It is sort of embarassing...

[Alia]

..but I am a 48 year old woman who doesn't like to cook. To me, cooking is rather like driving a stick-shift automobile--too much "right-hand-left-foot-what-is-my-clutch-doing-and-where-the heck-is-reverse-and-what-IS-that-grinding-noise" going on.

Yeah, I know. Sad. So, that would explain in part why my BG went all pear-shaped (unlike me, who went all apple-shaped) a while back.

So, I am relearning lots of good habits, like keeping actual FOOD in the house and resisting the urge to eat like a 12 year old whose parents went away on vacation.

The problem is this: is there an easy (okay, an easIER) way to plan out what you are going to eat for the week? How do you deal with a family who is not diabetic and has to eat also, but doesn't want any of your organic winter squash and low-carb yogurt, thankyouverymuch.

(I gotta tell you, though, that reading some of the recipes in here is making me look quite lovingly sideways at my stove and wonder if it would be up for the task. Yummy!)

[Dis-N-Dat]

Hi Alia:
What has been really helpful to me is keeping the following things in the house:

Spaghetti squash (keeps for ages on the counter & super easy to prepare)
bag-o-veggies (from the deli)
cans of salmn & tune
bag-o-salad
eggs

These items can save me if I get really hungry and they can be part of your overall meal for when you feel like cooking.

Hope this is helpful and good for you!

[Granny Shanny]

I'll add cheese sticks to DnD's list, and along with eating my eggs scrambled or poached, I keep a jar of hard-cooked eggs (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/type-2-diabetes/43548-seems-impossible.html#post498953) in the fridge, for easy access. Meat sticks like Slim Jims work well for me, and don't even require refrigeration.

Dice up a hard-cooked egg with some of DnD's salmon or tuna, bind it with some mayo & you've got a nice meal, especially if you use it to stuff an avocado! :D

That's the sort of thing I do, but I know I have it easier because there's only DH & me, and he's trying to watch his intake too. (actually, he's on the run, because I'm just about to overtake him in the weight loss race . . . hee hee!)

[foxl]

Alia, I have the ultimate version of this ... 3 el-ed age kids, all of whom have different tastes, including one with truly horrible pickiness (which is improving thankfully), and me, and one obese husband in diabetic denial. The kids are all internationally adopted, and of ethnicities quite vulnerable to developing D.

I still have to make the box macaroni and cheese for them at least weekly. They eat sandwiches, and the panda bear (NOT because she is Chinese, but because she eats a mono diet like a panda!) must have white bread and nothing mixed up. They eat white-bread sandwiches. They eat pasta with butter and cheese. I used to eat those things right along with them. And of course there are birthday cakes and cookies and ...

I have learned to arm myself with alternatives -- nuts, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs ... salads, fresh veg. When they eat their starch, I eat cheese, or tofu with similar (or stronger!) flavorings or nuts or eggs ... the same sauces that are good on pasta are good on eggs or tofu.

Hope that gives you something to start from ...

[Alia]

Thank you for your replies!

This does give me ideas in order to have some good items in the house. It will be nice to not have to rely solely on frozen stuff. And the best part is much of it I can stock up on and not worry about it turning to rotting moosh in the fridge if I don't get to it in time (or don't feel like eating it after I bought it).

Thank you, all! :D

[Chef Barrae]

Do most of your shopping around the parimeter of the grocery store. That's where all the fresh produce, dairy and meats are found. It keeps you away from the canned, bottled, jarred and processed goods.

[butterflykisses]

Alia, I have the ultimate version of this ... 3 el-ed age kids, all of whom have different tastes, including one with truly horrible pickiness (which is improving thankfully), and me, and one obese husband in diabetic denial. The kids are all internationally adopted, and of ethnicities quite vulnerable to developing D.

I still have to make the box macaroni and cheese for them at least weekly. They eat sandwiches, and the panda bear (NOT because she is Chinese, but because she eats a mono diet like a panda!) must have white bread and nothing mixed up. They eat white-bread sandwiches. They eat pasta with butter and cheese. I used to eat those things right along with them. And of course there are birthday cakes and cookies and ...

I have learned to arm myself with alternatives -- nuts, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs ... salads, fresh veg. When they eat their starch, I eat cheese, or tofu with similar (or stronger!) flavorings or nuts or eggs ... the same sauces that are good on pasta are good on eggs or tofu.

Hope that gives you something to start from ...
Like a Panda, that's too cute. :)

[foxl]

Like a Panda, that's too cute. :)

Very like a panda ... they are only cute when you are not trying to find their food of choice!

[jer.lawrence]

How about this one.. found it on some website and it was VERY easy. First meal I made after Dx and it's sort of "boosted" me into wanting to make more stuff.

