Post op people only! Anyone in here that doesn't cook???

[xoxococojay 842]

So for those of you who don't cook or hate cooking. What do you eat typically? Just curious. I'm going through a phase where i just don't want to cook anything.

Do you have go to restaurants or not really? Or go to meals?

[Togunrinde 36]

I hated cooking prior to this process. It's part of what got me in trouble. But for me, what I've just recently gotten into that helps is a slow cooker. Throwing things into the pot in the morning and by the time it's dinner it's ready. Also having small things that pair well with others like deli meat and cream cheese or something like that that takes a couple seconds to put together. And then finally, I believe in leftovers because when we cook stuff it's almost like meal prepping because you have enough for the rest of the week! Which cuts down on the time cooking the rest of the week. Hopefully something in that helps

[SuperDave 1,115]

My wife and I work a LOT, so I'm not always in the mood to cook during the week when we get home. (I do all the cooking in our house.) I usually cook a roast or chicken in the pressure cooker or slow cooker on the weekends, then shred it use to top salads, heat up with veggies, use on a quesadilla with a low carb tortilla, etc. You can create a lot of quick meals with some basic prep work once a week, and more importantly it helps you avoid the restaurants.

[XYZXYZXYZ1955 675]

I'm two days from being post-op, but I've been reading posts on the site for a long time . . . one option is to get a whole cooked chicken from your supermarket and use that. There are a fair number of things that don't take a lot of prep (e.g., just heating up some refried Beans with cheese or having some tuna with light mayo).

The best option, I think, is to put meal-sized portions in the freezer whenever you cook something that's more than a meal. Less waste than putting it in the fridge and less boredom than eating the same thing for a week straight. And when you don't feel like cooking, just defrost and nuke.

[Gen17 92]

I've never been a big cook but I've been doing things in bulk to save for a few days or like everyone else said, using my crock pot prior to surgery. Also, I find I am more willing to cook and try yummy new things now that I am losing weight and wanting to stick with it!

[ttnurse 26]

hi, I sometimes order a healthy meal from the cafe at my job,they serve "clean eating" food.this can be divided into several meals.i eat a fair amount of peanuts that I have to shell the more work to get to the reward which in turns has me eating less,good protein.i sometimes substitute peanuts for a meal and keep moving along

Edited August 27, 2017 by ttnurse

[FluffyChix 17,418]

I see you are pre-op so that's a "whole 'nother world" from post WLS. Because, you still have the monkey on your back for portions and addiction to the foods that made us all fat, especially when it comes to eating easy, crap food that tastes delicious and packs a sh*t ton of fat/carb calories with them and the drive thru is a tempting, evil siren. My advice if THIS above scenario is actually your issue, then we all just have to suck it up buttercup and change the way we deal with food.

Now, if I'm wrong and instead it's because you have lost your appetite and desire for food as you move toward the WLS outcome, then I sincerely apologize and will help you brainstorm.

I second what everyone said about the crockpot and storebought rotisserie chicken especially post WLS, because crockpots are awesome for cooking things in moist heat so they will go down your new tummy better. But if even a crockpot sounds too gruesome for words with work, then you can think of many other pre-made foods from the grocery. I personally think some of them are full of hidden sugars/salts, but there are some jewels that work really well.

I tend to eat the same 2-3 things for Breakfast and lunch every day. It's easy. It's easy to track in MFP. And I'm not bored by them cuz they are just "expendable meals." I'm busy with work and other daily chores so am not counting on them to speak to my soul, just fuel my body and keep me from going off the deep end with hunger.

Breakfast:

1. omelet or egg scramble with Hillshire Farms Black Forest Ham or pre-cooked turkey sausage crumbles from Jimmy Dean, baby organic spinach/super greens trio, mushrooms, salsa.

2. Cottage Cheese/Greek Yogurt mixture (to keep the carbs down and get probiotics), frozen blueberries, 5g Fiber One Cereal

3. Green smoothie: scoop of banana cream Protein Powder, 1.5oz frozen chopped spinach, 1oz frozen blueberries, 5g whole psyllium husks, 12oz Water, 4-5 ice cubes=blend and drink. (Sometimes I add 6g vitacost Peanut Butter Slim Powder.)

