Our daughter pointed out to me yesterday that I never told you all I am back home. Been home a month already so sorry about not updating. I’ve been busy trying to figure out how to live healthfully here. Only semi-successful at that so far having tried and demolished several theories. I get bored so easily with any routine. I need a lot of variety. And I still don’t like cooking. Anyone out there want to tell me how I can eat healthfully without cooking? 🙂
TTYL,
Linda
Thanks for the update! You haven’t failed as long as you keep trying! It took my entire adult life (15ish years) to get to where I am now! I think you’re doing very well!
As you know, I get into my I don’t want to cook moods quite frequently. If that means that all I want to do is eat out, I identify the healthier options at local restaurants and order smartly, like asking for a green salad with dressing on the side instead of fries and taking home half of the meal if it’s huge (with some restaurants, I ask for half to be wrapped up first!). Salad bars are great as long as I remember to watch what toppings and dressings I use.
If I don’t want to go out but don’t want to be bothered with a lot of prep and clean up, I use a lot of healthy supermarket convenience foods, like prepared salads and chopped fruits and veggies. I don’t care about the markup because I know they’ll get eaten and I’ll get more variety than if I had to buy all the ingredients separately. I also love pre-roasted chickens for lean protein.
When I’m in a non-cooking, non-eating out mood, I tend to graze and have lots of mini meals with cheese, lean meats, veg and fruit, nutritious crackers, nuts, etc.
The best tip I can give is don’t bring home anything you shouldn’t be eating. If you have to go out to get it, you might be able to talk yourself out of it by the time you get to the car.
You’re an inspiration. Good job so far!
WOW.
rae pretty much said it all.
i have come to the conclusion that i don’t enjoy the regular green salad as much at home as i do out.
so… i do my own version of the cobb salad without the greens!
i always have many deviled eggs on hand. they are great energy boosters… and i like to put two halves on a plate along with cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half… wedges of fresh avocado… a little chunk of sharp cheddar cheese… and either some cubes of cantaloupe or watermelon or strawberries.
the best of both worlds. YUM!
Linda, I can relate. Re-entry can be tough.
Creating meals without spending a lot (or any) time cooking is possible. Recently I purchased a very sharp, nearly restaurant grade mandoline slicer. Salads, which I love, have become much more interesting with shredded vegetables of all sorts. I haven’t bought lettuce for a while since savoy cabbage sliced thinly is awesome plus it keeps longer. For protein some chicken or my recent favorite, fast seared bay scallops get put into the mix. My downfall is dressing 😉
Another quick meal is to enhance some boxed soups with fresh ingredients. A boxed bean soup is made into a Southwestern version by adding sautéed onions, garlic, cumin, a can of drained black beans, poblano chiles, corn and a squirt of Sriracha. Takes 10 minutes, feeds two and is pretty healthy. There’s gazillions of versions of boxed soups.
Of course, eating raw is a preference to some. Google raw food recipes and you’ll find an entire world.
Glad you made it home safely. I have not genius ideas for you.
The only thing I can think of is have someone else do the cooking for you!
Golly we’re getting close to your “pin” on the map. Wonder if we can still visit you there?
Linda,
Glad to hear you’re home and making the adjustment back into your own life.
Boy, I wish there were any advice I had that would help but I’ve never been very good about eating healthy, and after being sick a couple weeks food really doesn’t sound interesting at all and I’m not at all upset about that.
Eating raw may be helpful — but I’ve always felt that a little boring too. Change is good, routine is evil, and diversity is the spice of life.
Hi Linda, so glad to see your post. Every day I opened and saw “monster” and then closed the blog sad to not see an update : (
Regarding eating healthy but not wanting to cook, have you looked into Seattle Sutton? I have never used them but understand that they provide good food with home delivery.
Good luck to you and don’t forget to let us know how you are doing.
Hugs, Karen
Welcome home, Linda!
Since you don’t like cooking you might do what my brother did.
Sometimes his job requirements did not allow him time enough to go home and prepare and eat a meal before returning to work. So what he did on Sunday afternoons, was to spend a couple of hours preparing a large amount of one item (say sloppy joes). Say enough for 10 meals. He would take that large amount and divide it into ismall tupperware containers and put ithem into the freezer until the day he would use it.
Worked for him. Also saved going to the grocery store more often.