Help with EASY nutritious recipes?

misty8723 · Sep 23, 2015

Husband is having surgery on Oct 6 - he has prostate cancer and having his prostate removed. The paper we just got from the doctor's office says after the surgery he is not to eat fast food or convenience food - which sadly is what we live on. I am a lousy cook and I hate cooking. I also don't like food much, so that doesn't help. He is supposed to eat food high in protein and fiber. If anyone can help me out with some really easy nutritious recipes I will be forever grateful.

magiksgirl · Sep 23, 2015

I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I wish you that he makes a great and quick recovery

How about some stews?

I love veggie stews: You just boil water and add prewashed and cut veggies.

Remember that first is the meat, and that the harder the veggie the longer it takes to cook. Example: Boil Carrots then cabbage then potatoes then herbs.

You can make as many as you can: Beef, chicken, fish, etc.

Protein is, of course, in meats, but also in dairy legumes like beans. grains and nuts.

Fiber can be found in foods like apple skins and pasta.

LotsOfFur · Sep 23, 2015

I've really enjoyed different recipes from the 17 day diet and the wheat belly diet. There is information on the internet so you can see if it might meet your needs. I'm not someone who loves cooking but I find a lot of menu options that aren't too time consuming and are pretty easy and tasty

I hope you will be able to use some of the recipes and I wish a speedy recovery for your husband.

cowandchicken3 · Sep 23, 2015

Oh I really wouldnt cook for yourself or fam when its hard to eat instead of eating you should go to restaurants

Money prohibitive

misty8723 · Sep 24, 2015

MagiksGirl said:
I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I wish you that he makes a great and quick recovery

How about some stews?

I love veggie stews: You just boil water and add prewashed and cut veggies.

Remember that first is the meat, and that the harder the veggie the longer it takes to cook. Example: Boil Carrots then cabbage then potatoes then herbs.

You can make as many as you can: Beef, chicken, fish, etc.

Protein is, of course, in meats, but also in dairy legumes like beans. grains and nuts.

Fiber can be found in foods like apple skins and pasta.

Hmmm. Maybe I can make some stews in the crock pot and then freeze portions. Thank you for the good idea!

misty8723 · Sep 24, 2015

LotsofFur said:
I've really enjoyed different recipes from the 17 day diet and the wheat belly diet. There is information on the internet so you can see if it might meet your needs. I'm not someone who loves cooking but I find a lot of menu options that aren't too time consuming and are pretty easy and tasty

I hope you will be able to use some of the recipes and I wish a speedy recovery for your husband.

I will be looking up those suggestions this evening when I get home. It would be much easier if I LIKED food myself, but I've never seen a recipe yet that I would eat (need plain and simple).

misty8723 · Sep 24, 2015

CowAndChicken3 said:
Oh I really wouldnt cook for yourself or fam when its hard to eat instead of eating you should go to restaurants

Money prohibitive

Yeah, spend too much time in restaurants now, but mostly fast food and not supposed to have that while he is recovering. I guess I could always do takeout from a "fancy" restaurant?

Winchester · Sep 24, 2015

I wish your husband well.

Beans and lentils are super high in fiber and protein, so I would recommend any kind of bean soup without a lot of ham. I hesitate to make any recipe suggestions because what I think might be easy may not be for you. And if you don't like a lot of cooking to begin with, it's going to be tricky for you.

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/782/everyday-cooking/special-diets/high-fiber/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/28353-foods-high-fiber-protein/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/293545-list-of-high-fiber-high-protein-low-fat-foods/

Even take-out from fancier restaurants are usually higher in fat and calories than what your husband will be allowed to have. Unless you could call and ask them what they have in the way of high fiber-protein fare and then order that.

misty8723 · Sep 24, 2015

Winchester said:
I wish your husband well.

Beans and lentils are super high in fiber and protein, so I would recommend any kind of bean soup without a lot of ham. I hesitate to make any recipe suggestions because what I think might be easy may not be for you. And if you don't like a lot of cooking to begin with, it's going to be tricky for you.

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/782/everyday-cooking/special-diets/high-fiber/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/28353-foods-high-fiber-protein/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/293545-list-of-high-fiber-high-protein-low-fat-foods/

Even take-out from fancier restaurants are usually higher in fat and calories than what your husband will be allowed to have. Unless you could call and ask them what they have in the way of high fiber-protein fare and then order that.

I'm looking for recipes that have minimum ingredients and not a lot of seasoning and spices, which is what I mean by "easy." When I look at a recipe and the list of ingredients is 3/4 of a page long my eyes glaze over. I'll have to learn how to cook I guess, lol.

artiemom · Sep 24, 2015

Chicken soup is so easy! and nutritious...

