Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with meal

Cold nights, warm lentils, yes please!

anderjen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:45:59 -0800

While visiting San Antonio last month, I ate at Liberty Bar on Metafilter's recommendation and fell deeply in love with their warm lentil salad. I would love to recreate it at home for a fantastic winter dinner. Please help me do so. The dish was very simple, ingredients-wise, but I need some assistance in figuring out what spices/seasonings to add, and in what order I should cook/assemble everything. I'm pretty sure I tasted cumin, but have no idea what else might have been in it. The menu describes it as "sautéed lentils with spinach, bacon, onion, and garlic."

It doesn't have to be an exact replica of the salad I had; I'm sure anything with the above ingredients would be delicious if you have other ideas on how I might put them to work.

Bonus question: I really wanted to try the warm chickpea salad as well, but could not persuade my dining companion to order it. It's listed as "sautéed chickpeas, carrot, celery, garlic, onion, spinach, and feta cheese." Any idea what spices I could use to recreate this?

Thanks for your help!

Where is a good place to get breakfast near St. Paul's Cathedral in London?

Your Time Machine Sucks — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:47:42 -0800

Where is a good place to get breakfast near St. Paul's Cathedral in London? The hotel breakfast is extra and is priced nonsensically, and who knows if it's any good. Breakfast is a bit of a make-or-break thing for the day's mood while sightseeing and it's also something I like to get inside tips on, so I thought I'd ask if any locals or experienced visitors can steer me right.

I like English breakfasts/cooked breakfast with eggs, toast etc, she likes Continental breakfast, but this isn't a super-rigid thing. It doesn't have to be cheap although it definitely doesn't have to be in any way fancy, just good. Thanks!

Fall Food!

ihavepromisestokeep — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:02:49 -0800

Help me plan a vegetarian, autumn-inspired menu! I'm cooking for a lovely group of friends, all hilarious young women, one vegetarian. We cook for each other about once a month and the meals have been getting more and more impressive!

I know I'm going to make a pumpkin pie for dessert because pumpkin pies are awesome! I love them.

And I wouldn't mind a savory apple dish as part of the main course. And if there is some hint of traditionally-Jewish food that would be good, too. I've been looking into making latkes, but frying things . . . well, that is straight-up tricky for this girl. And I've heard the baked ones aren't so scrumptious.

Simplicity is good.

Beyond pumpkin pie, cider and turkey - your favorite autumn party recipes?

librarianamy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:26:17 -0800

Autumn is almost here where I live! Tell me your favorite autumn party recipes, with some restrictions listed inside. I will be the hostess of a small (less than 15) gathering of friends in a few weeks. By then, autumn will be in full swing here (Western PA in late Oct-early Nov), and I'd like to have a seasonally themed and delicious menu.

Our monthly gatherings usually include one large main dish, a variety of finger-food-esque or salad-ish sides, some snacks, and at least one dessert. And drinks. Both alcoholic and non.

The restrictions are that one of the group has celiac's and at least two others are doing South Beach. So wheat is an issue, though I do have access to a great gluten free bakery, if I had to.

Trouble starting Starting Strength

ayerarcturus — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:13:39 -0800

Ok, so I've read, highlighted and taken notes on Rippetoe's Starting Strength, after half of Metafilter and my gym going friends recommended it. I've run into some trouble with the program, though, since I can't seem to do deadlifts and I can't follow his dietary advice. Before this, I may have been in a weight room about five times in my life. I've always kept physically active (hiking, running, etc) and eaten a somewhat decent diet, but strength has been an outstandingly huge blind spot for me. I've had good luck with keeping somewhat acceptable form with the squat and the bench press, but when the time came around to do a deadlift I couldn't get the damn bar off the ground. Rippetoe suggests 5-10 lb plastic training weights, but I can't seem to find them in my gym. I've looked around for something to prop up the bar to the standard 8 1/2 inches, but I can't seem to find anything usable that's lighter than the two 45 lb weights that I can't lift. Would I kill my back by using the smaller weights and a lower starting position? It struck me as a bad idea at the time. For that matter, are there any other exercises I could do to strengthen my back until I can do a deadlift?

