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Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by shard on Friday April 02, 2010 @09:25PM (#1237968)
In my bachelor days during my bulking phases, I'd do the following to pack in the nutrients I needed:

1. Buy several bags of chicken drumsticks (de-skin if you want to lower fat intake), poke holes with a fork, marinate with wine / vinegar / soy sauce / herbs and spices for a few hours, put into broiler. I'd cook 30 or so at a time, and it'd last me days.

2. Ham or turkey or peanut butter sandwiches.

3. bags of frozen veggies. Stir-fry if you have time, boil or microwave if you don't.

4. Peanut butter & banana & milk & protein powder drinks. I'd make a big glass every night for my snack.

5. Mixed nuts to snack on.

Lots of good fats, low glycemic index carbs, and protein; inexpensive and quick.

Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by sp332 on Saturday April 03, 2010 @12:21AM (#1238156)
Steaming frozen veggies is faster and tastes better than boiling. You can do it in the same pot, just use about 1/4 as much water.
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by aerique on Saturday April 03, 2010 @01:22AM (#1238222)
Is that all that needs to be done to steam them?
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by sojourner on Saturday April 03, 2010 @01:45AM (#1238254)
Yes. I was amazed at how different mushrooms taste when steamed. Totally different animals. Same goes with a lot of veggies. You can add flavor if you want, but many times, it's unnecessary.
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by JesseAldridge on Friday April 02, 2010 @11:52PM (#1238133)
My list is similar. Healthy, cheap, and dead easy to prepare.

1. Cereal and milk

2. Oatmeal

3. Rice and beans

  - You have to soak the beans overnight before you cook them
  - After that, you cook them with rice in a rice cooker
  - After they're cooked, mix in some frozen vegetables and cook for a while longer to thaw the vegetables
  - Some kind of sweet and sour sauce is good with this
4. Noodles (all kinds)

  - You can also cook pasta in a rice cooker
  - Add frozen vegetables to this too
  - And tomato sauce (of course)
5. Chips

  - The baked variety are healthier and taste better (imo)
6. Fish

  - Buy frozen filets, cook in microwave
7. Melons

  - Cut off the rind with a big knife
  - Cut the flesh up into chunks 
  - Stick the chunks in tupperware and refrigerate
8. Peanut Butter

9. Whole-grain bread

10. Mixed Nuts

11. Carrots

  - Baby carrots are good snacks
12. Apples, oranges, and bananas

13. Cookies

14. Deli cheese

  - My favorite is gouda
Ok, those last two aren't so healthy, but they're delicious enough to be worth it imho.

(Also, I'm pescatarian if you couldn't tell.)

Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by mapleoin on Saturday April 03, 2010 @05:49AM (#1238455)
Awesome, I didn't know about pescatarianism. I wanna be a pescatarian, too!
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by jackowayed on Saturday April 03, 2010 @12:46AM (#1238180)
You can make pasta in a rice cooker? Do you just stick the noodles and water in and check it periodically until they're done?
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by JesseAldridge on Saturday April 03, 2010 @03:06AM (#1238351)
I use a rice cooker that you stick in the microwave.

This one, to be specific: http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Microwave-Rice-Cooker/dp/B00...

13 minutes works for spaghetti in my microwave.

Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by yesimahuman on Friday April 02, 2010 @11:46PM (#1238124)
Protein powder is great. It's so easy to make and filling. Add a tablespoon of natural peanut butter and you're good to go.
Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by chipsy on Saturday April 03, 2010 @04:11PM (#1239061)
I ran the numbers and found that whey protein was a little bit cheaper than milk on a protein/price basis. (And soy is even cheaper, if you prefer soy) I usually mix it up with a noncaloric sweetener now to overpower the strong taste.

For a dessert you can mix the powder, peanut butter, a banana, and some dark chocolate together...microwave or blend it. I haven't really perfected that recipe though, I use a cup of protein powder and it's too much relative to the other ingredients.

Re:Ask HN: got any food hacks? by yesimahuman on Sunday April 04, 2010 @12:51AM (#1239759)
Not sure why we got downvoted. Protein is so easy to make. It's a hack in that it fills you up but takes a minute to make, and it's great for a lifting regimen.