Meal ideas when all you have is a Microwave
Ok,
so for the past 5 days I have been increasing my caloric intake, because like most of you, I need to gain. I was aiming for around 3000 a day, but when all I have is a fridge and a microwave, I am finding it somewhat difficult to reach the 3000 mark, while trying to eat somewhat healthy foods and at the same time not draining my wallet. Falling into the 2100-2400 range while eating somewhat healthy foods. Any ideas? Thanks
Get a George Foreman Grill. They cook everything from meat to veggies and are much better than microwaving everything. There are also tons if recipes for cooking food on one online! It got me through college.
I buy lots of frozen prepared meals (Trader joe's is the best imo), chicken burritos, pizzas, stromboli and supplement with frozen veggies such as broccoli, artichoke hearts, green beans. All of these do well in the microwave and if you sprinkle salt, pepper and sometimes parmesan cheese they're delicious.
ok, I am limited to just a microwave, cannot have a foreman grill... Looking for microwave meal ideas that are relativily inexpensive, moderately healthy and good for weight gain....
frozen veggies
"baked potato" -- poke some holes in a potato, microwave 1:30, flip it over, 1:30 voila
soup, stew
steamed rice
How do you feel about eggs?
Poached Eggs:
1 egg (no shell, of course)
1 cup
add water to cover, 1/4-1/2 cup
Depending on the microwave and the temperture of the water, each egg takes about 40 seconds. It will take a few tries to find the right cooking time, but eggs are cheap, just don't over cook, they will 'sploid.
There was also a post here some time ago about making scrambled eggs in the microwave, I'll try to track that down. -> here it is
Another favorite is fish and veggie packets:
Get yourself some parchment paper (or lots, this is a great technique) Look into this Good Eats transcript for the pouch episode for other ideas - there's one with shrimp and ramen noodles :-D
Slice up a zucchini, about 1/4 inch thick slices
Use a large peice of parchment, about 2 feet or so, place the veggies on one half, drizzle with good olive oil, a touch of toasted sesame oil and sprinkle with salt and any other seasoning you like.
On top of the pile of veggies, place a salmon fillet, a little more olive oil, sesame oil, seasoning.
Fold over the other half, and fold/crimp the edges to make a tight seal all around (making a huge paper dumpling of sorts). I usually tuck the "tail" you end up with under. Place on a plate (sometimes a little of the juices escape) and nuke for 3-4 minutes, again, depends on your microwave and how much you like your fish cooked.
This can be done with all sorts of combinations. Some meats are better suited for steaming than others. Fish works extremely well, chicken breasts would work well also.
What sort of foods are you eating now and what do you like to eat? That might help with more ideas.
Edit: added link to microwave scrambled egg
I am the queen of micro cooking or reheating I guess. Does your fridge have a freezer part if not can you get one? Then you can keep frozen items like Amys pizzas,Kashi etc. Also there is add water mac and cheese like Annies or Kraft. Frozen chicken breasts can be cooked in the micro then you can make a stir fry with micro rice and veggies.Veggie burgers,baked potatoes with cottage cheese or other cheese,sandwiches/soup. Then just add sides like yogurt,nuts,pb and fruit etc to meet your needs. They have products for the micro too like egg cookers
Buy a microwave steamer
Target has a few of them available for $10-15. They no longer have the one I have but I'm sure the other ones work just as well since its a very basic idea. This could help with prep of some of your meals.
Original Post by osainto:
Looking for microwave meal ideas that are relativily inexpensive, moderately healthy and good for weight gain....
Whole milk fits the bill (though it's more than moderately healthy)...
Agreed with floggingsully. Do you have a fridge? Whole fat dairy would be extremely helpful to you.
I also suggest you get a toaster if you can, or the grill idea. Grilled cheese for the win.
Nuts and trail mixes do not require a microwave. Dried fruit does not require a microwave. Cold cereal like granola does not require a microwave. A dense salad encorporating avocado and olive oil dressing does not require a microwave. Tinned beans and pulses? Already cooked - you could easily have these as a protein source. Firm, water packed tofu can be eaten raw. Soya puddings can usually be purchased long life, and milk can be bought in UHT packaging (long-life). Think outside the box. In this case, the heat producing little box that goes "ding".
Saying that...
Fit2Eat Microwave Recipes
Microwave Technologies Association Recipes
Couple to start you off.
Weight gain adds a completely different spin to things (makes it easier). Do you have any friends with memberships to costco or parents willing to send care packages?
Nuts - almonds, cashews, pecans, they keep well, they're tasty and if you need calories a handful of chocolate chips can make them even better.
Bagels w/ cream cheese - they keep well are cheap, reasonably tasty, for an extra filip add pumpkin butter or strawberry jam.
Frozen veggies (I love artichoke hearts the best), just microwave for about 7 minutes, sprinkle with sea salt, pepper to taste and parmesan cheese...delicious. Broccoli with cheese is also very good, has a lot of nutrients and calories from the cheese.
Dried fruit tends to be calorie dense and pretty good to chew while studying.
Nut butters don't need cooking. You can have them in sandwiches or cook them in oatmeal.
Oatmeal, oatbran, etc. are all microwavable. Add nuts, flavored oils, butters, etc.
Full fat dairy...cottage cheese, yogurt, greek yogurt, hard cheese, soft cheese (cream cheese, goat cheese, feta, etc)
You can microwave eggs if you use a lower power setting
You can buy a rice cooker and use that in the microwave.
You can buy canned tuna/chicken, mix with mayo.
They sell microwave pasta packets and you can add whole milk and some tuna to bump the calories.
They sell microwave cookbooks. I'd look into that.
Though I prefer home cooking, there are a fair number of high-calorie microwavable foods (though I can't vouch for their taste lol).
-Try Hungry Man XXL meals. The roast turkey has 1,450 calories, and many others have around 800 calories!
-Hot pockets tend to be 300-400 calories. Pair it with chocolate whole milk, dessert and salad with dressing and you have a pretty dense meal!
-An entire Digiorno deep dish pizza (individual size, i think) is over 1900 calories.
-Just 2 pieces of Eggo stuffed french toast sticks are 310 calories!
-Most Jimmie Dean breakfast sandwiches are 300+ calories. Paired with juice, trail mix and/or a smoothies would be very nutritious.
-Many of pepperidge farm's pot pies or meals are more than 500 calories per 1 cup serving
-Tyson makes lots of high-cal meats, like chicken nuggets, etc
-Some very good high-calorie ice cream brands are: haagen-dazs, ben and jerry's, dove, and Godiva
-look for frozen veggies with cheese or butter sauces, like Green Giant's
and don't forget your high-calorie drinks! Like whole milk, grape juice, smoothies, milkshakes, chocolate milk and V8 drinks.
thanks again for the ideas guys, in particular swimfan.
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