Lunch:

1. salad + grilled or unbreaded Protein (you can get at any drive thru or make your own)

2. Lunch Wrap: Hillshire Farms deli meat, low fat mayo, organic spinach or chopped cabbage, low cal dressing, low carb tortilla

3. Green soup: 2c water, 1 1/2 tsp Better Than Bouillon, 100g chopped frozen greens-your choice, 2 mushrooms sliced, frozen squash or cauliflower (optional), 2oz diced protein (any kind), spices of your choice, hot pepper vinegar.

4. Sardines, mustard, pork skins and grape tomatoes

Dinner:

You can do anything, but essentially I grill/broil/pan saute a whole package of chicken on the weekend. I cook a lb or 2 of ground meat (turkey, chicken, lean beef, or pork), and usually make a pork loin cuz they are so dayum cheap. Once that is done, I can portion and freeze or leave in the fridge since there's 2 of us. So that's the meat. Once in awhile I will make a pot of chili, meat sauce for "spaghetti," and special Soups or stewps then portion and freeze for rainy, non-cooking meals.

I keep frozen veggies (broccoli and green beans), fresh veggies: salad stuff, grape tomatoes, avocados, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, etc cuz it takes 5 minutes to whip up a couple of servings of veggies at dinner.

I keeps sauces either made or bought to add to meat to jazz it up. I keep shiritaki rice and noodles to sub for Pasta.

Then beyond that I keep string cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan on hand along with cottage cheese, yogurt, hard boiled eggs. I keep packets of chicken, tuna, and salmon in the pantry. With all of that stuff, I'm able to get meals together in 10 minutes or less. That keeps me on the weight loss trail and living the dream as I work toward surgery. If you don't want to cook meat, look in the frozen foods at all the grilled basics like: fajita beef, grilled chicken, brisket, pulled pork--just read the labels for added sugar, carbs, and calories.

Hope this helps you!

[Apple203 1,314]

Lots of good ideas, there, FluffyChix! I'd also suggest purchasing an InstantPot -- it can do everything a crockpot does (and more), but in an hour. If you like cooking, Sous Vide is a great way to prepare fish, shrimp, chicken breasts.

[FluffyChix 17,418]

@Apple203 I want an InstantPot sooooo dang bad, it hurts!! you=luckkkky!

[shedo82773 1,236]

I LOVE my instant pot!! I can cook a pot of Beans in 55 minutes!! We took a tough Steak and added celery, onions, carrots and 1 small potato Put in for around 45 to 50 minutes. The tough meat just fell apart. It was yummy. Did I say I LOVED my instant pot!! I also have the air fryer which I really don't care for. I think it is because I haven't taken the time to use it. You can't beat those Instant Pot.

[FluffyChix 17,418]

@shedo82773 Would you mind writing a note to Mr. Fluffy telling him that I'm required to have an Instant Pot please? Your roasts sounds yummay!

[Berry78 4,261]

Open can of Soup or Beans, measure out portion, nuke for 1 minute.

[shedo82773 1,236]

59 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

@shedo82773 Would you mind writing a note to Mr. Fluffy telling him that I'm required to have an Instant Pot please? Your roasts sounds yummay!

You bet!!!! Not only would you benefit but so would Mr. Fluffy. You can tell him that Shedo82773 said you NEED it!!! LOL

[xoxococojay 842]

