So a bit of info, I work at a Landscape Supply Wholesale company. I have very few complaints. The pay is good, my management is absolutely phenomenal, and the benefits are the best I’ve personally experienced.
…however it all comes at a price. The workload is unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s physically demanding, but I’ve definitely worked worse, the mental taxation on the other hand is something else entirely. So without too much detail. During the busy season (now) a typical day is 7am until whenever you can afford to leave. 5:30-7:30 typically. And lunch just happens whenever you think you have enough time to slam down a 3 course meal in about 5 minutes.
I’m a quick eater luckily, but I want to get out of the habit of taking in 80% of my calories before bed. Plus I really need to get my breakfast in check. I don’t really need help with that, that’s on me.
SO. From one busy guy to the others, what are some meals that are:
A. Quick and easy to make. (relatively for the amount) I have no problem prepping on Sundays.
B. Are calorie/protein dense, and easy to eat on a quick lunch.
C. Isn’t just Chicken and Rice.
Currently my average day is something along the lines of:
Breakfast: either nothing, or 50g protein in a shake, banana, and a spinach olive oil salad.
Lunch: Cubed chicken and rice. (Kill me now)
Post Workout Dinner: 2 Ground turkey/rice burritos
If I worked in a job like this, I’d definitely be setting up a slowcooker on site. Turn up 15 minutes early, throw everything together and 5 hours later have an awesome lunch.
I want to do this now but slowcookers down tend not to go down well in the office
Failing that, I’d just swap your breakfast and lunch meals.
Chili is usually my go too, loaded with beans, beef, chicken, peppers, onions and whatever else you want. If you need extra calories, just throw some ontop of a pile of rice. Makes it really easy to eat quick.
Edit: Bonus, can make a fuckton of chili in one go and it lasts a while in the fridge.
My go-to quick and easy meal is bean with bacon soup (from a can) with ground beef added. I season the meat while browning, drain the grease and add it to a can of soup with about a can of water. I use about 1 lb of ground per can of soup - plenty of protein with some carbs from the beans. I usually do 3lb/3 cans, but I won’t use 3 cans of water. Closer to 1.5-2 cans of water, makes the ‘soup’ a little thicker. Fairly quick to make - how long does it take to brown and drain ground beef? After all, the soup part is just warming the soup and water (with the beef added in).
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but my daughter loves it for some reason. I use this mainly for my post-workout meal, but it also fits in nicely as a ‘fend for yourself’ meal.
I take the half cooked rice trays. VeeTee or Annie Chun. Basically toss them in a pan with different stuff. Eggs. Veggies. Ground beef. Rotate oils-butter, olive oil. Spices.
Quart sized 2% Greek yogurt with nuts and frozen berries and cherries.
Sounds like my life. Aside from what others said, I’ve found that hard boiled eggs are a godsend. Pull em out of the fridge, salt/pepper and ready to go.
I wouldn’t go crazy on breakfast, but a couple of egg sandwiches is always a safe bet.
When I’d do 12-16, sometimes 18 hr. days cutting trees I’d start with the above and a lunchmate full of 1 litre protein shakes made with 2 scoops, mixed with milk and half&half, and a bunch of fruit like bananas, peaches, etc. And just belt those down throughout the day. If we’d break for food I’d usually knock down a steak or chicken salad to stay lite in the heat, then at home knock out a half a pizza or a 16" hoagie and what ever else might be laying around.
Keys were as quick, lite, and frequent. Too much all at once is draining and usually got rejected from the heat.
