I need dinner ideas! pleassse helppp
xHelloQuincyx
Posts: 884 Member
Please please can I get some suggestions here!
I recently moved far away from my family, and moved into an apartment with my boyfriend. The stress of having to get enough money and pay for rent is getting to me along with going to college full time. (6 credits over full time)
Today is grocery shopping day i think. I could really use some ideas for healthy dinners! Sorry to say but i really haven’t been putting the time into making the dinners as i have before school and work started.
It’s been mostly off brand tuna helpers, instant potatoes, and ramen. I’ve tried not putting the seasoning in ramen and adding frozen veggies. Soup and sandwiches are good but too high in sodium. Bagels also work very well in the morning. I don’t have time to eat before I leave for school so I eat on the bus. It’s a struggle to find things that my boyfriend likes to eat along with me. Lunches are not a problem. I have wheat thins, clementine’s, granola etc. but I can’t seem to find something that’s filling for dinner that is an actual meal.
We hardly eat meat, but ground meat/ turkey, chicken is an option. I am at a COMPLETE loss as to what to make! Some easy suggestions would be very appreciate. Also if you would like to add staples in your grocery list that would be amazing!
I recently moved far away from my family, and moved into an apartment with my boyfriend. The stress of having to get enough money and pay for rent is getting to me along with going to college full time. (6 credits over full time)
Today is grocery shopping day i think. I could really use some ideas for healthy dinners! Sorry to say but i really haven’t been putting the time into making the dinners as i have before school and work started.
It’s been mostly off brand tuna helpers, instant potatoes, and ramen. I’ve tried not putting the seasoning in ramen and adding frozen veggies. Soup and sandwiches are good but too high in sodium. Bagels also work very well in the morning. I don’t have time to eat before I leave for school so I eat on the bus. It’s a struggle to find things that my boyfriend likes to eat along with me. Lunches are not a problem. I have wheat thins, clementine’s, granola etc. but I can’t seem to find something that’s filling for dinner that is an actual meal.
We hardly eat meat, but ground meat/ turkey, chicken is an option. I am at a COMPLETE loss as to what to make! Some easy suggestions would be very appreciate. Also if you would like to add staples in your grocery list that would be amazing!
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Replies
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skinnytaste.com
I'm a cheap college kid, too!0 -
i lovee http://www.hungry-girl.com/ -- she uses a lot of weird brands which i substitute for stuff i can find and adjust the calorie count to the things i used, she has a lot of really good "swaps", where she takes foods that are horrible for you and turns them into tasty low calorie versions0
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For your Protein, try Talapia or Fish (Baked), for Veggies get the frozen mixed bag (California Blend) cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots.. and for a fruit eat apples...... Eat the Apples first since they have fiber in them they can give you the "full feeling", 2 cups of the veggies will help also.....A meal like that can range from 200-500 calories at most..and not expensive..If you goto Walmart like me..*0)0
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i lovee -- she uses a lot of weird brands which i substitute for stuff i can find and adjust the calorie count to the things i used, she has a lot of really good "swaps", where she takes foods that are horrible for you and turns them into tasty low calorie versions
bump0 -
oatmeal
whipped peanut butter
fresh veggies
fresh fruit
tuna
vanilla coconut milk
dark chocolate almond milk
nuts
eggs
chicken
Skinny Cow
Nature's Own 100 calorie whole grain rounds
brown rice
Sugar Free Jello
Those are pretty much my staples. Grilled chicken on a bed of baby lettuces or spinach is awesome. Also check out www.eatbetteramerica.com for some awesome recipes.
Good luck!0 -
I agree.....skinnytaste web site is awesome0
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staples:
pasta, low sodium tomato/spaghetti sauce, quinoa, sweet potatoes, turnip, squash, chicken breasts if you can get them on sale, whole chickens, low sodium diced tomatoes, canned beans/lentils/chick peas, low sodium chicken broth, cabbage, carrots, onions, frozen vegetables, chili powder, pesto, nuts (unsalted), rice, ground chicken/turkey, potatoes
Things you could make with the above:
Spaghetti/noodles + sauce + ground meat
Chicken with steamed veggies and roasted squash
Soups
Chili
Curried cauliflower and chick peas with basmati rice
cabbage rolls
Shepphard's/cottage pie (with ground meat or with lentils) made with potatoes or mashed turnip
meatballs with herbed quinoa and carrots
Roasted Chicken with turnip and mixed veggies
Chicken pasta pesto0 -
Try this out. My personal chef's (husband's) website:
thefitnesscook.com0 -
greek yogurt
Almonds
tuna
eggs
chicken breasts ( you can dice them and pan fry them with spray oil and they make wonderful burritos with a little cheese and salsa)
low fat string cheese0 -
My staples are fruit (strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit sections, bananas, apples, etc), brown rice (can be cooked in large quantity then refrigerated/frozen), almonds (love the Blue Diamond - Natural Oven Roasted Almonds - Dark Chocolate Flavor or Mint Dark Chocolate Flavor), greek yogurt (plain and add those REAL fruits to it), boneless/skinless chicken breast...
My suggestion for little time but big bang for the buck is a small crockpot/slowcooker. Cut the stuff up the night before (or even the weekend before), throw it in the crock in the morning, turn to low, and YUMMMYYY when you get home. I work and take classes full-time in the evening. I tend to bring food with me to school as classes start at 5:20 and I get off work at around 4.
There is a website called savingdinner.com, she has some really good ideas for pre-preping your food and having it in the freezer ready to cook, anything from lasagna to burritos to baked chicken...
Good Luck, it is hard eating healthy in college, let alone trying to lose weight!
~ Sonia0 -
sparkpeople.com. Love it in fact I am making a taco stew right now. and the whole meal cost me $5 and it will feed my family of three twice for dinner and two of us for lunch. Try also grocery shopping at discount stores. I never go into the main chains. I try to stick to Aldi's, Walmart and I purchase my spices at dollar stores. I also recommend a crock pot very easy especially if you are never home I got mine at a wedding garage sale for $10. Also you can purchase canned veges just drain and rinse them before using and they are a lot cheaper than frozen. Just be careful canned spinach and asparagus are gross better to buy fresh or frozen.0
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Tons of recipes and ideas on the web. I go to cookinglight.com a lot. Its free so I don't think I am advertising. Hope its ok. another free site with lots of good ideas is moneysavingmom.com. She has grocery lists, recipes, coupons etc Hope these are helpful . good luck. One day you will graduate and it will all be worth it!!0
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Nothing out of a box or can.
Eat fresh veggies, fresh fruit, make sandwiches with fresh ingredients, etc.
Get a strong blender and learn about green smoothies... dinner, in under 5 minutes!0 -
I love the Kraft Food and Family Website. In fact, I was just planning my meals moments ago.0
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Try this out. My personal chef's (husband's) website:
thefitnesscook.com
OMG! I just went to that site and I am drooling!!! Everything looks so yummy! I totally just subscribed to that! :bigsmile:
~ Sonia0 -
My staples are fruit (strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit sections, bananas, apples, etc), brown rice (can be cooked in large quantity then refrigerated/frozen), almonds (love the Blue Diamond - Natural Oven Roasted Almonds - Dark Chocolate Flavor or Mint Dark Chocolate Flavor), greek yogurt (plain and add those REAL fruits to it), boneless/skinless chicken breast...
My suggestion for little time but big bang for the buck is a small crockpot/slowcooker. Cut the stuff up the night before (or even the weekend before), throw it in the crock in the morning, turn to low, and YUMMMYYY when you get home. I work and take classes full-time in the evening. I tend to bring food with me to school as classes start at 5:20 and I get off work at around 4.
There is a website called savingdinner.com, she has some really good ideas for pre-preping your food and having it in the freezer ready to cook, anything from lasagna to burritos to baked chicken...
Good Luck, it is hard eating healthy in college, let alone trying to lose weight!
~ Sonia
thats so helpfull! i never thought about a slow cooker!0 -
Nothing out of a box or can.
Eat fresh veggies, fresh fruit, make sandwiches with fresh ingredients, etc.
Get a strong blender and learn about green smoothies... dinner, in under 5 minutes!
haha i do have a blender, but my boyfriend likes to eat at the table together (we only see eachother for 1hr ish a day and weekends) and i dont think i could get him to eat that
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