Hi, im TJ. Im a workaholic. Im also 3 months out of surgery.

I generally don't have a lot of time to cook - I work between 60-70 hours a week, sometimes 6-7 days a week. The bright side to this is that my cafeteria has an amazing a la carte salad bar. For the past two months I have been eating this:

Breakfast: 8oz 2% Milk w/ Muscle Milk Light powder

Lunch: 4 oz grilled chicken (they use different spices every week - sometimes cajun, asian etc. Always grilled and skinless) sprinkled with either low fat shredded mozz or parm.

Dinner: Exact same as lunch because I get double the portions and eat it at around 7 (i work till 9pm).

I don't mind the repetition - I went to military school for a long time and learned to tolerate any food for any amount of time.

My problem lies on my day(s) off. When I do have time off, I find that I dont cook at all. In fact, I rarely eat on my days off. Its not uncommon for me to just not eat the entire day (or two when I get back to back days off).

So the question is - with my limited cooking experience (Ramen/Pasta) what can I cook that is nutritious? Im looking for high Protein, low carb, low fat (15-20+ protein, <10 carb, <10 fat) foods that are easy, quick and relatively decent tasting. So far, I have not found any food that I cannot tolerate (with the exception of bread).

In addition, I dont have many cooking utensils (i used to eat out A LOT prior to surgery). The best I can do is a microwave and toaster oven (albeit a pretty large one.. holds a 12" pizza with room to spare).

Lets hear the ideas

I have not really looked into the crockpot at all (ive never used one). Though that does sounds like an interesting idea. But arent crockpots used for stews and casseroles?

I have not really looked into the crockpot at all (ive never used one). Though that does sounds like an interesting idea. But arent crockpots used for stews and casseroles?

You can use them for that. You can cook just about anything in them. You can toss some steaks, chicken, ect. Lots of recipes for the crockpot & very sleeve friendly. Ther's a few crockpot recipes in the recipe section.

There's one off the top of my head

Place chicken breast in crockpot & cover with a jar of salsa. Cook for 4-6 hours depends on the crockpot.

You can put just about any saeasoning on it. I find lots of receipes on pinterest crockpot recipes.

Crockpots are wonderful for moist, tender meat. I do the salsa chicken mentioned above. I also throw some carrots, celery and onions in the bottom of a crockpot, add a whole small roasting chicken that i have seasoned and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hrs on low. Doesn't get browned, but it's so moist and yummy. Great for pulling off the bone and munching on or cooling down and making salads with.

I do roasts, pork chops, etc also. I bought one with a meat thermometer that cuts itself back to warm when the meat reaches temp.

crockpots are great for busy people.

Crockpots are wonderful for moist' date=' tender meat. I do the salsa chicken mentioned above. I also throw some carrots, celery and onions in the bottom of a crockpot, add a whole small roasting chicken that i have seasoned and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hrs on low. Doesn't get browned, but it's so moist and yummy. Great for pulling off the bone and munching on or cooling down and making salads with.

I do roasts, pork chops, etc also. I bought one with a meat thermometer that cuts itself back to warm when the meat reaches temp.

crockpots are great for busy people.[/quote']

I need a crockpot like that.

A great snack food to have around (or if you're going to a party or event) is the hungry girl buffalo chicken dip recipe. I think it's somewhere in this board, I probably posted it at least once. It was one of my go-tos when I was still on purees/mushies. YUM!

I second the eggs. When I'm in a pinch ill have a quesadilla (cheese taco) and for extra protein I throw some shrimp in there. If you have a whole foods near by their deli has an awesome selection of ready made dishes, the blackened chicken is my fav.

You can use them for that. You can cook just about anything in them. You can toss some steaks' date=' chicken, ect. Lots of recipes for the crockpot & very sleeve friendly. Ther's a few crockpot recipes in the recipe section.

There's one off the top of my head

Place chicken breast in crockpot & cover with a jar of salsa. Cook for 4-6 hours depends on the crockpot.

