Tips on making meals in advance?

Questions/Comments about Weight loss Products.

Tips on making meals in advance?

Postby ascicles » September 26th, 2006, 11:43 am

I am starting a new job soon, where I will not have the same kind of flexibility I have now. Because of that, I will need to find a way to eat my lean and green during my lunch break, which will not allow a lot of time to prepare meals. The current plan is to make things in advance, like grilled chicken, and simply keep it in the refrigerator for the week. Aside from the obvious question of how long it will stay good (I think three days would be the max, so I think that's fine), what do I do about veggies?

I know that I can use canned green beans, asperagus, etc., but I would prefer mushrooms and zuchinni. Can I cook them in advance and store them, or will that ruin them?
Start Date: 3/6/06

390/280/185

- Manly McMuscles
User avatar
ascicles
Preferred Member - #110 Club
Preferred Member - #110 Club
 
Posts: 795
Joined: March 2nd, 2006, 5:20 pm

Postby JKSRN » September 26th, 2006, 12:13 pm

Hi Manly, first of all, best wishes for you on your new job.

Grilling chicken ahead of time makes sense. If you cook several pieces, and are worried about leaving them in the fridge for a whole week, then keep three days worth in the fridge and put the rest of them in the freezer. I use the Gladware containers and everything stays really fresh in them. I also weigh the correct ounces while placing them in the Gladware, much more convenient and a time saver.

As for veggies, if you cook up fresh ones, don't cook them too long, and use 'microwave' time, if you will have one at work, to finish the cooking process. Just some thoughts.
Joan
User avatar
JKSRN
Preferred member
 
Posts: 518
Joined: June 2nd, 2006, 5:00 pm
Location: Sarasota, Florida

Postby DogMa » September 26th, 2006, 12:25 pm

Joan's right. I cook my veggies ahead all the time (or I did before my current salad phase). I'd grill or roast 'em, and then just microwave them later. They may not be QUITE as tasty as freshly cooked veggies, but they'll be OK.
Robin

203/130/130
Reached goal in August 2006
Added BodyBugg in May 2009
New ticker: 136.6/123.2/130
Image
User avatar
DogMa
Preferred Member - 70# Club
 
Posts: 6657
Joined: June 9th, 2005, 5:40 pm
Location: North Texas

Postby gillian » September 26th, 2006, 1:39 pm

100. Dude, that is great.
Gillian
User avatar
gillian
Preferred member
 
Posts: 264
Joined: February 27th, 2006, 6:30 pm
Location: las vegas

Postby Sarya » September 26th, 2006, 3:28 pm

I made six meals worth of chicken last weekend. I also grilled some portabello mushrooms and other veggies. When it was all cooled I threw it in zip lock bags and popped it into the freezer. Both cooked mushrooms and cooked zucchini will freeze perfectly fine. As well as peppers, onions, broccoli, eggplant, etc. Just make sure they're cooked. Some veggies like cucumber have a high water content which can mess up the consistency of the veggie if it is frozen, but if you are cooking veggies that won't be a problem.

What you could do if you are so inclined is cook your chicken until it is just done. Cook your veggies until they are almost done. Pack up the meals into those disposable gladware containers (or whatever) and then just stack them in the freezer. Take one a day and microwave it when lunchtime comes.
User avatar
Sarya
Preferred Member - #40 Club
 
Posts: 695
Joined: May 2nd, 2006, 12:23 pm
Location: Cleveland

Postby supermom » September 26th, 2006, 6:05 pm

They got you covered manly!! I leave my chicken a little under done, as it finishes cooking in the nuker. This seems to help keep it from drying out. I have frozen cooked mushrooms and zuchini before---like the chicken, I don't get it quite done, and it finishes in the nuker. If you freeze in ziploc bags, they act as a steamer when you reheat. So does the gladware, but the baggies are a little easier to store and toss if you are limited with freezer space at home or at work. Also, if you put about a tablespoon of water and some seasonings in a baggie with some chopped fresh veggies, they steam up really nice in the nuker. I also pre cook turkey burgers and ground steak burgers. Add a little water and some worchestershire sauce (just a little) to keep your meat from drying out. Good luck on the new job and with the meals in advance idea.

