Ok, so I haven't been eating very healthy. I could say things like its because I am fast paced and a single mom, blah blah blah. But truth is, I know that these are choices that I am making. So does anyone have any ideas for healthy quick recipes or snack ideas? I have found that I do like the 100 calorie packs and there are so many to choose from, but I can't live on these alone and they are expensive. Anything would be helpful!

For eating out, I have found most food eaten in restaurants is very fattening and very bad for you. There are some exceptions to the rule, like Quiznos/Subway. I like Quiznos best. If you get the wheat bread, most of their sandwiches aren't bad for you or your band. Breakfast places like the village inn/denny's. There are many omelettes there, that are great for you.

Now if your talking home cooked food, the best way to go about this is to cook in large quantities. Good things to eat are like chicken legs/fish/steak. Cook a dozen chicken legs, but you only eat 2 or 3 at meal. That's 6 meals almost. You only had to cook once. The only bad thing about this, is you cannot take these foods on the road with you, since you need to heat them up before eating them.

If you cannot eat out or you cannot cook at home, cheese is always a good option when you need something. You can eat fruit too, like bananas or apples. However, these foods will not keep you filled up very long, as fruits are mostly carbs and sugars.

I have found that I am eatting alot of hard boiled eggs, string cheese and lunch meat. When the chicken feels boring I pour spagetti sauce over it and add cheese.Or stuff it with ham and cheese. I have thought about trying it with salsa but haven't actually tried it yet. I am trying differnt types of meats to keep variety. I also buy those prepackaged salads. I take those to school. They have some that come with the meat and cheese packaged with the salad. I always have bolied eggs so if I am home I will chop them and sprinkle them over the salad to give it some bite. I think my fav food right now is shrimp. Just thaw it in the fridge in the morning then stir fry them at night. My Doc has me on low carb. If your not low carb, fruit is a great option. I like apples and oranges but I love strawberries, mangos, kiwi, pineapple (*tear* I wouldn't recommend pineapple post lap band though) peaches and pears. I would even put those in my salad or in yogurt. Hope this helps.:sad:

I'm not a single mom, but work full-time and have two young kids, so I understand the demands on your time!

The crockpot is your best friend! You can even add all the ingredients to it the night before and just plug it in before you leave for work.

B/S chicken breast with salsa is great in the crockpot and can be used with so many meals - tacos, burritos, taco salad, over polenta, over rice, in chicken tortilla Soup.

I made potato soup in mine last night (I'm on full liquids). In the AM, I added a bag of frozen hash browns, diced onions, garlic powder, and chicken stock. Cook on low all day. When I got home, I added milk and pureed it. Added bacon and cheese for the family (mine was plain). Easy peasy!

Italian beef is really good in it. Any cheaper cut of beef, a jar of pepperoncini, and an envelope of italian dressing. Dump everything in the slow cooker and cook all day. It shreds so easily and is super tasty as sandwiches, over mashed potatoes, by itself.

I even do meatballs and spaghetti sauce in it.

I have a ton more recipes is this is something you are interested in.

Amy