Food for the week

Chicharrones · 05-14-2009, 07:22 AM

Does anyone cook one big casserole or pot of something on Sunday to eat through the whole week? I'm good about always cooking my food the night before but it's a bit of a hassle when I come home later than usual or get distracted with my daughter. I really rather just cook something on Sunday that I can eat through out the week. I did use to boil a pot of chicken on the weekends but it just gets so dry after it's refrigerated and reheated.

Anyone do this? And if you do, what kind of food/recipes?

Taylormae · 05-14-2009, 08:00 AM

I cook all my food on a Sunday afternoon. I get a few big tupperwear thingies out and have one fully of cooked chicken breast or Turkey breast, and then I cool a big batch of green veggies and put those in another one, and then another for rice or whatever. I also hardboil like a gazilllion eggs and make up a batch of protein pancakes to last the week(their yum fresh out of the toaster)

I go to the gym after work so the last thing I wanna do is cook that all from raw, I just portion it out and zap it. I then portion out the rest of thhe meat and veg into smaller tupperwear for my snacks at work. It sound slike a lot of hassle but I find it makes my work week run smoother to just grab my " pre packaged" meals and go. It's also a sneaky way of feeding my b/f on lean meats and veggies for dinner. If it were up to him it'd be a Hot Pocket and fries.

rileymay · 05-14-2009, 08:11 AM

Every Sunday I cook my chicken, hardboil some eggs, and measure out all of my oatmeal and veggies to put in separate containers so its really easy to just grab one and go during the week.

I usually just cook my chicken on the foreman with no seasonings, but when I need something less bland I wrap it in foil pouch with lemon, basil, and thyme (sometimes sweet onions) and put it in the oven for about 45 min @ 350. Or if you want to try something easier just let it marinate in a low-cal dressing or chicken broth for a day or so and that makes it taste better also!

Do you mainly just stick to chicken or have you tried recipes with ground turkey and fish?

Amanda76 · 05-14-2009, 08:46 AM

I cook things that take about 5 minutes as needed. Thing like breakfast in the morning (egg whites scrambled with veggies and oats in water, lately), sweet potatos and veggies are all pretty much prepared at time of conumption. If there are leftovers, they'll get eaten over the next day.

I currently cook 5 pounds of chicken breast, 2 pounds of 96/4 ground sirloin, hardboil 36 eggs and cook 3 cups (dry) rice ahead of time to feed my daughter and I throughout the week. If I'm not bringing it to work, I just put it in a large container we'll get what we need (or in my daughter's case, want

) out of. If I'm going to take it to work, I'll put it in tupperware ahead of time so it's ready to go.

I cut my chicken into cubes and rub walnut (or olive) oil and seasoning into it then cook it on the stove top. It stays moist that way. I don't overcook red meat so I don't normally have a problem with that being dry either. Sprinkle some water over your rice before you reheat it and it will stay moist as well.

varza · 05-14-2009, 10:03 AM

I don't generally cook all my meals at the beginning of the week (cooking is relaxing for me in the evenings after a workout) but I know a lot of people do and find it makes their lives a lot easier.

To keep your chicken moist if you reheat it in the microwave, you can sprinkle some water on it as well. Get a plate cover for the microwave as well - this will cover and keep some of the steam from the reheat focused on the plate.

kpettitt · 05-14-2009, 10:33 AM

Every Sunday- my hubby and I cook up all our meals for the week! They go into tubberwear containers and into the fridge! (they even have their own shelf) but it deffinatly makes the week easier for us. Espically because he works nights and I work till 6pm, I can have something ready when I get home!

Amanda76 · 05-14-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varza

I don't generally cook all my meals at the beginning of the week (cooking is relaxing for me in the evenings after a workout) but I know a lot of people do and find it makes their lives a lot easier.

My bf is that way...He cooks enough for leftovers for the next day, but enjoys cooking in the evenings enough that he doesn't want to cook too far ahead. Weirdos. Both of you.