Ingredients:
4-6 Boneless, skinless chicken breast (I only used 3)
1 cup Italian Salad Dressing
2 cups Fresh Parmesan Cheese, finely shredded (I used Grated, like in the plastic containers -- worked fine)
1/2 cup dried Parsley Flakes (optional, but does add nice flavor)
1 Tbsp. Garlic Pepper Seasoning (salt and pepper work fine as well)

Preparation Method:
Pour salad dressing into pie plate (or any bowl type container) and set aside.

Mix parmesan cheese, parsley and garlic pepper together in a seperate dish.

Dip each chicken breast in salad dressing and then dip into parmesan mixture coating both sides. Place in greased 9 1/2 x 11 baking dish. Bake 30-35 minutes (I did ~28m at 350) or until chicken is done.


I made this, and heated up 2 packages of the Green Giant frozen veggies (the little boxes) in the microwave for 2 minutes. It fed 3 people easily and everyone really liked it. It was Super easy to make.

[rak1978]

I can't speak to the not liking to cook, because I LOVE to cook.
But, I can tell you what I do with my family. I tend to cook meals that you can take or leave the starch. This way I'm not making seperate meals three times a day. So, my children and husband can eat the starch if they want, and I still get a yummy low carb version of what they're eating.
For example...
tonight we grilled some chipotle glazed chicken with roasted potatoes, salad, and zucchini as side dishes. I ate the same thing as everyone else with a little less "glaze" and no potatoes.
If I'm making a pasta dish, I'll make it with some protein and veggies to mix in and serve my portion before mixing in the pasta. (lemony alfredo sauce over grilled chicken w/ spinach (chopped small and mixed with basil) and whole wheat pasta goes over very well with my kids and I just don't eat the pasta)


Not sure if any of this applies to you if you don't like to cook, but if you ever feel the urge to start, I have lots of family friendly suggestions. We rarely eat out because my son has a severe nut allergy, so we have many of recipes in the arsenal.

:)
Good luck!

[genie86333]

Cook a double (or larger) batch of whatever it is you are making & invest in tupperware instead of just making enough for that meal. That way you only have to do it once & will have leftovers which can be stuck in the refrigerator (if you'll eat it in a day or two) or the freezer (if you want it for next week so you don't get tired of it.)

Another thing I do...because I'm tired of cooking (I don't hate it but had to do the cooking for my family ever since I was 9)...is find things that don't need a lot of work: Plop a chicken breast or a pork chop on a baking sheet, add spices & throw in the oven. I usually just add some raw veggies or cheese or nuts as a "side dish" and I'm set.

If you can tolerate bean or lentils - throw some in a crock pot with a few herbs (don't add anything with salt as it causes beans/lentils to cook more slowly) & walk away for several hours. About an hour before you're ready to eat, add some raw hamburger or sausage & some veggies (raw ones or frozen work just fine) & forget about it again for a while. Finally, add any other spices & serve.

Throw a roast in a crock pot.

That way, you have a good healthy meal (or meals), but don't spend all day feeling like you've spent all day cooking.

When you look at a recipe, think "can that be simplified?"
I used to make a tater-tot dish before Dx...the original recipe called for cooking stuff, then layering said stuff, with the tater tots carefully layered on top to cover the entire thing, then baking it. I just mixed everything but the tots together & cooked it on the stove, cooked the tater tots in the oven & then just mixed them all together. Tasted just as good, and didn't waste the extra time. The kids had tasted it both ways & they NEVER said a word about the difference.

[Alia]

Do most of your shopping around the parimeter of the grocery store.

Right after I read this, I tried it. I was AMAZED at how much better my shopping experience was, and how much less junk I ended up buying.

How about this one.. found it on some website and it was VERY easy. First meal I made after Dx and it's sort of "boosted" me into wanting to make more stuff.

I have the stuff to make this recipe. I am going to try it tonight. ( I actually feel a tingle of excitement at the idea. That hasn't happened in YEARS, I tell you!) :D


But, I can tell you what I do with my family. I tend to cook meals that you can take or leave the starch. This way I'm not making seperate meals three times a day. So, my children and husband can eat the starch if they want, and I still get a yummy low carb version of what they're eating.

:)
Good luck!

Flexible meals for those at the same table who have D and who do not. I love this concept. There are a handful of my old recipes (the Hungarian in me that used to like to cook) that I believe I could convert this way. Thank you!

Cook a double (or larger) batch of whatever it is you are making & invest in tupperware instead of just making enough for that meal.

...is find things that don't need a lot of work: Plop a chicken breast or a pork chop on a baking sheet, add spices & throw in the oven. I usually just add some raw veggies or cheese or nuts as a "side dish" and I'm set.

