Ideas for Cold Protein?

Shiphrah · 06-02-2005, 02:20 PM

At my job, I don't have access to a fridge or a microwave and it's making meal planning very difficult! I'm doing the Protein Power plan...lots of protein, very few carbs. I'm getting a little tired of cheese, hard-cooked eggs, and pb & celery! I'm trying to avoid lunch meats because of the sodium, preservatives, nitrates, etc. Anyone have any suggestions?

Solshine · 06-02-2005, 04:38 PM

CONGRATULATIONS ON LOSING 55 LBS!!!!

Did you lose it on Protein Power? Can you take a mini cooler to work? I have one of those baby ones and put a couple of those re-freezable blue blocks in there if I'm carrying something more finicky about temperature. But here are a few of my favorites that I carry around and usually eat at room temperature.

Here's my all-time favorite! It's called a Shannycake (Shannon invented it!) I make it in the morning (depending on time I make 4 small ones or 1 large one):
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup low fat or ff cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
- dash of cinnamon
- Splenda (add to your taste)
-Vanilla or other flavored extracts are optional

Put all the above in a blender and then cook in a non-stick frying pan with just a scant of Pam Spray and cook like regular pancakes. I know it doesn't look like they will cook or taste like real pancakes, but I SWEAR they do!! You'll be hooked. 1/2 cup of oatmeal should be okay on PP, I believe. If you can, adding fruit gives you delicious variety!

My grocery store just started selling Buffalo! Steaks and ground. I make buffalo burgers and bring those to work in little zip lock baggies. They are still good at room temperature!

Protein Powder

Canned tuna or chicken or crab meat - you could open a can and put it in a disposable or tupperware container if you don't want to mess with a can opener at work.

Turkey Mignon (usually found in frozen section) - It's turkey wrapped in bacon. I cook several in my toaster oven, refrigerate them at home and grab one as I'm leaving the house.

Body builder friends of mine grill chicken breasts with various seasonings for variety on Sundays and wrap them in saran wrap, then a cool paper towel then aluminum foil to carry to work. They say it helps keep the breasts cool.

And there were a couple of fantastic recipes for making cottage cheese more enjoyable, too. One of them used a touch of vanilla and you blended it up...tasted just like cheese cake! The other one had you mixing cottage cheese with sugar-free jello and splenda, blending, and chilling. Absolutely delish!

Also, beef can cool to room temperature pretty safely. If you're taking food for lunch it won't go bad before lunch time. Steaks, burgers, meatloaf.... those kinds of things.

from http://www.eatturkey.com/consumer/cookinfo/portable.html

Quote:

The Turkey Club Wrap combines the great taste of a BLT with fresh vegetables. Turkey breast, turkey bacon, cheese, Dijon mustard, avocado and alfalfa sprouts come together for a satisfying hand-held sandwich. Or, enjoy ethnic flavor with a Greek Turkey Wrap. Deli turkey breast and a Greek salad of tomatoes, pepperoncini, kalamata olives and feta cheese add zip to your lunch break. Wrapping both of these sandwiches in aluminum foil leaves them both easy to transport and to eat on the run.

I hope this helps!

Shiphrah · 06-03-2005, 03:03 AM

Thanx for the ideas...some of those sound yummy. I lost the weight with a combination of Protein Power and the "Chemo Diet." (Not fun...but it sure helped the weight loss.)

Solshine · 06-08-2005, 06:23 PM

How ya doin', Shiphrah? Have you found something that works? I've been wondering how you were.

I'm sorry about that "chemo diet" and hope you're all better now.

Shiphrah · 06-09-2005, 03:47 PM

Thanx Solshine...I'm doing great. Still recovering from the chemo...but doing much much better.

I tried your cottage cheese suggestion (with the Jello)...yummy! And I found some low-carb tortillas and made the turkey wraps. And I've done salads with canned tuna and chicken.

I just found buffalo at the supermarket...debating about trying it!

rachelminn · 06-09-2005, 04:39 PM

Buffalo is very tasty and extremely low in fat. I'm originally from South Dakota where buffalo roam, so I know! It's not gamey tasting at all.

A great snack my nutritionist just told me about is this:

Chicken Tenders

2 chicken breasts, cut in strips and trimmed of any fat
2 organic eggs
1 C skim milk
1 cup almond or quinua meal (Red Mill brand)
1 T of olive oil

Mix the egg and the milk. Dip the chicken in the milk mixture, then roll in the meal. Place in pan with olive oil and cook, turning once. Serve warm or cold. I take them cold to work and have a couple for a mid day snack.

My nutritionist also told me to buy organic deli meat to avoid the nitrates and excess sodium.

Almonds are also an excellent source of protein, as is sushi!

Solshine · 06-09-2005, 04:45 PM

So glad to hear you're doing better, Shiphrah! Are you done with the treatments? I know that's got to be rough.

Glad you're finding some things that work for you. If you like the canned tuna, try this salad - it doesn't have any mayo, so you don't have to worry about the room temperature and the vinegar keeps it from stinking up the office.

1 can tuna
sliced red onion
(put the red onion slices in ice cold water for a few minutes to bring out the sweetness in them)
1 can Cannellini Beans (white beans)
Basalmic Vinegar
(I've also used Raspberry Basalmic Vinegar - yummy!)

Vinegar and Red Onion are "to taste"

Mix it all together and you have one yummy dish! I put it on top of romaine lettuce if I'm in a "salad" mood.

I also have a Greek Chicken Recipe for canned chicken I'll put below and I posted a Chicken Salad Recipe yesterday. I bring all the parts separate to work and put it together once I'm ready to eat.

Greek Chicken
(everything really is "to taste")

1-2 cans canned chicken (or leftover chicken...whatever works for you)
1 bunch parsley
Kalamata Olives, pitted and sliced
1 pkg Feta Cheese
Diced Cucumber
Halved Cherry Tomatoes (I leave these out of mine)

Mix together these above in a bowl

In a separate bowl mix:
3/4 Cup Plain Yogurt
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1 tsp Fresh Oregano or 1 Tbsp Dried
3 Garlic Cloves, pressed

Add the yogurt/mayo mixture to the chicken mixture and serve on pita bread, bed of lettuce or eat as is.

(I eat it as is, usually!)

If you figure out something that works good, please let me know. I'm always looking for new things to try. Kudos to you!!

VivC · 06-10-2005, 01:10 AM

I also recommend the organic lunch meats - you should be able to find them at a health food store. Not only are they healthier, but they taste much, much better.