What do you eat when you can't cook?

LazyCatNap
LazyCatNap Posts: 15 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
What are some healthy go to foods for when you don't have time or energy to cook? I live on campus and the food at the cafeteria is terrible and unhealthy, so I'm trying to start cooking for myself.

However, there are some days when I either ran out of food, don't have time to cook, or some other reason. I want to stock the appt up on food that I can just throw in the oven for dinner on those days.

So far the only "healthy" ones I've tried have been disgusting (like lean cuisine). Any suggestions for brands or specific foods?
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Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Most school cafeterias give you lots of options. Ask for calorie and nutritional information.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    If you have a Trader Joe's in town, they've got some really tasty frozen meals - check them out.

    Otherwise, find yourself a George Foreman Grill, I see them at yard sales and thrift stores all the time - popular wedding gift that people use once or twice, if at all, and then they donate it a few years down the road. You can cook up boneless chicken in those things pretty fast - a little seasoning, a few minutes on the Foreman, and it's done!
  • My_Butt
    My_Butt Posts: 2,300 Member
    Fish, chicken, and turkey are simple to make. Slap them on a pan, put some spice on those puppies, and fling then in the oven. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    salads with chicken and tuna/fish etc.
    tuna you can keep on hand all the time
  • jackstraw67201
    jackstraw67201 Posts: 14 Member
    I love those cafe steamers frozen dinners. Fairly low cal, but the sauces are tasty. Sodium ehh.. between 500 - 600 mg per serving
  • LazyCatNap
    LazyCatNap Posts: 15 Member
    AmyRhubarb wrote: »
    If you have a Trader Joe's in town, they've got some really tasty frozen meals - check them out.

    Otherwise, find yourself a George Foreman Grill, I see them at yard sales and thrift stores all the time - popular wedding gift that people use once or twice, if at all, and then they donate it a few years down the road. You can cook up boneless chicken in those things pretty fast - a little seasoning, a few minutes on the Foreman, and it's done!

    Oh I'm pretty sure we do have a Trader Joe's nearby! Is just about everything they sell here more or less healthy? I can check the nutrition info myself of course, but just as a reference.
  • LazyCatNap
    LazyCatNap Posts: 15 Member
    jackstraw67201 wrote: »
    I love those cafe steamers frozen dinners. Fairly low cal, but the sauces are tasty. Sodium ehh.. between 500 - 600 mg per serving

    Sounds good, I'll get some next time I'm shopping. Thank you!
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    Hot Pockets.
  • try4better128
    try4better128 Posts: 61 Member
    Put a few frozen chicken breasts in a dish, throw a cup of salsa on top and bake. Serve with frozen green beans or other frozen veggie of your choice. Sprinkle cheese on it after if you want.
  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    My go to's when I am lazy about meal prep are the canned chili from Trader Joe's or the clam Chowder and lean pockets, add a salad and I'm good to go. I also like the chicken teriyaki, frozen, from Trader Joe's.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    Chipotle burrito bowls!

    Romain lettuce, black beans, chicken, fajita veggies, and green salsa for under 400 cals. :)
  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    Those already cooked rotisserie chickens that are always at grocery stores.
  • NEWMEKELLIB
    NEWMEKELLIB Posts: 49 Member
    premake your food one day a week -beans / meats (if your into that) rice salads boil your self some eggs ...store them in your fridge so you have no ways to stray away from your diet- because of time or whatever... pinterest is really intresting for this- and slow cookers will be your bestfriend if you let it!
  • kpw818
    kpw818 Posts: 113 Member
    peachyfuzzle wrote: »
    Chipotle burrito bowls!

    Romain lettuce, black beans, chicken, fajita veggies, and green salsa for under 400 cals. :)

    Agreed. Love chipotle. Little high in sodium but I get that exact meal myself (usually double the fajitas :smile: )
  • nickatine
    nickatine Posts: 451 Member
    when I don't feel like cooking or strapped for time or travelling , my go tos are usually nuts, bananas, greek yogurt, trail mix bars and protein bars, canned fish and chicken are other quick options.
  • lizzocat
    lizzocat Posts: 356 Member
    edited March 2015
    on nights i don't feel like cooking, breakfast for dinner is super fast (omelets for example)
  • cavia
    cavia Posts: 457 Member
    Sardines with sriracha sauce on the side.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    NEWMEKELLIB wrote: »
    premake your food one day a week -beans / meats (if your into that) rice salads boil your self some eggs ...store them in your fridge so you have no ways to stray away from your diet- because of time or whatever... pinterest is really intresting for this- and slow cookers will be your bestfriend if you let it!

