No brainer meals.

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Ive been on my diet for four days now. I decided to go shopping for the week on a whim and pick up what I thought would be a good week's worth of nutritious meals. I spent 70 bucks in total on my groceries.

The awesome thing is that after eating my meals for the first three days, I noticed my nutrition is almost perfect. Some of my vitamin intake is too low, but I've been compensating with a multivitamin every day. I'm pretty proud of my ability to gather the right stuff, at the right price, with the right calorie counts and nutrition.

That being said, do you guys have any good recommendations for well-balanced dinners? My breakfasts and lunches are perfect, but my dinners are harder to plan for since they take a while to whip up, and I have packed days.

Replies

  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
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    My dinners are usually pretty basic lean protein and vegetables. If I have some time on the weekend I make a big pot of chili and portion it for the rest of the week and freeze what I am not going to eat in the next 2 to 3 days. The BLOG section under EAT also has some great suggestions.
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    Lizzy622 wrote: »
    My dinners are usually pretty basic lean protein and vegetables. If I have some time on the weekend I make a big pot of chili and portion it for the rest of the week and freeze what I am not going to eat in the next 2 to 3 days. The BLOG section under EAT also has some great suggestions.

    Thank you! That sounds good!
  • annaheyoolay
    annaheyoolay Posts: 100 Member
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    I love eating breakfast for dinner. It's quick and pretty easy to adjust according to which macros I need.
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    I love eating breakfast for dinner. It's quick and pretty easy to adjust according to which macros I need.

    I've never been a breakfast guy, so I almost have to force it in the morning. It's getting easier though.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    edited April 2015
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    We love the Trader Joe's turkey patties. A turkey patty and a frozen veg makes a pretty good, instant, brainless supper. If I'm feeling creative, I'll "dress" the veg (e.g. with a mustard-caper dressing) or throw a slice of cheese on the turkey patty.
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    We love the Trader Joe's turkey patties. A turkey patty and a frozen veg makes a pretty good, instant, brainless supper. If I'm feeling creative, I'll "dress" the veg (e.g. with a mustard-caper dressing) or throw a slice of cheese on the turkey patty.

    That sounds good! Would rice or pasta go well with that? I try to fit carbs in my major meals.
  • dawnemjh
    dawnemjh Posts: 1,465 Member
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    I have salad just about every day with my dinner, and usually baked chicken breast or trader joes chicken hot dogs, or tuna fish for protein and some type of veggie like butternut squash or green beans....I usually buy a marinated turkey breast ( I love shady brook farms rotissierre) and bake it on sunday, and it will last a good 5 days. I weigh it out after its cooked and divide it into 7 servings (that's how many it comes with) and then every day I pull out a serving for dinner....
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
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    I buy organic chicken patties and chicken sausages at BJs. I also use my rice cooker and make a big pot of rice once or twice a week. One patty, a cup of brown rice and quinoa and a frozen veggie are a simple, filling meal that takes 10 minutes to put together.
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    dawnemjh wrote: »
    I have salad just about every day with my dinner, and usually baked chicken breast or trader joes chicken hot dogs, or tuna fish for protein and some type of veggie like butternut squash or green beans....I usually buy a marinated turkey breast ( I love shady brook farms rotissierre) and bake it on sunday, and it will last a good 5 days. I weigh it out after its cooked and divide it into 7 servings (that's how many it comes with) and then every day I pull out a serving for dinner....

    I bought some sliced chicken breast and made a wine-based marinade for it. I've sectioned that out for seven dinners. I have been making those Jolly Green Giant steamables and some brown rice. It's been good, and I plan on changing it up every week. I don't want to get bored by eating the same food all the time. That big turkey breast idea is a good one. I might try that next week.
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    I buy organic chicken patties and chicken sausages at BJs. I also use my rice cooker and make a big pot of rice once or twice a week. One patty, a cup of brown rice and quinoa and a frozen veggie are a simple, filling meal that takes 10 minutes to put together.

    That's kinda what I've been doing.
  • Jessikin13
    Jessikin13 Posts: 52 Member
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    Skinnytaste.com has a tonnnn of amazing recipes that are easy to cook on the weekends and get everything made for the following week. She even has a lot of freezer friendly recipes that make closer to 8 servings that you could easily portion out and freeze for later.
  • FrownWellington
    FrownWellington Posts: 20 Member
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    I make large batches in the slow cooker and portion out and freeze, and that's worked really well for me. Spaghetti sauce, red beans, curry, etc. Then I just defrost, make pasta or rice, and serve. Very quick and easy!
    For fresh meals, lately I like chicken thighs with some kind of roasted or steamed veggie.
  • NewMeSM75
    NewMeSM75 Posts: 971 Member
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    I try to eat balanced. Like a protein, starch and vegetable. The best advice I can give you is to transform your leftovers into new meals.

    Like leftover rice and broccoli turns into a stir fry with addition of leftover meats.

