My own cooked meals for a week!

Wow. My mom has worked too but not that much. My dad was the one who worked a lot and for along time now.

Yes, they're both working (until now actually). When we were younger, we had our grandma and often we had helpers at home.

That's nice and heartwarming to hear. My mother is not the "mothering" kind because she has always worked. That's why I'm curious and amazed at stay at home moms.

I also stock up on fresh fruits. It helps me avoid junk food and other unhealthy stuff because I could get fruit anytime I want them. And, unlike fresh vegetables, I would take fruits anytime (veggies are kinda it depends on the mood thing). I haven't had fast food in a while, and I pat my self in the back for that.

yes, that is what i am doing and i am pretty much successful of replacing junk food with nutritious food. making myself healthy and getting rid of those fats.lol! congratulations to you!!

Yes, and congratulations to you, too! It's always good to lean towards a healthy lifestyle. Right now I see the clothes starting to fit better, the weight going down, and my body become agile again.

Well, I have measured and stored them in a way that is enough for one meal so I don't leave leftovers. As to rice, I've been avoiding them lately because they make me feel bloated. Good for you that MIL is there to cook your food. When I was young, we lived with my grandma. And since our parents were busy businesspeople (and my mom, a terrible cook ) it was grandma who cooked the meals, or sometimes we had househelp who would cook.

Yes, that is one advantage of our extended family culture.

We are lucky indeed when we have someone who could cook for everybody, without having to pay them for it. It's really good to have our loved ones with us.

Wow, dumplings! I love dumplings. Maybe one day I'll learn how to make them, too. Well, that's why I try to make meals in advance because I'd never know if my days will become too busy for me. When that happens, I just reach in the refrigerator and heat what I have already cooked and stored.

@Ardoy: Well, I'm not really a good cook, but I can whip up something I do like (though I'm not sure if other people would like what I cook. ) Also, I cook simple meals and use very little oil in order to work with my diet.

@Bagarad: That's a good idea! (avocado with garlic and lemon juice instead of butter or mayo). After all, it's what makes guacamole delish (I think). Thanks for another helpful tip!

I keep a box of frozen Boca burgers (veggie) around for days I just don't have time or don't want to cook. I usually have lettuce around, and if I don't have tomatoes to add to them, I sometimes will use canned stewed tomatoes, which are sliced, and actually work almost as well. Or, I mash an avocado with garlic and lemon juice and spread it on the buns instead of mayo or butter. Keeps it moist and add flavor.

Well, they're still good yes. The food would be smelly only if the fridge is. Mine is clean and I don't have strong smelling food, so my frozen goods are still okay.

That's right. We can save a lot of money by preparing our own food. And, it's healthier, too. I also like my own cooking (the taste, I mean) so it satisfies me to cook my own meals. Someday I hope to learn more complex meals.

I would actually prefer fresh food cooked daily, but that would consume too much time for me. And, since I live alone, I can't rely on any one else to cook food. So, the best possible solution I can think of is to cook them ahead and freeze them. And, yes, since I'm alone, my small freezer is enough for me. If given the choice, though, I would rather have them prepared fresh daily, like you do.

Wow, it's nice to hear that your kids like your meals (I don't like my mom's cooking that's how I learned to cook myself ). But, I could proudly say that my mom likes my cooking, so when I was still living with them, and when I visit them, I cook. Grilling is good. Maybe I should do that sometime in the future. And yes, thanks to Tefal, there's no need for charcoal. So messy.

Good idea! Thawing, I mean. I arrived last night and had heated my meal in a skillet. And because it was frozen, it took a longer time to heat. I don't like using the microwave oven because they say it's also unhealthy to always have your meals microwaved. Thank you for your great suggestion! I'm glad I made this topic. There are tips that could really help me!

Wow, it's great to hear that your family loves your cooking. Feels great, right? Yeah, it's good to prepare the menu first and then buy the stuff. That way, you already know which ingredients to buy and buy only those that you need.

That's great! It makes eating and snacking healthier because now you could get healthy food instead of reaching for junk food. I think I'm going to be doing that for the following days.

We also have a canteen, and their food is actually cheap but delicious. But, they use too much oil and salt to my liking. So, I'd rather cook my own food. I will see just how long I can do this.

Yes, it's way healthier. That is why I prepared it in advance. Because I knew that I would be busy for the week and not be able to cook. And, that would mean I would have to eat out.

Well, yah, my cooking is passable. Not gourmet or anything, but at least I could whip up something that I could like. It's a de-stressing activity for me - cooking, and I love to do it. I used to cook for my family when I was still living with them. Well, my two brothers and my dad could whip up a decent meal, too. I think maybe it's because our mom is terrible at cooking! Everybody else would volunteer to cook so that mom does not have to.

