Is there ANY healthy, quick food?

[Bob]

Purchased food.  Just pop it in the microwave and eat.

It seems like everything like that has high cholestrol or high sodium, so that's not good. 

Isn't there anything quick and healthy?  Preparation being nothing or at most sticking it in the microwave and punching a button.

(Bob eats the generic Hot Pocket anyway, annoyed that it said "healthy" on the box.)

[m19834]

Yes !  What I affectionately call "throw salad" ...

basic consists of a bag or container of mixed greens, ready to be thrown on a plate or in a bowl.  Then, little grape tomatoes that are bite-sized, just sitting in a container, ready to be put on the lettuce.  You can put sprouts on, too, sugar snap peas, pea pods, peas, little corn on the cobb thingies ... lots of stuff.  And, if you have it in you, you can slice a cucumber, pour a little dressing on and there you have it !  Also, there are bags of grilled chicken breast (frozen) that is already sliced as well, just put a bit on a plate, pop it into the microwave and throw it on your salad.  It's good.  And/or scoop some cottage cheese onto the salad.

Also, if you have a steamer, you can get bags of already chopped broccoli and throw it just as it is inside the steamer for about 12 minutes.  Same thing with cauliflower, mushrooms (whole), carrots, small peppers, sugar snap peas, pea pods ... etc.  You can steam shrimp, too, or fish or chicken.  Super easy, SUPER tastey, and very good for you.  That's off the top of my head of things that you have never prepared yourself (and perhaps frozen for later) but can just throw together.  Maybe I will be back with more ideas.

[sharon_f]

Birds Eye steamed vegetables. 5 minutes in the microwave.
Perdue Baked Breaded Chicken Cutlets. 2 minutes in the microwave.

[timothy42b]

Depends a little bit on your personal dietary theories.  

I'm a low carb type.  Not a high protein, not a high fat, just a "reduce the carbs" approach.  Sort of like Atkins for breakfast and lunch, then eat a balanced dinner, avoid snacks.  

So the quickest, healthiest food a tuna pouch.  They come predrained in oil or water, just tear open and eat.  I prefer the oil to the water.  The tuna in cans is cheaper, but needs to be drained and is messier to throw away.  

Eggs are as cheap as you can get, high quality low carbs and calories.  You might want to boil a few ahead of time.  

At restaurants you're almost out of luck, the best you can do is an expensive salad.

[go12_3]

Nuts, raisins, dark chocolates, cottage cheese with pears in, pasta with cheese on top, scrambled eggs, cheese, fruit-----that's what I eat to keep GOing.....

best wishes,

go12_3

[Bob]

Salad, tuna, and eggs are getting near the edge of the effort I'm willing to put into making food.  Hard boiled eggs could work, although I'd have dishes to wash... hmm.  And if I have to microwave two things, that's pushing it. 

I guess I need to go shopping again. 

[weissenberg2]

it is called vegetables and fruit.

[retrouvailles]

Bob, are you in the Midwest? Just curious.

[Bob]

Why?  Is there more or less healthy food in the midwest?

[m19834]

Yogurt by itself, or with fruit in it (fresh or frozen).

Along the frozen fruit lines, you can get bags of frozen fruit/berries that has nothing at all added to it.  Good for smoothies.  You can make a smoothie pretty easily.  Banana, peanut butter and with milk or soy milk, a little cinnamon, too.

Granola, yogurt, fruit together.  Super yummy, pretty healthful but granola can really pack a punch !  You can put maple syrup on it and some walnuts.

Also, instant oatmeal.  Canned soups are getting pretty good as far as less sodium and healthful ingredients, and these days you can just open the can with a pull top, dump it in the bowl and microwave it.

Seriously, Bob, if those are pushing your limits, then you are basically going to have to just hire yourself a chef ! 

[goldentone]

Seriously, Bob, if those are pushing your limits, then you are basically going to have to just hire yourself a chef ! 

Yeah, Bob, if you become a bit more adventurous, it will open up new frontiers.

[healdie]

although I'd have dishes to wash... hmm.  And if I have to microwave two things, that's pushing it. 

ha ha you sound like me

"look at yourself you can't survive on the mushrooms in your hair" Bill Bailey quote from Black books

[timothy42b]

Yogurt by itself, or with fruit in it (fresh or frozen).

Along the frozen fruit lines, you can get bags of frozen fruit/berries that has nothing at all added to it.  Good for smoothies.  You can make a smoothie pretty easily.  Banana, peanut butter and with milk or soy milk, a little cinnamon, too.

But completely unhealthy for anyone who is diabetic, hypoglycemic or with tendencies toward it, overweight, etc. 

This is where you have to back up a step and decide what is healthy for you as an individual.  My kids are skinny healthy teenagers, what is okay for them would be dangerous for me. 

[m19834]

But completely unhealthy for anyone who is diabetic, hypoglycemic or with tendencies toward it, overweight, etc. 

This is where you have to back up a step and decide what is healthy for you as an individual.  My kids are skinny healthy teenagers, what is okay for them would be dangerous for me. 

Well, I have no idea what Bob needs really.  He didn't actually state it other than the thread title  .  I am not trying to be a nutritionist, just giving my opinions based on the information I've got  .  I can't imagine that whatever he is currently eating, where you apparently just stick it into the microwave (hot pockets ??) is any more healthful than the foods I have listed.  Anyway, unless an individual has special needs, as you mentioned Tim, the key to maintaining a healthy weight is basically anything in moderation, and exercise.  No rocket science there. 

