Grocery Shopping...

[crushdmb]

Ok. I am HORRIBLE about eating out all the time. I am single and live alone. I find it to be a pain in the ass to go shopping all the time (especially as I don't have a car) and to cook for myself. I NEVER know what I should cook. Frozen dinners and mac 'n cheese get boring after a while (and aren't very good for you, though eating out is

Comments

[scearley]

There are a number of "Five ingredients or less" cookbooks; try one from the library, give the recipes a whirl.

Also - Depending on where you eat out, I'd guess that eating out is healthier than the frozen dinners/mac n cheese. That's assuming that you sit there and eat it, and it's not a restaurant with a drive-through window. Not that I'm trying to encourage that; chances are what you make at home will be substantially healthier (both physically and mentally) than any restaurant fare.

[crushdmb]

Well, it just depends on where I go. I don't have a car, so I DO walk everywhere, which is better than most people who live on take-out, fast food, and restaurants. :D Also, we have a cafeteria at work (and several more near work, as I work for the State and I'm surrounded by State buildings with cafeterias), and they have a HUGE selection. Some selections and cafeterias are healthier than others.

I do tend to eat a lot of damn Subway.

Thanks for the book suggestions. Being the obsessed library user that I am, you'd think I'd already have thought of that ... haha.

[washironfucketc]

I just had my second son, and having two under two and a husband who can not cook to save his soul, I can help a bit.

My advice is to fine a place where you can buy breaded chicken patties for cheap. They are a huge godsend now that I barely have time to shower, let alone cook full course, time consuming meals.

Chicken Parm
Take a chicken pattie, place tomato sauce on add shredded cheese, bake at 350 for like 20- 30 minutes

Chicken Salad
Bake the chicken pattie, cut it up, put it on top of your favorite green salad mix

Chicken sandwiches, just the plain pattie. You get the picture,

You can get creative and just substitute it in various recipes that require chicken..

Hope this helps.

[wavechaser]

Pre mixed spice blends rock- I'd suggest a grilling blend, a curry, and an Italian blend, that way you basically only have 3 bottles to buy with a range of flavors. Frozen veggies keep forever and you can decide your own portions, and lastly I would suggest just plain pasta and rice to add to anything you concoct.

[wavechaser]

Lowry's on popcorn is awesome =) There was a while there where I'd put Mrs. Dash on everything, it wasn't a specific flavor ir just punched up my cooking. I also add garlic and onions to every savory dish I make.

[crushdmb]

That's a good idea. I have garlic up the wazoo, and salt and pepper, but that's about it.

[bluemetalpig]

Salad.
Sandwiches.
Tortilla.

All you need is some kind of meat, cheese, salsa and a couple of veg. Make all kinds of stuff. Quesadilla, burrito, hoagie, salad with meat on top. Mix n match, hot or cold.

Pancakes are versatile too.
Roll sausage in one for pig in blanket.
Put salsa/cheese on top to make it mexican.
Drizzle hershey's syrup on it for dessert.

Peanut butter with banana in a tortilla, make it like a quesadilla and drizzle chocolate on top.

You can get creative with just a few things.

[mischiefmydear]

Oh man, my ex and I used to LIVE on Mexican. A can of refried beans, tortillas, a block of cheddar cheese, and salsa can take you really far (quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chimis, etc.). Of course, picking up extras here and there really help, too.