Hello, Fellow Sleevers!

I'm just looking for some new ideas to go to when I haven't planned a meal (sometimes it happens). So far I go for a 'Lunchables' and ditch the crackers. I'll eat the meat and cheese only, dip them in some mustard, and sometimes throw in some fruit or Protein chips if I'm really hungry, but that's getting old. I love to cook, but I'm single and my new pouch is even more wasteful of prepared foods so I've been trying to learn how to freeze/reheat. My question is: What are some tricks of the trade for quickie meals?

Down 35lbs. as of today! WOO HOO!

I'm pre-op, and know you asked for post-op answers, but I have some ideas I'm planning to integrate into my life post-op. For example, I'm going make large batches of things like lentil Soup and then freeze them in ice cube trays. That way I won't have to thaw a whole big tupperware container if I want to reheat something. I can just pop two or three cubes into a put and warm, then maybe add some pumpkin seed Protein. I think having pre-made, home-cooked food is going to make eating clean a lot easier.

If you are pressed for time during the week like I am, then you can make, say, a pot of chili or soup on the weekend and freeze individual portions in small, glass containers. This way, I can grab and go. I use glass containers because I don't like to microwave food in plastic. You can freeze so many different foods. It sure makes planning/packing my food for the day (to take to work) quicker and easier in the mornings. You can buy individually wrapped string cheese and those little tuna pouches. Those make for a quick and easy high Protein meal or snack. There are so many high protein foods that come in individual portions now - even peanut butter!

Congrats on the 35 pounds gone!

Lately, one of my favorite quick meals is 1 egg and 1/4 cup black Beans undrained. I like my egg over easy but you could do it scrambled.

Honeysuckle brand makes precooked Italian Style Meatballs. They are very good and very soft. I pop a couple in the microwave and put a little marinara sauce on them. Very good!

I usually have the following sometime during every week:

• Wendy's Chilli
• Wendy's 1/2 Apple Pecan chicken salad (higher in calories than some things, but good taste and source of protein)
• KFC Grilled Chicken Breast and green beans--No bread
• Hot & Sour Soup from Chinese restaurant--good amount of Protein
• 3 turkey meatballs in spaghetti sauce (no Pasta, buy pre-cooked and warm up in store bought sauce)

I eat the following every day for snacks:

• P3 (Oscar Meyer prepackaged turkey or ham, almonds or peanuts, cheddar or co-jack cheese) only 160 calories, 13 protein grams, 3 grams carbs)
• Chobani Greek Yogurt, Simply 100 (12 grams protein, 15 gram carbs)
• sugar free popsicles

I am 5 months out. 99% of the time i pack a lunchbag for every where i go... here are some items that i pack for the "on to go": Water, Protein shake, String cheese, greek yogurt, cooked cold chicken or chicken salad (very little lite mayo) with a slice of Am cheese, peeled apple slices w/peanut butter, unsweeten apple sauce w/protein powder added into it, or nuts... and once in awhile i will pack a Protein Bar if i am in a jam... If i am going to be out all day on the go, i make sure i have something for every few hours... IF its for the work week, i will have something to heat up normally leftovers or a small spring mix salad with chicken salad or some other meat... or add some edamame to it... YUM!!

As far as cooking & food -I have an egg white with a slice of LF am cheese for breakfast (this is my go to thing when i am hugry & dont really feel like cooking... )

1/2 a snow crab heat it up in the oven for 10mins. most time i cant eat the whole thing so i will add the rest of the meat to a salad or something.,

Shrimp is another quick & fast meal - i get a 1/2 pound of shrimp - cook them on the stove with some spices and there will be left overs... this is also great over some spring mixed salad (i just started salads a week or so ago so i am on a little bit of a kick with this)

When i buy steak... i cut it into 3rds wrap them up & put in a freezer bag, i take out what i want & cook only that 2 or 3 oz... add a veggie or salad and poof you have dinner in less then 15 mins. (i do the same thing with Chicken... some garlic powder, little lemon juice, some parm shaky cheese) that way i have enough for my meal & little left overs for lunch.

IF on that rare outing i dont have my lunch bag, i will stop at WAWA & get something from there, like chicken, or fruit, cheese stick... nuts..

Congrats on your 35lbs!!

