Hungry, but Tired. Meal Ideas?

Options
blainejennifer
blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
edited April 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Once again, I'm famished, but too tired to do anything about it. I'll be doing the usual chemo fatigue meal, cucumber and hummus, but wondered if you guys had any hints and tips for nutritious, quick meals that can be assembled when walking upstairs feels like the big event of the day.

I'm lactose intolerant, but please give dairy ideas too. I'll bet I'm not the only one in this situation. They tell you to eat a varied and nutritious diet, but that means that someone has to assemble and cook said diet. Tonight - I am NOT that someone.

I should call on family members to help more, but it's just Spouse, Son and me. If I lived closer to home, I am sure I would have casserole fatigue by now. My family is Southern, and believes in the healing nature of any food that can be warmed in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour.

So if you guys have shopping lists, favorite frozen foods, or recipes that will hold when frozen, please fling them at me. You know how it is when you get the chemo blues - nothing tastes right, and everything seems like too much trouble.

Many thanks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited April 2017

    Hi!

    Omaha Steaks is expensive, but I've bought various items and meals from them over the years for relatives who are older, fragile, and unlikely to go to the supermarket very often. In fact, they've recently introduced a line of slow cooker crock pot meals, which some of my relatives have enjoyed. Omaha Steaks is particularly good to order for relatives who live alone because they offer individually-wrapped servings of chicken, steak, fish, etc.. Also, their "trays" of vegetables aren't that big. I myself order a few meals when DH is out of town and I don't feel like cooking meals for just me and my daughter.

    Everything arrives frozen in dry ice; all you do is heat up the food, per the instructions on the box.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited April 2017

    This is a great topic. I struggle with meal ideas every night, working full time with a long commute. My DH is finicky which makes it a challenge. My son (2 years old) and I will eat anything.

    Below are my stand-by items:

    1. Soft tacos: (pick your toppings and throw it together)

    • whole wheat tortillas (warmed in pan for a few minutes)
    • black beans from a can (I use black bean "soup", which has some spices, such as garlic, and more flavor) or vegetarian refried pinto beans
    • possibly chicken breast or beef if I have some leftovers to chop up
    • cheese
    • nonfat sour cream
    • avocado or guacamole (grocery stores and Costco sell individual serving sizes of guacamole)
    • veggies of choice - lettuce, tomatoes, onions, red, yellow or green peppers, black olives (whatever I have in the fridge; if I don't want to dice veggies myself, grocery stores sell pre-chopped pico de gallo veggie mixes and olives)
    • salsa

    2. Lentil or black bean soup made from scratch and then frozen in individual serving sizes (my parents, in-laws and son's occasional baby sitter will cook these and then we have them for a long time; lentils do not involve any presoaking and can be made quickly on the spot too in 30 minutes)

    3. Frozen tilapia or cod filets that come battered with a bit of whole wheat breadcrumbs (from grocery stores or Costco; cook in oven for 20 min or so)

    4. Frozen, pre-cooked shrimp (they take under 3 - 5 minutes to thaw in lukewarm water for shrimp cocktail; and 6 minutes (3 per side) to cook in medium heat pan with olive oil and garlic; eat with toasted bread

    8. Baking sweet potatoes night before (throw in oven for 1 hour while doing other things; they taste even better reheated, need no toppings and can last for a week)

    9. Make quinoa or brown rice for the week (20 - 30 minutes while doing other things; can last for a week)

    9. Baked plantains (peel and throw in oven or toaster oven for 30 minutes while doing other things; taste excellent plain and must use super, super, super ripe (partially black peel) plantains, which are soft and sweet

    10. Corn on cob (throw in boiling water for 12 - 15 minutes)

    10. Warm, roasted, small whole chickens from deli section of grocery store

    11. Sardines with Wheat Thins, Triscuit or other whole grain crackers

    12. Blue Apron or Plated ready to make meal delivery service



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Groovywilma
    Groovywilma Member Posts: 450
    edited April 2017

    Excellent topic! I've been tired, but know that I need to eat to keep up my strength. For me, smoothies in my Vitamix are quick and easy and filling. Just keep frozen fruits in your freezer. You don't have to use milk, you can use almond milk, rice milk, or skip milk and just use water or juice. You can also add yogurt, or anything, really, to help get more nutrients. And it's a quick rinse afterwards!

    My other secret is my NUWAVE oven. It's great when I haven't planned ahead and want something that's been in the freezer. It takes the cook time down without having to defrost, and you can put all kinds of things in there! Salmon, chicken, frozen pizzas, etc.

    I'll be following this thread to get more ideas!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • blainejennifer
    blainejennifer Member Posts: 1,848
    edited April 2017

    OMG - these are great. Please keep them coming. I hadn't even thought of smoothies. Can I blame chemo brain?

    I'd also forgotten how quickly lentils cook up. I could even do a pilaf. Anybody know how well a pilaf freezes?

    Sadly admitting that all I've eaten for two days is prunes (thank you anti-emetics), pasta (the kind made with inulin, at least), and frozen blueberries straight from the bag. The menfolk have been on their own, and have mainly eaten out. I'm weird about "bought" food, as I'm trying to avoid food stored/cooked in plastics, and try to stay organic as possible. I simply don't have the $$$ to eat prepared organic food.

    Am pulling out of the infusion crater, and determined to have better foods in place for next week.

    Thank you so much.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited April 2017

    Blainejennifer, I try to COOK once a week, with enough leftovers for a week of lunches (or in your case dinners). If you know ahead of time you're going into the chemo fatigue you could try something like that.

    If you had left-over chicken in the fridge or freezer, along with baby carrots, heck, that's protein and veggie.

    Truth be told, a PBJ is not all that bad if the bread is wheat or whole-grain. You'll get fiber, protein and some calories/sugar. Accompany with baby carrots out of the bag. can you tell baby carrots are my go to veggie sometimes?

    Another idea -- cereal for dinner. With milk and those blueberries it has some redeeming value even though no veggies.

    Last idea -- can the menfolk bring home something that goes into the microwave for you? That would be easy.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited April 2017

    Pasta/Veg/Protein Improvisation:

    1. Any whole grain pasta.

    2. Sautee two to four kinds of veggies, whatever you have on hand. Or zap frozen mixed ones (in a glass container, not a plastic bag, please). Onions, garlic, and olives punch up the flavor. You can put spinach or other greens in the collander, and when you drain the boiling pasta over it, it will cook nicely. (Buy it already trimmed and bagged.)

    3. Sauteed chicken breast, canned sardines, sliced almonds, or organic grass-fed cheese.

    So, for example, fresh red bell peppers, onions, mixed greens, and sardines on pasta shells. Or frozen broccoli and cauliflower with almonds and parmesan cheese over spaghetti.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories