# What's your go-to convenience food? **URL:** \ **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:** 3
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/41 "2009-02-19T14:56:31Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Due to the stomach surgery, I am to eat lower-carb meals. But I miss Pizza! > > So I will sometimes pour some sauce into a bowl and put cheese in it and microwave it. It is nearly as good. This is a good, _basic_ crustless pizza recipe. You can add as many pizza toppings as you want, though! 4 oz. Mozzarella cheese 1 lb. ground beef 1/4 c. tomato juice 1 c. green pepper 1 lg. onion 1 c. mushrooms Cook ground beef, and when almost done, add all vegetables and tomato juice. When cooked to your preference, place mixture in a baking dish and top with cheese and place under broiler until melted. However, in a pinch, I’ve been known to simply scrape toppings off of a well-topped pizza (say, Meat Lovers), and just cut them up with knife and fork and eat them. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/42 "2009-02-19T15:02:57Z")
The Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine meals. I do the point counting thing and they have the points already calculated for me. But sometimes, I’ll honk off the points and go get one of the meatloaf dinners that the deli in the supermarket makes. Their meatloaf is wonderful! ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/43 "2009-02-19T15:21:52Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Where are you in Minnesota? The Minneapolis area now has three (?). On off of Excelsior and Hwy 100 in St. Louis Park, one in Maple Grove, and one in Woodbury (I think - I’m pretty sure one opened there). However, if you’re not close to Mpls, you’re outta luck. Neat - I did not know that! I live in Apple Valley, so it’s not that far away. I’ll have to make sure we stop by one to check it out when we are in the area! ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/44 "2009-02-19T16:06:27Z")
Instant ramen. Start the water boiling, toss in some chopped onions/garlic and a couple handfuls of frozen mixed veggies. Add noodles, maybe some left-over diced ham, then crack an egg over the whole thing and stir it in. Add salt, pepper, half the season packet, and nom. ---
**Author:** ![RoniaBorkason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/45 "2009-02-19T16:56:37Z")
My go-to food, if i haven’t been shopping for weeks and the cupboard is bare, is homemade bread. I never run out of flour, and if I have a little meat or cheese, I can make filled rolls. Other than that, chicken flavor ramen cooked with an egg in it. Mmm. I recently found a great frozen lunch/dinner review site - they seem to love TJ’s as mush as we dopers: [Heat, Eat, Review](http://heateatreview.com/) ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/46 "2009-02-19T17:02:57Z")
Uncle Ben’s Bistro Express Brown Rice: 2 minutes in the microwave President’s Choice Whole Wheat Couscous: 5 minutes on the stove, and easily flavoured with vegetable broth, or herbs Baked Beans (vegetarian): heated, cold or on toast President’s Choice The World’s Best Meatless Chicken Breast: We always have a box in our freezer. The taste is fabulous and they are very easy to prepare. We often have them sliced on top of a spinach-based salad, or whole with the aforementioned Uncle Ben’s Bistro Express Brown Rice. I love having easily prepared healthy foods available. The easier they are to make, the more often they get eaten. If I lived near in the States, anything from Morningstar Farms or Quorn (vegetarian convenience food nirvana) would be my choice, and if I lived near Trader Joe’s, my list would include many of their options. They have these yummy little quiches (with green chile and Monterey Jack cheese, I think) that are fantastic. It’s probably better for me that I live in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/47 "2009-02-19T17:13:01Z")
My standard “too tired/frazzled to dink around” breakfast is peanut butter on apple slices. It’s fine for dinner too when I just don’t want to hassle with cooking. I don’t really like eating heavy meals in the evening anyway; they make me feel too bloated and logy. Hey, I thought I was the only one who did the wheat tortilla/peanut butter/banana thing! I never thought of heating it up first though. Genius! A nuked spud topped with whatever’s handy is also a favorite low-fuss meal. A frequent version is a sprinkle of cheese and a spoonful of hot giardinaria. I _love_ steam-in-the-bag veggies. My favorite (don’t remember the brand) has white corn and asparagus pieces along with other…stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/48 "2009-02-19T17:18:19Z")
