I don't cook

I have approx. 200lbs to lose and I am not sure how long this will take. Recipes and cooking are not something i enjoy. I am still on pureed foods (3 week postop) but curious when I start eating proper meals next week can that include things like lean cuisines or other frozen meals???? Or is that just maintenance food after you have lost all the weight. I will be cooking for myself and the idea of a 2 ounce piece of chicken laying there with a tblspn. of veggies does not help my already depressed state. I am envisioning the way I will have to eat for the next 2 years of weightloss in not the most positive way. In the first few months what did people eat to keep them sane and happy? Jennifer

Hey Jennifer, I think the best thing you could do for yourself would be to buy a good ole fashion crock pot. Because bascially you put the food in and leave it until it's done. There are some TV dinners (i.e. lean cusine makes a low carb one, and so does weigh****chers and south beach)b but personally i think they all suck. The lean cusine ones make me gassy and the south beach ones use inferior products. I tried the low carb hot pockets..and they sucked too...the crust tasted like moldy bread. I'm almost 4 months out now and can eat anything i want (bascially) although i do stay low carb. I have to be honest it's hard to get the protein you need from take out. I did eat some chinese food and rostieer chickens from the supermarket, but that was about it. Fast food (except for the salads) didn't really agree with me early on. A good place to look for ideas on what to eat is on the main board when they post what did you eat today. Hope this helps. scott

Dear Jennifer, I'm sorry you don't like to cook but have to agree with the previous poster--it is hard to eat right if you don't. Most processed and frozen foods simply don't work well post-op especially early on. Many are high is salt if not sugar. And you generally don't get a good ratio of protein to calories. The crock pot is a great suggestion. I cook for just me, so on the weekend I will make up a couple of stews or chili to eat on all week. I make a sugar free bar-b-que sauce and slow braise pork or beef in it. I like fish, so I also keep some individually frozen fillets handy. Even if I forget to pull one out before leaving for work, it doesn't take that long to thaw under cold water. I'll just grill or broil that. And I don't do that much chicken because it doesn't always agree with me. If you just hate all cooking, you might want to spend some time researching local restaurants. Do you have any local places that will work with you if you frequent them regularly? Maybe a nice Italian place could make you up some meatballs (I don't do pasta)? I love lamb, so maybe there is a great Greek place that makes kabobs? It might even be worth it to place an order large enough to make your own frozen dinners, so to speak. A grilled steak at most steak houses are way too big, so that could be several meals. It could be a pricey way to go, but it would avoid cooking! My theory is that since I am eating so little, it has to be worth eating! Good luck, Sally