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I was wondering how everyone feels about frozen meals, such as weight watchers and healthy choice? The portions, calories, and selections seem to be so easy and convienient. Since I get up early and work 13 hour days, I hate the idea of devoting additional time to packing a lunch and thinking about the portions and calories of what Im making.

Food Prep - Salads!

I take 12 assorted sized plastic containers and make the same "base salad"  I combine these salads with a variety of other foods that I have prepared ahead so I get the much loved variety of tastes. For example: I will add 3 oz low fat turkey and a boiled egg for a chef salad.

I will add 3 oz chicken and some madrin oranges for an oriental salad.

you get the drift here. The key is to have little baggies filled with your extras, and containers filled with your base so you can GRAB it and GO! You will also need to pruchase about 4 different salad dressings so you get variety there also.

Base salad recipe:

1 oz mixed baby greens, 1 oz fresh spinach, 1 cup romaine lettuce, 2.5 oz grape tomatoes (these keep longer than cutting up regular tomatoes), 1/2 cup cucumber, 2 oz carrots, 1 oz green pepper.

I line up my containers, measure out each ingredient in my food scale and then dump it in there.  MAXIMUM time for prep is about 30 min.

Base salad has:

72 calories, .5 g fat, 16 g carbs, 4 grams fiber, 2.5g protein.

Now all you have to do is grab one of your baggies with eggs, chicken, fish, steak, etc and you have a quick and VERY healthy meal.

Amber,

I can completely relate to the temptation of settling for frozen foods. Don't do it! Carrie is right, too much sodium, too much additives, and after a while it really makes your body feel yucky. I am also a BUSY lady, don't let the guy in the picture fool you! My husband lives in Canada and only comes to his Oregon house about 6 times a year for a week to ten days at the most! I get to handle the 50 hour+ a week job, the three kids, the house, and the dog! That doesn't leave very much time for ME! My strategy... FAILING TO PREPARE... IS PREPARING TO FAIL! I remind myself of this daily.

I take one day out of the week as my food prep day.  I make many things in advance so I can have the same "grab and go" feeling as a frozen meal would. I will be posting some of my recipes, tactics, and advice. The best thing you can do for your body is to eat fresh food that you have prepared for yourself. Controling the quality of "gasoline" you put in your machine is so very vital. You are worth the extra time and effort to put into this. I will do whatever I can to help!

Molly, Carrie's little sister

I personally do not care for the over processed frozen meals. The sodium and other preservatives that they are laced with sabatoged my efforts. My body does not function well on processed foods. I agree the portions of the meals are okay...much better than eating out which is what I used to do. However  I would much rather pack myself a salad, half can of tuna or small chicken breast, whole wheat toast, and a couple low fat/high fiber snacks to last through a long day at work. If you plan ahead it does not take much additional time. I pack my husband's lunch/snacks at night so it takes no effort in the AM when we are all trying to get out the door.  Actually you might even find cooking to be relaxing if you plan a weeks worth of meals at a time and store them. If you find that you need to have a quick convenient meal from the freezer...make some yourself from leftovers... less additives more results towards a healthy body!!

Fooods to always have on hand:

#1 boiled eggs

#2 the protien bars from Costco (which I am currently out of!) look for the ones that have the approximate ratio of 31 g protien, 5 grams fat, 19 carbs) They are not the most rediculously tasty items... however they save you from eating no-no's and are chewy enough to take a bit of time to eat.

#3 Tuna.. the 79 cent super food

#4 grilled chicken and fish I make up good sized batches and measure out 3 oz portions... put them into zip lock bags.. and voila.. easy!

#5 frozen blue berries... these are SUCH a great snack they feed the need for sweets, you get a nice dose of fiber, and because they are cold, you eat them slower.

#6 light yogurt.. again, I am a sweet junkie, this is my favorite source of the much needed calcium for a woman's body

#7 Edamame... 3 cheers for these little niblets of soy goodness! In the pod they are harder to eat I get them at Costco. I toss a little water over them, throw them in the microwave in a bowl for three min.. and tah dah.. good for you! For an added bit of naughty I will sprinkle the pods with a bit of salt, but you get to the point where you don't need that.

#6 Green tea. Fill a 8 cup pyrex measure cup with water, toss it in the microwave for 6 min, add three or four tea bags.. and you have a good supply for the day. I make this in the morning with caffine, and at night without. Alot of the time I will put ice in a pitcher, add my hot tea, and fly out the door to work with my pitcher in hand.

#7 carrot sticks, cucumbers, celery, pea pods and any other fresh veggie. I make up snack baggies that have grape tomatoes, carrots, and peapods in them quite a lot. All three of these last a LONG time in the fridge. I measure out the portion I want, and just duplicate the recipe into about a dozen zip lock baggies.

#8 Apples

Gotta love snack size ziplock baggies for on the go snacking on healthy food. They fit just the right amount.

Im using the snack bags and bought my base salad this weekend. So far so good, not one frozen dinner this week! Thanks for the suggestions!

Way to go AMBER!!

Always remember you are in control of what goes in your body. Never and I do mean NEVER... settle for the quick fix.

Here's to more success cool!