[These things.](http://www.peapod.com/itemDetail_frame.jhtml?productId=122790&storeId=10&NUM=1235063285038) They take about 1/2 an hour in the oven, but hey - for frozen chicken kiev they’re damn tasty. And cheap when they’re on sale for $10 for 10! Husband loves the Cordon Bleu ones. I think they’re kinda too rich. Otherwise it’s the stuff I mentioned in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507047), or I’ll take a piece of toast, put a slice of cheese on it, fry up some ham lunch meat, put that on the cheese, and on top of that throw a fried egg. Frozen Waffles are always good, too. Or Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs. If I’m lucky enough to have my son at home, I’ll do Hillshire Farm smoked sausage and Kraft M&C. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/49 "2009-02-19T17:53:30Z")
> [@RoniaBorkason](#): > > I recently found a great frozen lunch/dinner review site - they seem to love TJ’s as mush as we dopers: [Heat, Eat, Review](http://heateatreview.com/) What a great website! Thank you for the link. And I was delighted to see that they agree with me completely on my two favorite Boston Market dinners! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/50 "2009-02-19T18:02:24Z")
**norinew:** I too gotta say THANKS for that website! My afternoon is now all set! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/51 "2009-02-19T18:07:59Z")
Totino’s party pizzas. 3 minutes in the microwave and you have a tasty pseudo-pizza! Also, if I really don’t want to wait 3 minutes I will resort to breakfast cereal, more than likely Cap’n Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch. _looks ashamed_ ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/52 "2009-02-19T19:49:10Z")
Veggies burgers, oatmeal or microwave popcorn. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/53 "2009-02-19T19:56:54Z")
Ramen noodles to which I add sesame oil, Frank’s hot sauce, and chopped whatever veg I have - cabbage, carrots, celery, onion if I’m lucky quesadillas with cheese, refried beans, leftover meat if there is any, and salsa verde tossed salad with lots of misc added, whatever’s available ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/54 "2009-02-19T20:00:10Z")
My husband introduced this one to me when I met him: Ramen noodles, and when they’re done put a slice of cheese in there and melt it. Yuck, you’d think! But yum! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/55 "2009-02-19T20:18:25Z")
Bao - either pork or chicken bao, when I have them in the freezer. Otherwise it’s udon with chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/56 "2009-02-20T01:32:11Z")
My staple dinner when I was a bachelor: two pieces of toast tofu (spread it on toast) spaghetti sauce (tomato sauce, flavour of choice, in my case tomato sauce from a can simmered with garlic and onions and then saved in the refrigerator) to put on the tofu _Voilà_! Instant dinner. Otherwise (as already mentioned in the thread): avocado and crackers. Doesn’t need anything else, but if you want, mash up the avocado with some crushed garlic and lemon juice. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/57 "2009-02-20T02:23:03Z")
A can of Bushes Honey Baked Beans, drained. Heat n’ serve with B&M canned brown bread with raisins. A toasted English muffin with peanut butter on the first half and honey on the second (for dessert). There always seems to be a container of plain old leftover elbow macaroni hidden away in the refrigerator, and a little shredded cheese, a pat of butter, a touch of hot mustard or ketchup or salsa - nuke - eat - makes for the easiest of noshes. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/58 "2009-02-20T02:52:22Z")
Toasted English muffin with baked beans and lotsa cracked black pepper. Easy quick and cheap. ---
**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/59 "2009-02-20T04:56:48Z")
I love those Totino’s Party Pizzas, and they’re always less than $1. (The Mexican one is my favorite.) I bake rather than nuke, though. Lipton Noodles & Sauce was my dinner many a night in college or when I was single and lived alone. The Alfredo is still my favorite. The Lipton Rice & Sauce was not bad, especially the cheddar broccoli or the Spanish rice. I still like Spaghettios. (Hangs head in shame.) My new find is these pre-cooked, frozen sausage patties at Wal-Mart, about 18 for $5-6. I can nuke one in 30 seconds, toast an English muffin, slap a slice of pepperjack or cheddar cheese on it, and there’s a handy breakfast sandwich. My Mom clued me in to Bear Creek Creamy Potato Soup mix, for which you add water, cook for 15 minutes, and it turns into a surprisingly good potato soup that will feed about 6 people. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403/60 "2009-02-20T05:33:57Z")
Boca Burgers—Flame Grilled and Original are always in our fridge; Knorr Rice Side Dishes; Peanut butter and potato bread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-convenience-food/486403.md?page=4)