Hey everyone! I need some advice on food....

I'm a college student living in downtown Chicago with 2 roommates.... all of us are super busy between working & full time design school and never ever have time to cook. We eat & restaurants and occassionally fast food joints... ... EVERY DAY.

This habit is working against my band. Does anyone have advice on good food ideas for people w/lapbands who cant/dont have the time to cook?? Any ideas on quick carryouts that aren't too damaging?

P.S. It's even harder because I can't opt for the normal "healthy choice" of a salad.. lettuce really hurts my stomach since I've had the band =(

How about buying some frozen dinners (Lean Cuisine, Trader Joe's, etc.) that you can just pop in the microwave? There are lots of healthy, band-friendly choices available. I like Trader Joe's chicken with lemongrass and chicken masala. Lean Cuisine's Pasta choices are pretty good -- not as good as cooking pasta yourself, but for those days when you don't even have time to boil Water, they're a decent choice.

Too bad about the salads. Maybe in a few weeks you'll be able to eat one without the same difficulty.

You know I was talking about this w/ Penni, I hate that I can't eat salads, I used to love them, now with the band, I can't eat them at all, what's up w/ that. I have no problems wolfing down pie or cake, but can't eat something that's healthy for me? go figure?

P.S. It's even harder because I can't opt for the normal "healthy choice" of a salad.. lettuce really hurts my stomach since I've had the band =(

If you look carefully, not all salads are a good choice anyway. The blt salad at wendy's has like 50 gms of fat! I get fast food at work too, but I throw out the bun and toppings, and eat just the meat. I can't do french fries so no issue there, I eat the innerds of things, and skip mayo, and/or cheese when I can. I like taco bell for the zesty chicken bowl and pinto's and cheese, I like the yogurt parfait from Mcd's, and the grilled chicken off the sandwich... if you look carefully you can find semi-decent choices at most places.

Watch the movie Super Size Me, you wont want to eat fast food again! I know I dont!!

I'm in the same spot you're in. I can't do salad either and I used to love them. I never ate fast food salads though - they have LOADS of fat and calories. At most fast food places now I'll get a chicken nugget kid's meal. I can't eat the fries, but a lot of places have substitute sides for kids like applesauce or orange slices. It's not the healthiest thing in the world, but if I get stuck at a fast food joint, it's better than the full adult size burger and fries meal I used to get! I also go to Subway a lot and eat the meat and veggies off the sandwich without the bread. That's as close as I can get to a salad now.

I'm a sonic fan...perhaps you could get a grilled chicken sandwich, they do have them at most places...good luck...I also agree with Zoe about the frozen dinners. They are great!

I'm a full time student and I work part time too. I try to cook a large meal and freeze the leftovers so I can just grab something quickly.

If my first fill is anything to gague my new life, I think cooking a regular meal and freezing it would give me 18 different meals! Yikes!

Many of the fast food chains now offer healthy alternatives..its all about choices, if you are forced to eat fast food, pick the most healthiest on the menu, all fast food chains have web sites to show the caloric, fat, protein of each menu item. We used to eat fast food atleast 2-3x's a week before I had my band, now it is once a month if that and when I do eat fast food I usually order a salad or a grilled chicken sandwich w/out the bread or a cheeseburger protein stlye, no bun..no fries & no soda either.

please somebody tell me what to do about have a normal bowel movement.I drink about a gallon of water a day, and it is still not helping me........please help

chili and/or chicken nuggets from wendys. chili has tons of protein!!!

Example: a "healthy" salad at Mcdonalds has the same calories as a Big Mac. Hmmmm if you want to eat a sald premake one for the next day. Chicken Nuggets?? ugh The whole chick minus the bones, bleached, protien or not thats gross! and Fries?? omg it could take months before thoes things break down, something I dont want to put in my system.

Dont get me wrong I ate this stuff all the time.. thats where most of the 335lbs came from. But now I just look more deeper in it.

3 letters come to mind KFC

Really they have mushy food and everything else. Not fast food to me in fact it takes forever to get your meal some times. You can eat healthy at most chicken places if you know what to order.

I have been craving mashed potato with gravy since being banded 7 days ago.

I've got some bad news for you.

I've been banded a long time now, and fast food just really isn't an option.

Plus, it's what got you to where you are today so why feed the little monster.

I might sound preachy but bear with me.

The band is only a tool and it forces you to change your habits, and your life. Eating on the run is bad bad bad. You get too hungry and eat too fast, you don't make the best choices, you tend to overeat, you get cravings for more fast food because you just ate fast food.

It's time to stop the madness and take the time to take care of yourself by eating well. That means that eating takes planning and patience.

A few tips-

instead of hitting the fast food places, hit the grocery store. Find one with a great deli and you might find some better choices.

A rotissieri chicken goes a long, long way. you can even eat the leftovers cold.

mix the breast parts with some low cal/fat mayo and add some little chunks of peeled apple and wala- chicken salad.

put together little snack bags of snacky foods- soy nuts, etc. to eat on the go

Lunchable little crackers with cheese and meat things are awesome- but watch the calories on the ones with the drink and Cookies and other crap kids don't really need either in them.

Ok, I think I'm done preaching. It's hard. It's a struggle. You'll learn what works and what doesn't. Your life will change for the better even though you will wonder.

Good luck.

Megan