Healthy versions of top ramen noodles?
August 13, 2014 9:32 PM Subscribe
Are there any healthy meals available which are similar in convenience to the instant noodles? Something I could prepare easily using just a microwave and is healthy and tasty?
I dont like cooking every day but I dont like to eat ramen type noodles.
I do manage to cook food and store it so I can eat it for next couple of days.
But i would love to know healthy read to eat meals out there. food which can be stored on shelves until needed and that can be basically prepared in just couple of minutes.
I know there are packaged meals available on amazon and there are brands like tasty bite but I dont know how healthy they are.
Also, its a big bonus if the food is tasty as well.
I dont like cooking every day but I dont like to eat ramen type noodles.
I do manage to cook food and store it so I can eat it for next couple of days.
But i would love to know healthy read to eat meals out there. food which can be stored on shelves until needed and that can be basically prepared in just couple of minutes.
I know there are packaged meals available on amazon and there are brands like tasty bite but I dont know how healthy they are.
Also, its a big bonus if the food is tasty as well.
Pacific Soups are my go to MustEatNow food.
posted by 26.2 at 10:00 PM on August 13, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by 26.2 at 10:00 PM on August 13, 2014 [3 favorites]
"Healthy" is a pretty broad term, but both Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have many instant or almost-instant, microwaveable, and shelf-stable options for almost every definition of "healthy." Expect that some of the TJ's offerings will be the same as Whole Foods, only rebranded and cheaper.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:33 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 10:33 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
A lot of people will automatically rule out anything packaged & processed as 'healthy'.
My super lazy healthy meal is spinach and eggs. If i'm REALLY lazy, i just dump a bunch of spinach in a bowl, crack an egg on top, pour in a tablespoon or two of water, and pop it in the microwave.
As for packaged and portable stuff: my go-tos are yogurt cups, instant oatmeal, individual hummus cups (and something to dip), and those little kits that have a small can of flavoured tuna and some crackers.
posted by Kololo at 10:36 PM on August 13, 2014 [4 favorites]
My super lazy healthy meal is spinach and eggs. If i'm REALLY lazy, i just dump a bunch of spinach in a bowl, crack an egg on top, pour in a tablespoon or two of water, and pop it in the microwave.
As for packaged and portable stuff: my go-tos are yogurt cups, instant oatmeal, individual hummus cups (and something to dip), and those little kits that have a small can of flavoured tuna and some crackers.
posted by Kololo at 10:36 PM on August 13, 2014 [4 favorites]
Try the GreeNoodle brand, if you have a good asian-centric grocery store nearby.
posted by univac at 11:23 PM on August 13, 2014
posted by univac at 11:23 PM on August 13, 2014
Since you asked: the Tasty Bites Indian food (or Trader Joe's equivalent, should you be so lucky) are actually pretty healthy for packaged food as long as you're not getting too worked up about sodium. Add rice or quinoa if you want (instant/frozen for the very lazy, in a rice cooker for the regular lazy).
In the link above, click on what interests you and then on the nutritional info (the packages hold two reasonably-sized servings, if you supplement with a grain). Stuff with cheese is a little fattier and calorie-full, stuff with veggies has more vitamins, most have a reasonable amount of fiber, most packages contain around 300 calories when you include both servings.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:46 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
In the link above, click on what interests you and then on the nutritional info (the packages hold two reasonably-sized servings, if you supplement with a grain). Stuff with cheese is a little fattier and calorie-full, stuff with veggies has more vitamins, most have a reasonable amount of fiber, most packages contain around 300 calories when you include both servings.
posted by charmedimsure at 11:46 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]
In case you aren't stuck on pre-packaged and microwaved, and assuming that the "nofreezer" tag means a refrigerator is available: I just realized (like literally just, within the last few minutes) that if you already have a hard-boiled egg you can very quickly make a couple of devilled eggs with just a few ingredients.
