Is it OK to eat the same thing for a week?

I have what might be a slightly unusual problem.

I have autism. Part of that means that I am very bad at dealing with new things. I like routine. I get very, very easily exhausted going to work during the day. I do the best I can to eat properly, but often times, I just pull whatever needs the least cooking out of the refrigerator. That has led to some very odd food choices, like eating nothing but string cheese for two days.

I have a great deal of difficulty planning and organizing. They nearly diagnosed ADHD, too, but if you use the simplest explanation, it's probably executive dysfunction associated with the autism. That's part of why I like routines; the decisions are made for me beforehand, so I don't freeze when I come to a decision point and stand in the middle of the room like a doofus, wondering what the heck I am doing.

I also have hypertension. It's borderline high; I'm twenty-six years old with a family history of high blood pressure. In fact, my father died of long-term high blood pressure at age thirty-eight. He had a stroke.

So with the recent diagnosis of hypertension I am now on a low-sodium diet.

The most complicated thing I can cook is spaghetti, and I can only do that on the weekends because during the week I have used up all of my brain for the day at work.

This is a problem.

I can see one solution, though. If I made up enough to eat for a week during the weekend--all of the food, and counting the sodium and the calories, and packaged it in little containers that I could heat up and eat--then I would be able to keep on a low sodium diet.

The complication is that I would also be eating the same thing every day for a week. Even on the weekends, I do not think I could manage making more than one thing. I already measure out cereal for breakfast every day, usually oatmeal, and pack the same thing for lunch every day (sandwich, jello, yogurt); only dinners are different. It was a great victory to me to learn how to make breakfast and lunch every day. I only learned to make breakfast and lunch this year. Before that, it was just a matter of grabbing whatever I could get from the refrigerator.

Considering that I am already eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day, would it be healthy to eat the same dinner every day for a week?

I live alone. No one else would be eating this with me, so there is nobody else to bother by it; but I don't want to become less healthy.

I think a little variety would be better. Could you try packaging up your meals, but changing the vegetables/meat from day to day? That way you would have them all pre-packaged, but you would get some variety? Even if you just alternated between three different meals, at least it would be a change? I know myself and I get really bored without a little variety and I think our metabolism does too (not sure, I am not a dietician)... just a thought...

I could probably change the vegetables, or just use mixed vegetables. They stay in the freezer from week to week. I can't trust my freezer to keep raw meat frozen, though. I don't have a very good refrigerator. I have to freeze meals if I want them to keep for more than three days, and can't keep anything for longer than two weeks.

Speak with your doctor about your meals Callista. I would imagine that as long as your meals include all the days nutrient needs, protien carbs, fat, cholesterol and vitamins (you could take a multi-vitamin) that it should be ok.

Variety would be better I'm sure but none of us are perfect and it's all about doing the best you can. Perhaps a doctor can set you up with a nutritionist to help you figure out a meal that you can eat every day. I'd imagine a stew with lots of different veggies and some lean protien would be good and tasty althought that might be on the more difficult side of cooking :S

Good luck and I'm always around if you need help :D

callista450,

We all have to do what works best for us. I think what you are doing is fine, since the foods you are eating at your meals seem balanced and healthy. Sometimes simplicity is best. Just make sure your meals are nutritious, and that you get enough calories. Maybe you could take a once daily multivitamin.

Back in the day, people ate a lot more simply than they do now. I think a lot of our eating problems could be caused by too much variety!

Since I started a healthy eating plan, I have also had to think about what I'm going to eat, and plan out my meals, and organize a lot more than before. So I'm with you.

I think it's fine.  I do that pretty often actually, although maybe out of laziness rather than any other reason.  I don't like to cook much during the week.  I, too, eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day, and I cook a large batch of whatever on Sunday and dole it out to myself for dinner every day that week.  As long as you are meeting your nutritional needs, I don't see what difference it makes.  It's not like you are eating the same food every day for the rest of your life - just 5-7 days in a row.  Plus you are eating different foods in your 3 meals.

Any tricks on keeping fruit and vegetables fresh for a week? See above: I have a defective refrigerator, so my options are "keep slightly cool" and "freeze".

Oranges, apples, pears and bananas are some fruits that do not need refrigeration. (:

I think it's okay to eat the same thing every day, as long as you make the meals well-balanced. I've eaten the same thing every day for a few months before, actually, and I've never been healthier than then!

The stew idea is a really good one. You can make a different kind every week by changing the vegetables and the protein. What makes it even easier is that you can make it in a crock pot. I do a lot of stews where I just throw in whatever meat I have on hand, some chicken or beef broth and our favorite veggies. You can freeze single portions and by the time you go to eat lunch, it would be almost thawed. You'd just need to heat it through in the microwave.

I have a very hard time with change myself and routine is the ONLY way to go for me.  I plan out my meals DAYS in advance and I make sure I have everything on hand.  I've been loving the Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine meals.  I eat basically the same 2 types for lunches and dinners 3-4 days out of the week and other days I'll have a bean burrito (my favorite food), tofu dishes, etc.  But I don't give myself much variety, no.  I have a good variety during the week I suppose, but since I eat the same things every week on the same days, not much of a variety.

Talk to your therapist about coming up with a meal schedule!  It's easier than you think.  Also, when I was doing Jenny Craig a while ago, it was super easy to stick to.. except for the lack of ice cream.

MAKE SOUP!!!

If you manage to make lets say, 10 portions to freeze on your first weekend, then you will have 3 portions spare.

In few weeks you can mix and match the left overs and in a month time you will be able to choose and have different options to choose.

Good luck!

Original Post by tempestadesm:

MAKE SOUP!!!

If you manage to make lets say, 10 portions to freeze on your first weekend, then you will have 3 portions spare.

In few weeks you can mix and match the left overs and in a month time you will be able to choose and have different options to choose.

Good luck!

 That is a pretty good idea, to slowly add to your supply in the freezer so you can have some more variety.  

As the others said, it sounds like you are eating pretty healthy, and doing your best.  What more can anyone ask for?

Original Post by callista450:

Any tricks on keeping fruit and vegetables fresh for a week? See above: I have a defective refrigerator, so my options are "keep slightly cool" and "freeze".

You can try buying fresh fruits and freezing some of them - they won't have the same texture and consistency, of course, but they can still be used for blending into a smoothie, or add to oatmeal in the morning.

Also, you can buy canned fruits in natural fruit juices (make sure they are not in syrup and that no additional sugars are added) to have when you have run out of the fresh ones.  Already frozen, unsweetened fruits like pineapple chunks, berries, and peaches are also a great alternative.  I have found that frozen sliced peaches taste SURPRISINGLY like the real thing (and not mushy!) once defrosted!! 

As for keeping things like lettuce fresh, I make sure I take it out of the supermarket bag, and I wrap it with a paper towel, UNWASHED.  I then place it into a ziploc bag, and try to squeeze as much of the air out of it as possible (zip 1/2 way up, then squeeze air out as you zip the rest of the bag).  It should almost look like it was vacuum packed when you're done :D The paper towel absorbs any moisture, and the lack of air keeps it from getting moldy.  Then, when I want to eat lettuce, I unwrap it, wash what I want, and place the rest back in the fridge.  This works for nearly every veggie - especially things like bagged salads, scallions and others that have lots of natural moisture.  I can usually make veggies last for 2 weeks! 

I agree with the other tips and suggestions.  You are doing great.  Keep it up!! :)