapes
    90 Calorie Fiber one Brownies/Cookies
  • hannaawh
    hannaawh Posts: 51
    Cottage cheese, definitely. It's sooo low in calories and you can make a salad out of it (70gr cottages cheese and as many cucumbers, tomatoes etc as you want) for around 100 calories! SO LOVELY.
    But also; Apples, canned vegetables (my favourite) and fruits fruits fruits!
  • mschicagocubs
    mschicagocubs Posts: 774 Member
    How did I forget VODKA?:laugh:
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    I eat chicken pretty much every day (high protein, low calories). I eat a lot of turkey for the same reason. Vegetables, in general. I'm not particularly a fan of vegetables, but they do provide a lot of food for little impact on the calorie goal, so I use them a lot. Blue Bell no sugar added ice cream (I'm not a sugar alarmist or anything ... this just happens to be a very tasty ice cream for half the calories of regular Blue Bell). I usually have bananas, apples, and a few other kinds of fruit chopped up in the fridge for when I'm hungry but it's not meal time. That keeps me from wanting to devour a bag of chocolate chips. Those are the things I keep around to help stay on track with my goal.

    As far as things I always have because I really like them ... steak, cheese, peanut butter, chocolate. I also keep several different batches of cookie dough in my freezer so that I can have a different cookie every day if I want. And all the regular baking staples (flour, butter, sugar, eggs, etc.) because I bake a lot. That's about it.
  • BeanQueen3000
    BeanQueen3000 Posts: 161
    Cherry sugar-free snack pack jellos.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Greek Yogurt, tuna, Fiber One 90 Calorie double fudge chocolate brownies, berries
  • a_stronger_me13
    a_stronger_me13 Posts: 812 Member
    The "bare necessities":
    Chicken (breast, thighs, and ground)
    Bacon
    Beef (steak, stir fry packs, ground)
    Deli meat for quick "real" food protein snacks
    Whey isolate
    Greek yogurt
    Assorted veggies - typically sweet potatoes, onions, green beans, brussel sprouts, raw spinach, tomatoes
    Parmesan and mozzarella cheese
    Eggs
    Whole milk
    Butter
    Frozen berries
    Grapes
    Oranges
    Edy's/Dreyer's ice cream, reduced fat PB or PB2, dark chocolate
    Fruit snacks
    Homemade pizza dough frozen in individual pizza portions

    The "fun" stuff to keep me sane:
    Legit ice creams like B&Js, Talenti or local brands
    Beer, various microbrews
    Wine, the cheap gas station kind
    Baking supplies
  • katylil
    katylil Posts: 223 Member
    My staples:

    Cottage cheese (so much cottage cheese)
    Spinach
    Tomatoes
    Cucumber
    Broccoli
    Courgette (zucchini in American I guess)
    Turkey steaks
    Pre-cooked turkey/chicken chunks for throwing on salads last minute
    Eggs
    Blueberries
    Skim milk
    Wholewheat bread (stored in freezer, used for toast)
    Protein powder

    I have a load of other stuff in my cupboard (quinoa, couscous, sweet potatoes, spice packs, pasta, brown rice, etc) that I draw on but I don't use them as much. My weekly shopping bag is usually pretty much the above.

    Edit: ooh I forgot the peanut butter!!! Organic with nothing extra added :)
  • IUGB
    IUGB Posts: 15 Member
    Eggs
    Avocados
    Chicken
    Apples
    Chocolate milk!!!!
  • rachface1234
    rachface1234 Posts: 227 Member
    eggs
    black beans (omg 1/2 cup with some garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and splash of salsa, microwave for 45 seconds delicious filling snack!!)
    protein powder
    apples
    frozen fruit for smoothies
    almond/coconut blend (unsweetened) for smoothies
    greek yogurt
    jerkey
    almonds
    olives - so much tasty fats, so satisfying!
    uncured (nitrate free) pepperoni, applegate makes them, delicious and filling!
    spinach
    brussel sprouts (i know its weird but roasted in the oven with olive oil and sea salt and tossed with some protein - YUMMMMMM!)
    hummus!
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    eggs
    black beans (omg 1/2 cup with some garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and splash of salsa, microwave for 45 seconds delicious filling snack!!)
    protein powder
    apples
    frozen fruit for smoothies
    almond/coconut blend (unsweetened) for smoothies
    greek yogurt
    jerkey
    almonds
    olives - so much tasty fats, so satisfying!
    uncured (nitrate free) pepperoni, applegate makes them, delicious and filling!
    spinach
    brussel sprouts (i know its weird but roasted in the oven with olive oil and sea salt and tossed with some protein - YUMMMMMM!)
    hummus!

    Oh goodness! I don't think I could handle the pepperoni! I would eat all of it! :P Thanks for all of the ideas! I'm crazy about fast dinner-lunch type foods!
  • nlbez
    nlbez Posts: 111 Member
    The not so good stuff i need is mayo and chocolate and the good stuff that i eat a lot of is frozen berrys. X

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