Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

[punkett]

I go back to school next wednesday, will have classes 5 days a week also working 40hrs. Does anyone have easy on the go meal ideas, day 6 of owl.

[not2late]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

I go back to school next wednesday, will have classes 5 days a week also working 40hrs. Does anyone have easy on the go meal ideas, day 6 of owl.

Set aside a couple of hours every weekend to do "batch" cooking for yourself.

I grill chicken breasts, about 6 of them, on Sunday morning. They are only seasoned with salt and pepper so that I can use them in other "fast" dishes during the week. For example, I can cube the grilled chicken breast and make it into a chicken salad. I can slice the chicken breast and toss that with a salad. I can slice the chicken breast and add that in the last few minutes of a stir fry. I can slice the chicken breast for a "fajita", etc. If I want chicken soup, I can shredd the chicken breast and add it to hot chicken broth and veggies.

If you eat eggs, you might want to make a quiche on the weekend or at least boil a dozen eggs and keep them in the frig for quick snacking (devilled eggs) or for an addition to a salad. Boiled eggs can also be used in a quick light supper, you can make a quick cheese sauce from an ounce or two of cream cheese melted with alittle water to that sauce and pour it over the top of the sliced boiled eggs, sprinkle that with grated parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese and broil it until everything is hot and the cheese is slightly melted.

If you want to be really organized you can purchase plastic freezable/microwaveable containers. When you have leftovers, say, a leftover chop or roast beef, you can put a portion in the container along with a cooked veggie. And freeze it for your own "frozen dinner". Be sure to label the contents and date it.

Meatloaf is a good make-ahead and eat later meal. In the Cooking/Chat section we have a thread about burger toppings, I posted that I sometimes put the toppings inside of the burger. The poster told me that how they make their meatloaf---which sounds perfectly reasonable to me. You can make individual mini-stuffed meatloaves and freeze them to heat and eat at a later time.

Another great convenience is frozen burger patties.

For veggies, you can portion out salad veggies into baggies so you can easily grab and go. Since you are in OWL, you can eat your veggies in a variety of satisfying vegetable soups---very freezable, very portable and very re-heatable.

If you go out to a restaurant, don't be afraid to take home your leftovers (you've paid for them!). Leftovers can be re-heated for lunch or supper the next day.

I'm sure others will have suggestions too. But the best advice I can give you is to make the time to prepare.

[Kent]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

Megs' chicken idea is one of my staples as well as preslicing all my onions and peppers in one prep session for two or three days. I also have batches of all my spices (like for fajitas and Mexican) ready to go. That way cooking becomes just putting the ingredients together and not a long series of cutting and chopping. I also get all my prep dishes done, and weeknight dishes are usually just plates and a single pan.

[ChixRule]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

You guys SOOO rock! When I started Atkins back in December, I was so organized. I used to cook alot on Sundays as well, so I would be prepared for the upcoming week. I'm sorry to say that I've really slacked off on food preparation tho. Bad Kim! I'm just so fickle on what I feel like eating, it's hard for me to plan ahead.

Kent's point about just having plates to clean up on weekdays... that appeals to me GREATLY. I don't mind cooking, but I hate destroying my kitchen every night that I cook.

You guys have given me ideas of things I wasn't doing before. So thanks!!!

[cleochatra]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

Definitely awesome ideas on this thread! I agree, Kim!

I'd also like to add that scrambled eggs keep well and heat up VERY nicely in the microhoovie!

In the past I've usually made a huge Tex-mex omelet in the morning and then refrigerate the leftovers for the next couplf of days. Saran wrap keeps it moist. What makes eggs nasty is when they dry out. With saran wrap, I've never had an egg go crispyola!

[Finelly]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

I'm a teacher with four kids, so I can relate to your schedule. In addition to teaching a full day, I spend several hours a night planning, which is like a second job, lol.

I cook every Sunday during the school year (during the summer it was Friday). I put all of my breakfast and lunch and snack things in tupperware and ziplock baggies so I can just grab and go in the morning. Here's what I packed for each day last week:

- tupperware containers with 2 devilled eggs each
- ziplock baggies with 15 black olives and 1 slice smoked turkey each
- tupperware containers with 1/2 cup chopped cucumber topped with 1 teaspoon blue cheese dressing
- tupperware containers with pumpkin souffle
- tupperware containers with 1/2 cup sliced, fried zuchini topped with parmesan (can be heated up quickly)
- tupperware containers with crustless quiche
- ziplock baggies containing 1 drumstick, roasted with herbs

It worked. I was never hungry, always had energy, and never craved any of the cake and stuff the other teachers brought in.

Also, I packed 5 bottles of water to bring to school and drink. If you find that is too heavy to carry around, take one, and refill at the water fountains.

[greeneyedgemini]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

Pumpkin souffle sounds good What is it?

[Finelly]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

Pumpkin souffle:

4 eggs, separated
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large can pumpkin
pumpkin pie spice and splenda to taste
2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix egg yolks, spices, cream, pumpkin, vanilla and splenda together.

Beat the egg whites until stiff.

Gently fold into the pumpkin mixture.,

Pour into a greased round or square baking pan.

Bake at about 375 until firm.

Can be eaten cold or hot.

[greeneyedgemini]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

Sounds awesome! I think I'll have to make some tonight now

Thank you!!

[dreamof145]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

I also cut up my celery,onion,green-peppers and put into baggies for the week. When I'm making a salad, I grab a baggie and add it. It is easy, quick and no mess.

On the weekends, I cook chicken, meatballs, soup, stir-fry or casseroles and freeze in tupperware containers for my tv dinner meals. This way, I can portion myself or have a ready-made meal in record time.

The weekend cooking doesn't have to be time-consuming either. I cook as I clean and do laundry. It usually takes me about 2 hours on the weekend and I'm ready for the whole week ahead.

[not2late]

Re: Busy schedule need easy meal ideas

The weekend cooking doesn't have to be time-consuming either. I cook as I clean and do laundry. It usually takes me about 2 hours on the weekend and I'm ready for the whole week ahead.

Definitely. There are a few foods you'll have to sit and watch while they cook. Many foods you don't. You don't even have to watch eggs boil either. Just put the eggs in a pan, fill it with water,bring to a boil and cover the pan and remove from heat. Let it sit undisturbed for 30 minutes and the eggs are hard boiled.

If you cook meat loaf or quiche, you just toss it in the oven, put the timer on, and when it buzzes 30-35 minutes later, you take it out. While that is cooking you can sort laundry, wash your hair, brush your teeth, wash dishes, etc.

Anyhow....

I've cooked a lamb stew for dinner tonight. I ate a portion of the stew and I've put the remaining portions in the freezer, labelled and dated, for later this week or next week. So that means I have 5 meals I just have to remove from the freezer and heat when I'm ready to eat.