i want to stop eating out all the time?

Question

i love to cook but i just never do anymore. me and the hubster have been going out to eat way to much and it really needs to stop. what are some easy, quick and somewhat healthy dinner ideas? i want min. clean up afterwards. and i want to start making lunches for my and my husband to take to work what are some good simple ideas for that?
also any good tips for making sure i keep to this... i want to start making it a habit. it will save us so much money and be so much healthier. thank you have a great day everyone.

Answer 1

I recommend the _A Man, A Can, A Plan_ series. Plain good food. Starts with the link below at the original book, expanded into several. These are super-fast, super-easy recipes. Bonus: they're board books, which means they stand up to spills. For lunch? Make leftovers!

Answer 2

An excellent question.

It seems to me that the key is, as in so many things, is thoughtful planning.

Planning out meals in advance means that all the ingredients will be there when its time to cook.

Planning means giving consideration to portion control which is essential in healthy eating. There's just about no unhealthy food (no matter what food faddists say) but too much of anything can be unhealthy.

Planning means that you can do some of your prep work the night before or in the morning before work so that you won't be confronted with too great a task when you are already exhausted from your work day.

Planning means that you have time to consider the easiest and quickest ways to put each meal together. What ingredients are best bought frozen or otherwise pre-prepped? Can you make a double or triple portion of that tomato sauce for use in another meal? Should I make enough to guarantee leftovers. Should I make a big enough roast to have enough for sandwiches tomorrow?

Aside from planning, consider your cooking methods generally. For your needs it needs to be either long and slow so things cook while you are at work or very quick and last minute.

Crock pot meals are an obvious choice. Low temperature cooking in the oven is also excellent. I'll pop a still frozen boneless chuck roast in a pan, toss in a bag of frozen chopped onions, green peppers and celery, add a can of diced tomatoes, cover with foil and put it in the oven at 175 degrees before I go to bed. It cooks all night and most of the next day. By dinner its falling apart tender. A stick blender turns the juices and veggies into a delicious sauce.

Pasta dishes are easy dinners. Put the water on to boil when you come home. Have a cocktail with hubby and serve some olives, cheese and crackers for an antipasto. Toss in the pasta and when its done and drained sauce it the way the Italians do with just a bit of olive oil, some garlic and a grating of real parmigiano reggiano. Or add a can of drained oil packed tuna, some capers, a can of diced tomatoes and a handful of fresh chopped basil.

I'm sure you get the idea, these are just a couple of thoughts to get you started.

Best of luck on your plan!

Answer 3

Hi , well I am happy you take that step , Honestly to eat out it is a disease in American no wonder many obese people is in America. To prepare your own food it is the most healthy things you would do because you know what is in and how much amount of everything you put in there and it is safe.Well watch cooking Chanel they have quicker and health meal, racheray and many more. show interest , you will end save money , debt free and healthier. Good luck try the best you can

Answer 4

I have the very same problem. I love to cook but I work 2 full time jobs and its only me and my boyfriend so it is much easier to eat out ( and cheaper too.)
But our new thing is the TV dinner side dishes and making a simple entree like chicken or steak.

Answer 5

First and foremost, bear in mind that fast and no clean-up is not related to microwave. Well, for simple healthy food and minimum cleanup, I will recommend sandwiches for lunch, salad, pizza or pasta for dinner.

Make your lunches creative by using different types of bread, baguettes, bagels, croissant etc. Fill it with differet type of meat daily so you don't get bored with it like ham, beef, tuna, salmon etc.

Salad, pasta and pizza is easy to prepare too. But that always depend on your budget. I think its more important to decide on how much you want to spend on food before coming with ingredients or recipe to start cooking.

Happy eating !

Answer 6

chicken pesto... u need bowtie noodles, or rice, cook as directed... boneless chicken breasts, cut in cubes, fry in olive oil until white, add red,green,and yellow pepper (sliced) to the chicken, add brocolli if desired, any vegetable will work.. turn on med. heat, add pesto sauce (a few spoonfulls) mix well... cover, and takes about 15 min to cook.... serve over noodles, or rice... delicious and healthy meal and not much clean up afterwards.... As for lunch, prepare salads , or, turkey sandwiches on wheat bread w/ pretzels is always healthy as well..... good luck,,, hope this helps! Its a great meal for my family, and they love it!!

Answer 7

I like to cook food that makes enough for left-overs the next day or freezing. And also cost-effective. Ideas:

Chili
Red Beans & sausage, served over rice
Gumbo, served over rice
Creamy chicken soup, served over pasta
Huge bowl of chicken or tuna salad
Beef stew, served over rice

I also eat breakfast foods for dinner... eggs, grits, oatmeal, biscuits, toast, hashbrowns, ham slices, etc. etc.

Best of luck!

Answer 8

I love wtaching the Food Network. It inspires me and you get some great ideas. The website also has all the recipes.

Answer 9

Try some fruit. Plums, peaches and sweet stuff. It's like healthy candy. Try some PBJ Sandwiches.

Answer 10

i think you need to start eating organic food and learn what that food you eat in the street have in them learn what it does to your boby not one make you fat but other thing there is a super market called whole food try it someday