I have plenty of go to foods I turn too. The one thing I buy the most will have to be Michigan Brand Old Fashion Goodness Small Curd Cottage cheese 4% milk fat minimum. Its 14 grams of Protein, 3 grams of carbs, 120 calories, and 5 grams of fat.

I also eat a lot of chicken as well. Lately I have been on a fruit kick. Love eggs, and chicken sausages. Also when I am craving a burger, i make chicken burgers and eat them naked with mustard, hard cheese, tomato and avocado. I hardly ever eat bread. Also I LOVE fresh hummus.

I always have yogurt, eggs, little pouches of tuna, and Trader Joe's frozen meatballs on hand. My standby for when I've been too lazy to plan is scrambled eggs (1 egg + 1 egg white + a little cheese). But sometimes I'll make tuna salad, have a couple of those meatballs, or have some yogurt with peanut butter or PB2 stirred in.

Thank you for all of these ideas!!

You can get eggs or the like at a 7-11.

Here are my staples....

Egg

Jimmy Dean Turkey Sausage Patties

Sharp Cheddar cheese

Fat Free Refried Beans

Deli meat - turkey and roast beef

Roasted chicken breast (I cook a couple on a Sunday afternoon and use them during the week)

Frozen Strawberries for shakes

One of my go-to meals when I want a treat (when doc approves) - one carb balance tortilla shell, spread some BBQ Sauce and add some of the roasted chicken. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes (watch it closely - it burns fast). Heavenly!

Sounds like we all have a lot of the same staples. For me it's...

cheese sticks

Sliced cheese

Deli meat

Greek yogurt

Mixed nuts

Tuna packets

eggs

Bananas and various berries to add to shakes

Individually frozen 1/8 pound burger patties

Frozen turkey sausages

Edamame

powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored Protein powder

Premier Protein chocolate and vanilla

Garden of Life Raw Protein

Syntrax nectar powder

I also always have a batch of homemade protein pancakes frozen for weekend breakfasts.

On work days I eat Breakfast in the truck, so I just made quick on the go quiche squares. Basically mixed 8 eggs, spinach dip mix, spinach, Swiss cheese, turkey sausage, skim milk, 2 scoops unflavored Protein Powder, and a bit of pancake mix....poured into a 9"x9" pan and baked at 375 for 30min. Cut into 16 squares and froze individually. I just heat them in the microwave for 30 seconds, grab and go. The pancake batter made them set up so I don't need utensils.

I will have to try those quiche squares. They sound yummy.

I'm not much of a cook, and I have the tendency to forget to bring anything with me to eat when I go to work. I've found that I can go to Golden Corral and get one of their take out containers and fill it with meats that they have available. It has never cost me very much, averaging around $2.25, and the variety is great. Some days I add fruit and veggies, but mainly Protein. These containers usually will last me for 2 meals.

I do keep some Premier Protein chocolate drinks at work, so if I absolutely do not want to go out, I won't have to. I also keep some bacon Jerky available at work for a quick snack.

Congrats on your 35 lbs ! Woo hoo ! Way to go ! I dont do well with eggs but my hubby loved these Breakfast Bites- preheat oven to 450, grease a muffin tin very well. In each well put 3 slightly defrosted tater tots and squish them down to make a crust. Bake 10 mins. Reduce oven to 350, sprinkle tater tots with cooked meats of your choice, plus chopped veggies, sprinkle with cheese. Whip together 8 eggs and 1/4 cup milk. Pour over each well, add salt and pepper. Bake 20 mins, then slide a fork under each to pop out of the muffin tin. Let cool, store in freezer. Easy to grab and microwave on busy days. Good luck !

Congrats on your 35 lbs ! Woo hoo ! Way to go ! I dont do well with eggs but my hubby loved these Breakfast Bites- preheat oven to 450, grease a muffin tin very well. In each well put 3 slightly defrosted tater tots and squish them down to make a crust. Bake 10 mins. Reduce oven to 350, sprinkle tater tots with cooked meats of your choice, plus chopped veggies, sprinkle with cheese. Whip together 8 eggs and 1/4 cup milk. Pour over each well, add salt and pepper. Bake 20 mins, then slide a fork under each to pop out of the muffin tin. Let cool, store in freezer. Easy to grab and microwave on busy days. Good luck !