Diet & Managing Cost/Choice

Covert0ne

Covert0ne

Covert0ne

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Joined
6 Mar 2010
Posts
271
Location
Ipswich, Suffolk
Hi Guys & Girls,

I guess I'm looking for a bit of advice from people that are/were in a similar situation to myself regarding diets and managing them on limited time. I work rather long hours and don't get an awful lot of time to prepare or cook food, I've found myself skipping meals and it's becoming just plain unhealthy...

I have the tools necessary but lack the time and funds to commit to cooking or preparing complex meals every-day. I think what I need is some cheap meals than I can plan in advance that will provide the sustenance and nutrition I need whilst being easy and cheap to prepare.

I don't get a lunch break at work and rarely get time to sit and have a good breakfast so it's going to be difficult. :mad:

What are your views on the above and if you've experienced similar problems I would love to hear how you've solved them!
 
Beyond fancy food nothing takes too long to cook.

Get yourself a george forman grill if you don't have one. I use mine daily, so much easier then using oven/grill.

tea today - 3 chicken fillets with cream cheese wrapped in bacon + some veg.

That'll take ~20mins total including prep.
 
Make huge portions during the weekend and freeze them individually for the week. Things like Spaghetti Bolognese, Chilli con Carne, Beef casserole -- along with soups for lunches.

In the morning, it only takes a few minutes to whack a couple of eggs in a pot to boil while you get yourself washed and dressed. By the time you get there, they're ready to peel and smash onto some wholemeal toast with a bit of salt and pepper. Job done.
 
Its not hard.

You have no time for breakfast? Wake up 10 minutes earlier and have a bowl of muesli/oats.

You dont get a lunch break? For a start that's illegal. Get yourself a lunchbox, shred some lettuce leaf and add in some sliced cooked chicken with some sweetcorn. Thats what I eat every lunch. takes a maximum of 5 minutes to make on an evening.

Dinner, if you really dont have the time to cook then buy yourself 5 weight watchers/Tesco light choices etc microwave meals. Whack one of them in the microwave when you get in, which takes 10 minutes max. Job done.

Also take a banana and an apple to work for snacks.

Doesnt really get much easier than that.
 
Prepare in bulk then freeze.
Don't fall into the trap of microwave meals no matter how good they say they are on the packet.
 
Morba said:
Prepare in bulk then freeze.
Don't fall into the trap of microwave meals no matter how good they say they are on the packet.
Click to expand...

I really dont understand people's problems with microwave meals.

I have been running a fat loss diet for the past 5 months roughly eating the exact diet plan I posted above. in that time I have lost 2 stone averaging around 2lb per week.
 
Buy yourself a slow cooker. Get up 20 minutes earlier in the morning. Roughly chop up some veg, throw it in. Get some pork shoulder or something like that, throw it in. Chuck some seasoning/herbs/spices in. Add some stock and some wine/beer or something. Pop it on, go to work, come home and your dinner will be ready.
 
There are so many healthy meals that can be made and put in the freezer.

Jut to mention beef:
Bolognese
Chilli
Curry
Cottage pie

I don't see how you can fail to have time for breakfast... Just get up 10 minutes earlier.
 
Sleeve88 said:
I really dont understand people's problems with microwave meals.

I have been running a fat loss diet for the past 5 months roughly eating the exact diet plan I posted above. in that time I have lost 2 stone averaging around 2lb per week.
Click to expand...

Small in portion and generally not as good as they like to make out.

Yes, some people can stick with the good ones and make a loss, but they are rare.
If you are the sort of person who is always in a rush with limited time to cook/eat then it's all to easy to pick a different microwave meal and then another one and so the trap is sprung.

Cheaper and easier and for the majority of people it is easier to just cook your own food with better preparation.
 
Morba said:
Small in portion and generally not as good as they like to make out.

Yes, some people can stick with the good ones and make a loss, but they are rare.
If you are the sort of person who is always in a rush with limited time to cook/eat then it's all to easy to pick a different microwave meal and then another one and so the trap is sprung.

Cheaper and easier and for the majority of people it is easier to just cook your own food with better preparation.
Click to expand...

Maybe. but they are an option. For me personally, I don't get home till late. I whack the meal in the microwave and jump in the shower. By the time I'm out its ready to eat. No prep time needed. Plus the fat is dropping off.

Its certainly working for me :)
 
You could try roasting- potatoes, vegetables, and fish/chicken can all be cooked at once.

Also, get a George Foreman grill- it's the fastest way to cook red/white meat, which you really do need for the protein and healthy fats.

Otherwise try bulk cooking? A pasta salad can be lunch for 3-4 days, and plenty of meals e.g. cottage pie can be reheated for days and days.

No matter what anyone says, DO NOT buy microwave meals. They are packed full of salt and dangerous trans fats. Nothing healthy about them at all. If someone managed to loose weight on a microwave diet that just means they ate less calories than they burned. You could lose weight on a burger and chip diet if calories in < calories out.
 
i think there is loads wrong with your first post, sorry but this is my opinion.

what work do you do? why do you work such long hours with no lunch break? how many days are you working surely long days means days off in the week for extra prep? no time for breakfast, well thats one way to feel lousy all day, porridge takes 2 mins in the microwave and is very filling.

I'm sorry to sound harsh but you don't sound happy at all.
 
Cheers for the excellent advice thus far, it's been really helpful and I'll certainly be changing my schedule to fit in some proper meals.

In regards to the last reply... it does make you feel really awful and I work in IT support but the way I'm currently working keeps me busy pretty much all day.

Cheers folks. :eek:
 
Frozen chicken breast is about £4/kg so it's not too bad, and there's always thighs or legs.
 
Chicken isn't that bad if you get it from a butchers, pre-chopped stuff from supermarkets is expensive but you could cook a whole chicken, cut it up and reheat if you were so inclined.

I can get 3x200g diced chicken breast from my local butchers for a fiver which is pretty good.
 
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