I see you are pre-op so that's a "whole 'nother world" from post WLS. Because, you still have the monkey on your back for portions and addiction to the foods that made us all fat, especially when it comes to eating easy, crap food that tastes delicious and packs a sh*t ton of fat/carb calories with them and the drive thru is a tempting, evil siren. My advice if THIS above scenario is actually your issue, then we all just have to suck it up buttercup and change the way we deal with food.
Now, if I'm wrong and instead it's because you have lost your appetite and desire for food as you move toward the WLS outcome, then I sincerely apologize and will help you brainstorm.
I second what everyone said about the crockpot and storebought rotisserie chicken especially post WLS, because crockpots are awesome for cooking things in moist heat so they will go down your new tummy better. But if even a crockpot sounds too gruesome for words with work, then you can think of many other pre-made foods from the grocery. I personally think some of them are full of hidden sugars/salts, but there are some jewels that work really well.
I tend to eat the same 2-3 things for breakfast and lunch every day. It's easy. It's easy to track in MFP. And I'm not bored by them cuz they are just "expendable meals." I'm busy with work and other daily chores so am not counting on them to speak to my soul, just fuel my body and keep me from going off the deep end with hunger.
Breakfast:
1. omelet or egg scramble with Hillshire Farms Black Forest Ham or pre-cooked turkey sausage crumbles from Jimmy Dean, baby organic spinach/super greens trio, mushrooms, salsa.
2. Cottage Cheese/Greek Yogurt mixture (to keep the carbs down and get probiotics), frozen blueberries, 5g Fiber One Cereal
3. Green smoothie: scoop of banana cream Protein powder, 1.5oz frozen chopped spinach, 1oz frozen blueberries, 5g whole psyllium husks, 12oz Water, 4-5 ice cubes=blend and drink. (Sometimes I add 6g vitacost Peanut Butter Slim Powder.)
Lunch:
1. salad + grilled or unbreaded protein (you can get at any drive thru or make your own)
2. Lunch Wrap: Hillshire Farms deli meat, low fat mayo, organic spinach or chopped cabbage, low cal dressing, low carb tortilla
3. Green soup: 2c water, 1 1/2 tsp Better Than Bouillon, 100g chopped frozen greens-your choice, 2 mushrooms sliced, frozen squash or cauliflower (optional), 2oz diced protein (any kind), spices of your choice, hot pepper vinegar.
4. Sardines, mustard, pork skins and grape tomatoes
Dinner:
You can do anything, but essentially I grill/broil/pan saute a whole package of chicken on the weekend. I cook a lb or 2 of ground meat (turkey, chicken, lean beef, or pork), and usually make a pork loin cuz they are so dayum cheap. Once that is done, I can portion and freeze or leave in the fridge since there's 2 of us. So that's the meat. Once in awhile I will make a pot of chili, meat sauce for "spaghetti," and special Soups or stewps then portion and freeze for rainy, non-cooking meals.
I keep frozen veggies (broccoli and green beans), fresh veggies: salad stuff, grape tomatoes, avocados, zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, onions, asparagus, etc cuz it takes 5 minutes to whip up a couple of servings of veggies at dinner.< br> I keeps sauces either made or bought to add to meat to jazz it up. I keep shiritaki rice and noodles to sub for Pasta.< br> Then beyond that I keep string cheese, cheddar, mozzarella, Parmesan on hand along with cottage cheese, yogurt, hard boiled eggs. I keep packets of chicken, tuna, and salmon in the pantry. With all of that stuff, I'm able to get meals together in 10 minutes or less. That keeps me on the weight loss trail and living the dream as I work toward surgery. If you don't want to cook meat, look in the frozen foods at all the grilled basics like: fajita beef, grilled chicken, brisket, pulled pork--just read the labels for added sugar, carbs, and calories.
Hope this helps you!

Nope. I'm post op, that's why i don't want to hear from pre-op people on this one. Sleeved back in december. Honestly what i think im going to do is order from fitness meal delivery services. I think someone else mentioned that. But there are websites like munchery, metabolic meals, flex pro, nuvision etc that make high protein low carb healthy meals already cooked delivered. And one meal will last me all day or two days.

But i'm loving all your suggestions. I'm just being super duper lazy lol. I actually love to cook. I just despise cooking for half a person lol.

[xoxococojay 842]

Open can of Soup or Beans, measure out portion, nuke for 1 minute.

Super easy suggestion....i like it!!!