I learned to keep everything in my car at that place. I will always split my lunch with some one if they ask. I will also offer half of mine if I know someone forgot their lunch. There is no need to steal. Now I have moved and people are different here. I don't work with humans anymore. I walk dogs. I volunteer with animals. No one steals. We share what we have. When I bring lunch I bring enough for 3 people. Everyone brings something extra. I bring extra fruits to share.

It's really a good thing for me that people respect each other's lunch here. Well, people at the office are generous, so, if you'd like their food, all you have to do is ask and they'll share with you. So, there's no need to go "stealing" other people's food. Maybe you should not put your plates in there so that those rude people won't use them.

It's good to know you're out of that terrible place. I don't get them, either, because they could simply ask if they really wanted, right? But, then, some people are just plain rude. Wow, it must be fun working with animals. I love dogs and always love their company!!

I always have some homemade sauces for pasta. I don´t make them with salt, but salt them when I defrost them. I make pesto and only salt it later by adding parmesan cheese.

Maybe I should do that, too! I love pesto!!! Problem is, I don't for how long I can keep them. I'm used to making dishes that last only for a week, and I can't have pasta every week! Too much carbs going on there for me.

That's right. Add to that, the food I cook are way healthier than those I could buy outside so, a big plus. It does save a lot of my time and yes, could be great when there are unexpected guests. Sometimes, though, I feel restricted especially when I'm on a diet and have cooked only those that are in my diet. Maybe I should prepare extra meals for those days I can't resist a craving!

Well, that's a good start. I started with rice and fried food, too. But, nowadays, I stay away from rice because I feel bloated when I eat them. And, when I do need to eat rice, I prefer brown rice, so I really need to do my own cooking because I rarely see brown rice when dining out.

Ooohh jury duty. I wonder what it's like. We don't have the jury system in our country. Wow, you store a lot of good food! I wish I could find quinoa here. I've been hearing a lot of good raves about them. Maybe I could use them as substitute to rice. I bloat with rice and it's our country's staple food. Maybe I should also try baking potatoes. Although that may pose a problem for me because I like lots and lots of butter on baked potatoes. And that's not a good thing.

Wow thanks for that insight on the jury system. It's a bit more complicated than I'd imagined it to be (or the way they portray it in movies). I'm glad there's no such system here. (That's my personal opinion, of course, because I know there are advantages) You're right, though, for some people it is quite a strain to serve as a juror. Well, I hope you do not get picked as you said you cannot afford to miss one day at your business. Often I don't like ordering at Amazon or other off-shore (for us) online stores because when they arrive, the tax (customs duties) is so expensive! So, if I can't find them locally, then it's rice for me. I can use brown rice.

I don't know if you can order from Amazon, but they have 25-pound bags of quinoa and it's less expensive per pound than in the health food stores. Be sure and buy the pre-rinsed brands. Costco has the brand I buy, if you have a Costco. I know there are Costco stores in some other countries. I like the rice better than quinoa in stuffed peppers, but I often substitute quinoa for rice with stir fry dishes. Jury duty is something all U.S. citizens are supposed to do, but you can be excused for financial hardship or if someone depends upon your for care or if you don't have transportation. Since I'm self-employed and run a company, it's very hard to miss a business day because I could miss a phone call that brings a large order. I really don't want to put my cell phone number on line for the general public, and most people prefer a toll-free number anyway. So I claim financial hardship. But I'm too late to get excused this time. That means I will have to call or check the web site on Monday night to see if I have to go in. If they don't need me, they will either excuse me or keep me on call until about 2 o'clock, which means I have to stay near the phone until they excuse me for the rest of the day. Or, if they call, I have to go to the courthouse 30 miles away or the one 10 miles away (the one I'm hoping for, since I have a meeting that night I want to be back for). When I go to the courthouse, I have to register and sit around and wait to see if I get called to be in a jury pool. I've only gotten that far once. If you get in the jury pool, you go in with about 100 other people and they draw names. If your name is called, the judge and lawyers ask some questions and if they like your answers, you're on the jury. If not, they call another name. They keep doing that until they get twelve jurors and some alternates who will have to serve. I have a pretty good idea of how not to get picked. I would make a very bad juror because I can't remember anything I hear and only half of what I see. Also, I faint if I am confronted with evidence that shows graphic murder scenes and such. I can't handle it. I can't even watch a violent scene in a movie. I might be OK in a civil case, but not in a murder case. Still, though, I can't really afford to take more than a day off work.

Well, I learned to cook because when I was young, sometimes I did not like what was served, so I would cook my own meals, too. And, when I started living alone, I really had to cook or else I would always dine out. That is very expensive, so I'd rather prepare my own food.