A finals tradition: carbs on carbs

While reading my blog, you must think to yourself Wow, she really cooks a lot, she must have a nice variety of meals each week. Though I do not want to shatter any sterling views you might have about me, sometimes I do not eat so lavishly.

The week before finals, and finals week don't allow much time for cooking. Even if I had the time to cook with all of the studying to be done, I would probably burn myself, or the apartment down, due to my lack of sleep. I don't want that to happen.

Instead, I forget that I am dieting and I survive on carbs. 

Morning: Cereal... see this to get an idea on what cereals are ht best.

Lunch: Cereal 

Dinner: Pasta

Now, here is the thing--I can't be bothered by actually boiling water, waiting for noodles to cook, and preparing a nice pasta dinner.  Instead, yesterday I made a whole box of pasta. I put sauce on it, I put some chicken in it, and then I put it in like three different Tupperware. Microwave and eat. 

This finals tradition is certainly not guilt free--when you realize you have consumed a box of pasta in 4 days, but I like to think of it as helping my brain run at peak conditions. 

Also, it would be a good idea to pair coffee with every meal. Don't believe me? I wrote this 3 years ago, and it still holds true today. 

Panera in your kitchen

This might be my favorite lunch. In fact, I could eat it every day for lunch and be happy.

The soup and sandwich combination is common cafe choice. However, there is no need to spend $5+ on this meal that is easily created at home.

The soup:

1 can of soup.

It's a soup-er simple concept, but of course, I like to add a bit of a twist in my tomato soup: a little bit of feta  cheese. Mmmm. I like feta cheese on almost anything, so my opinion could be slightly biased, but it is delicious.

Soup is also really cheap at the grocery store, and it never goes bad. Another bonus, the varieties are endless. Check out the Campbell's Soup collection.

The sandwich:

We all know how to make a sandwich. But here's how I make mine:

2 slices of whole grain honey wheat bread
2 slices of swiss cheese
some turkey lunch meat
yellow mustard
light miracle whip
tomato
spinach

Obviously, your sandwich should reflect your tastes and preferences. Mix up the condiments! My dad likes to use wasabi mustard. Try different veggies like banana peppers, lettuce, or sprouts. You can do whatever you want, after all, it is your sandwich.

Once you have created your masterpiece, grill it. But be warned, once you start to grill your sandwiches, a regular sandwich just seems flimsy, cold and lame. My awesome roommate Julia lets me use her George Foreman, it is the perfect sandwich griller.  Don't have an awesome roomie with a George? You can always use a frying pan, which a touch of olive oil (similar to making a grilled cheese, without all the butter). Pay attention while you're grilling--you don't want to burn your sandwich.

Optional sides:
Pickle (as pictured)
Apple slices (yummy & healthy)
Side salad (the cafe trifecta)

You might have just read this, and been like "Lauren, I wanted a fast and easy meal!" Do not fret! This meal can be created in the time it takes to microwave pizza rolls.

Chicken Week: Lunchtime panini

Unless you want chicken for breakfast, and I do not, why not whip up a chicken panini for lunch?

What you'll need:

1 Tortilla
Some cut up chicken
Whatever veggies you adore (I put tomatoes and spinach on mine)
Cheese? (Feta, please!)
Condiments, if you prefer.

Put your toppings on the tortilla and grill it--either on a frying pan, a George Foreman, or a grill.  I personally like to use the George Forman, it has revolutionized my sandwiches, but that's another story...

I like this meal because it is filling and healthy.  It is utilizing the chicken I made at the beginning of the week in a unique way, and it is quite tasty and fast!

Serving Suggestions:

Cold day: Serve with a warm bowl of soup
Hot day: Serve with fresh fruit, like strawberries or apple slices.

want more panini ideas?

Chicken Week

Adding protein to your regular diet can be challenging. It can be time consuming to cook, and if you're only cooking for one, it may seem a little pointless.  It would be far easier to just throw that pizza from last weekend in the microwave. But instead of doing that, why don't you try chicken.

This week, I will be showing you a couple different meals you could make using chicken. The awesome thing about it is I cooked 4 frozen chicken breasts up this morning, and I am going to use those throughout the week to add some lean, tasty protein to my meals.  Chicken Nutritional Info

How to cook frozen chicken breasts:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Layout frozen chicken on baking sheet (no need to defrost).

I put a little olive oil on the chicken, as well as some salt and pepper. Feel free to add whatever seasonings you like (garlic salt is one of my favorites, a dash of lemon juice also gives the chicken a refreshing kick)

Cook the chicken for about 25-30 min. Cook time will depend on the thickness of the breasts, so check every once in a while.

After the chicken is done I just cut it up, and put it in a tupperware.  That way, it is ready to use for any meal that week.