Second problem I've run into is that I have both a dairy allergy and am lactose intolerant, so I think drinking a gallon of milk would probably be my death. My diet has mostly revolved around meat, beans, peanut butter, fruit, and a bunch of different whole grains. It's getting dull, though. If you have high calorie, high protein meal ideas that don't involve any dairy, could you share them?

Met-Rx vs. Slim Fast

edbyford — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:39:03 -0800

Meal Replacement Shakes for weight loss - can I mix and match? I am currently wanting to lose about 10kg before my summer holidays start. I am going on a 5k jog every other day and doing pushups. This post is not about exercise though. I also decided to use a meal replacement shake to help control my calorie intake.

I ordered 3 tubs (12 servings per tub) of Slim Fast powder at a cost of £15. These have 218 calories per serving. Full Nutritional Details [PDF]

I received these and started taking one for breakfast, one for lunch, and then having a 600 calorie evening meal, as suggested by Slim Fast. I then did some more reading, and an article I found suggested that after I had stopped taking the Slim Fast, and gone back to solids, I would gain the weight back very fast.

So I ordered 20 servings of Met-Rx Meal Replacement Shakes at a cost of £20. These have about 250 calories per serving.
more details here.

So, my question comes in two parts:

1. If I just use Slim Fast, which I'd like to do as it's cheaper (even if not as filling as Met-Rx) will I gain the weight back fast after I stop taking the Slim Fast?

2. If so, might it be possible to have a Slim Fast for breakfast, and a Met-Rx for lunch, without any negative effects?

No rest for the weary

levijk — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:41:57 -0800

How serious an offense is it when your employer refuses to give you a meal break? I live in the state of Washington and have reviewed Washington Administrative Code Sections 296-126-002 and 296-126-092. Today a friend of mine told me that he was explicitly denied by his supervisor a meal break during a shift that lasted more than five hours (he not an agricultural worker).
I suggested he follow protocol and take it up the chain of command but he believes his supervisor's superiors will "close ranks" and only make life difficult for him.
What should he do and what are the consequences for breaking the law?

Additionally, several incidents of rudeness and public condescension which began suddenly last month make him suspicious that he has been outed as a homosexual.

He has not asked for my advice but I'd like him to know his options because he is ready to quit. Thanks.

What are the true risks associated with eating a greasy meal?

hungrysquirrels — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:39:42 -0800

What are the true cardiovascular risks associated with eating a greasy meal? Out of curiosity, over the last couple of years I've seen many people comment on various sites about the so called heart attack inducing food that Americans are eating these days. Bacon, 'Hungry Man' dinners, and oversized hamburgers are often involved. Generally things that are greasy.

I understand how arteries can clog, but my assumption is that it would take a fairly long time of eating fatty foods for clogging to become a problem. So, the question is, could a single non-healthy meal induce cardiovascular distress, or is this an internet meme? How quickly does an unhealthy greasy meal get into the bloodstream?

Not looking for a thorough explanation, just whether it's possible.

McDonald's Filter: Do any of you recall happy meal packaging from the mid-80s that looked like a boat?

xotis — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:48:57 -0800

McDonald's Filter: Do any of you recall Happy Meal packaging from the mid-80s that looked like a boat, and was made of flimsy plastic? A co-worker today was talking about how they recalled McDonalds Happy Meals from the mid 80s where the package was a large boat split into two pieces, a top and bottom half. When you took the top half off, the meal was inside. When you took your meal out of the boat, you could re-assemble the two halves and it would float in water.

Other co-workers were scoffing at this memory of my other co-worker, but I could recall these Happy Meals (vaguely). Can any of you shed more light on this memory? Such as the year, details, etc? Or am I just having a false memory conjured up by the story of my co-worker?

