[Drazen]

I kind of suck as a home cook. Being one person, I find it difficult to stock up on the basics, so I eat out most of my meals. Plus I am home pretty sporadically so food I cook ends up being wasted.

What restaurants/strategies do you have to eat out. Minimize cost. Maximize taste and hopefully health.

Just seeing what other people who live this kind of lifestyle do.

[Drazen]

I do end up buying prepared foods. Things like the Rotisserie Chicken at Costco or chicken breast pre-cooked at Trader Joes. I'd usually put it in wraps and stuff like that and that makes for some pretty easy to do meals.

I'm wondering if "El Polo Loco" is relatively healthy if you stick with the prepared chicken. I'm sure you can get it cheaper at Costco but its pretty convienient even for lunch as long as you stick with chicken and some of the veggies (I would think).

[jamaicabound]

(04-21-2014 01:01 AM)Drazen Wrote:  

I kind of suck as a home cook. Being one person, I find it difficult to stock up on the basics, so I eat out most of my meals. Plus I am home pretty sporadically so food I cook ends up being wasted.

What restaurants/strategies do you have to eat out. Minimize cost. Maximize taste and hopefully health.

Just seeing what other people who live this kind of lifestyle do.

Don't trrow in the towel on home cooking already. I know preparation and cleanup can be a pain and food can go to waste but you just have to add a bit of planning. Cooking at home even if eating good meats and fish is like 1/4 of the cost of eating out and healthier as well typically.

Rotissiere chickens at costco are super easy. i'm also a big fan of their lemon pepper cod and I'll normally boil some costco frozen brocoli wiht it as well. Whole dinner takes about 24 minutes for the fish to cook really no dirty dishes as I cook it on tinfoil and the broccoli in a pot.

I also have some really easy chicken recipes like run chicken breasts through a bowl of egg, then a bowl of parmesian and grill it til the parmesan gets crispy, just a few minutes prep and very easy cleanup.

Also the crockpot has become my best friend. Basically slice up some meat and veggies and it cooks itself, no cleanup as I throw the crockpot in the fridge and normally have about a weeks worth of lunches and dinners.

If you really insist on eating out I'd say look for places that have daily specials like spaghetti dinner for $5 monday, fish special tues, etc

[heavy]

My go to's...

Egg sandwich of course. You need a stove, a pan, eggs, cheese, English muffin or bagel, and sometimes ham. Eggs last a while, english muffins or bagels last a while (I keep em in the fridge in the summer to prevent them getting stale), american cheese slices. I buy ham once a week or so. Prep time <5 min.

Shrimp pasta. You need a stove, pan, pasta, olive oil and butter, shrimp, Italian seasoning, optional asparagus or other veggie. Frozen precooked shrimp last forever in the freezer, they're really fast to thaw. Everything else lasts forever. Veggies are great to add but not necessary.

Pork tenderloin. If you have a grill, buy a preseasoned pork tenderloin and grill it. Saute veggies (asparagus usually). Have a beer for your carbs. Boom

Tips on anti-home cooking? I just eat half or so when I'm out and eat leftovers, but I always try to eat light.

[monster]

No such thing as healthy fast food.

Cook chicken breasts for week on Sunday, good for the rest of the week. Same with crock pot! Freeze what you don't think you'll use within a few days.

[TheBulldozer]

Slow cooker! Slow cooker! Slow cooker!

It's almost impossible to fuck up fresh ingredients when thrown together in a pot for 8 hours.

[samsamsam]

(04-21-2014 10:02 AM)MaleDefined Wrote:  

Slow cooker! Slow cooker! Slow cooker!

It's almost impossible to fuck up fresh ingredients when thrown together in a pot for 8 hours.

100 FUCKING PERCENT AGREE.

I never used to cook. And I am not sure if slow cooking counts in the traditional sense. Put stuff in, set heat, walk away come back, check, etc. finish.

I have lost weight and even saved money. Make a bunch on weekends and it feeds you through the week.

I have made: pinto beans, curry chicken, gravy pork shoulder, bbq pork, beans w/ carrots and potatoes, ham and split pea soup.

Easy and tasty.

Also, I am backing sweet yams lately. Though it is sweet it is a complex carb and actually good for you. Bake a bunch throw it into tupperware.

And meatloaf, well with turkey. Gonna make some today, lasts you for days. I think 3 lbs of ground turkey cost like 7 bucks.

[Fitzgerald]

I know what I'm going to suggest gets hate in these circles, but Chipotle is awesome if you're looking for healthy dining out. The meat is usually organic unless supply is short, most of the vegetables are sourced locally when possible, and the sour cream and cheese is rbst free. Skip the tortillas and rice, and get a salad with plenty of fajita veggies and salsas. I like to substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for additional protein (though I add that myself). Ask for extra chopped cilantro if you like it (I love the stuff), as cilantro has detoxifying effects. If you go without the dairy and starches, it's full-on Paleo.

You can get double meat if you pay extra, but if you go in at a busy time when there are a lot of people working the line, and then bury the double meat under veggies and salsa, don't mention the double meat when you get to the cashier, and you've just saved $2. (If you're the sort of person who would try that trick, I also like to put organic produce from the grocery store in regular bags and go through the self check out, ringing them up as non-organic).

At home, I adapt this by using a spring mix and romaine as a veggie base, cut up some pre-cooked meat, saute a mix of frozen peppers, and serve all up on a plate with heaping scoops of cottage cheese and pico de gallo as a dressing.

Another (Colorado-based with US-wide locations) place is Garbanzo's Mediterranean Grill. It's like Chipotle's assembly line, but with Mediterranean food. It serves steak, chicken, and falafel along with a bunch of mixed salads (like tabbouleh and cucumber-tomato), pickled vegetables, hummus, tahini, baba ganoush, etc.

Grocery stores are an option, too. Go to the deli section of a Sprouts or Whole Paycheck, there are lots of prepared and heat and serve meals made on site to take home and pop in the microwave, and they'll usually have quality ingredients, too.

[Drazen]

I've tried Chipotle in the past with the salad, usually hungry afterwards. I'll check it out some more as this may be a good option since there's one near me. There are a few mediterrenean/middle eastern chains near me as well, such as Zankou Chicken and stuff like that where I can get chicken + Hummous and other sides for decent prices. I think the key is to buy it to go and then divide it up into 2-3 meals, whereas I'd ordinarily just eat it all at one sitting.

Whenever I go to Whole Food's salad bar I usually end up spending $10-11 bucks on stuff.

[poledaddy]

I agree with Fitzgerald - Chipotle is hard to beat when you need a quick, decent quality meal. I love it when people bitch about it being too many calories. Just don't get the tortillas, rice, sour cream or chips you dumbass! The real problem is people not having self-control. But if you are a hardgainer and need the extra calories- that stuff is there if you need it.

It's not ideal, but where else are you going to get that amount of calories of that quality for what, 6-7 bucks, maybe 8 something if you get charged for double meat? And he's totally right about the busy line thing - I'd say I get charged 50% of the time for double meat, even less in recent years.

Aside from that, and I know this has been discussed extensively but using the slow cooker to make a massive batch of stew or chili and then freezing is really the way to go long term. I've always had trouble cooking during the week due to work + bjj + lifting schedule. For the past month since getting inspired by a D&P podcast, I've been cooking a massive batch of chili on Sundays in my 6 quart slow-cooker, putting it into glass pyrex containers, freezing and then eating as I need it. I highly recommend it. You can heat stew or chili from frozen so you never have to worry about it going bad. I definitely recommend 6 quarts minimum and the auto-switch to "keep warm" so you can make a big enough batch to last you the week and don't have to stress about leaving it on too long. I can get 10 decent-sized meals with all nutritional needs covered out of one batch.