Someone gave me a kitchen doohickey that makes hard-boiled eggs perfectly in mass quantities and I made a few extra in the course of preparation for a more involved recipe I'm planning to work on later today; I love devilled eggs more than almost anything else, and it hit me...
Rinse out a single-serve yoghurt container and dry, put a few pinches of spices in it—salt, pepper, paprika, chilli powder—and your hard-boiled egg, and bring to work with you. At lunch time shell the egg, cut it in half, tip out the yolk into the yoghurt container, add a squirt of mayo and a squirt of Dijon mustard, mash up the yolk with a fork and mix it all together as patience allows, scoop back into the egg halves, and voilà.
"Healthy" depends on what sort of diet you're eating since it's an hors d'oeuvre of course, but it's vegetarian and low-carb. I've already had two eggs this way for breakfast so I suppose I'll have to find something else for lunch.
posted by XMLicious at 12:14 AM on August 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
Someone gave me a kitchen doohickey that makes hard-boiled eggs perfectly in mass quantities and I made a few extra in the course of preparation for a more involved recipe I'm planning to work on later today; I love devilled eggs more than almost anything else, and it hit me...
Rinse out a single-serve yoghurt container and dry, put a few pinches of spices in it—salt, pepper, paprika, chilli powder—and your hard-boiled egg, and bring to work with you. At lunch time shell the egg, cut it in half, tip out the yolk into the yoghurt container, add a squirt of mayo and a squirt of Dijon mustard, mash up the yolk with a fork and mix it all together as patience allows, scoop back into the egg halves, and voilà.
"Healthy" depends on what sort of diet you're eating since it's an hors d'oeuvre of course, but it's vegetarian and low-carb. I've already had two eggs this way for breakfast so I suppose I'll have to find something else for lunch.
posted by XMLicious at 12:14 AM on August 14, 2014 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Since couple of people pointed it out, let me clarify that by healthy I mean a balanced dose of nutrient, low in things like fat, sugar, salt, MSG or preservatives with a sketchy reputation.
posted by TheLittlePrince at 6:34 AM on August 14, 2014
posted by TheLittlePrince at 6:34 AM on August 14, 2014
I make up a bowl with Jade Pearl Rice Ramen, pre-chopped veggies, and broth I make with Better than Bullion (boil water and mix it in). If I want it to be more filling, I beat an egg and stir it in (think egg drop soup).
posted by brackish.line at 9:39 AM on August 14, 2014
posted by brackish.line at 9:39 AM on August 14, 2014
Best answer: Previously.
Most packaged food is high in sodium. I like GoPicnic shelf-stable meals. Walgreens/Duane Reed carries the peanut butter & crackers one and (I think) pepperoni & cheese.
When I don’t feel like cooking, I make a version of a ploughman’s lunch. (Starbucks calls theirs a “Protein Bistro Box.”) A hard-boiled egg or two, a foil packet of Justin’s nut butter, pickles, cheese, nuts (I buy them at Trader Joe’s, then portion them into snack-sized Ziplock bags), fresh &/or dried fruit (dried apricots pair well with raw almonds), celery sticks, bread/crackers/bagel… Whatever's available.
posted by editorgrrl at 10:16 AM on August 16, 2014
Most packaged food is high in sodium. I like GoPicnic shelf-stable meals. Walgreens/Duane Reed carries the peanut butter & crackers one and (I think) pepperoni & cheese.
When I don’t feel like cooking, I make a version of a ploughman’s lunch. (Starbucks calls theirs a “Protein Bistro Box.”) A hard-boiled egg or two, a foil packet of Justin’s nut butter, pickles, cheese, nuts (I buy them at Trader Joe’s, then portion them into snack-sized Ziplock bags), fresh &/or dried fruit (dried apricots pair well with raw almonds), celery sticks, bread/crackers/bagel… Whatever's available.
posted by editorgrrl at 10:16 AM on August 16, 2014
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posted by metahawk at 9:44 PM on August 13, 2014 [1 favorite]