I was looking at Johns Diet and I was impressed that he ate almost the same thing for dinner everynight. Being that I live alone and my cooking skills are limited I was relieved as well. Currently I'm eating green salads with boiled chicken as my main course. It is filling although sometimes I get hungry about 2 hours later so I have crackers (I like crackers). Anyhow, I read somewhere else that a good meal to have if you are unskilled like myself is Chilli with meat. My girlfriend just bought a rice cooker for me and it's so easy I love it. So what are your opinions on rice and chilli along with a breaded chicken patty (microwaved). I'm trying to mix it up so I don't get too bored/discouraged. I don't have stove or oven so I'm reduced to a microwave. Thanks for the suggestions and opinons

I would avoid the breaded chicken breast for the processed carbs aspect...anything breaded becomes less "clean".

Try this, take a boneless chicken breast, cut it into cubes or slices or some such, toss it in a skillet with a small amount of pam, cook on stove on medium-high stirring chicken occasionally to cook evenly. Chicken will begin to "brown" cut a few pieces in half and look at the middle, as long as its no longer pink its done...

Pink chicken is not cooked through!

I generally cook chicken breast and the like in bulk, its not difficult and doesnt take long, its more a matter of knowing when something is done!

If your going to use chili likely we're talking about making it from scratch which means frying (cooking on stove in skillet) lean hamburger or lean ground turkey, and using various ingredients to develop a sauce base, combining the previous two items with some form of bean and calling it chili, i personally wouldnt go for the canned stuff...too many additives!

Here is a sample of my weekday diet (im too busy to really sit down and cook so i use a lot of frozen/thawed stuff thats basically ready to eat and just needs microwaved)!

Lunch Meal:
2.5oz Canned Tuna
2/3 Cup cooked long grain brown rice
2/3 Cup frozen sugar snap peas
1 Cup frozen cut green beans
1 Cup frozen brocolli florets
1 tbsp Olive Oil

Sometimes i toss a few egg whites into that as well for even more protien if i have the calories to spare, stir it all up on a plate its like some tasty chinese stir fry type thing and all you need is a microwave! (eggs can be cooked in a tea cup in a microwave :))

Dinner Meal:
2 Frozen Portabello Burgers
2/3 Cup Brown Rice or WW Pasta
2/3 Cup frozen sugar snap peas
1 Cup frozen cut green beans
1 Cup frozen brocolli florets

Occasionally ill toss some olive oil on this if my macros are short on fat for the day or something...

again, everything is frozen (except the rice or pasta) but ready to eat, it just needs microwaved!

Tips to cooking pasta/rice, directions are usually printed on box, match amount you want to cook with amount of water required (or just wing it like i do :)) bring water to boil, add pasta/rice, cook pasta til it is firm to the bite, cook rice til water is absorbed... drain pasta w/ colander (sp?) Store in tupperware containers until needed!

BTW, im a food fanatic and i love chili, cooking is an art :)

This was taken from an email i got from Men's Health Magazine...

Three Amigos Chili (Powerfoods: 5)

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 pound ground turkey breast
1 can diced tomatoes with jalapeños
1 can (10.5 ounces) each garbanzos, black beans, and kidney beans, drained
1 can (14 ounces) low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon each salt and cumin
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Hot sauce to taste

Heat oil on medium-low. Add onion and sauté until soft (about 3 to 5 minutes). Add turkey and brown (about 5 minutes.) Add tomatoes with juice, beans, broth, and spices. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

Serves 6 (Freeze the leftovers and save $5 by taking them for lunch.)

Per serving: 293 calories, 31 g protein, 32 g carbohydrates, 5 g fat (0 g saturated), 11 g fiber, 788 mg sodium<---scary amount of sodium might wanna see if you can bring that down!

I don't have stove or oven so I'm reduced to a microwave.


Guys you gotta read his post - the info your responding with is largely discouraging. he has no stove or oven, so chili, etc, pan frying. gone.


and cut out the crackers. have some cottage cheese.

:) i missed that part!!

In that case i guess if you desire chili, compare the various canned brands and see whats out there, i havent really looked into this...you want something thats going to fit your calories and macros really, while staying lower in sugar and salt, trans fat and saturated fats...

What I have been doing with the rice I cook is adding in 2tbsp of salsa (safeway select hot salsa). It has 2 grams of carbs and 10 calories per serving (2 tbsp). Adds a little kick to the rice :tucool:

I don't have stove or oven so I'm reduced to a microwave.

Alot of the garage sales around here people sell those countertop hotplates that you can use as an electric skillet kindof thing. Very portable and cheap.

Alot of the garage sales around here people sell those countertop hotplates that you can use as an electric skillet kindof thing. Very portable and cheap.

Depending upon if he's in a dorm or not (sounds like he is), he may not be able to have a hotplate due to fire hazard. If someone in charge in a dormitory finds it you can get fined a few hundred dollars. If not, this sounds like a great idea.