[two more fatties]

So we have been Sonomaing on and off for the past 3 months and have lost a total of 45lbs. together (there are two of us) and gained back 22lbs total the past month. We both like the diet and saw some pretty amazing results in the first two weeks. We slowed down a bit after that and then life and baked goods caught up with us.
One of the things we find the most challenging is preparing food day in and out with no real quick solutions other than salad. We like lettuce as much as the next person, but come on!
Any suggestions on quick meals that aren't super boring? Thanks, M&C

[LindaT]

M&C, welcome. I would suggest you check out the Sonoma recipe therad at the top of the page. Lots of good recipes there.

I make a lot of wraps with hi fiber tortiilas and meat etc, and freeze them. Just fill up a baggie of fresh veggies and you can take it to work with you. I don't cook every day but I eat homemade food every day because I prepare in advance, use my freezer.. etc. Nothing better than coming home to home cooking and have it ready in 10 minutes MAX

[jaxjob]

I make food for several days at once. Either I freeze leftovers or eat them within the next two days. It makes things easier for me. For veggies - I will make up a big batch of ratatouille and then freeze it in small portions. I've only just started Sonoma but I've done this for a while. Another thing I've done is to cut up a bunch of veggies when I have the time, then put them in the fridge in ziploc boxes. It makes throwing a stir-fry or pasta sauce quick and easy, plus they are available for snacking, making paninis, or putting in interesting salads. I also put everything in my salads - I don't like dressing so need to make them interesting in other ways, fruit (not now on wave 1), various veggies, seeds, nuts (counting them in the allowance) etc. so I don't get bored of salad very often.

Jax

[petra65]

M&C-welcome. I will admit, the lack of quick convenience meals on this diet is a challenge. I am single, and busy and when I get home late and have to spend 30-45 minutes cooking a meal for myself I just about want to scream. Then, I remember why I used to go through the fast food drive through. This is where that glass of wine comes in handy. I try to do a lot of cooking on the weekends and have left overs until at least Wed. and then cook on Wed to make it to Fri., then repeat the process. You get the idea. I will say the tortilla wraps do work well for take to work lunches.

[K8-EEE]

It's nice to have a couple of quick pantry or freezer meals available. Here's a couple of my faves

Progresso lentil soup (I like to put fresh spinach and salsa in it!)

Kashi frozen chicken pomodoro -- I think it's yummy and the ingredients are Sonoma friendly

If you freeze brown rice in cupcake containers, you can pop them out of there and keep them in zip-lock bags in the freezer. They steam up in 7 minutes, steam it up with frozen veggies and brown rice and that's a yummy meal with no shopping....

One trick I learned with chicken is to buy boneless skinless chicken and spend an afternoon preparing it with different marinades in freezer bags...

For instance, you can cut some in 1" sections and freeze it with soy/ginger marinade for a stir fry -- pound some flat and make a lemon/olive oil marinade.

Then all you have to do when you see a busy day coming is thaw it out in the fridge the day before, and when you come home it's all seasoned and ready for the grill or frying pan.

I find that convenient foods cause inconvenient problems.....like my clothes not fitting, LOL, but I'm trying to come up with little tricks to make the good stuff more convenient.

[petra65]

Thanks for the tips Kate. I may try some of those.