Sabrina_113 · 05-14-2009, 11:23 AM

I make chili and freeze it in containers of one serving each. I also make lots of chicken, weigh it and put it into containers so I have options of 4oz or 8oz servings. I cook my brown rice and put it into the fridge to take from over the week.

Chicharrones · 05-14-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rileymay

Every Sunday I cook my chicken, hardboil some eggs, and measure out all of my oatmeal and veggies to put in separate containers so its really easy to just grab one and go during the week.

I usually just cook my chicken on the foreman with no seasonings, but when I need something less bland I wrap it in foil pouch with lemon, basil, and thyme (sometimes sweet onions) and put it in the oven for about 45 min @ 350. Or if you want to try something easier just let it marinate in a low-cal dressing or chicken broth for a day or so and that makes it taste better also!

Do you mainly just stick to chicken or have you tried recipes with ground turkey and fish?

I still eat a lot of chicken but not as much as I used to simply because it makes me gag when I reheat it at work. As of lately, I've been eating a lot more salmon, tilapia and shrimp...so mostly seafood. I just mix it up with some brown rice and quinoa and plop it on some spinach. I still eat chicken but it takes a lot for me to swallow it down. I've tried ground turkey but, again, it gets really dry. I wouldn't mind eating more chicken if I could figure out a way to keep it moist for the week and keep it from drying out when I nuke it at work. Maybe baking instead of the stove top would be better. I rather grab and go than cook every evening but I haven't figured out a way to make a good piece of chicken. Even cooking it the night before doesn't work...still dry. Maybe I'm just a crappy cook! Haha!

Thanks everyone for replying!

IronCitGrl · 05-14-2009, 09:02 PM

I cook things like chicken breasts, chopped veggies, pasta, rice, and hard boiled eggs in large quantities -enough for a week. Then I can just cut up some chicken, get some rice and some veggies and stir fry it all together in a skillet if I want. I cook fish individually though it just seems gross to keep it in the fridge for that long. I think I might start baking lots of sweet potatoes to keep in the fridge as well.

cass22 · 05-15-2009, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicharrones

I still eat a lot of chicken but not as much as I used to simply because it makes me gag when I reheat it at work. As of lately, I've been eating a lot more salmon, tilapia and shrimp...so mostly seafood. I just mix it up with some brown rice and quinoa and plop it on some spinach. I still eat chicken but it takes a lot for me to swallow it down. I've tried ground turkey but, again, it gets really dry. I wouldn't mind eating more chicken if I could figure out a way to keep it moist for the week and keep it from drying out when I nuke it at work. Maybe baking instead of the stove top would be better. I rather grab and go than cook every evening but I haven't figured out a way to make a good piece of chicken. Even cooking it the night before doesn't work...still dry. Maybe I'm just a crappy cook! Haha!

Thanks everyone for replying!

I've found recently that I also gag on re heated chicken, I never used too and it's really bugging me!! Weird ! Chicken is so easy for my lunches at work.

Chicharrones · 05-15-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronCitGrl

I cook things like chicken breasts, chopped veggies, pasta, rice, and hard boiled eggs in large quantities -enough for a week. Then I can just cut up some chicken, get some rice and some veggies and stir fry it all together in a skillet if I want. I cook fish individually though it just seems gross to keep it in the fridge for that long. I think I might start baking lots of sweet potatoes to keep in the fridge as well.

Stir frying it all together sounds like a good idea, that might work

MissDarque · 05-15-2009, 11:44 AM

I grill my chix every evening. but the reheating it makes it so dry. I find that I have to dip it in some ketchup just to get it down my throat...

KlaarBody · 05-15-2009, 02:23 PM

I like to make a pot of chili with lots of low fat meats and beans, mixed with a bunch of veggies and some nice hot spices. I freeze some and keep some in the fridge. I could eat that stuff forever.
Or this week I made a bean salad with lots of veggies, beans, and some organic salsa. That fed me for many meals this week.