Jane Plan

lucytalbot94
lucytalbot94 Posts: 32 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Any experiences? Was considering it as I have a busy lifestyle!

Replies

  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,457 Member
    No experience with any meal delivery plan, but I would challenge you, will you simply eat what they deliver, or will you use the time to learn new eating and cooking habits that you can continue when the Jane Plan thrill has worn off?

    Hugs on getting started.
  • lucytalbot94
    lucytalbot94 Posts: 32 Member
    Unfortunately, I tend to skip meals as I have no time to prepare before/at work or I simply forget whilst at my desk. I wondered if something like this, as a single woman with a busy job and a social life, may be the way forward as it is set out three meals per day (sometimes I have only one meal a day and I'm not a snacker!) and it calculates how many calories your should be eating to achieve your weight loss.

    I'm currently only toying with the idea, I'm not 100% invested, but with my lifestyle I wonder if I might do well with it. It's not that I don't know what I should be eating, its making time and, quite frankly, being bothered after an 8 hour shift, an hour gym session and a half hour commute to cook for just myself! Terribly lazy, isn't it!?
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Well, my husband did something similar before we married. He had a busy private practice, didn't know how to boil water, and had no interest in learning. Since his income was very good, he talked to a nearby restaurant and went there for lunch everyday. For dinner he was happy with a piece of cheese and bread.

    Doing this means that someone is watching your nutrition, and you can dedicate time to other things. As mentioned above, if you're using it for weight loss, you'll probably have problems if you quit and have to go on your own. So, for someone with the income who has no time or desire to cook, I think it's an excellent idea.
  • lucytalbot94
    lucytalbot94 Posts: 32 Member
    Sounds like he was quite the bachelor!! Haha!

    I'm not too concerned about gaining weight afterwards, as I do have the tools and the knowledge. The main issue is standing and waiting 30 minutes for my brown rice to cook after getting back at 6pm from work!! Think I will take a leaf out of your husbands book with this one :smile:

    It's this or M&S ready meals, and I think I know which is better for me! Hahaha.

    Thank you for sharing!
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,608 Member
    The other option (if you have a freezer) is to batch cook occasionally. You still have to find time - but not every day. Once every couple of weeks would allow you to prep everything you need.

    Re M&S ready meals - depending on which range you pick, they’re actually not that bad for you (and I have no idea what the JanePlan ingredients are). The Balanced for You range is quite good, and M&S do frozen packs of single portion veg (ignoring any issues of sustainability or cost here!).

    I love the idea of having the money to get a restaurant to deliver a yummy nutritious lunch every day…
  • lucytalbot94
    lucytalbot94 Posts: 32 Member
    Batch cooking is not a bad idea at all! Probably be a lot cheaper too! Do you have any recommendations?

    Wouldn't that be fab! Never have to cook lunch again! hehe
  • goal06082021
    goal06082021 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I'll second batch cooking/meal prepping - I do most of my preps on a weekly basis, on the weekends, but sometimes I can get a little further ahead of myself (prepping 2 weeks' worth of breakfasts, or making a large batch of a dinner that freezes well). I currently prep breakfast for myself and breakfast and lunch for my husband, and intentionally choose dinner recipes that yield leftovers as often as possible, but I started out just making lunch for myself during the workweek.
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,608 Member
    Depends on what you like / your macros. My standard faves are: cottage pie (bake one big one then portion up), bolognaise, chili, fish pie, pasta bake (huge bake then split into portions - can do it with tinned toms and tuna, or cream if you’re feeling decadent), curry (home made or cheat and buy a jar), white fish with pesto and breadcrumbs, chicken snitzels, stir fry (loads of veg and either chicken or fish…) most food freezes okay, and whenever I cook I double the ingredients, then freeze portions. I also prep lunches in advance, easy stuff like frittata using left over veg which will do 3 lunches if stored well in the fridge.

    I eat a lot 🤷‍♂️🤣
  • lucytalbot94
    lucytalbot94 Posts: 32 Member
    I think, based on everybody's response, I may go for meal prepping as it appears cheaper and manageable (thanks you @claireychn074 for all those recommendations!)

    Whilst on the subject, however, do you think a protein shake would be enough for breakfast, as I can whip one of those up as I leave for the gym?
  • claireychn074
    claireychn074 Posts: 1,608 Member
    You’ll have to try it. Wouldn’t be enough for me personally (although a dirty shake with oats, fruit and yoghurt might work) - some others love it as a lighter brekkie 🤷‍♂️

    Ultimately you can eat what you want and when you want - frittata is also good for breakfast, or when you’re batch cooking make some spelt apple muffins and just grab one on the go! (Never tried freezing those as they don’t last long enough in my house)
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,457 Member
    Every Sunday evening, I “grill” several seasoned chicken breasts and some Lidl chicken sausages in my air crisper.

    The sausages reheat well, and I eat them wrapped in a slice of bread (35 calories) versus a hot dog bun (130 calories). Tastes just fine.

    I slice or chop the chicken breast and use it on salads, sandwiches, or rolled up with lettuce tomato and some nice sauce (currently addicted to Ploughman’schutney) spread on a low carb tortilla (40 calories). Lots of protein, lots of veg.

    I often supplement our dinners with a simple bowl of mixed greens and/or spinach and a handful of cherry tomatoes with a little balsamic or zero calorie dressing. Super easy to make and fills up the corners.

    I’ve been keeping some diced raw chicken in the fridge for a quick stir fry. You can dry-cook the chicken in a good pan and add stir fry veg and it will cook itself. No need to add oils and can have it on the table in under 15 minutes.

    Supplement with a bed of diced cauliflower (frozen, six minutes in the microwave).

    There are some really good prewashed bagged salads and stir fry mixes nowadays. You have to shop around to find ones that are consistently fresh and don’t have a chemical or irradiated taste. I love Lidl’s bagged salads. Dole, not so much.

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