I still do not have any food!!

[Guest guest]

*To all:

It is now 1:24PM PST

I still do not have any food here at my home. I've been living on fast

food for the past few days. Last week, I ordered an extra large pizza to be

delivered. That always lasts me two full days. The following night, I

ordered a chicken sandwich from the Domino's web site. Last night, I went to

Taco Bell for dinner. I don't know what I will do for dinner tonight.

Today I've made some calls regarding Meals on Wheels. One place told me

that I would not qualify for their service because I'm too young. I would

have to be 60 years old to be able to get their meals.

There is one other place that delivers meals here in Fresno. I think

that I might qualify with them. I will have to wait until after 8AM tomorrow

to find out. The person that is in charge will not be at work until then.

I will have to pay for their meals. They are not cheap!! They have

three meal plans. They are:

1) Seven entrees $23/week

2) Seven light breakfasts

Seven dinners

1/2 gallon 2% milk

Loaf of bread

Carton of fruit juice

All this for $36/week

3) All of the above for $52/week

I was told that these meals are very small!! They are about the same

size portions as those lousy tasting Budget brand frozen TV dinners that

I've been eating for the past three months!! One of those frozen dinners is

not nearly enough for me!! I usually eat two at a time!! So, as you can see,

it could get very expensive, very quickly!!

H.

P.S.: I won't have to worry about eating after Wednesday night. I'm

having a colonoscopy sometime on Friday. I will be restricted to water all

day Thursday and cannot put anything in my stomach on Friday. I'm not sure

if I will feel like eating this weekend.

*

[Guest guest]

Dear Chris:

 

I have to admit that I am stunned that you exhausted your food budget for the

week on 3 days of fast food.  You could have taken that money you spent on the

fast food and bought enough groceries to last at least a week.  53 dollars a

week is not bad for the meals on wheels, either.  If you're saying that wouldn't

possibly be enough, I don't understand you.  Isn't small portions better than

nothing?  Better than a pizza that has to be the worst possible thing you can

eat with your diabetes. 

 

I understand that you have limited mobility, and that going to the grocery store

can be challening, but as someone that regularly uses those electric carts in

the grocery store, you can get around there.  I am also very heavy and know that

those carts are made to withstand morbidly obese people.

 

Since you don't seem to have to follow any particular diet, despite the

diabetes, there are many options that you can buy with limited money.  If you

need a guideline, and have limited cooking skills, here is a quick list of stuff

that you could buy that would last. 

 

First of all, buy yourself some basic staples.  Bread, milk, eggs, cheese

(shredded and sandwich), butter or margarine (margarine is cheapest).  You can

buy a package of margarine sticks for under a dollar.  Then get yourself some

canned meat.  Tuna, spam, chili, and some boxed mixes like hamburger helper,

macaroni and cheese and the like.  Canned or frozen vegetables.  You should be

able to get all of this for under 20 dollars.  Maybe a box of cereal or a big

box of pop tarts.  I know these aren't the most healthy choices, but if the

alternative is take out pizza, this is better than that.  Then buy some

hamburger and some chicken and hot dogs.  These are things that you can always

get on sale.  If you buy a bulk package of hamburger or chicken and some freezer

bags, you can have enough for a couple of weeks.  Divide up the package into 3

or 4 meals and freeze all but one.  You say that you can't cook, but things like

hamburger/chicken

helper, or macaroni and cheese are so simple.  And with cans of chili or soup,

all you need to do is dump them in a bowl and heat them in the microwave. 

 

Here are a couple of quick and easy recipes:

Recipe # 1

Chile Buddies:

1 can of the chili of your choice ( I use hormel with beans)

1 individual package of fritos (they sell the individual package by the cash

registers)

A little bit of shredded cheese (or a slice of sandwich cheese)

 

Crunch up the bag of fritos and put about half of it into the bottom of a good

size bowl, cover with chili and cook for about 2 minutes in the microwave.  Add

the cheese and microwave another 30 second to a minute until the cheese is

melted and it's hot through.  Mix and eat.  You can put a little sour cream on

top if you like,too.  If you don't have a microwave, you can heat up the chili

on the stove.

 

Recipe #2

Macaroni and cheese with Tuna and Peas

 

One small can of chunk light tuna

1 regular size package of macaroni and cheese mix

Small can of peas (drained) or about 1 cup of frozen peas (microwaved until

warm)

1 cup of shredded chedder cheese

 

Make macaroni and cheese according to package directions.  Add a little more

milk than the recipe calls for to account for the added ingredients.  Then add

drained tuna and the peas and the cheese.  Mix together over the heat until it's

heated through.  That's it.  This makes 2 to 4 servings depending on the size of

the serving. 