Bonus points for a photo of any kind. My google fu was not powerful enough to yield any results.

To clarify, this is not a question regarding a Happy Meal toy, but the actual packaging that the food came in.

Thanks!

Notepad? Honestly?

like_neon — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:39:49 -0800

I am looking for a good menu planner/template that fulfills what I think are pretty basic features. About once a week I create a weekly menu (mainly for dinners) for my boyfriend and myself. I create this using... Notepad.

I list the ingredients needed for shopping at the top and all the recipes below. It works ok but I wish I could use something a bit snazzier to reuse past "hits" and such. Right now, I don't even save the files because I usually do this at my work computer at the end of the day.

What I would like:
- Allow me to enter my OWN recipes (I usually cut and paste them from recipes linked in my del.icio.us account)
- Let me reuse them easily.
- Let me create a separate list for ingredients shopping (if it could pull them out of the recipes, that would be awesome!)
- Save weekly menus
- Online access

Nice to have:
- Keep track of how often I use particular recipes
- Budgeting options where I can enter grocery totals

Most solutions I've checked out so far make me use their own database of recipes or suggest their own meals, which some people may like but I find restrictive.

Oh and I'd like this to be Free!

I'd like to Cook a non english breakfast

Baud — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:31:33 -0800

help me find some healthy *and* cooked breakfast possibilities. Dear hive, I would like to start my day with a real cooked meal (meat, vegetables, etc.). It seems that in my case hot food sends positive signals that cold food (non toasted bread) does not.

Traditionnal english breakfast (eggs, sausage, bacon, etc.) feels a bit fatty to me. I'm looking for something hot on my plate, healthy and balanced.

What do you suggest I cook myself while waiting for the first coffee of the day to kick in ?

Beyond Bruschetta

Xurando — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:16:29 -0800

What to do with a baguette? I'd like to make something different with a baguette. Perhaps an appetizer or even a main course item. I am a pescetarian. Any ideas besides bruschetta?

It's fricassee, it must be Tuesday

Miko — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:06:52 -0800

What are your favorite, efficient, menu-planning sequences that use a limited set of ingredients in several different ways? I love home cooking and like to make really good things, but keep the budget down. A lot of meats I buy locally, so they tend to be complete cuts with bones in and need different handling and planning than convenience cooking. For this I'm finding the tried-and-true strategy of using a few main ingredients in different dishes one after the other can really work.

For instance, I had a great week last week: roasted chicken with wild rice and sweet potatoes on the first night, which became chicken enchiladas on the second night, and also provided for a chicken and wild rice soup with thyme on the third night. Everything got used and was delicious. The best part about this is the variety: it wasn't just chicken, chicken salad, chicken salad, chicken salad.

What are some other meal plans that result in three iterations or so with different spins on a main ingredient or two? I'd love to do this more often!

Bone anti stick Powder

Raybun — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:29:29 -0800

I ate tortillas in Mexico that were cooked on an old harrow blade over a wood fire. The harrow blade was dusted with a form of charred bone powder that prevented the tortillas from sticking. They were delicious. Is this anti stick bone powder available anywhere in the US?

Vegetarian Meals for a Steak-and-Potatoes kind of guy?

Alabaster — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:28:57 -0800

Vegetarian meals for a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy? I'm an unabashed carnivore but--for philosophical and nutritional reasons--I'd like to eventually go vegetarian (or at least to make meat much less prominent in my diet). I'm looking for vegetarian meals and snacks that can be as filling and savory (and proteinlicious) as a steak dinner or burger...

Meat substitutes are ok (I actually like some of the Gardenburger and Boca brands), but I'm more interested in "legit" vegetarian meals that don't involve tricking myself into thinking I'm eating meat.

P.S. I hate mushrooms with a passion and I have already dismissed the "try a portabello mushroom, it's almost like steak" suggestion, so feel free to skip over that one.