    Left over rice turns into a stuffed bell pepper easily This can be vegetarian or with meat.

    Cook your meats with different seasonings for salad, tacos, stir frys. Gives your meats more of versatility.

    I love black beans. I eat those then use leftovers for black bean burgers.

    Eggplant parm is one of my favorites. You can cook half of eggplant for parm; other half for eggplant lasagna or spicy eggplant. I bake my eggplant for the parm. Can do the same for zucchini. You can roast some or sautee for side dish. Then another you can scoop out the middle to make zucchini pizza boats.

    I'm not a big breakfast person but heuvos rancheros are the bomb! Corn torillas can be chicken tacos one meal. Toast tortilla, add refried beans, egg fried with spray in nonstick skillet with salsa & whatever toppings to make the heuvos racheros.

    The beans can serve for this and then used for black bean burgers.

    I find the best recipe is to think outside the box and have fun with it!

    Good luck!



  • girlperson666
    girlperson666 Posts: 27 Member
    edited April 2015
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    burritos... burritos every day. you can put anything in a burrito!

    I like mine with fried black beans for protein (though obvs chicken or grilled beef would be amazing, i'm just terrible at cooking meat for some reason), corn, either freshly made rough chopped salsa or sauteed peppers and spanish onion, shredded cheese, and a generous dollop of either guacamole or sour cream to top it off! My burritos normally clock in around 400 - 500 cals but if I've had a big day chopped baby spinach work as a good filler in my opinion, since it tastes basically like nothing.

    eta: I always have leftovers with my black beans - they taste great next to poached eggs the next morning. especially if you have a bit of guacamole to spread on your toast! :wink:
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    Steph38878 wrote: »
    I try to eat balanced. Like a protein, starch and vegetable. The best advice I can give you is to transform your leftovers into new meals.

    Like leftover rice and broccoli turns into a stir fry with addition of leftover meats.

    Left over rice turns into a stuffed bell pepper easily This can be vegetarian or with meat.

    Cook your meats with different seasonings for salad, tacos, stir frys. Gives your meats more of versatility.

    I love black beans. I eat those then use leftovers for black bean burgers.

    Eggplant parm is one of my favorites. You can cook half of eggplant for parm; other half for eggplant lasagna or spicy eggplant. I bake my eggplant for the parm. Can do the same for zucchini. You can roast some or sautee for side dish. Then another you can scoop out the middle to make zucchini pizza boats.

    I'm not a big breakfast person but heuvos rancheros are the bomb! Corn torillas can be chicken tacos one meal. Toast tortilla, add refried beans, egg fried with spray in nonstick skillet with salsa & whatever toppings to make the heuvos racheros.

    The beans can serve for this and then used for black bean burgers.

    I find the best recipe is to think outside the box and have fun with it!

    Good luck!



    That was extremely helpful. Thanks!
  • missingnumero
    missingnumero Posts: 9 Member
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    burritos... burritos every day. you can put anything in a burrito!

    I like mine with fried black beans for protein (though obvs chicken or grilled beef would be amazing, i'm just terrible at cooking meat for some reason), corn, either freshly made rough chopped salsa or sauteed peppers and spanish onion, shredded cheese, and a generous dollop of either guacamole or sour cream to top it off! My burritos normally clock in around 400 - 500 cals but if I've had a big day chopped baby spinach work as a good filler in my opinion, since it tastes basically like nothing.

    eta: I always have leftovers with my black beans - they taste great next to poached eggs the next morning. especially if you have a bit of guacamole to spread on your toast! :wink:

    Only 500 calories? Awesome!
  • softblondechick
    softblondechick Posts: 1,275 Member
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    I usually have eggs for dinner, with a handful of veggies. Or a quick stir fry or salad.

    I prep all my veggies on Sunday afternoon. Takes a good two hours, washing, cutting, spiralizing, putting them in containers. But meal prep for the week is done. I also boil eggs, so they are ready to add to a salad or for a quick snack.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
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    check out budgetbytes.com lots of quick dishes, many single skillet/pot ones.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    eggs.

    I mostly eat bacon and eggs for dinner. I cook on Sunday- or crock pot some other time of week- and that's my lunch situation- and then I prechop veggies for myself and cook bacon- saute' the veggies and then throw the eggs in for dinner.

    Takes less than 10 minutes to make a meal. Easy and delicious.
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,789 Member
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    I rely pretty heavily on frozen vegetables at dinner. I steam some of those (usually broccoli, broccoli/cauliflower blend, or green beans) and have a whopping helping with a side of protein -- small pan-grilled pork chop, couple of chicken drumsticks or thighs, seasoned ground turkey, seared chicken sausage, or half a steak. It's a simple formula, I get variety by choosing different vegetables and meats, and it's always easy to prepare.

    When I want something a little more substantial I use the Crockpot to make a roast with root vegetables, or Mexican chicken for tacos, or a big pot of beans to have with cornbread. I usually pair these with frozen vegetables, too.