You can put just about any saeasoning on it. I find lots of receipes on pinterest crockpot recipes.[/quote']

I just made this tonight and it was awesome! My kids put it on tortillas for tacos but I just had the chicken. Yummy!

Crockpots are wonderful for moist' date=' tender meat. I do the salsa chicken mentioned above. I also throw some carrots, celery and onions in the bottom of a crockpot, add a whole small roasting chicken that i have seasoned and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hrs on low. Doesn't get browned, but it's so moist and yummy. Great for pulling off the bone and munching on or cooling down and making salads with.

I do roasts, pork chops, etc also. I bought one with a meat thermometer that cuts itself back to warm when the meat reaches temp.

crockpots are great for busy people.[/quote']

How do you prepare your pork chops in the crock pot.

I didn't think I would ever be able to eat pork anymore.

How do you prepare your pork chops in the crock pot.

I didn't think I would ever be able to eat pork anymore.

I made some in the crockpot last weekend & my family loved it.

I sprayed crockpot w pam, seasoned the porkchops (no bone in), poured 2 cans of cream of chkn Soup over them, abt 1/4 can of Water.

I cooked 3/4 pkg of bacon, then chopped it

Sm onion chopped

New potatoes (cut)

Layer bacon, onion, potatoes, bacon, onion, potatoes over porkchops. Cook abt 5-6 hours or until potaoes are done. (season potatoes)

Top with cheese & green onion.

I made some in the crockpot last weekend & my family loved it.

I sprayed crockpot w pam' date=' seasoned the porkchops (no bone in), poured 2 cans of cream of chkn soup over them, abt 1/4 can of Water.

I cooked 3/4 pkg of bacon, then chopped it

Sm onion chopped

New potatoes (cut)

Layer bacon, onion, potatoes, bacon, onion, potatoes over porkchops. Cook abt 5-6 hours or until potaoes are done. (season potatoes)

Top with cheese & green onion.[/quote']

I will be cooking this tomorrow....I'm a month out....sounds yummy

Place chicken breast in crockpot & cover with a jar of salsa. Cook for 4-6 hours depends on the crockpot.

You can put just about any saeasoning on it. I find lots of receipes on pinterest crockpot recipes.

been making this for yearsssss. I like to use leftovers for soup, gives it a southwest kinda flavor. Like tortilla soup (wo tortillas). add in whatever veggies you like, the left overs and some chicken stock. Let is simmer and it's a brand new meal!

I made some in the crockpot last weekend & my family loved it.

I sprayed crockpot w pam' date=' seasoned the porkchops (no bone in), poured 2 cans of cream of chkn soup over them, abt 1/4 can of Water.

I cooked 3/4 pkg of bacon, then chopped it

Sm onion chopped

New potatoes (cut)

Layer bacon, onion, potatoes, bacon, onion, potatoes over porkchops. Cook abt 5-6 hours or until potaoes are done. (season potatoes)

Top with cheese & green onion.[/quote']

Now that sounds scrumptious! Wow, I'm on purees and can't wait to try that.

I made some in the crockpot last weekend & my family loved it.

I sprayed crockpot w pam' date=' seasoned the porkchops (no bone in), poured 2 cans of cream of chkn soup over them, abt 1/4 can of Water.

I cooked 3/4 pkg of bacon, then chopped it

Sm onion chopped

New potatoes (cut)

Layer bacon, onion, potatoes, bacon, onion, potatoes over porkchops. Cook abt 5-6 hours or until potaoes are done. (season potatoes)

Top with cheese & green onion.[/quote']

Now that sounds scrumptious! Wow, I'm on purees and can't wait to try that.

Updates:

So I ended up following a few suggestions. The chicken and burgers from costco are wonderful. I got the ones that are already cooked and I just throw them in the microwave for a few and theyre ready to eat.

Teriyaki and Roasted Garlic chicken breasts are great! Also, the lean burgers are good too - but I tend to stick with the chicken. I also get frozen green Beans and throw them on top of whatever im microwaving and they get some of the flavor on them and arent bad.

Still havent gotten around to getting a crockpot or a foreman grill or anything of that nature, but im sure I will get around to it eventually.