I am considering joining BistroMD, but am concerned about the food prep. How would I prepare my lunch if I am at work if the food needs to be boiled in the bag?
Keep in mind that I’m gluten-free, which means I’m not getting some of the most “portable” lunches BistroMD offers. Lunches for non-gluten-free folks include soups (where you would just add hot water or microwave the soup cup like an instant soup), wraps (like with tortillas, which I can’t have), and sandwiches. Since I can’t have those, they send me dinner meals for lunch as well, as those are the only ones that really have consistently gluten-free options.
So, I would imagine, if you’re not eating gluten-free, you’re able to take a good many of the lunches to work and not have to do much prep with them.
BUT, if you take the “dinner” meals to have for lunch at work, you don’t HAVE to do the boil-in-bag prep. That’s their preferred method of prep, but you can also vent the plastic bags and microwave for five minutes to accomplish the same thing. I have prepped one meal that way when I was traveling and it tasted basically the same–but was a little messier due to sauces spilling out in the microwave (from having cut venting slots on the plastic packs).
If you have NO “food prep” options at work, you could always move around the timing of the meals. Do a lunch for breakfast before you leave the house and then take the (very portable) snacks and breakfasts to work (note: not all of the breakfasts are as easily portable, but most are), then have the dinner when you get home.
Anyway, I hope that helps! I’m lucky, because I have lots of food prep options while working (one of the benefits to working from home most days), so I can pick and choose which meals go when, in my day, but from what I’ve learned of the customer service at BistroMD, they would certainly work with you via email to set up a menu that works for your schedule and needs. Like, if you always needed “easy, non-prep” lunches, they could probably just be sure that’s all you are ever delivered each week.
I’ve been very pleased with their customizability (which I would expect, at this price).
Let me know if you have more questions. I’m just starting Week 5 on BistroMD and I’m very satisfied. Good luck with your decision!!
I’ve recently been diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, so your blog is interesting to me. I wanted to let you know that PurFoods now has their gluten-free menu available. I know from the forum on 3FC, you had looked a that program once.
I recently met with a registered dietician who gave me a gluten-free diet to follow. The main things were to eat GF oats (I like Bob’s RedMill) and also GF bread. The GF breads on the market are terrible! But, there is a bread mix by Kinnikinnick that is supposedly good. I just ordered it from amazon.com The rest of the diet plan is lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and eating 6 times a day. I’ve also gone totally organic.
Anyway, glad to see I’m not the only one trying to lose weight on GF foods. Good luck to you, and congrats on your weight loss!
I’m a big fan of Kinnikkinnick’s frozen pizza crusts so I would imagine I’d like pretty much anything they come up with. REALLY delicious crust!
But I don’t make much in the kitchen, so I can’t imagine I’d try the bread mix. Just too ambitious for someone as kitchenphobic as I am.
Glad to know that PurFoods now has a gluten-free option. I’ll check it out just to see what it’s all about. Thank you!
Congrats on going organic and gluten-free. Very cool!
I’ve been gluten-free since December 2004 and I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been. Now I’m down over 55 pounds and it’s been inspiring to find ways to lose weight gluten-free (seeing as learning about the gluten intolerance is what involved putting on 60 of these pounds in the first place). LOL Glad to be getting my life back!
I am considering joining BistroMD, but am concerned about the food prep. How would I prepare my lunch if I am at work if the food needs to be boiled in the bag?
Thanks for your help and this blog!
Hi Kris,
Keep in mind that I’m gluten-free, which means I’m not getting some of the most “portable” lunches BistroMD offers. Lunches for non-gluten-free folks include soups (where you would just add hot water or microwave the soup cup like an instant soup), wraps (like with tortillas, which I can’t have), and sandwiches. Since I can’t have those, they send me dinner meals for lunch as well, as those are the only ones that really have consistently gluten-free options.
So, I would imagine, if you’re not eating gluten-free, you’re able to take a good many of the lunches to work and not have to do much prep with them.
BUT, if you take the “dinner” meals to have for lunch at work, you don’t HAVE to do the boil-in-bag prep. That’s their preferred method of prep, but you can also vent the plastic bags and microwave for five minutes to accomplish the same thing. I have prepped one meal that way when I was traveling and it tasted basically the same–but was a little messier due to sauces spilling out in the microwave (from having cut venting slots on the plastic packs).
If you have NO “food prep” options at work, you could always move around the timing of the meals. Do a lunch for breakfast before you leave the house and then take the (very portable) snacks and breakfasts to work (note: not all of the breakfasts are as easily portable, but most are), then have the dinner when you get home.
Anyway, I hope that helps! I’m lucky, because I have lots of food prep options while working (one of the benefits to working from home most days), so I can pick and choose which meals go when, in my day, but from what I’ve learned of the customer service at BistroMD, they would certainly work with you via email to set up a menu that works for your schedule and needs. Like, if you always needed “easy, non-prep” lunches, they could probably just be sure that’s all you are ever delivered each week.
I’ve been very pleased with their customizability (which I would expect, at this price).
Let me know if you have more questions. I’m just starting Week 5 on BistroMD and I’m very satisfied.
Good luck with your decision!!
Thanks so much. I do have a microwave and sink available at work so this is helpful.
Hi,
I’ve recently been diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, so your blog is interesting to me. I wanted to let you know that PurFoods now has their gluten-free menu available. I know from the forum on 3FC, you had looked a that program once.
I recently met with a registered dietician who gave me a gluten-free diet to follow. The main things were to eat GF oats (I like Bob’s RedMill) and also GF bread. The GF breads on the market are terrible! But, there is a bread mix by Kinnikinnick that is supposedly good. I just ordered it from amazon.com The rest of the diet plan is lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and eating 6 times a day. I’ve also gone totally organic.
Anyway, glad to see I’m not the only one trying to lose weight on GF foods. Good luck to you, and congrats on your weight loss!
Hi Sherri,
I’m a big fan of Kinnikkinnick’s frozen pizza crusts so I would imagine I’d like pretty much anything they come up with. REALLY delicious crust!
But I don’t make much in the kitchen, so I can’t imagine I’d try the bread mix. Just too ambitious for someone as kitchenphobic as I am.
Glad to know that PurFoods now has a gluten-free option. I’ll check it out just to see what it’s all about. Thank you!
Congrats on going organic and gluten-free. Very cool!
I’ve been gluten-free since December 2004 and I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been. Now I’m down over 55 pounds and it’s been inspiring to find ways to lose weight gluten-free (seeing as learning about the gluten intolerance is what involved putting on 60 of these pounds in the first place). LOL Glad to be getting my life back!
Good luck and congrats to you as well!