You can even put the leftover chicken in tomato sauce...add pasta, salad= quick, easy meal

egg omelettes, scrambled eggs with sautéed veggies,

Make some rice pilaf to go with a meal,like a meat.~~~~~...but this is what I do..I boil the rice in chicken broth. Before boiling the rice, I do a quick sautéing with some cut up veggies, cut them kind of small, like, onion, peppers, or shallots celery carots...just to get them to soften a bit.

I put that into the rice and left it all boil away. Add some butter and grated cheese...I think it is delish....

baked chicken, canned carrots and mashed potatoes!! relish!!

or bake a potato....

roasted sweet potatoes: just was, wrap in foil, put in oven pre-heated to 400--when you start smelling it, check to see if soft enough..usually 44 minutes to an hour, depending on size of them. I also place them on a sheet of tin foil, to catch the drips....

is there a Trader Joe's around---or even the local grocery store. You can pick up some pre cut vegetable to go with a meal,,,and they do have pre cooked rice...

You could even use the frozen veggies, defrost and cut a bit smaller for some recipes....

misty8723 · Sep 28, 2015

Thanks, Artiemom -

It's been a while since I made Pilaf but I recall that I have a recipe that I cook the rice in chicken broth in a frying pan and also add some little bits of pasta. I forget which kind of pasta, it's like spaghetti but not (I know, that's not very definitive). Very yummy. I love baked sweet potatoes, but it seems the one I tried down here were not very tasty. Maybe it's just me, because nothing tastes very good to me anymore.

I think I'm going to go with basic chicken, salmon, pork and add in veggies in some way or other. Yes threre's a Trader Joe's, but they're kinda pricey I think. Kroger and Harris Teeter also have cut up veggies I can look into.

Kat0121 · Sep 28, 2015

Misty8723 said:
Thanks, Artiemom -

It's been a while since I made Pilaf but I recall that I have a recipe that I cook the rice in chicken broth in a frying pan and also add some little bits of pasta. I forget which kind of pasta, it's like spaghetti but not (I know, that's not very definitive). Very yummy. I love baked sweet potatoes, but it seems the one I tried down here were not very tasty. Maybe it's just me, because nothing tastes very good to me anymore.

I think I'm going to go with basic chicken, salmon, pork and add in veggies in some way or other. Yes threre's a Trader Joe's, but they're kinda pricey I think. Kroger and Harris Teeter also have cut up veggies I can look into.

I make a similar recipe to @Artiemom's pilaf in my rice cooker. It's yummy. I use a little dry white wine in place of some of the chicken broth though. It adds a lot of flavor.

i think the pasta that you are thinking of is vermicelli. That's what they use in Rice a Roni.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermicelli

kittens mom · Sep 28, 2015

Allrecipies.com Is my go to for any recipe. The tablet app has a feature where you could enter the ingredients you want to use.

Winchester · Sep 29, 2015

Do you like squash? Butternut squash? My doctor told me a few years ago to eat a lot of dark, green leafy vegetables and dark, orange vegetables. He said he didn't care how I ate them as long as they weren't covered with a lot of butter and cheese. That's when we discovered that we really liked butternut squash. Peel it, chunk it up, throw it on a lightly sprayed sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast at 425 F for about 35 minutes. It is so sweet and so delicious. If you want, add a few baby carrots, add a chunked sweet potato, add a chunked parsnip or two. You want big chunks because they will roast down.

And if you have leftovers? Make soup. Puree all the leftover vegetables together, add some chicken stock or good chicken broth (not cream, not milk) to make it the consistency you like. Heat it on top of the stove (gently!) or in the microwave. Throw a couple croutons into the bowl and serve. It is decadent. And not fattening. And it's good for you.

Some friends came in for dinner one night. And I made the roasted squash as a side dish. Well, after we finished eating, I started to clear the table. My friend picked up the bowl of squash and said, "Keep this here; don't take it yet." And the four of us sat there picking up pieces of the squash out of the bowl and popping them in our mouths. I had purposely made a double batch of the squash because I'd figured on making soup the next day. There wasn't enough left for soup. Yes, it's that good. (If you like squash, that is)

See recipe for Roasted Winter Vegetables (it's originally from Ina Garten and it's a staple in our house): http://www.thecatsite.com/t/238195/side-dishes-and-vegetables#post_3786576

denice · Sep 29, 2015

I wish I liked squash that well. Unfortunately I like it roasted with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. That kind of defeats the purpose. I like to do that with acorn squash since it's just me. I will make it twice out of one squash so nothing goes to waste.

Kat0121 · Sep 29, 2015

Winchester said:
Do you like squash? Butternut squash? My doctor told me a few years ago to eat a lot of dark, green leafy vegetables and dark, orange vegetables. He said he didn't care how I ate them as long as they weren't covered with a lot of butter and cheese. That's when we discovered that we really liked butternut squash. Peel it, chunk it up, throw it on a lightly sprayed sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast at 425 F for about 35 minutes. It is so sweet and so delicious. If you want, add a few baby carrots, add a chunked sweet potato, add a chunked parsnip or two. You want big chunks because they will roast down.

And if you have leftovers? Make soup. Puree all the leftover vegetables together, add some chicken stock or good chicken broth (not cream, not milk) to make it the consistency you like. Heat it on top of the stove (gently!) or in the microwave. Throw a couple croutons into the bowl and serve. It is decadent. And not fattening. And it's good for you.

Some friends came in for dinner one night. And I made the roasted squash as a side dish. Well, after we finished eating, I started to clear the table. My friend picked up the bowl of squash and said, "Keep this here; don't take it yet." And the four of us sat there picking up pieces of the squash out of the bowl and popping them in our mouths. I had purposely made a double batch of the squash because I'd figured on making soup the next day. There wasn't enough left for soup. Yes, it's that good. (If you like squash, that is)

See recipe for Roasted Winter Vegetables (it's originally from Ina Garten and it's a staple in our house): http://www.thecatsite.com/t/238195/side-dishes-and-vegetables#post_3786576

That sounds so good. I think a touch of crushed red pepper would be good on that, too. A little sweet,a little salty and a little spicy. Just like me.

Willowy · Sep 29, 2015

I've been eating a lot of roasted veggies lately. I just get frozen veggies of various kinds (fresh veggies go bad too quickly and I don't go shopping often), toss them with some olive oil, and roast at 400 degrees until they're brown on top. It takes maybe 5 minutes to prepare and then I just have to remember to check on the oven occasionally. I'll use anything, although I find I'm very fond of roasted Brussels sprouts (but not boiled, ugh). So usually I have carrots, cubed squash (bought fresh but frozen afterward), sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans. . .and lots of garlic

. I put a little lemon juice over it too. And hot sauce. . .but that's optional, LOL.

blueyedgirl5946 · Sep 30, 2015

Willowy said:
I've been eating a lot of roasted veggies lately. I just get frozen veggies of various kinds (fresh veggies go bad too quickly and I don't go shopping often), toss them with some olive oil, and roast at 400 degrees until they're brown on top. It takes maybe 5 minutes to prepare and then I just have to remember to check on the oven occasionally. I'll use anything, although I find I'm very fond of roasted Brussels sprouts (but not boiled, ugh). So usually I have carrots, cubed squash (bought fresh but frozen afterward), sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, green beans. . .and lots of garlic . I put a little lemon juice over it too. And hot sauce. . .but that's optional, LOL.

Reading this reminded me of one of our favorite dishes. I buy rutabagas and toss them with olive oil. Put them in a greased casserole dish. Salt and pepper pork chops and lay them on top of the veggies. Cover with foil and bake about 400 degrees until they and fork tender. Leave the foil off, let the chops brown a bit. They are wonderful cooked this way.

samus · Sep 30, 2015

If you're doing a roast/stew in a crock pot and cooking it for hours, you don't even need to cut the veggies that small. Just cut into 2-3" pieces, they'll be nice and soft by the end, but not too mushy like smaller veggies would be. And the meat you can just throw in as a whole 4 lb chunk (depending on crock pot size of course). I usually don't even bother to brown the meat before stewing it and it still turns out delicious. If you're a wine drinker, throw in a cup or so for flavor. Beer goes well in some stews too. And you can also use the meat for sandwiches.

It's hard to give recipe suggestions without knowing what kind of stuff you and your husband eat. By fast food do you mean just burgers and fries? Are there any restaurant meals you'd like to cook simplified versions of? What meats do you like, are there any veggies that appeal to you, etc. Do you like any herbs or spices? Oregano, paprika, etc? Or do you prefer to just stick to salt and pepper?

Do you like salads at all? (Baby spinach and "spring green mixes" can be more tasty that lettuce based salads if you just think salads are boring.) Just a little vinegar, salt, and pepper is an easy dressing (basalmic vinegar is my favorite, red wine or apple cider vinegar are good too), maybe with a tiny bit of honey or herbs. My favorite salad is greens mix with balsamic vinegar, berries, and cheese and/or nuts for protein.

A really easy meal could be a boiled egg and a pile of greens. You could even boil a dozen eggs at once and refrigerate them and eat them throughout the week. They last a couple weeks in the fridge after boiling.

LotsOfFur · Sep 30, 2015

I'm so impressed with all the healthy, delicious meals.... And HUNGRY

Help with EASY nutritious recipes?

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