    I do this generally, but my go to is scrambled eggs if I need something quick. Eggs is one thing I rarely run out of. Greek Yogurt, oatmeal, protein shakes are others that are easy.

  • kellygirl5538
    kellygirl5538 Posts: 597 Member
    I think the more you can cook, the worse you can eat. I agree with the lady a few posts down, keep things really simple, once you start eating food in combination that is where the calories add up quick...sauces..casseroles...etc..no no
  • las07s
    las07s Posts: 150 Member
    I lived, LIVED, off of apples and bananas with peanut butter. Back then I couldn't afford the fancy organic stuff PB, but Jif worked just fine on my budget. If you have a meal plan, pocket an apple or a banana when you leave the cafeteria and you won't have to buy fruit.
  • _whatsherface
    _whatsherface Posts: 1,235 Member
    I live off this steamable veggies in a bag from the grocery store. So easy and so fast. Then usually some sort of marinated piece of meat I can stick in the oven. They make oven bags for food too. You can put chicken and whatever veggies/potatoes and cook it all together. Throw some stuff in a pressure cooker or crock pot.
  • 64mustangsue
    64mustangsue Posts: 27 Member
    I stay away from prepacked foods, too much sodium. Fresh fruits and veggies are great for on the go quick meals.
  • kikichewie
    kikichewie Posts: 276 Member
    I mix up 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup fruit (like frozen raspberries or blueberries) and 1/2 cup cottage cheese, and nuke til warm and the oatmeal is soft and chewy. I call it purple goop, and it is a great balanced and filling fast meal. I add a bit of sugar to the raspberries bc they're often more sour than I like, but that only a few calories. I also second the recommendation to hit Trader Joes. They have awesome frozen meals and side dishes, and quality is awesome. We have rarely been disappointed by anything we've tried (especially their lighter guacamole and spinach dips, both of which I think are made with yogurt). BUT they have the most awesome goodies too..... Which I cannot resist. So I can't be trusted to go to TJs for a while. Serious. I'd Google "best things to buy at Trader Joe's," make a list of the healthy stuff, and stick to your list.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I could live off morning farms spicy black bean burgers. Toss them in the microwave for about 2 mins - put on an english muffin - add a little salsa, avocado, cheese, spinach, whatever - so good and so easy! One of my main go-to meals when I'm too tired to cook.
  • MindySaysWhaaat
    MindySaysWhaaat Posts: 401 Member
    Might not be the most nutritious thing in the world, but my go-to when I absolutely don't feel like cooking is milk and cereal. If I've got a bunch of leftover calories I'll just pour myself a big bowl and go to down :)
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    Chef Salad with Spring Mix Lettuce, Ham, Turkey, Eggs, Onions,Shred Cheddar,Sliced Radishes, Catalina Dressing. or Popcorn Salad with 5 cups popped popcorn,real bacon bits, diced water chestnuts,slivered almonds,diced onions,diced celery,shred cheddar and Brianna's Poppyseed dressing. Apricot Chicken-Throw in a Crockpot, Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins and in pan mix 1 jar Sugar Free Apricot Preserves,2 cans Chicken Broth, Decent amount of Black Pepper. Pour over chicken in Crockpot. Steam bag of Frozen Birdseye Veggies.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    edited March 2015
    sandwiches, baked potatoes from the microwave, canned soup/canned chili.

    for frozen dinners- michelena's wheels and cheese is so bomb. its 310 calories, 11 g of protien, tastes super good.
  • sistrsprkl
    sistrsprkl Posts: 1,010 Member
    Salads w/ hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, and when I was in graduate school I lived off carrots dipped in peanut butter. Easy and filling.
  • KingofWisdom
    KingofWisdom Posts: 229 Member
    I like Greek yogurt, beef jerky, and the Healthy Choice meals (I like to pick out the ones with an okay amount of fiber).
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    cook foods like soups, stews and curries that get better with age in quantity over the weekend. Also, I like to "poach " vacuum packed Salmon or other frozen fish right in the pouch. 10 minutes in some simmering water and you have a tasty piece of fish. Steam in bag vegetables and precooked rice and grains in microwavable pouches are great. In general, I don't find frozen meals tasty or satisfying, although Trader Joe's does have some very good frozen meals.
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