Please help me give up junk food!! - Page 3

Will · 25-06-2009, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by NokkonWud

It's also, sadly, more expensive

.

Not necessarily true in the long term. If you pre-prepare food (which I have been slack at doing) or even buy the ingredients for filling sandwiches I guarantee you it's cheaper than £5 a day.

TinkerBell · 25-06-2009, 13:15

I agree with Will

I used to buy meals everyday for lunch as it was easier due to working outside and not having access to fridges and what not.

Now that I am making lunch everyday I completely notice that I have more money, instead of potentially spending upto £25 a week just for lunchs.

I also agree about the time thing. I NEVER thought I would have time to fit in cooking proper meals or going to the gym as I have a pretty busy week. But I can cook healthy meals as well as go to the gym 3 times a week. You just have to make the time.

leowyatt · 25-06-2009, 13:16

Why not just get a sub of the day which is £1.99 and has plenty of variety

Blighter · 25-06-2009, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by leowyatt

Why not just get a sub of the day which is £1.99 and has plenty of variety

Because then I have to have two to fill me up, plus a drink. Comes to about £5 :/

BBx · 25-06-2009, 13:41

Don't buy junk food. Easy.

Pasta is easy...

Tuna pasta = cook mushrooms and onions in a saucepan with a tablespoon of oil, add tin chopped toms/pasta sauce add tin of tuna. Mix. Cook pasta, mix together and grate cheese on top. Nom.

Cooking is a wonderful thing, it may not taste right the first couple of times but the satisfaction of cooking your own meal = *

Okay another...

Chicken Tonight and rice: get some chicken breasts, slice into pieces, fry with a tablespoon of oil in a saucepan with chopped onions and mushrooms add the Chicken Tonight sauce. Get some Uncle bens 2 min rice things and put in microwave. Add chicken mixture. Nom!

Next time I see one of those student's cooking books I am going to send it to you - its a good starting point if you are a cooking noob!

BB x

Wryel · 25-06-2009, 13:49

I'm similar to you in that I get bored of sandwiches very quickly and always end up buying lunch. I do like a bit of junk but I have that as a treat maybe once a week/2 weeks. I then alternate buying a cheap lunch (Boots usually), something more expensive (Pret) and buying a stash of soups or something similar from Tesco to have every day. That way I can be healthy, not spend too much money and not get bored.

Mark · 25-06-2009, 18:32

Sorry for the ongoing hijack but I think we're both in similar situations so may as well keep everything together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBx

Chicken Tonight and rice:

Ooh! Good timing. I've always been nervous about chicken breasts because of the whole salmonella thing (over-hyped, I'm sure) and telling when they're done, but I enjoy chicken too much to let that continue. Just need to make sure I get the timings right (I know about the whole 'juices run clear' thing, but I find it hard to tell, and obviously impossible if you're using a sauce).

I'm certainly interested in books that do simple step-by-step guides. I don't trust myself to 'wing it' too much, so it needs to be idiot-proof. This seems somehow appropriate:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooking-Basi.../dp/0470742585

Tak · 25-06-2009, 18:45

Simple chicken breasts - in shallow oven tray, gas mark 5, drizzle with olive oil, cook for 15 minutes, turn over, cook for another 15 minutes. Depending how it comes out (it may be too dry) you can either add more oil or just lower the temperature slightly and reduce cooking time by a few minutes each side. Even with large chicken breasts I would estimate you can get away with 10 minutes each side but if your nervouse, start higher and reduce if necessary.

Once you have that bit mastered you can use different oils, add herbs and spices etc and just experiment.
I like using a hot chilli oil (from tesco) with some thyme and then when the chicken is done add some water and some white sauce granules to create the sauce. I serve it with pasta, rice or new potatoes and usually some steamed veg (the frozen individual portions you can get are great for this as you microwave steam them while you are serving the rest up). I've done the same thing with pork chops and pork loins.

Burble · 25-06-2009, 18:46

If you're worried about that sort of thing Mark then you could cut the chicken quite small that way you'll be positive it's cooked all the way through. Of you could cut open a piece of chicken when you think it might be ready and look at the colour of the middle of it.

Haly · 25-06-2009, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burble

If you're worried about that sort of thing Mark then you could cut the chicken quite small that way you'll be positive it's cooked all the way through. Of you could cut open a piece of chicken when you think it might be ready and look at the colour of the middle of it.

What he said

I tend to cut chicken up into bite sized pieces anyway as I prefer it like that, but certainly helps with the salmonella paranoia!

25-06-2009, 13:16	#23
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Why not just get a sub of the day which is £1.99 and has plenty of variety __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

25-06-2009, 18:45	#28
Tak L'Oréal Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 9,977	Simple chicken breasts - in shallow oven tray, gas mark 5, drizzle with olive oil, cook for 15 minutes, turn over, cook for another 15 minutes. Depending how it comes out (it may be too dry) you can either add more oil or just lower the temperature slightly and reduce cooking time by a few minutes each side. Even with large chicken breasts I would estimate you can get away with 10 minutes each side but if your nervouse, start higher and reduce if necessary. Once you have that bit mastered you can use different oils, add herbs and spices etc and just experiment. I like using a hot chilli oil (from tesco) with some thyme and then when the chicken is done add some water and some white sauce granules to create the sauce. I serve it with pasta, rice or new potatoes and usually some steamed veg (the frozen individual portions you can get are great for this as you microwave steam them while you are serving the rest up). I've done the same thing with pork chops and pork loins. __________________ The look on your face when a toddler rips out your heart and shows it to you? Priceless.... For everything else, there's FWOOSH! Last edited by Tak; 25-06-2009 at 18:47.

25-06-2009, 13:15	#22
TinkerBell Dirty Spammer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In the middle! Posts: 2,454	I agree with Will I used to buy meals everyday for lunch as it was easier due to working outside and not having access to fridges and what not. Now that I am making lunch everyday I completely notice that I have more money, instead of potentially spending upto £25 a week just for lunchs. I also agree about the time thing. I NEVER thought I would have time to fit in cooking proper meals or going to the gym as I have a pretty busy week. But I can cook healthy meals as well as go to the gym 3 times a week. You just have to make the time.

25-06-2009, 13:41	#25
BBx Reverse SuBo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: London Posts: 8,673	Don't buy junk food. Easy. Pasta is easy... Tuna pasta = cook mushrooms and onions in a saucepan with a tablespoon of oil, add tin chopped toms/pasta sauce add tin of tuna. Mix. Cook pasta, mix together and grate cheese on top. Nom. Cooking is a wonderful thing, it may not taste right the first couple of times but the satisfaction of cooking your own meal = * Okay another... Chicken Tonight and rice: get some chicken breasts, slice into pieces, fry with a tablespoon of oil in a saucepan with chopped onions and mushrooms add the Chicken Tonight sauce. Get some Uncle bens 2 min rice things and put in microwave. Add chicken mixture. Nom! Next time I see one of those student's cooking books I am going to send it to you - its a good starting point if you are a cooking noob! BB x

25-06-2009, 13:49	#26
Wryel Absinthe Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,148	I'm similar to you in that I get bored of sandwiches very quickly and always end up buying lunch. I do like a bit of junk but I have that as a treat maybe once a week/2 weeks. I then alternate buying a cheap lunch (Boots usually), something more expensive (Pret) and buying a stash of soups or something similar from Tesco to have every day. That way I can be healthy, not spend too much money and not get bored.

25-06-2009, 18:46	#29
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	If you're worried about that sort of thing Mark then you could cut the chicken quite small that way you'll be positive it's cooked all the way through. Of you could cut open a piece of chicken when you think it might be ready and look at the colour of the middle of it.