laurenella82 625 Posted January 13, 2015 Cook everything in a muffin tin!!!! Go on piterest and look up muffin tin meals and you will find a lot. You can make the meals and then freeze them. That way you don't waste food and you are always prepared. I especially love mini quiche for Breakfast made in my muffin tin. Make 12 freeze them and pop them in the microwave when you're ready for it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TEXASLADY52 264 Posted January 13, 2015 Do you live in a large city? See if they have a Healthy Meal To Go. They have a very large menu. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laurenella82 625 Posted January 14, 2015 I live alone as well, and work way too many hours - so cooking when I get home each night is the last thing on my mind. I am pre-op, but I have aways found that I'm much more successful losing weight when I have everything pre-made. I spend a few hours each Sunday cooking different meals and portioning them out. I keep a couple of each in the refrigerator and freeze the rest. I wash and chop all of my veggies ahead of time too. In my opinion a few hours on a weekend day saves me a ton of frustration throughout the week. I also use a crock pot now, because it's easy. I'm not sure how I will work that into my post-op life, but it has been a lifesaver in the past. Good luck! You can do the same prep you do now with your crock pot. I stead of cooking and freezing things just put full meals in a freezer bag and in the morning before work.put it in the crock pot and dinner will be ready when you get home. You'll probably have more than you need for just one meal but you'll have lunch for the next day with no extra cooking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BloomingLotus 179 Posted January 14, 2015 @@laurenella82 - I've been looking into vacuum sealers to freeze small portions of my crockpot meals. I'm hoping that will be a useful addition! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laurenella82 625 Posted January 14, 2015 @@laurenella82 - I've been looking into vacuum sealers to freeze small portions of my crockpot meals. I'm hoping that will be a useful addition! That would keep it longer without freezer burn. I think that's an awesome idea. I might have to look into one too! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BLERDgirl 6,417 Posted January 14, 2015 One of the things my nutritionist suggested was getting an ice tray. When you make a post of Soup freeze it in the ice tray. Pop out 1 or 2 for Soup. each regular ice cube is approximately 1 ounce. Buy the covered ice trays if you are worried about freezer burn or put them in a ziplock freezer bag once they set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ProjectMe 909 Posted January 14, 2015 I've tried a number of recipes from different bariatric sites. Then I cook separate meals for my family. I bought a bunch of little Pyrex dishes from Walmart and froze all the meals in one serving sizes. This has been great since i can just grab one, heat it up, and not get bored with yogurt and Protein Shakes.< /p> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bacon-n-Limes 64 Posted January 14, 2015 Wow, what great ideas! Now I'm armed with a list of ways to not waste food AND not be bored with the same meal over and over until it's gone. Yay! If anyone is interested, I'll share my experience with sous vide cooking when the ANOVA arrives. (They said 2-3 weeks.) I make a mean bowl of Cereal, and I can usually get pancakes cooked all the way through, so taking on something complex like meat is a little daunting. The biggest appeal is that once I master how to do it, I can buy a fish or a steak, cut it into portions, and freeze it. Then I can grab a bag, drop in some marinade or spices, put it in a pot, and have a delicious dinner with no waste. It sounds like cheating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swimbikerun 1,046 Posted January 15, 2015 For me, I found I liked leftovers. It didn't matter any more, as long as I ate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kindle 8,667 Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) I am single, too, and hate to cook. More often than not I pick up stuff at the local deli. But the best thing I ever did was buy a food saver vacuum sealer. That way I can buy a whole rack of ribs, or pack of brats or pork roast or whatever fish or seafood is on sale. Then I just cut them into my tiny little individual portions, vacuum seal and freeze. I've actually started to cook a little more too, knowing that it won't all go to waste. I can make regular size recipes, divide into individual portions, seal and freeze. One of my favorites is frozen homemade Protein pancakes. I make a whole batch, cook em then freeze.....then whenever I want one I just pop them into the microwave and wala! 30 second pancakes. Edited January 15, 2015 by Kindle Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CountryGirl5584 115 Posted January 15, 2015 Pinterest is the bees knees when it comes to recipes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
laurenella82 625 Posted January 15, 2015 Another thing...if you have small children and have a baby bullet, that's great for pureed foods. And it cones with a tray if tiny containers with tops that you can freeze. I have one and I was just about to give it to my sister in law. She can have it when I'm done lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pink dahlia 2,513 Posted January 15, 2015 I used to hate to cook too, but Pinterest.com changed that ! Even though you're cooking for one, and Im cooking for 2 ( hubby) the concept is the same. We all want healthy , quick, no brainer meals without a ton of leftovers. I love to cook now because Pinterest shows the cooking step by step with lots of pictures. Im very much a visual learner and need simple but detailed cooking instructions. We lean towards diabetic meals but they're great for WLS people too, healthy, quick and very tasty ! Give Pinterest a try ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcdaniels 48 Posted January 15, 2015 Bariatric Foodie is another great website for recipes, even if they're not tailored to singles. I never ate leftovers before surgery, and I eat them all the time now. I'm not sure why I changed my view on them, but I definitely have. Whatever was for dinner the night before is almost always lunch the next day. And if it's anything like chili, Soups, etc, I save individual portions in the freezer to just take out whenever I'm rushed for a meal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stevehud 1,790 Posted January 15, 2015 So many great suggestions! Way to go people. Ill say i happened to mention one day to a local place where they have people who actually butcher meat. About my sleeve and now if i ask they will cut up anything for me and package it in small portions. My favorite since i have a decent time digesting chicken ( which is weird for some i know) but they cut it up in small stir fry size pieces and i make packages of 3 ounces worth and freeze most put one or two in the fridge. then i can just pop em in a pan with a small bit of veg(soon) and maybe a touch of spice or herbs and bingo instant hot meal in like 4 minutes, no waste. also i bought one of those real small nonstick frying pans, its cooks for me wonderfully and i don't have to worry about portion sizes because it won't even fit in the pan lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites