Got Food Ideas?

I've found myself going back to a scary old habit... the drive-through line. Because there is only one of me, I have a hard time justifying the expense and time of cooking a meal for one when I can zip through a drive through and pick something up for actually less money than it costs me to make it. Especially when I'm heading home after a 12 hour day and exhausted. The problem is that I'm starting to order more food, less healthy choices and do this more and more often. So this last week I tried very hard to be very good and have been rewarded with a one pound gain. I'm OK with that and determined to stay the course because I know that one pound is temporary. Last week I threw a small, very lean roast in the crockpot and cooked it with onions and garlic. When it was done, I shredded it, threw in a couple of cans of green chilis and a package of brown gravy mix with the broth. My mother-in-law used to make this and it's pretty low in fat and really moist. Although it was delicious, you can imagine how sick of it I was by the end of the week. By day four, I had smothered it in melted cheese (can you say 4 billion calories and fat grams?) to change it up a bit so had to freeze the rest and get a grip. Step away from the cheese. Last night I found individual packages of cherry flavored prunes at the grocery store. They come three prunes to a small package and believe it or not, have curbed my craving for gummie bears. The other good thing is that I know I can't just sit down and eat a whole bowl or I'll have major bathroom issues so I'm easily able to limit myself to three. I'm looking for new foods, recipes and ideas to try so send any you've got my way. Hugs, Connie

I LOVE THOSE PRUNES!!!! I buy them and eat them daily. They are so much more moister than the ones that come all cramed into a box. They not only satisfy a sweet craving they keep the body running well ya know what I mean? I also get dried appricots. I go to a store in connecticut called Trader Joe's that has great dried unsweetened fruits. You have to read the packages becasue alot of them that say unsweetened fruites are sweetened with fruit juices whihc can have alot of sugar in them. I do limit the dried fruits becasue while they are easy to use & carry they have alot of sugar in them. Fresh is *******so got soy preztels there. They have 7 grams of protein in them. low fat and what is fat is good fat. The serving is 7 pieces but let me tell you by the time you chew those up 3 is enough they are small but filling. On the weekends I like to have a bagel and found Thomass mini cinniman rasin bagels. 1/2 of one of those with alittle bit of the make believe spray butter toasted is yummy along with my egg I feel like I've had this big breakfast. Sometimes I have a 1/2 grapefruit with it and then I'm good til lunchtime. I also get this cereal I love Ka****hat has 14 gms of protein in it. Low fat and low sugar. Its very filling. Has a whole bunch of these different shapes in it so I think I'm getting something different. 1 cup is a serving but I don't usually finish the bowl. do you eat jello? cool whip & jello are a comfort food for me. Low calories no sugar or fat i'm good to go!

Pam, I'd forgotten about Kashi cereal. Thanks for the reminder, I'm going to add it to the list. We have Trader Joe's here also so I'm going to go look for those pretzels. Thanks for the suggestions. I'm going to use them. If I get off my lazy butt, I may even make some jell-o. Hugs, Connie

When I come home from work and don't feel like cooking, I pop a "Lean Pocket" into the microwave. They're actually good, and the ultras have 24 grams of protein. They fill me up. Joanie

Here's an easy-to-fix-ahead snack that keeps well. 1 jar of armor dried beef (comes in the glass container in the canned meat dept) 1 block of low fat cream cheese chopped up olives splash of Worchestershire sauce Mix softened cream cheese, olives and W. sauce. Spread on cried beef slices and roll them up. Keep in the fridge for a quick high protein snack. They are salty so they seem to satisfy the salty cravings (wish they were crunchy! I guess you could add nuts!) Joy

On my good days (and I've had plenty of bad ones), I rely on: 1. South Beach Diet frozen meals - love the pizza, all varieties - tons of protein and each averages about 310-320 calories; I usually have about 1/2 cup of cole slaw with it; 2. For snacking, I love peanut butter on celery 3. This week (the week before my surgery next Tuesday) I am relying on 2 protein shakes a day - 1 for breakfast and 1 for dinner; I really want to get 5 lbs. off before next Tuesday, as well as try to wean myself off of too much eating, which I've done too much of! 4. For fast food treks, Connie, I go to KFC and have the chicken ceasar salad, it's very satisfying - and I get the crispy chicken, which is about 200 calories more than the roasted chicken, but the tast differential is worth it to me I get where you're coming from, I'm right there with you, sweetie. These are scary times -- and totally, totally reversible. Let's head back in the direction we need to go, ok? Love you HUGE, Reenie

I never had the South Beach frozen foods, but I did get the wraps that they sell in the cold food section. They are GREAT and so filling. They even come with a sugar free jello. And, of course, the South Beach Protein Bars. But, as I've mentioned, I had to cut back on the protein because of my bowels. Is there such a thing as too much protein? Hugs to you! Joanie