Can you suggest meal planning software or services?

komilnefopa — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:06:17 -0800

I'm looking for software or a service that allows me to plan balanced meals that are free of acid reflux triggers. At present I'm using the meal planner on the Nexium website. I like it because it's tailored to my specific condition and is easy to use, but it has some annoying limitations (it gives you the same lunch options every week with limited ability to make changes, and substitutions are only allowed at lunch but not dinner).

To plan a week's meals, what I would like to be able to do is to start with a large database of recipes sorted by the approximate amount of preparation time needed. For weekday lunches, I would like to be able to pick from a list of super-quick cold or microwave-only recipes (sandwiches, soup, etc.). Ideally, once I've picked out these meals, the program would then fill in suggestions for side dishes and snacks or just tell me what I need to balance the rest of my diet (2 vegetables, 3 fruits, etc.) for each day.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Answers to previous questions have suggested Big Oven, Master Cook, and Cook'n, but none of them really fits my needs. The nutrition trackers like FitDay and thedailyplate.com don't seem to have the meal planning capabilities that I'm looking for.

I'd also be open to personalized meal planning services, if anyone has any recommendations. The ones I've found through quick googling seem to be little more than a list of recipes sent to you each week.

Help me figure out how to stick to a good healthy breakfast.

actionpact — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:24:13 -0800

Eatingfilter: I'm an admitted chronic meal-skipper, trying to mend my wicked ways. Help me enjoy a healthy filling breakfast and stick to it! I know there were a few similar questions on MeFi, but none really solved it for me. So here goes!

When I was a kid, I ate normally. When I got into high school, I often skipped lunch for the library; and then the crazy schedules of college left me eating erratically and sometimes in all you can eat portions. Now, at 24, I'm finding it insanely hard to eat breakfast. My eating habits are okay, but need improvement. I sometimes don't feel hungry at all, and othertimes overeat in big portions/crave snacks/multiple meals. I'm trying to get fitter, but also regain more energy and feel more productive (as a freelancer who works from home, productivity and self-motivation are super-important!).

I am trying to eat healthy: I've cut out approximately 80% of high fructose corn syrup out of my diet, adding whole grains into the mix, as well as bulgur and beans to start. I don't each as much fruit and vegetables as I'd like, because I live with someone who doesn't care for vegetables, and lately the selection's been not so great. Still, I eat them when I can. But breakfast eludes me. I'm retarded about it-- even though I wake up from 8-9am each day (I am shooting for getting up between 6-7, but I think breakfast is a good first step? I find it hard to drag myself out of bed early just yet), I find it hard to put together a healthful breakfast without a lot of muss and fuss (read: dishes). Much less keep up at it consistently for longer than a week. Today I picked up a box of Kashi GoLean cereal and some organic milk and bananas, and while it's not very sweet and gives me a touch of heartburn, I'll eat it for now.

So what I'm looking for are your good suggestions for breakfast. If the three big factors are easiness to prepare, healthiness, and cheapness, I'll go with the first two, because even though I'm on a budget I'd rather spend a bit more to feel healthier than shovel junk down my throat. Of course, budget options are also appreciated :)

I know eggs are a good solution, but they seem to be more effort than I'm capable of in the morning. I don't want to eat bagels or granola, I'm not a fan of hot cereals or oatmeal, and certainly not cottage cheese (anything with that consistency, or is like mayo/cheese based typically makes me queasy). I am a big fan of foods I can batch-prepare/cook (perhaps in a crockpot?) and eat throughout the week with easy reheating-- would even be happy to learn a healthy muffin recipe or some such thing. I like almost all fruits except for grapefruit; and breakfast ideas can be savory or not typical American breakfast foods too. So what of it, Mefites? I know I'm picky on what I like, but you may be the thing that actually makes me like breakfast again. For that, I love you in advance!

