Just starting and already asking questions

food
(Michelle Zuck) #1

Hello, I am just getting started, meaning I read some. One question I do have is I work retail 40 hours a week my shifts are 8am-4:30 pm or 12:30 or 1pm-9 or 10pm, and they are not set. I am constantly on my feet so I dont really have time for a gym unless I go at midnight (and I like my sleep). When I get home late I dont feel like cooking and at work we only have a microwave. Is there any ready meals that are Keto friendly? Also I am looking for budget friendly choises

(Lonnie Hedley) #2

What donā€™t you like? I often make suggestions, but the response is that the person doesnā€™t like the food Iā€™m suggesting.

(Michelle Zuck) #3

there is really very little that I donā€™t like, I canā€™t have bananas but that is a fruit, the only thing i donā€™t like really is sausage (my mom burnt me out as a kid). I grew up on a farm so I really ate everything I even like liver and onions.

(Lonnie Hedley) #4

I do hard boiled eggs for lunch. Easy to prep the night before.

If youā€™re not into cooking when you get home, big salads with a fatty vinaigrette are good options and you can add any and everything to a salad. Or lettuce wrap sandwiches with excess mayo.

Fast food without the bun. Baconators are expensive but a great option.

Iā€™ve bought family packs of chicken thighs and prepped for the week. Season, bake, put in fridge. Take a couple with a salad for lunch.

(Omar) #5

most of my breakfast a piece of cheese , 3 boiled eggs and three or four table spoon butter or ghee.

It will last me 6 hours

(Candy Lind) #6

Plan ahead. Meal prep on the weekend; like Lonnie said, boiled eggs are simple. So is bacon. Bake a whole jelly roll pan full on the weekend & eat on salads, in wraps, or just as ā€œpocket baconā€ all week. If you like cold meat loaf, just one good size meat loaf will provide lettuce wraps for a week or more. Or take a slice with some kind of veg to heat in the break room microwave.

(Natasha) #7

Hard boiled eggs,
Tuna mayo salad.
Reheated fathead pizza.
Pre-cooked, seasoned chick drumsticks.
Cheese slices and bacon or ham wrapped in romaine or cabbage leaves.
Ham, celery sticks and cream cheese
Or my favourite: last nights dinner leftovers :grinning:

(Lazy, Dirty Keto šŸ˜) #8

Like PPs said, hard boiled eggs, bacon, cheese, pepperoni has been one of my best friends lol. Salad with fatty dressing (check out Tessemaeā€™s brand, I love them). Iā€™m not sure if you have a Wegmans near you, but if so they have these frozen large Romano meatballs. 2 of those popped in the microwave for 2 mins, throw a half cup of Raoā€™s sensitive formula marinara sauce and microwave for another 2 mins, and then throw a couple tablespoons of Parmesan on top. Perfect, easy, microwave friendly Keto meal for days I donā€™t have time to cook.

(Carl Keller) #9

Welcome to the forum. I work 40-50 hours on my feet and before Keto, I never felt like cooking after a long day at work. Dinner would usually be something out of a bag or box and that kind of pushed me along to keto in the first place. SInce Iā€™ve been doing keto, I have 110% more energy than I did when I was burning carbs for fuel and I have found more than enough energy to cook something simple.

A cheese omelette with spinach and mushrooms and a few sausage patties is a main go to if I dont want to spend more than 10-15 minutes in the kitchen. Microwaving frozen vegetables can be done in about 2 minutes. Simple salads with chicken strips or beef strips can be made in under 5 minutes. Grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and toss it in the fridge for quick access to fat and protein.

I found that Keto, and I hope you also find, has greatly reduced inflammation in my body. I used to be really achy from the hips to my feet after being on them for more than 3-4 hours. Ketones have allowed me to go twice as long and feel half as bad.

The only ready made Keto friendly meals Iā€™ve found are this:
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It says itā€™s 8 carbs (4 net) but I donā€™t always believe labels since they do have a tendancy to exaggerate. Itā€™s so much safer to stick to foods with 1 ingredient (unless you make them yourself).

(Jennibc) #10

Donā€™t worry about the gym when you first start. Itā€™s easier to change one habit at a time. So start with your food choices. On your days off make a bunch of ready made meals of your own and put them in tupperware in the freezer. Do you have a crock pot? Throw a pork roast or pot roast in there in the AM on low as you are heading out the door. You will have dinner ready when you get back and leftovers to put in the freezer! As far as going to a gym, if you are on your feet and moving all day, you are not sedentary and you should be fine to drop weight (if thatā€™s why you are looking into Keto) Sleep is important for a well functioning endocrine system and metabolism - so your decision to skip the gym for a good night sleep is sound. As you get more comfortable with the way of eating and it gets easier, then you might find you have energy to add a daily walk in or even a new fitness regimen at the gym.

(Mari Liz) #11

Have you tried meal prepping ahead of time. Iā€™ve been preparing my meals like two days ahead of time. For breakfast I make 2 eggs, 2 slices of turkey bacon and a whole avocado (lime, garlic salt in a separate bag). For lunch I make Parmesan pan fried zucchini with mozzarella cheese on it. For dinner, I bake a Portobello pizza or a salmon Cesar salad.

I always have water with me and make sure to put drops of electrolytes. Iā€™ve cut out all sugars, but prepping the day before saves money and time. I work nursing shifts and spend many hours on my feet, so i understand you pain of being tired. Iā€™m also new to keto and Iā€™ve learned that eating out is the worst and the smallest decisions can throw you out of ketosis. Good luck with everything!

#13

Grocery store carries low carb tortillas. 3 net carbs. Wrap salami and cheese, or scrambled eggs or chicken salad etc. meal prep. Quiche you can reheat in microwave. BLT wraps. Pinterest is your friend.

(BostonterrierLvr) #14

Are the frozen Atkins meals Keto friendly?? I considered getting some today but decided against it. I made a big batch of hard boiled eggs and I have nuts, cheese, tuna salad to take for lunch this weekend.

(Paul H) #15

I do like the 5 carb items. Chili, broccoli n chicken myself. Keep in mind keto is more fat to reduce insulin response vs Adkins high protein which will spike moreā€¦ but it is fairly low carb and easyā€¦ for some nuts n cheese could be issuesā€¦ its what works for you for the long term. Mix it up n be happy.