Beginner at cooking, less on time.. help?

[Devileyezz]

Hello,

I'm being very honest, so please, please don't flame me and offer me some help.
I'm a beginner, and I'm strapped on time. And I really don't like cooking.

And I think the person who makes me the food currently isn't doing much for me, and it still costs me.

So, I'm about to jump in this new cooking thing and see how it goes.
I'm looking for a book/website that will teach people how to cook healthy food and in bulk on the weekends so I don't have to cook during the week as I don't have much time. (Work, and soon it'll be workouts too)

I'm also looking for advice on what to have for breakfast on a regular basis (I see people drink 3-4 eggs everyday in the morning) ... things like that.

I'm currently close to 130lbs, and I want to grow upto atleast 160-170lbs in muscle mass. I'm not looking to BULK up, but just a little.

Please, help me.

 

[Jodi]

The first thing is to realize that you don't have to be an expert cook to eat healthy. Eating healthy is quite simple actually. Too simple which is why we get bored sometimes and create fancy recipes to spice things up.

Please check out the stickies called Guide to Cutting, Bulking etc..... there is a lot of info in there to get you started. When you are done reading and have an idea, post a plan and we can help you with it and from there even explain how easy it is to cook everything.

I"m very glad that you listened to all the advice and chose to do diet before steroids. I'm not against steroids for those that choose to use them, but I think it's important for everyone to have a clean healthy eating lifestyle before they take that step.

 

[Devileyezz]

Hello Jodi,

Done reading your article.
Informative, got the print out of the shopping list too.

Now, currently, from what I know, I need to have a lot of protein/carbs.
I'd like to eat 7-9 times a day.

From your shopping list, what can you suggest to me for those small meals?
Thanks.

 

[Devileyezz]

Can someone recommend 5-6 important ingredients with which I can make atleast 5-6 carb/protein foods in bulk for the week that might cover atleast 3 meals for me during the day?

I'm around 130lbs. Targetting 167lbs in muscle mass. Hence why high carb/protein intake.

 

[El Hefe]

tuna cans
chicken breast
ground beef
brown rice
frozen vegetables
pasta
cottage cheese


I like to take brown rice, ground beef, mushrooms, peas, and a little cream of mushroom soup and mix it all up, you can make a huge batch of it and refrigerate it.

 

[ABCs]

I'm around 130lbs. Targetting 167lbs in muscle mass. Hence why high carb/protein intake.

Don't forget your essential fats from extra virgin olive oil, penuts, and even salmon. You want to gain somewhere around 30lbs of mass, not fat, so keep the diet clean and learn from these guys around here. I have them to thank for my diet and workout direction.

 

[NordicNacho]

Alot of what you need is here . I love food tv lots of goos stuff

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_health/0,1904,FOOD_16381,00.html

 

[Devileyezz]

What if I don't really know how to cook? lol
I'm currently cooking all 3 chicken breasts.. pasta with tomato sauce.

What's the best recipe, and faster cooking to it with everything included?

 

[ABCs]

What if I don't really know how to cook? lol
I'm currently cooking all 3 chicken breasts.. pasta with tomato sauce.

What's the best recipe, and faster cooking to it with everything included?

3 words. George Forman Grill. It is my diet.

 

[Devileyezz]

I got pasta, 3 cans of tuna, beef salami, ground beef, frozen veg, and brown rice.

What can I make from this stuff that will last me a week?

 

[ABCs]

Try making dinner every 2 or 3 days so you don't have to freeze it.

Just make one of the meats your main meal and one of the sides as your side dish. So let's say Tuna and alittle pasta (hopefully you got whole wheat.) or beef and brown rice, etc etc. Mix and match to keep things exciting.

 

[Devileyezz]

That's the thing, I'm totally strapped on time. So, I have to do it on the weekend..

 

[Devileyezz]

Also, is there any resource at all that gives us a very basic cooking primer geared towards healthy cooking?

I have all the ingredients and I have no idea how to cook! :S

 

[zootroid]

Pasta, rice and the frozen veggies should all come with instructions to cook them. As for the ground beef and other things, I'm not 100% sure how to properly cook them.

 

[Devileyezz]

Gotcha.
I'm now thinking of getting a steam rice cooker, to make things easy.

 

[Devileyezz]

3 words. George Forman Grill. It is my diet.

What's so good about GFG? Most other grills are almost the same in looks, design, etc.

What sets this one apart? It's said GFG takes off the fat with the slant so the fat 'flows' away. Most other grills I've seen do the same.
So what sets this one apart?

 

[WilliamB]

What's so good about GFG? Most other grills are almost the same in looks, design, etc.

What sets this one apart? It's said GFG takes off the fat with the slant so the fat 'flows' away. Most other grills I've seen do the same.
So what sets this one apart?

lol the other ones are fine as well, as long as it cooks the meal.

 

[geotein]

I grind up my chicken and beef in a food processer, it
is easier to chew. Meat in fridge after couple of days
is dry and tuff. Also I mix it up with mayo or salad dressing.
jim

 

[ABCs]

lol the other ones are fine as well, as long as it cooks the meal.

Exactly. The only reason I named the Forman Grill is because it is the popular choice.