3 BREAKFASTS = BREAKFAST + LUNCH + DINNER?

defmute — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:45:06 -0800

If I eat three breakfasts and then don't eat for the rest of the day, is that the same thing as eating breakfast lunch and dinner? lately (based upon a rumor i heard, the fact that i love breakfast, and having an erratic sleep schedule) i've been eating breakfast in large quantities (as in i eat till i feel pain) and then eating nothing for the rest of the day. is this okay for my body? will this kind of diet make me gain weight? lose weight? also, i should note that for the past week or so i've been sleeping at 11am and waking up at 7 pm. i've also been smoking about a gram of weed a day. i smoke cigarettes (about 5-10 a day) if that means anything.

Help us fill 100 hungry bellies.

deathofme — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:40:01 -0800

Help us fill 100 hungry bellies. We want your ideas for a good meal to serve one night at a temporary warming shelter. Our group of four is in charge of dinner for the night of March 14. Our main limitations are that the meal be hearty and filling, but not too complicated. And, since we all work 9 – 5, that it can be (mostly) made the night before and heated/finished the night of.

Ultimately, we want to make a full meal with entrée, sides and salad.

We are expecting approximately 100 people.

This is in Michigan and it’s cold!

Help with my high-metabolism food shopping list

sprocket87 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:42:59 -0800

What are some sample meal plans or food lists for a high-metabolism, frequent small meal diet? Looking for specific ideas for the "eat 5-6 times a day" routine. I've been reading a lot about the benefits of eating less, more often. My eating habits as of late have been atrocious (lots of heavy dine-out foods and snacking in between). I can see the benefits of eating smaller portions designed to keep your metabolism working to your advantage (I think I'm subconsciously sabotaging my metabolism!).

So I ask your help in finding specific food shopping lists and food plans to help me get in the routine of eating this way. A sample of what I'm looking for:

• 7:30 a.m.—1/2 cup cooked oatmeal; one cup skim milk; one slice of whole wheat toast with one tablespoon peanut butter; one cup of blueberries
• 10 a.m.—8 ounces of non-fat yogurt with a tablespoon of walnuts or flax seeds
• 12:30 p.m.—Large spinach salad (two cups) topped with carrots, radishes, onion, cucumber and two ounces of tuna (packed in water), a teaspoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of vinegar; six whole-wheat crackers; one apple
• 3 p.m.—One cup of raw vegetables and one-quarter cup of hummus dip
• 6 p.m.—Three ounces of grilled, skinless chicken breast; one cup of brown rice; 1.5 cups of steamed broccoli; one piece of fruit
• 8 p.m.—One piece of fruit or three cups of light microwave or air popped popcorn

Source: http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2500/2589.asp?index=9788

I'm NOT looking for generic "eat high protein/high fiber/low calorie foods". I need specifics. I need a shopping list. Foods I can stick to exclusively and know that I'll be relatively safe until I get into the routine. I don't necessarily need the specific schedule as laid out above (though it would be awesome and very helpful if you have some daily plans like that!), but specific food choices would be great.

Thanks all!

Christmas Dinner Recipes

pithy comment — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 11:17:33 -0800

Help me make Christmas dinner. I'm looking for recipes to serve 8-10 people that could be basically prepared the day before* and then just put on the stove or in the oven a few hours before dinner. We're a pretty traditional family without significant dietary restrictions, living in the Twin Cities suburbs. I'm an adventurous cook and am pretty willing to try new and challenging dishes (as long as the tough part is preparing them the day before). * A new tradition in my family is for me, the youngest grandchild (age 26) to spend the day preparing Christmas dinner with my grandma. We'd prepare everything Christmas Eve, and she'd cook it all Christmas day, while I'm at my girlfriend's family's dinner, before heading to my family dinner....