Eating the same thing over and over again can get a tad boring, but to choose between that, and the stress of having to cook late at night, especially after a hard workout, it's a no-brainer. Ever since I've started doing the big-ass sunday batch with the slow cooker, it's like a big weight lifted off my shoulders.

[roberto]

Get some microwave safe plastic tubs like you get at a Chinese takeaway. About 2.5 cents / 1.5 pence each in packs of 250. Knock yourself up an omelette in the microwave or mix up a salad. Eat with plastic fork, throw away. You can also use them with your crockpot creations to store, reheat and eat from.

I grill meat in a George Foreman, just wipe it down with paper towel when your done.

I've never been one for washing up...

[Basil Ransom]

Poledaddy, how much meat is in a quart of your chili? How do you reheat your chili? Is it okay to put a frozen chili quart in the fridge the day before you eat it?

I've made chili before but not regularly or systematically as you have.

The thread title is terrible.

Chipotle is good if you have a moderate appetite. Request extra everything besides meat at no extra charge ( the extra dose of beans seems to make a big difference). If you're getting it in a burrito, chances are the tortilla will break and youll get a second tortilla. Personally I don't eat wheat, so I just do bowls. No other chain as far as I know is in the realm of chipotle for cost, quantity and quality.

If you have a big appetite, ethnic buffets are your best bet. Korean barbecue, Indian buffet especially when they have goat curry, Mongolian barbecue. You should be able to do a day's worth of eating in one sitting. It will cost double chipotle, but I personally can easily eat more than double chipotle.

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

[Dr. Howard]

(04-21-2014 01:14 PM)Fitzgerald Wrote:  

I know what I'm going to suggest gets hate in these circles, but Chipotle is awesome if you're looking for healthy dining out. The meat is usually organic unless supply is short, most of the vegetables are sourced locally when possible, and the sour cream and cheese is rbst free. Skip the tortillas and rice, and get a salad with plenty of fajita veggies and salsas. I like to substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for additional protein (though I add that myself). Ask for extra chopped cilantro if you like it (I love the stuff), as cilantro has detoxifying effects. If you go without the dairy and starches, it's full-on Paleo.

You can get double meat if you pay extra, but if you go in at a busy time when there are a lot of people working the line, and then bury the double meat under veggies and salsa, don't mention the double meat when you get to the cashier, and you've just saved $2. (If you're the sort of person who would try that trick, I also like to put organic produce from the grocery store in regular bags and go through the self check out, ringing them up as non-organic).

At home, I adapt this by using a spring mix and romaine as a veggie base, cut up some pre-cooked meat, saute a mix of frozen peppers, and serve all up on a plate with heaping scoops of cottage cheese and pico de gallo as a dressing.

Another (Colorado-based with US-wide locations) place is Garbanzo's Mediterranean Grill. It's like Chipotle's assembly line, but with Mediterranean food. It serves steak, chicken, and falafel along with a bunch of mixed salads (like tabbouleh and cucumber-tomato), pickled vegetables, hummus, tahini, baba ganoush, etc.

Grocery stores are an option, too. Go to the deli section of a Sprouts or Whole Paycheck, there are lots of prepared and heat and serve meals made on site to take home and pop in the microwave, and they'll usually have quality ingredients, too.

The organic produce scam is gold.

[komatiite]

Choose Two:
-Effortless
-Inexpensive
-Healthy

Decent Restaurant Food: Effortless and Healthy (depending on where you go obviously)
Fast Food ie McDonalds: Inexpensive and Effortless
Home Cooked Meals: Healthy and Inexpensive

You don't need to be a rocket surgeon to figure out what your best long-term solution is.

[The Beast1]

(04-22-2014 02:20 PM)komatiite Wrote:  

Choose Two:
-Effortless
-Inexpensive
-Healthy

Decent Restaurant Food: Effortless and Healthy (depending on where you go obviously)
Fast Food ie McDonalds: Inexpensive and Effortless
Home Cooked Meals: Healthy and Inexpensive

You don't need to be a rocket surgeon to figure out what your best long-term solution is.

Agreed, cooking isn't that hard. You just need to know how to plan.

OP try this, pick 3 meals you are going to cook this week and build your grocery list after it. Make sure you take stock of what is in your pantry. After a few weeks of doing this, you will have a mental map of what food stuffs you have and what you will need.

Once you've done that, shop to the recipes. Then prepare! You will save a ton of money preparing your own food and will be even healthier for it.

Also two other things to help your cooking: good ingredients and good recipes. Just going onto the internet to find a recipe isn't good and buying food from Aldis will also yield poor results. Good grocery stores include Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joe's, and farmer's markets.

Get this cookbook http://foodporndaily.com/ and try your hand in there. You will most likely be surprised at how easy cooking will become.

[Drazen]

It doesn't always have to be expensive. For example, this is a mini-chain of restaurants near me. There are several Mediterranean style places close by serving relatively healthy rotisserie chicken.

http://eat24hrs.com/restaurants/order/menu.php?id=29921
For $6.75 I can get:
1/4 Chicken Dark Meat with 1 Side: 2 legs and 1 thigh. For $8 I can get a 1/2 chicken with a side.

$5.50 I can get a chicken pita sandwhich and don't have to leave any tip.

I have a friend who does something similar. He goes to an ethnic market out in Orange County where he lives and buys a bunch of prepared persian foods like grilled meats and sides, portions them out for the week. I mean there are already cooking threads and crock pot threads, I'm just trying to see other ideas out there for minimal to no prep meals.

There are a few of these chains that have popped up around LA. I may try it.

http://www.myfitfoods.com/OrderOnline/OrderItems.aspx
For $7.00 (for a small, $8.50 for a large): All natural almond crusted chicken with Yukon gold and smoked Gouda smashed potatoes, and broccolini
Nutrition Information

Calories:360
Protein (g):31
Carbs (g):27
Fat (g):15
Sat Fat (g):3.5
Fiber (g):6
Sodium (mg):310
Sugar (g):4
Cholesterol (mg):70

[komatiite]

@Drazen The rotisserie chickens are so good because they are either seasoned or injected with tantalizing sodium-rich spice mixes or brines. Restaurants will often slather dem birds up with butter to make them extra delicious with the yummy crispy skin. You can do a lot worse when it comes to quick meals but don't tell me that rotisserie chickens are some guilt-free pleasure...

[Basil Ransom]

360 calories is a famine size meal. I can't really take someone seriously if they think otherwise. The recommended daily calorie allotment for an active adult male is about 2800-3000 calories. If you want to spend $7 on starvation rations, be my guest. Me, I'll be eating a pound or two of lamb.

I eat two meals a day and exercise a couple times a week. 2,000 calorie meals are a staple of my diet.

Fatburger is a terrific option for big eaters. I recall getting 2 lb burgers there for around $10-11. I'd ditch the bun and request a lettuce wrap.

[Spider]

Chipotle is pretty inexpensive, tasty, and relatively healthy.

The meat doesn't come from factory farmed antibiotic-pumped animals.

...and the veggies + meat are cooked in Rice-bran oil which is supposedly healthier than conventional soybean and or/corn oil used in other fast food joints.

I generally have 1 burrito bowl or salad from their every day - here's my typical order:

- Salad...alternate this with rice
- Fajita veggies
- Double chicken (or steak)
- Mild + medium salsa
- Fat scoop of Guac

^ I bring it home and dress it with extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil

Doing that several times week, or finding another quick healthy alternative similar to Chipotle might save you some time and make your life a bit easier.

I think doing that and cooking 1 big meal a day is manageable

I also keep a bag of Macadamia Nuts on hand as well as Lindt 85% Dark chocolate. Both fill me up and serve their purpose as a quick healthy snack which you don't need to spend time preparing.