Pre-packaged meal plans....which ones?

Have you tried to cook larger portions of food like chicken and divide it up so you have it for meals during the week? Also, wash and prep your veggies so they are good to go for a meal. It saves a lot of time to do prep for a week on a Sunday afternoon. I am not a big fan of packaged or processed meals.

can you take a day , once a week or once a month and do batch cooking and store the extras in the freezer for quick meals later ?
it would be alot healthier and cheaper ..

i too have tried nutrisystem, it was over $300 for 1 month (1 person) and i still had to buy fruits/veggies, bread and milk ..
not counting that i am married . so it wasn't worth it .. imho

I did Seattle Sutton for awhile. It's a national meal delivery service, about $140 per week. No need to buy anything extra. I have no complaints about the food or service.

Lean cuisines, and healthy choice meals. Fruit that you can just pick up and eat on the go like apples, bananas, kiwis, peaches, oranges, etc. Instant oatmeal is super easy to prepare in the microwave and is only 130 calories or so a packet. Frozen veggies. Eggs.

GEORGE FORMAN GRILL. <--- cooks a chicken breast in 7-8 minutes. It is ridiculously easy to use and convenient. It also yields delicious results.

The pre-packaged meal plans like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig was super expensive.

I normally just buy low cal frozen dinners. They have come a long way since being a kid. Most are pretty cheap too, i normally spend about 15-20 bucks per week on frozen dinners for lunch/ occasional dinner. I mostly just use them for lunch while at work, plus whatever snacks I want for the week

I pretty much like all of the pre-packaged meals ( as long as it's something I eat (I don't eat beef or pork). The only concern I have is the sodium content for most foods that are pre-packaged. The shelf life is great, if you need to stock up in your office or for a quick meal at home, but make sure most of your calories are coming from whole foods/fresh fruits and veggies.

If you are in a city that has My Fit Foods I would definitely recommend it. Fresh complete meals, no preservatives, pre-portioned. It's a little pricey, but I stop in and grab what's marked down 50% a day before the expiration date.

A bit of background. I am married, mom to nine children ages 18-1, full time student, take care of my FIL. I am spending way too much time grabbing fast food on my way to school, and not enough time at home cooking. I know if I had more time, I could cook more at home, but I don't.

Sheri

What are your kids eating then? If you are cooking for them, you can cook for yourself. Why not have the whole family transition to healthier eating so you have more time.
And, if you have an 18 year old....he/she can help you prep and cook (younger kids too). No reason that Mom should have to do all the work.

I used nutri system years ago, it help
But I prefer Lean Cuisine, more choices

I had great success on Jenny Craig - lost 30 pounds. I would def. go back on JC, but it costs too much for me right now.

A bit of background. I am married, mom to nine children ages 18-1, full time student, take care of my FIL. I am spending way too much time grabbing fast food on my way to school, and not enough time at home cooking. I know if I had more time, I could cook more at home, but I don't.

Sheri

What are your kids eating then? If you are cooking for them, you can cook for yourself. Why not have the whole family transition to healthier eating so you have more time.
And, if you have an 18 year old....he/she can help you prep and cook (younger kids too). No reason that Mom should have to do all the work.

^^^^^^This. I don't understand the dynamic.

I think it's a crutch as you wouldn't use Nutrisystem or something similar indefinetly. Might as well bite the bullet and figure out how to prepare nutritious meals for yourself. No doubt about it, it takes some work and planning but well worth it. Just my opinion.

I know what you mean about it being easier to grab and go at the drive through - but I would recruit some of those kids to help you. I mean maybe you could find an hour as a family to prep meals for the week. And then you can grab and go at home.

Some simple ideas.
I make a smoothie every morning with fruit, honey if it needs sweetened and water. I have bullet on my desk at work, but it wouldn't be anything to throw it in the blender at home too.
Measure out a couple servings of cold meat and have it in a baggie. Bread is on the counter and if it's easier, you can baggie that up too.
Cook an extra serving at dinner before anyone gets their meal you take your lunch out of it. BTW, your older kids - 12-up can cook meals. Maybe nothing spectacular, but they can do it. And the older ones can help younger ones too.
Grill a ton of chicken, turkey, burgers whatever and package and put them up in the freezer. they will thaw by lunch and you can microwave if you want it hot.
Salads are good and you can just use a mason jar if you want to store them in for the week, or baggies and then you are only dealing with one bowl to wash (tho I wash/rinse my baggies and reuse alot.)
And if you do stop at FF - what are the choices you are making. I've learned that I don't have to do the quarter pound burger at McD's. I like it best, but that's not going to get me to my goals. So I don't always choose it. I ususally get a chicken wrap thing - eating a salad in a car does not work for me. I carry my own fruit with me. Almost always have an apple, banana, carrots, pepper stuff like that to use for the sides. But sometimes (not often) I still get the burger.

Just some quick thoughts.

You can create your own pre-packaged meal plan with what is available at the supermarket.

Kashi breakfast bars, cereal (both of which can be eaten as snacks too)
Healthy Choice steamers, Lean Cusisine meals (lunch or dinner)
Amy's Organic burritos (for lunch or breakfast)
Bottles of water.
Bagged salad
Fresh fruit/fresh veggies
Almonds


Would it be cheaper/healthier to make your own food? Yup. But from your description, it sounds like you just don't have the time.
For a quick dash and grab, something you could try in the morning, is to make 4-5 peanut butter sandwiches on the weekend, and throw them all in the freezer. Then during the week, grab and go.