If you can tolerate bean or lentils - throw some in a crock pot with a few herbs (don't add anything with salt as it causes beans/lentils to cook more slowly) & walk away for several hours. About an hour before you're ready to eat, add some raw hamburger or sausage & some veggies (raw ones or frozen work just fine) & forget about it again for a while. Finally, add any other spices & serve.

Throw a roast in a crock pot.

That way, you have a good healthy meal (or meals), but don't spend all day feeling like you've spent all day cooking.

When you look at a recipe, think "can that be simplified?"


I am all about the non-fussy way of cooking. I like the idea of just tossing some protein into the oven and having some non-carby sides with it. (and I know I have a crock pot or two around here from my first marriage) I completely forgot about it sometime over the last ten or so years. Talk about brainfog!

[Chef Barrae]

You can also try a "generic" cook ahead plan. In other words, cook enough boneless skinless chicken breast for 3 meals for you and your family by simply roasting them on a sheet pan in the oven with very simple seasoning.
Now you have a base to use to make three great meals during the week. For instance from this you could make a stir fry by slicing the chicken, a pasta dish by cubing the chicken, or use a pesto sauce as a sauce for the chicken. It just takes minimal planning and makes things easy for a busy work week.
You can use this technique with most any protein and if you have a few extra minutes you can prep the fresh vegetables or sauces ahead and store them in packages so that each meal has all the ingredients ready to go. It's just a matter of slicing, dicing or chopping a few veges, throwing them in zip bags and storing it in a container with the protein for that meal.

[genie86333]

I am all about the non-fussy way of cooking. I like the idea of just tossing some protein into the oven and having some non-carby sides with it. (and I know I have a crock pot or two around here from my first marriage) I completely forgot about it sometime over the last ten or so years. Talk about brainfog!

It's how I've survived! Once in a while I actually get the cooking bug, but not very often, so it's usually all about quick & easy...and you've got to be creative to make quick & easy also be healthy!

I also sometimes use the chef's plan of cooking up extra chicken breasts (or pork chops or whatever) and then using them for different things. I'll make up enough to have chicken for dinner one night, chicken salad for lunch the next day & the Salsa Verde sour cream chicken burritos I got the recipe for here on the forums the next night. There's a little cooking involved with the burritos, but not much since the chicken's pre-cooked.

[jer.lawrence]

I have the stuff to make this recipe. I am going to try it tonight. ( I actually feel a tingle of excitement at the idea. That hasn't happened in YEARS, I tell you!) :D

Let me know what you thought of the chicken. :)

[davef]

Alia,

Check out these books:

Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours: Amazon.co.uk: Jamie Oliver: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Ministry-Food-Anyone-Learn/dp/0718148622)

In the USA I think this book has been rebranded:

Amazon.com: Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals (9781401323592): Jamie Oliver: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Jamies-Food-Revolution-Rediscover-Affordable/dp/1401323596/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253099336&sr=1-3)

Also check out:

Amazon.com: 101 Best Ever Chicken Recipes: Tried-and-Tested Recipes (Good Food 101) (9781846074349): Jeni Wright: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Chicken-Recipes-Tried-Tested/dp/1846074347/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253099565&sr=1-1)

The Jamie oliver book is aimed directly at people who think they can't cook or that it's too much trouble. There was a TV series that the book went with. Well worth a read, cheap easy meals.

[Alia]

Jeremy, it was AWESOME! It came out of the oven juicy and hot and was so good it made me fall to my knees and weep, I tell you! The best part? I made enough to last for three meals, so no mealtime stress for a couple of days.

Thank you so much for that. Made my week.

[Alia]

Alia,

Check out these books:

Jamie's Ministry of Food: Anyone Can Learn to Cook in 24 Hours: Amazon.co.uk: Jamie Oliver: Books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Ministry-Food-Anyone-Learn/dp/0718148622)

In the USA I think this book has been rebranded:

Amazon.com: Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals (9781401323592): Jamie Oliver: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Jamies-Food-Revolution-Rediscover-Affordable/dp/1401323596/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253099336&sr=1-3)

Also check out:

Amazon.com: 101 Best Ever Chicken Recipes: Tried-and-Tested Recipes (Good Food 101) (9781846074349): Jeni Wright: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Chicken-Recipes-Tried-Tested/dp/1846074347/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253099565&sr=1-1)

The Jamie oliver book is aimed directly at people who think they can't cook or that it's too much trouble. There was a TV series that the book went with. Well worth a read, cheap easy meals.

I am going to Amazon to add them to my wish list. The Jamie Oliver book looks like it might be right up my alley. Thank you! I am being completely amazed at how much information is out there for people like me who usually only dust their stove once in a while. :D