Hello All:

I have a few ideas in mind, but for those of you have returned to work - I'd like your advice. When I return to work Monday, I'll be on day 13 and want to make sure I shop for the right items to have at work and on hand. There's a lot of messed up food items in the facility where I work, from co-workers to the cafeteria and I want to be armed and ready!

These are the items I'm told I can have and want your help with adding to it or making it easier for travel - I have my own fridge & microwave:

Water, sugar free Jell-O, Sugar free popsicles, chicken, beef or vegetable stock broth (low sodium is a better choice)

Crystal Light, Minute Maid Lite, Diet Snapple

Reduced sugar yogurt, Sugar free pudding, Creamy Soups (cream of potato, cream of broccoli, cream of tomato)

STRAIN ALL CHUNKS FROM SOUP;

Protein shakes

eggs – prepared any way, taking small bites and chew thoroughly. “Soft Cheeses” -cottage cheese. -soft cheddar, -soft mozzarella, Soy, Tofu, Hummus

Mashed potatoes regular or sweet- limit your volume to ½-1 cup/day

Cream of wheat; Cream of rice; oatmeal – No brown sugar or honey; Grits; Farina;

Edited October 17, 200817 yr by NFaith

Instead of straining the chucks from the soup and that is the nourishment put it all in a blender and make if a nice thick smooth soup. Then put this in a container. I love the ones with the screw on lids. Take that with you to work and pop in the microwave. I sometimes sprinkle a bit of fat free shredded cheese on top for a bit more protein.

I agree, I think that soups and protein shakes are your best bet for work. I will be dealing with the same issue a week later but I will be in the mushie stage.

Thanks! I have been making soups for lunch daily and haven't strained them at all. I've just put the cream soups in the blender and then warmed in microwave. Never thought about taking them to work and I have plenty of these small containers with lids! And sprinkling with cheese sounds awesome! Thank you.

You are lucky you have a microwave and your own refrigerator!!! I was faced with the same dilemma as you and ended up just taking 2 Slimfast to work. Yuck, but no decisions to be made. Good luck.

Mimi

One thing my doctor let me have at that phase was chunk light tuna in water (the itty-bitty pieces). I lived on tuna.

Water, sugar free Jell-O, Sugar free popsicles, chicken, beef or vegetable stock broth (low sodium is a better choice)

Crystal Light, Minute Maid Lite, Diet Snapple

Reduced sugar yogurt, Sugar free pudding, Creamy soups (cream of potato, cream of broccoli, cream of tomato)

STRAIN ALL CHUNKS FROM SOUP;

Protein shakes

eggs – prepared any way, taking small bites and chew thoroughly. “Soft Cheeses” -cottage cheese. -soft cheddar, -soft mozzarella, Soy, Tofu, Hummus

Mashed potatoes regular or sweet- limit your volume to ½-1 cup/day

Cream of wheat; Cream of rice; Oatmeal – No brown sugar or honey; Grits; Farina;

On the Protein Shakes, add things to make them treats. I enjoyed chocolate powder with a tbl of Peanut Butter whizzed up in it. Or chocolate powder, SF Kahlua syrup and ice - nicely close to a mudslide. Or vanilla powder made with half OJ, half milk, and a packet of sweetner of choice. Or matcha powder and SF frozen yogurt. Or vanilla poweder with fresh berries (all whizzed up, of course). Much more satisfying than the standard Protein Drink, and something I often looked forward to.

Take your eggs and make egg salad. Mmm.

Ask if you can have refried Beans. Usually around the time you can have eggs, you can also have beans. A nice bowl of beans with sour cream, cheese, salsa verde -- yum.

I eat tofu a few times a week. One of my fav ways to have it is Thai style. Marinate it at least 24 hours in a combo of OJ, brown sugar, sesame oil, spicy peanut sauce, honey, chili paste and ginger. Then just cook on a hot non-stick gridle or pan. Carmelize the remaining marinade & serve over the tofu.

A tip for tofu - this throws everyone (who is new to tofu) off. Do not buy "silken" tofu, even if it says "silken firm". It's soft, designed to be more of a dairy substitute than an eat-alone item. If you want to cook it like a piece of meat, buy extra firm and press it on paper towels (using weights if you have time) to get as much of the water out, but make sure you're working with a kind that doesn't say "silken".

If you hcan have tuna, then tuna, mayo, white/northern beans, white vinegar, red onion and a pinch of rosemary is the perfect lunch.

Or make regular tuna (the cheapo can kind has more protein than the premium white albacore in a pouch, usually) salad, put it on a nonstick pan and "fry" it up, then top with cheddar & let melt. Like a breadless tuna melt.

If you're on the go, the smaller size of tuna pouches, a few packs of condiment mayo, and a plastic fork is all you need.

One of my fav travel/on the go meals -- buy turkey pepperoni. Microwave it on paper towels until it stops sizzling, but isn't burning... about 3 min in my microwave. As soon as it comes out, blot it dry with more paper towels and let them cool. The fat will cook out (they're low fat to begin with, high protein) and you'll be left with a very crunchy pepperoni "chip". Very tasty with some garden veggie cream cheese, or cottage cheese.

Hope this helps.

I'm not there yet, but I would think hard-boiled eggs would be good for those times you might feel hungry and need Protein quick.

What about white chili? You could avoid the chicken and puree the Beans. I plan to make that for a book club get together and just avoid the chicken. Others will eat it I'm sure!

What's up with them outlawing brown sugar oatmeal? That's the ONLY way to eat it! :smile2: What about the "weight control" Quaker oatmeal?

I guess soft mozzerella would be string cheese? If so, that is always good.

You are fortunate to get so much time off work! I'm only taking off three days! :thumbup:

~~anne

Great Thread! I was banded on the 8th and go back to work on the 27th. I hadn't even thought about eating at work. You all gave some great ideas. I am lucky that I have a fridge as well so I think it will be stocked with SF Jello for the days that the company decides to buy Krispy Kreme:cursing:. I found a salmon pouch today(like the tuna) which gives a little variation to the tuna. Just added a little olive oil mayo. Great Protein and Omega-3.

:thumbup:Good luck NFaith, it sounds like you have a good foundation.