# What's your go-to convenience food?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 18, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403 "2009-02-18T15:46:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/1 "2009-02-18T15:46:21Z")
I’m not talking about fast food, delivery or carryout, here. I’m talking about something you can buy in the supermarket, go home, zap it in the microwave, pour it on a plate or in a bowl, and nom away. Or maybe pour it on a plate or in a bowl and _then_ microwave it. Or something.
My current favorite is the Bird’sEye SteamFresh Meals For Two in the freezer section. Specifically the Shrimp Alfredo. The Alfredo sauce is kind of meh. But it has a good bit of shrimp in it for a frozen dinner-type thing, and really good red and yellow pepper strips and green peas that are still semi-crisp when you’re done nuking it. And you nuke it right in the bag you buy it in.
However: “Meal for two”? Fuck that. I’ll buy a bag all for myself. Eat half for breakfast, the other half for lunch! 😛
So, how about you?
(Frozen dinners work too. My favorite brands are Boston Market and Marie Callender’s).
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/2 "2009-02-18T15:52:05Z")
I love the Steamfresh Southwestern Corn. Also Mrs. T’s frozen pierogies - when I’m feeling really lazy I just sautee 'em in some butter and dump salsa on top.
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### Author:  [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/3 "2009-02-18T15:57:31Z")
I like Trader Joe’s frozen pizza margharita (sp?). I think it’s the tastiest of all frozen pizzas that I’ve ever found, and I can doll it up by placing some shrimp or chunks of Italian sausage on top. And they’re only about $4 each, the last I checked.
My husband is addicted to White Castle frozen sliders. They come in boxes of six, which are just enough for him for dinner. That’s good, because I like them too but I avoid them 'cause they’re just pure fat and carbs.
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/4 "2009-02-18T16:19:31Z")
[Smart Ones Pineapple Beef Teriyaki](http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/smart-ones/pineapple-beef-teriyaki/?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_foodarticles&ref=yssp) [Others of the same basic type](http://www.eatyourbest.com/fruitinspirations/)
Other than that, a bagel with some whipped cream cheese spread.
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/5 "2009-02-18T16:21:32Z")
I find microwaving jacket potatoes (e.g. with cheese or chili) very rewarding.
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### Author:  [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/6 "2009-02-18T16:32:30Z")
I know this is very basic, but usually for me it’s chicken strips, and if I’m feeling lucky about my intestinal fortitude, really spicey ones. Buy a big bag, warm 'em up, nom all day.
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/7 "2009-02-18T17:09:35Z")
> [@teela brown](#):
>
> I like Trader Joe’s frozen pizza margharita (sp?).
Don’t I just _wish_ there was a TJ’s _anywhere_ near Cumberland?? I’ve only been to one, and they had _so much_ interesting looking frozen food, but I could barely buy any because we only had one tiny cooler in the back of the car! Aaarrrggghhh. ☹
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### Author:  [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/8 "2009-02-18T17:11:57Z")
I don’t know if it counts as convenience food, but I find it pretty convenient:
- take four slices of bread (granary or crusty white, depending on mood and/or availability)
- place in toaster
- once popped up, spread liberally with butter and Marmite
- enjoy with large mug of tea
- repeat if necessary.
I could live on nothing else for days at a time. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/9 "2009-02-18T17:15:52Z")
Well, it’s a little more effort than the OP calls for, but at Casa Scarlett it’s Kraft mac & cheese. Either of us can practically make it in our sleep. It’s easy, warm, tasty, and filling. What more could you ask?
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### Author:  [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/10 "2009-02-18T17:17:13Z")
Tatertots. Tasty and easy.
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/11 "2009-02-18T17:19:50Z")
Bagged caesar salad with a can of drained tuna dumped in (with a splash of lemon juice, parmesan cheese, fresh ground pepper, and, of course, bacon salt). Eat with fresh bread. Tuna goes really well with caesar salad.
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/12 "2009-02-18T17:35:12Z")
> [@featherlou](#):
>
> Bagged caesar salad with a can of drained tuna dumped in (with a splash of lemon juice, parmesan cheese, fresh ground pepper, and, of course, bacon salt). Eat with fresh bread. Tuna goes really well with caesar salad.
Mmmmm. That sounds good! And I _always_ check the produce section of my supermarket when I go, because when the bagged salads/pre-cut packaged fruits are close to their sell-by dates, the store puts $1.00 coupons on them. If a bagged salad is on sale 2/$5.00 and you can get one with two of those coupons on it (don’t laugh; it’s happened to me more than once), you get a bagged salad for 50 cents! At that, I don’t care if I end up feeding half to the hamsters because we didn’t eat it all!
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/13 "2009-02-18T17:38:55Z")
I usually have Hot Pockets in my freezer for when I’m feeling hungry and lazy. I also like TGIF buffalo or bourbon chicken nuggets.
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### Author:  [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/14 "2009-02-18T17:46:54Z")
I admit this doesn’t fit the stated requirements, but I don’t even _have_ a microwave. My quicky meal is to cut up a boneless, skinless chicken breast into little chunks and sautee them in olive oil and cayenne pepper. I smash a bunch of garlic and chiffenade some onion, avocado, lettuce and peppers. Heat up a wheat tortilla in a dry 12" skillet. Put the tortilla on the counter, spread with your ingredients, hose it down with some hot sauce and roll it up burrito-style. Wash it down with black coffee. MMMMMM! I can start with a frozen piece of chicken and be eating in 15 minutes.
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### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/15 "2009-02-18T17:54:50Z")
Some of these delicious-sounding from-scratch concoctions make me remember something I need to get back to. It’s been way too long since I resorted to it.
Dinty Moore beef stew in the can. Dump into a pan, add \ (to taste depending on availability in the cabinet):
– Worcestershire sauce
– Tabasco sauce
– A-1 sauce
– lemon juice
– vinegar
– oregano
– thyme
– red pepper
– horseradish
– onion (fresh, chopped)
– other stuff (depending on what’s about to go bad in the fridge)
Cook until ready or to a simmer or until the house is good and stunk up.
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### Author:  [@Elyanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elyanna)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/16 "2009-02-18T17:56:33Z")
I eat Fiber One chocolate & oats bars every morning for breakfast.
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### Author:  [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/17 "2009-02-18T19:02:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I usually have Hot Pockets in my freezer for when I’m feeling hungry and lazy. I also like TGIF buffalo or bourbon chicken nuggets.
These things.
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### Author:  [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/18 "2009-02-18T19:17:25Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#):
>
> I like Trader Joe’s frozen pizza margharita (sp?). I think it’s the tastiest of all frozen pizzas that I’ve ever found, and I can doll it up by placing some shrimp or chunks of Italian sausage on top. And they’re only about $4 each, the last I checked.
I second that one. Best frozen pizza ever! I have two of them in the freezer right now. I also love their frozen lasagna entree. I can get two meals out of it.
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### Author:  [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/19 "2009-02-18T19:26:28Z")
All from Trader Joe’s:
“Indian Fare,” especially the Jaipur Vegetables - a staple of my microwaved workday lunches; a slice of the frozen naan goes great with it, too.
Frozen spinach pizza, pesto pizza (should have broccoli in the name; that’s the most prominent ingredient), and the non-frozen cornmeal-crust Greek pizza.
The incredibly yummy canned organic lentil soup.
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### Author:  [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/20 "2009-02-18T19:31:24Z")
Burritos, preferrably shredded beef. But not the nasty cheapo ones that are $2 for 10 or the “liquid meatlike substance” ones.
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