 

There are just so many better options than fast food.  I know that fast food is

quick and easy, but it's way too expensive, especially on a limited budget, and

there there is nothing left (as you are learning).  There are many better

options in the frozen food section than those budget meals, too.  They have

these new bagged dinners that are really very good.  They cost about 5 to 7

dollars each, so you can get 2 or 3 for the price of that extra large pizza,

which would have fed you for 3 days instead of 1 or 2.  They have broccoli beef,

and pasta with chicken and vegetables and so many good combos that include meat

and veggies.  The quality of the meat is very good, too.  Beside the meat

counter nowadays they also have this section of refrigerated packaged meals by

tyson and hormel.  They have things like baked ham with glaze, roast beef chunks

in au jus and many other options.  They also cost about 6 dollars each.  You can

also get already

made mashed potatoes to go with them, or better yet, use your box of instant. 

And speaking of that box of instant potatoes...if you have cheese and milk and

butter, you can make a rib sticking mashed potato and cheese bowl.  Just add

extra milk and butter and about 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. 

 

You can even get already made food at the deli.  Most grocery stores have

already baked chicken in their deli section, or fried chicken.  You can buy the

whole dinners (enough to feed 4 people) for about $7.50.  This includes biscuits

and potato salad.  Infinitely cheaper than KFC and a lot less greasy.

 

The options are endless.  There is just no reason for you to be going hungry

when you have money for food.  At 50 years old, you need to learn to cook just

enough to feed yourself.  If worst comes to worst, there is Top Ramen, or

campbells soup with saltine crackers munched up into it.  Come on, Man. 

 

I'm sorry if this seems like tough love, but you are ambulatory (meaning you are

able to get to the grocery store).  Stop sitting and looking at the clock and go

out and buy yourself some groceries.  If you absolutley can't go, then get your

aide to go for you, or call the grocery store.  Most grocery stores have

delivery.  You might have to pay a little bit more for it, but it's there if

it's needed. 

 

I'm trying to teach you how to fish.

- PA

 

 

 

 

 

*To all:

It is now 1:24PM PST

I still do not have any food here at my home. I've been living on fast

food for the past few days. Last week, I ordered an extra large pizza to be

delivered. That always lasts me two full days. The following night, I

ordered a chicken sandwich from the Domino's web site. Last night, I went to

Taco Bell for dinner. I don't know what I will do for dinner tonight.

[Guest guest]

our paths just crossed before the holidays and now I keep seeing these

posts from you, I am all alone also..having a son that helps when he can.

what did you do before this point? how did you used to get your errands done?

Have you called the church food pantries can you learn to panbroil chicken

breasts and pork chops?? Nothing to it. meat, pan and splash of water as it

browns have you checked into angel food ministries

but please explain how you managed before

You have kept us captive worrying about you but surely there was a solution

before!!

[Guest guest]

Another option is to buy a Foreman Grill. They are one of the most versatile

(and healthier, if you insist on fried foods, LOL) small appliances out there.

You put the meat on the grill and close it and in a few minutes you have food.

Simple!

ANYONE who says they “can’t cook†just has not tried. Really. I am not

the world’s best cook (though I bake like nobody els, ask me about my

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes sometimes!), but even I can manage to make

something to eat. Same can be said for my roommate He is NOT a great cook, but

he can make due if necessary.

Another option that is wonderful is the “meals in a boxâ€. For about $3, you

can make a great, tasty and BIG meal! Everything is in the box except a bit of

milk or water. The directions are simple and they make a BIG casserole that

feeds my roommate, son in law, daughter’s roommate AND daughter!

Marta

[Guest guest]

> I received my first delivery from Meals on Wheels this afternoon.

That is great! Meals on Wheels is one of your better options because they will

prepare a diet for diabetics.

[Guest guest]

Marta

I used to have a Foreman grill! I used it so much that it fell apart!

Where would I get the " meal in a box " that you mentioned? I have never

seen them at my grocery stores!

H.

> Marta wrote:

> Another option that is wonderful is the " meals in a box " . For about $3, you

can make a great, tasty and BIG meal! Everything is in the box except a bit of

milk or water.

[Guest guest]

do you get food stamps? If not I am sure you would qualify.

> wrote:

> I have a HUGE problem with making online purchases.