Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also look at the Whole Foods prepared foods counter - they are always changing what's there, and you can buy only as much as you need. Buy an entree and bring home a bagged salad.

I find the food looks good but tastes really bland, a lot of it is inedible.

+1. Never eat there!!

+2

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd also look at the Whole Foods prepared foods counter - they are always changing what's there, and you can buy only as much as you need. Buy an entree and bring home a bagged salad.

I find the food looks good but tastes really bland, a lot of it is inedible.

+1. Never eat there!!

We bring in burrito bowls at Chipolte - I get veggie and Dh gets chicken, and neither of us add sour cream or cheese. While one waits in line at chipolte, the other runs into the grocery store to buy a bag of tortilla chips, a pack of tortillas, a bag of frozen corn and an avocado. Then at home we divide our bowls into portions (mine gets split in thirds and Dh's in half), and make burritos using the store bought tortillas and adding sliced avocado with chips and corn on the side. It is healtheir this way, better portion control, and we make 2 or 3 meals (usually the dinner plus a lunch or 2) out of it.

Trader Joe's prepared foods that have fewer ingredients can be yummy and good for you. Their canned soups, pasta sauce and pasta, yes taquitos, veggie enchilada, dosas are good.

WF is too expensive and their veggies and beans can be undercooked.

Whole foods Tenley has a new section in the back near the deli counter where 1 main and two sides is $25. It looks very promising!

Amy's frozen pizza
Trader joes taquitos
Frozen wild salmon and other frozen fish from Costco

Anonymous wrote:I'd also look at the Whole Foods prepared foods counter - they are always changing what's there, and you can buy only as much as you need. Buy an entree and bring home a bagged salad.

I find the food looks good but tastes really bland, a lot of it is inedible.

The Whole Foods minestrone is also really, really good. I don't usually like prepared/deli soups all that much, but I just crave that minestrone sometimes, and it's got all sorts of yummy beans and vegetables in it. Grab a roll or some cornbread or something and it's a lovely dinner, especially on a cold night.

We like the refrigerated chicken cacciatore from Trader Joe's.

My DH is from New England and likes clam chowder. We buy one container of the Whole Foods prepared clam chowder and then add one can of Snow's (the brand of choice in NE) made according to the directions. It thins out the fat a bit and makes a more suitable quantity for a main dish.

We occasionally make what we call "lazy pizza." Basically, you buy a plain cheese pizza from the deli or frozen section (you can sometimes find whole wheat ones in the deli, and the Amy's frozen ones are pretty good) and then buy a bunch of cut up veggies from the salad bar. We like broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, and olives, among other things, but most anything will work. Then we throw the veggies on top before the pizza goes in the oven. Bag of salad on the side and it's a pretty good dinner. This isn't 100% prepared, but it's relatively low effort and done by the time you get everyone settled. The leftovers are a great lunch, too.

Anonymous wrote:When I buy a rotisserie chicken I usually use the last of the meat to add it to low sodium chicken and wild rice soup. I add brown and wild rice (cooked in bulk earlier in the week) and diced carrots and celery. Usually pick up fresh bread to go with it. We aren't big fans of dark meat do this is a good way to eat it. Two adults, two under 3 and I usually make two cans.

Sorry, should say - I know its not 100% prepared but takes about 2 minutes to prepare if you already have the rice cooked. And it uses up the end of the chicken so double benefit.

When I buy a rotisserie chicken I usually use the last of the meat to add it to low sodium chicken and wild rice soup. I add brown and wild rice (cooked in bulk earlier in the week) and diced carrots and celery. Usually pick up fresh bread to go with it. We aren't big fans of dark meat do this is a good way to eat it. Two adults, two under 3 and I usually make two cans.

I'd also look at the Whole Foods prepared foods counter - they are always changing what's there, and you can buy only as much as you need. Buy an entree and bring home a bagged salad.

I cook about 4-5 days a week and then make one frozen meal and buy a prepared meal the other days.

We are a small family, 2 parents and a 17 month old who eats what we eat.

So far for the prepared meals we love the angus beef pot pie from fresh market and rotisserie chicken from whole foods. We like these because they feed all of us relatively inexpensively for what we get and our fresh and use healthy ingredients. Looking for more ideas for the days we use a prepared meal. Would love suggestions that are at least moderately healthy. Thanks!