In any event, good on you for your kids  !!

[ahinton]

Yogurt by itself,

I'm allergic to yogurt, or it's allegic to me, or both. A lot depends (as others have said here) on the individual, both in terms of what they each need and what medical problems and/or food allergies that each may or may not have.

Along the frozen fruit lines, you can get bags of frozen fruit/berries that has nothing at all added to it.  Good for smoothies.  You can make a smoothie pretty easily.  Banana, peanut butter and with milk or soy milk, a little cinnamon, too.

I'll buy that, but for the peanut butter and soy milk, either of which have a nasty habit of coming back out the way they went in (or would do if I let them).

Granola, yogurt, fruit together.  Super yummy, pretty healthful but granola can really pack a punch !  You can put maple syrup on it and some walnuts.

Ditto reaction to granola for me. These things might well be fine for others. though.

Seriously, Bob, if those are pushing your limits, then you are basically going to have to just hire yourself a chef ! 

Or become one!

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Eggs are as cheap as you can get,

Not from where I'm sitting, they're not! - and in my neighbouring country, France, they've recently gotten even more expensive still.

Best,

Alistair

[m19834]

A lot depends (as others have said here) on the individual, both in terms of what they each need and what medical problems and/or food allergies that each may or may not have.

Yes, I know.  But, consider what he is asking and what that must mean about his life thus far ?  If he has medical problems and/or major food allergies, which means he needs a special diet, then he isn't nuking all of his food or otherwise spending zero time in preparation with it, unless he is somehow purchasing food through some company that caters already to his specific needs, in which case he would not be asking what he has asked here on the piano forum. 

[Bob]

Zero prep time, yes.  There must be other people on this forum who don't want to put any effort into food. 

I end up eating the same stuff over and over.  So I try something new.  It tastes halfway decent, maybe even good.  Then I look at the box.  Of course... it's not healthy. 

No health concerns beyond wanting to be healthy. 

There must be something out there.  Quick, tastey, no effort to make.  I just have to buy it and keep it until I eat it. 

[rc]

apples.  bananas.  carrots require peeling - that's when I'm feeling ambitious.  A slice of coldcut meat by itself.  Sometimes when I'm feeling fancy I'll stir a little sugar in a glass of milk.

I've heard that a twinky will keep for years, even out of the package!  because bacteria, flies and basically all organisms aren't interested in it.  There's more nutrition in our dead skin flakes.

[arensky]

Purchased food.  Just pop it in the microwave and eat.

It seems like everything like that has high cholestrol or high sodium, so that's not good. 

Isn't there anything quick and healthy?  Preparation being nothing or at most sticking it in the microwave and punching a button.

(Bob eats the generic Hot Pocket anyway, annoyed that it said "healthy" on the box.)

Yikes, hot pockets are a shortcut to heart attack and stroke/anuerysm. Cut that @$&% out, you should be more than annoyed that it's labeled healthy    The corporations that foist this ^&%# off on us should be fined. 
 
At the very least.

Sounds like you have the same concerns that I do; high blood pressure and cholesterol. Over the last couple of years I have lowered both my cholesterol and BP without medication. During the school year I don't have a lot of time to spend cooking, but here's some basic guidelines for healthy fast food prep.

 Regarding microwave food, if it's over 20% of the USDA daily sodium and/or fat allowance (make sure you note the serving size), don't eat it. It's too much salt and fat. When you shop, read the labels. Keep away from canned food. Condiments are dangerous, full of sodium. Cheese (I love it so much) is fatty and salty and should be consumed sparingly. Breakfast cereal is very salty, except for shredded wheat and generic puffed wheat and rice. Real oatmeal actually cuts your cholesterol, and is good for you in other ways, although it takes awhile to prepare. I'll get back to it this summer. Start thinking of things like cheese,dairy and eggs as delicacies, special treats. I have an omlette about twice a month, and boy is it great! Don't eat anything substantial after 8PM. This summer after school's out try to change your ways, enjoy cooking good stuff and get into good food. Why not? And starting now eat lots of vegetables, salads with low fat and sodium dressing. Your body will love you for it and you'll feel better. Organic and free range turkey and chicken have a lot less cholesterol than the "normal" kind. Fish oil capsules reduce bad cholesterol, if you don't enjoy fish like me  . Mr. Google is your friend, ask him questions and ask your doctor too, what do you pay her/him for anyway.

Here's my basic diet for the past few months, it's normalized my BP and cholesterol.

BREAKFAST (7:30 AM) A bowl of shredded wheat with no fat milk, and a banana. A large cup of  strong tea. The tea water boils while I eat the food. 10 minutes prep and consume.

LUNCH (3:00 PM or Noon depending on the day) One Tina's (brand name) bean and cheese burrito and an orange. If I'm still hungry I have another orange or I make a salad with organic butter lettuce, three cherry tomatoes and some cucumber slices. If I'm still hungry, a slice or two of sandwich bread. 10 minutes prep and consume.

DINNER (7:30 to 8:00 PM) Pasta, a chicken cutlet and tamale or two, a rice dish, whatever, just not too much sodium and fat laden food. And the salad. Of course, a couple of times a week I feast on unhealthy food, but boy do I enjoy it, and it doesn't build up in the arteries.

Oh, walk or run or lift or whatever, at least 30 minutes a day.

Anyway maybe this will provide a model for you that you can adjust to your own needs. The above has worked for me, and I'm predisposed to the conditions you mentioned in your post. Hope this helps!