Please help me balance a busy schedule, heavy exercise, and dietary constraints by suggesting the perfect meal.

sequential — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:29:45 -0800

Please help me balance a busy schedule, heavy exercise, and dietary constraints by suggesting the perfect meal. First, I am operating under the assumption that meal replacement bars can not replace all meals. Though I have been through many days while traveling with just South Beach Meal Replacement bars, which contain 0g sugars, 5g fiber, 19g protein, 6g fat, and a smattering of 23 vitamins and minerals all for the low price of 210 calories per bar, I get the distinct impression this is not as healthy as I can be.

Second, I exercise at least six days a week, burning a minimum of 700 calories per day. My diet is 1400 net calories, which generally means 2100 total calories. Though the meal replacement bars are tasty, they are also filling. I can't eat 10 a day. When I am home, I eat better, but still rely on bars to get my caloric intake at its appropriate level.

Furthermore, I have food allergies (tomatoes, chief and most dangerous among them), intolerances (lactose is ok in small doses), and an over active set of taste buds (few veggies, no alcohol). This severely limits my food choices.

What I'm looking for is a meal that I can prepare in advance that can entirely replace of the traditional American meal. Such a perfect meal should be roughly between 200 and 300 calories. The meal should be nutritionally balanced when multiplied out to a 2,000 calorie diet, though I am not opposed to supplementing my diet with vitamins. Such a meal should use relatively easy to find ingredients at drug stores, grocery stores, or retail locations like WalMart or Target. (In other words, no specialty stores.) Such a meal should be low in sugars (close to 0g), relatively high in fiber (5g or higher), protein heavy (20g or higher), low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol.

Bonus points for preparation that can be done in a hotel room with no kitchen or whilst otherwise ill prepared. That said, if I can find a couple of perfect meals, I'll happily prepare meals well in advance.

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.

Meal planning on a tight budget

mistsandrain — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:15:45 -0800

Anyone care to share their monthly grocery budget and list? Headed into maternity leave, down to one income, living in DC... Times are getting ready to be tight. Tight meaning I'd like to see how far I can get on @ $200/ month for groceries as a starting point. The way I buy groceries/ plan meals has been fairly haphazard so I don't have a general pattern of expenditures to plan from.

We prefer a low meat/ no meat diet. Fish okay.

Thanks for any suggestions....

Meal Replacement Bar Question

Squid Voltaire — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:47:56 -0800

Is it really impossible to lose weight (in a healthy manner) by substituting two meals a day with some sort of bar? I find that I have pretty good dieting willpower, but only in black & white instances. So, if I say, "No sweets for two months", that's fine and I don't cheat. If I say, "Don't eat too many sweets", however, then it doesn't work for me.

As such, I've had extremely poor luck with diets. "Eat healthy food" is just too nebulous. I also don't have a lot of time, so I frequently cannot pack my lunch, which means I purchase (mostly unhealthy) food frequently.

What I want is a no-thought-required, eat-this-one-thing-twice-a-day meal substitute so that I don't have to worry about it, and will lose weight (this approach being coupled with thrice-weekly gym visits and reasonable dinner). I don't seem to be able to pack a healthy lunch, or measure out my salad dressing, or to remember how many croutons are permissible, &c.

There are a lot of energy bar threads on Ask, but they all seem to be either about snacks, or about how awful energy bars are. (Apologies if I missed the relevant thread that answers this question). It seems like we know enough about nutrition these days that one could manufacture the equivalent of a healthy, balanced fixed-calorie meal in a bar--is this not the case?

I need your recipes.

thirteenkiller — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:38:53 -0800

Feedmyfamilyforaweekfilter: Now that we finished the lasagna, what other full meal sorts of dishes can I make in my big glass lasagna pan? I made a giant pan of lasagna early this week that was great fresh out of the oven and made great leftovers. I brought the last piece to work for my lunch today. I'm looking for ideas for other things I can make that will be good like that. Being a good Midwesterner, I am naturally acquainted with the full array of tater tot + cream of mushroom ensembles and no longer find them particularly exciting. So, anyone have any cool ideas to share? Things with protein and vegetables and complex carbohydrates and not too much grease would be best, and meat and dairy are yummy and fine!