Oh yeah---the zuchini pie and the zuchini boat recipes that Mike and I posted in the Lean Cuisine could be made ahead and heated up at work later!!
User avatar
supermom
Preferred Member - #40 Club
 
Posts: 840
Joined: March 24th, 2006, 5:13 pm
Location: Amarillo, TX

Postby DogMa » September 26th, 2006, 10:10 pm

BTW, Manly, shouldn't your start date be 06?? You didn't start a year and a half ago.
Robin

203/130/130
Reached goal in August 2006
Added BodyBugg in May 2009
New ticker: 136.6/123.2/130
Image
User avatar
DogMa
Preferred Member - 70# Club
 
Posts: 6657
Joined: June 9th, 2005, 5:40 pm
Location: North Texas

Postby ascicles » September 27th, 2006, 7:04 am

DogMa wrote:BTW, Manly, shouldn't your start date be 06?? You didn't start a year and a half ago.


Yeah, I'll fix that.
Start Date: 3/6/06

390/280/185

- Manly McMuscles
User avatar
ascicles
Preferred Member - #110 Club
Preferred Member - #110 Club
 
Posts: 795
Joined: March 2nd, 2006, 5:20 pm

Postby kendra_m » September 27th, 2006, 11:58 am

One L&G that I really like to take to work is LF cottage cheese with chopped tomatoes, green peppers and cukes, all mixed together with some dill. Especially good in the summertime with yummy maters.

And congrats on 100! That is marvelous!
Image

:hatch: Finding the new me!!
--------------
10# - 9/11/06
20# - 9/24/06
30# - 11/5/06
40# - 11/19/06
kendra_m
Preferred Member - #40 Club
 
Posts: 229
Joined: August 29th, 2006, 8:00 pm
Location: Springfield, IL

Postby DogMa » September 29th, 2006, 3:01 pm

OMG, no offense, but I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. :lol:

The only thing in there I'd eat is the cucumber, and first I'd have to pick it out and wash it off.
Robin

203/130/130
Reached goal in August 2006
Added BodyBugg in May 2009
New ticker: 136.6/123.2/130
Image
User avatar
DogMa
Preferred Member - 70# Club
 
Posts: 6657
Joined: June 9th, 2005, 5:40 pm
Location: North Texas

Postby Serendipity » September 29th, 2006, 4:24 pm

Gotta stick up for ya Kendra. I love love love that l&G. I don't make it very often but though it sounds yucky, it tastes great!

Edited to add: As usual, this is just MHO, hehe.
jo
276/135 since December 1, 2006
Image
"Grandma, how did you make yourself so little?", My grandson, Jake
User avatar
Serendipity
Preferred Member - #140 Club
Preferred Member - #140 Club
 
Posts: 3552
Joined: November 20th, 2005, 9:22 pm
Location: Pittsburgh Area - !!!GO STEELERS!!!

Postby DogMa » September 29th, 2006, 5:27 pm

Not if you hate cottage cheese, green peppers and tomatoes!!!
Robin

203/130/130
Reached goal in August 2006
Added BodyBugg in May 2009
New ticker: 136.6/123.2/130
Image
User avatar
DogMa
Preferred Member - 70# Club
 
Posts: 6657
Joined: June 9th, 2005, 5:40 pm
Location: North Texas

Postby alpha femme » September 29th, 2006, 5:38 pm

yeah...

i'd rather eat the little bit of throw up in robin's mouth.

:bib:
alpha femme
Preferred member
 
Posts: 1125
Joined: May 19th, 2006, 9:47 pm
Location: CA

Postby Sojourner » September 30th, 2006, 2:54 am

alpha femme wrote:yeah...

i'd rather eat the little bit of throw up in robin's mouth.

:bib:


THAT is disturbingly funny!!

<img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_12_6.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D36%252F36_12_6/image.gif">
~*~*~*Sojourner*~*~*~

Shake it gone, babeee!!!
User avatar
Sojourner
Preferred member
 
Posts: 1780
Joined: July 25th, 2006, 6:07 pm
Location: Modesto, CA

Postby kendra_m » September 30th, 2006, 8:50 pm

alpha femme wrote:yeah...

i'd rather eat the little bit of throw up in robin's mouth.

:bib:


i think i'll stick with the cottage cheese.
Image

:hatch: Finding the new me!!
--------------
10# - 9/11/06
20# - 9/24/06
30# - 11/5/06
40# - 11/19/06
kendra_m
Preferred Member - #40 Club
 
Posts: 229
Joined: August 29th, 2006, 8:00 pm
Location: Springfield, IL

Next

Return to Weight Loss



 


  • Related topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron