Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
places to get a nice, wide ranging response.

Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
cooks and other people who know a lot about food.

Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.

6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
of food to keep me going.

2 questions:

#1
what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
healthy eating habits for life?
#2
How do I cook that?

Submit whatever you like. 1 meal, a weeklong menu/meal plan, 1 recipe,
whatever you please.

Thanks!!!

Head Beagle wrote:
[snip]
> I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
[snip]
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?
> #2
> How do I cook that?

[it's "hapless" :-) ] A little bit more info would help you get
useful responses. Will you have a full kitchen and if so with what
appliances (microwave, toaster oven, blender, rice cooker, etc.)? Are
you interested in developing cooking skills for fun, or basically just
to feed yourself? -aem

In article .com>,
"Head Beagle" > wrote:

> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
> Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
> 6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
> I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
> exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
> of food to keep me going.
>
> 2 questions:
>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?
> #2
> How do I cook that?
>
> Submit whatever you like. 1 meal, a weeklong menu/meal plan, 1 recipe,
> whatever you please.

Is it safe to assume you're on a modest or low budget? Most college
students living on their own try to economize on their living expenses.
A good economical type of food to eat for someone who burns a lot of
energy is pasta. Rice and beans are good too. All three are cheap and
there are tons of easy ways to cook recipes that include rice, beans, or
pasta. Do a google search for "pasta recipes" and you'll find tons of
stuff.

For protein, chicken thighs and legs are very easy to cook and
inexpensive. You can buy a package of chicken thighs, put them in a big
pan with a bit of olive oil and sear them so the skin gets golden brown,
then toss in a can of diced tomatoes, some dried oregano, salt, and
pepper, and you have something tasty and filling to serve over rice and
pasta.

Head Beagle wrote:

> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
> Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
> 6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
> I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
> exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
> of food to keep me going.
>
> 2 questions:
>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?

competitive sports - you want protein that builds muscles; you want good
fats not the bad ones, and avoid white sugar, white rice, and white
flour, go for the whole grains, yogurt, good lean meats and vegetable
proteins like in beans. Then supplement with high anti-oxidants like
blueberries and tomatoes. Broccoli is your very best friend! Switch
your cooking oil to olive oil. Avoid anything that's highly processed.
Oatmeal is very good for you as are most fruits and veggies. Reduce
your red meat consumption and substitute fruits and veggies. Don't
forget you also need calcium and zinc so a good multi vitamin may be in
order. The number one critical thing though is proper hydration. Make
sure you are drinking enough water. I never drink pop and don't go for
those sports drinks so water is critical. Consider too that alcohol,
coffee, and tea dehydrate your body as does smoking.

> #2
> How do I cook that?

I'd recommend salmon. It is very easy to cook or you can buy it from
the can. It is high in Omega-3 and very good for you. I cook salmon
either on the bbq or pan fried in olive oil. A little fresh rosemary
and lemon juice is really nice with salmon. Sorry, I don't have an
actual recipe.
>
> Submit whatever you like. 1 meal, a weeklong menu/meal plan, 1 recipe,
> whatever you please.

Sorry, I don't really have recipes. I just cook this way all the time
and go from my gut feeling.
>
> Thanks!!!
>

Head Beagle wrote:

> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
> Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
> 6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
> I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
> exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
> of food to keep me going.
>
> 2 questions:
>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?
> #2
> How do I cook that?
>
> Submit whatever you like. 1 meal, a weeklong menu/meal plan, 1 recipe,
> whatever you please.

Stir fries. You don't need a wok for this - a cast iron frying pan
actually works better, in my experience.

Use whatever ingredients you've got on hand.

Heat a little oil in the pan. Cut up your protein - beef, chicken,
fish, or whatever - even hotdogs or (gag) tofu will do in a pinch, and
your vegetables. Carrots, broccoli, onions, peppers, whatever. Throw
the meat in the hot pan and sir it around until nicely browned. Take
the meat out of the pan. Put the veggies in, and again, cook and stir
until tender but still crisp. Add the meat back in, sprinkle on a
little garlic powder, soy sauce, or just salt and pepper. Eat by
itself, or serve over rice or pasta. Or roll it up in a tortilla for a
burrito.

Kathleen

writes:
>Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
>collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
>places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
>Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
>to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
>turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
>REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
>of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
>cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
>Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
>6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
>I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
>exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
>of food to keep me going.
>
>2 questions:
>
>#1
>what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
>healthy eating habits for life?

you're a little underweight -- you might consider the almighty Tuna Shake:

http://www.deepsquatter.com/shake.htm

more info available at misc.fitness.weights

Head Beagle wrote:
> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
> Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
> 6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
> I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
> exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
> of food to keep me going.
>
> 2 questions:
>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?

Food? Basically eat a variety of foods, including lots of
carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables.

If you think you need to, check out a book or two on nutrition.
You can probably eat well on any number of diets as long as they are
reasonably balanced.

>From my personal preferences, potatoes are amazingly versatile. One
can nuke a potato in 4-7 minutes in the microwave or bake one for 45
minutes in the oven, make potato pancakes, scalloped potatoes, gnocci,
and the list goes on and on. Rice is also very nice and pasta is
always a good standby.


> #2
> How do I cook that?

If you can, watch someone do some cooking. It is a lot easier to learn
the techniques that way than by guess or from a book. That being said
there are good cook books and guides out there. As a handy reference
for North American cooking I would recommend the Joy of Cooking - this
however is not really an intro text.

It is probably worth while to invest in 1 or 2 good kitchen knives, a
cutting board and a few decent pots and pans, a strainer, steamer, a
cookie sheet & perhaps a wok. Don't go crazy but some basic tools will
make life a lot easier. You should also invest in some storage
containers (Tupperware or equivalent) for storing leftovers or things
that you want to prepare in advance. Saran wrap is good A blender or
food processor is not a necessity but it is handy.

Get some cook books to give yourself some ideas and experiment. I'd
recommend getting some from different cuisines, simple ones on North
American, Chinese, French, Italian. Indian, Arab are good ideas. I'm
sorry I don't have my examples to hand.

>From a purist's point of view I'd stay away from prepared foods, ie
frozen servings of foods or pre-stuffed chicken breasts, etc as they
tend to be expensive and you can usually make better yoursef although
pasta sauce in a jar is always handy for emgergencies.

One good idea if you are cooking for yourself is to plan on actually
sitting down and eating a meal rather than eating on the run. You will
enjoy the food more and it makes cooking a balanced diet more appealing
and easier to do.

John Kane
Kingston ON

Head Beagle wrote:

>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?

Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?

Stan Horwitz wrote:

> Is it safe to assume you're on a modest or low budget? Most college
> students living on their own try to economize on their living expenses.
> A good economical type of food to eat for someone who burns a lot of
> energy is pasta. Rice and beans are good too.


Brown rice is cheap and also nutritionally dense, it leaves you feeling
"full"...as opposed to white rice, which is one of the most nutrient - free
foods around, it's a big zero nutrition - wise. It also immediately
heightens your glycemic level, leaving you with that empty stomach syndrome
a whiles after eating...


> For protein, chicken thighs and legs are very easy to cook and
> inexpensive. You can buy a package of chicken thighs, put them in a big
> pan with a bit of olive oil and sear them so the skin gets golden brown,
> then toss in a can of diced tomatoes, some dried oregano, salt, and
> pepper, and you have something tasty and filling to serve over rice and
> pasta.


Chicken breasts can be really cheap if you find them on sale. Lately I've
found bone - in breasts for $.98/lb and boneless for $1.69/lb at my
soopermart. That works out cheaper than other chicken parts...I guess the
chickens are getting lower wages these days or something.

Eggs are another great source of protein, they can be really, really cheap
(I've paid as low as $.39/dozen lately). Versatile, too...

Also depending on where this guy is I'd suggest ethnic markets, e.g.
Mexican, Asian, etc. Loads cheaper than regular white bread supermarkets...

--
Best
Greg

Head Beagle wrote:
> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.

http://www.trollshop.net/trolls/trollcream.htm

Enjoy!
Cathy

"Head Beagle" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is going
> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As it
> turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice from
> cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
>
> Here is a bit about me so you can know what you are working with.
>
> 6 foot 4, 170 lbs.
> I play competitive club ultimate frisbee, so I engage in strenuous
> exercise 10-15 hours a week. I use a ton of energy, so it takes a lot
> of food to keep me going.
>
> 2 questions:
>
> #1
> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> healthy eating habits for life?

Stick around here

#2
> How do I cook that?

Read the recipes.

Dimitri

cathyxyz wrote:

> Head Beagle wrote:
>
> >
> > #1
> > what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to
> > establish healthy eating habits for life?
>
> Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?

Billy Goats Gruff, of course.




Brian

cathyxyz wrote:
> Head Beagle wrote:
>
>>
>> #1
>> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
>> healthy eating habits for life?
>
> Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?

Oh I don't think he's trolling. They sound like legitimate and sensible
questions to me, and ones which I wish more young people would ask before
grabbing for typical fast food junk.

jmcquown wrote:
> cathyxyz wrote:
> > Head Beagle wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> #1
> >> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> >> healthy eating habits for life?
> >
> > Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?
>
> Oh I don't think he's trolling. They sound like legitimate and sensible
> questions to me, and ones which I wish more young people would ask before
> grabbing for typical fast food junk.

Jill, you are a good sole (that's the OBFood part).
Let's hope you are right!
Cheers
Cathy

"Gregory Morrow"
<gregorymorrowEMERGENCYCANCELLATIONARCHIMEDES@eart hlink.net> wrote
in .net:

> Brown rice is cheap and also nutritionally dense, it leaves you
> feeling "full"...as opposed to white rice, which is one of the
> most nutrient - free foods around, it's a big zero nutrition -
> wise. It also immediately heightens your glycemic level, leaving
> you with that empty stomach syndrome a whiles after eating...

Hate to disagree with you, but that is a load of codswallop. I often
eat only a smallish bowl of white rice for breakfast (around 8AM) and
I am much less likely to feel hungry up to lunchtime than if I had
eggs and various meats for breakfast. I have tested this and it is
true.

People who eat rice as part of a recognized healthy diet
(Mediterraneans and Asians alike) eat WHITE rice exclusively.
Europeans don't know brown rice from a hole in the ground. Only Norf
Amerigovespuccilandian granola types eat brown rice, and there is
nothing wrong with that, but it isn't significantly better for you.

Comparable white rice and brown rice (long grain, short grain,
basmati) have the same nutrition (that contained in white rice), and
brown rice has added trace elements, and bran which is a NOT
nutritious inasmuch as you can't survive on bran alone, but is still
healthy for you. What it boils down to (as it were) is the
following:

--- quote ---

Besides the fiber found in the brown rice, the bran contains
nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and zinc. White rice has reduced
levels of these nutrients [...]

--- end quote ---

http://nutrition.about.com/od/health..._white_ric.htm

In our house, we eat both brown and white rice, usually alternating
between the two: white short grain sushi rice (Maruyu brand) and
brown short grain organic Lundberg. After trying just about
everything on sale here in every type, we have found these to be the
best of white and best of brown.

P.S.: What you said might be true for Uncle Ben's rice in usual
round-eye portions (two tablespoons) but not the stuff we eat in the
quantities we eat it in.

--

"Compassion is the chief law of human existence."

Dostoevski, The Idiot

Default User wrote:
> cathyxyz wrote:
>
> > Head Beagle wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > #1
> > > what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to
> > > establish healthy eating habits for life?
> >
> > Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?
>
> Billy Goats Gruff, of course.
>
>
>
>
> Brian

LOL

I think this is a very big question for the limited possibilities of
newsgroups. I would suggest buying a cookbook that is meant for
beginners. Things to learn how to do that can help you be versatile fat a

omelettes
cooking rice, pasta, potatoes,
learning a little a bit about salad dressings
frying meat
simple soups (put some beans/meat/veg into water, add stock cube, maybe
blitz it and you're set to make full meal in just one pan)
stews and pasta saucesrehighl;y freezable and can save you time

and most of all, paying attentiont to what you are eating *now*. What
(combinations) do you like of ingredients, stextures, colors etc? What
kinds of rpreparation techniques do you think have been used? etc. You
might learn a lot by eating And reading labels can help, too.


There is a lot to be said about eating and food and there is a lifetime
worth of enjoyable learning ahead of you> I wish you lots of fun and
success!

aem wrote:
> Head Beagle wrote:
> [snip]
>> I am a fifth year senior who is going
>> to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first time. As
>> it turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly nourished. I
>> REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot dogs menu route
>> of many college students. So, to that end, I am collecting advice
>> from cooks and other people who know a lot about food.
> [snip]
>> what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
>> healthy eating habits for life?
>> #2
>> How do I cook that?
>
> [it's "hapless" :-) ] A little bit more info would help you get
> useful responses. Will you have a full kitchen and if so with what
> appliances (microwave, toaster oven, blender, rice cooker, etc.)? Are
> you interested in developing cooking skills for fun, or basically just
> to feed yourself? -aem

Sounds to me like feed himself (but in a fairly healthy manner). I totally
agree we need to know more about what he has/will have in terms of cooking
facilities and equipment in order to provide reasonable answers.

Jill

Head Beagle wrote:

> Alright, this is sort of cooking, sort of dietary/nutrition, sort of a
> collection of other things, so I am putting it here and a couple other
> places to get a nice, wide ranging response.
>
> Allow me to explain my situation. I am a fifth year senior who is
> going to be living not in a dorm/not on a meal plan for the first
> time. As it turns out, I have no idea how to keep myself properly
> nourished. I REALLY REALLY want to avoid the ramen, pizza, and hot
> dogs menu route of many college students. So, to that end, I am
> collecting advice from cooks and other people who know a lot about
> food.

There are cookbooks written for college students, and most of the ones
I've seen are very, very basic. Not _quite_ at the level of explaining
what teabags, kettles, and stoves are and defining "boiling" -- but
close to that. Chances are that your college's bookstore has some of
these cookbooks.

Now, this is going to sound like a joke; but I'm dead serious:
Cookbooks for children are less basic than cookbooks for college
students. However, they have better pictures.


--
Dan Goodman
Journal http://www.livejournal.com/users/dsgood/
Clutterers Anonymous unofficial community
http://www.livejournal.com/community/clutterers_anon/
Decluttering http://decluttering.blogspot.com
Predictions and Politics http://dsgood.blogspot.com
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.

Thanks for all the replies, don't have time right now for a more
complete response, but here is an approximation of my cooking
equipment.

Mircrowave
Electric stove top
Oven
Probably a foreman grill
Fridge
Freezer
working on assembling pots, pans, knives, and those other cookware sort
of things I will need. Right now I don't have much, but that is
something I am trying to learn right now so I can get what I need.

Thanks for all the responses, definitely useful stuff for me.

Head Beagle wrote:

> Thanks for all the replies, don't have time right now for a more
> complete response, but here is an approximation of my cooking
> equipment.
>
> Mircrowave
> Electric stove top
> Oven
> Probably a foreman grill
> Fridge
> Freezer
> working on assembling pots, pans, knives, and those other cookware
> sort of things I will need. Right now I don't have much, but that is
> something I am trying to learn right now so I can get what I need.

Buy that stuff in a thrift store! It's cheaper than new, and can be of
higher quality than you'd be likely to be able to afford buying it new.


--
Dan Goodman
Journal http://www.livejournal.com/users/dsgood/
Clutterers Anonymous unofficial community
http://www.livejournal.com/community/clutterers_anon/
Decluttering http://decluttering.blogspot.com
Predictions and Politics http://dsgood.blogspot.com
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.

Dan Goodman wrote:
> Head Beagle wrote:
>
>> Thanks for all the replies, don't have time right now for a more
>> complete response, but here is an approximation of my cooking
>> equipment.
>>
>> Mircrowave
>> Electric stove top
>> Oven
>> Probably a foreman grill
>> Fridge
>> Freezer
>> working on assembling pots, pans, knives, and those other cookware
>> sort of things I will need. Right now I don't have much, but that is
>> something I am trying to learn right now so I can get what I need.
>
> Buy that stuff in a thrift store! It's cheaper than new, and can be
> of higher quality than you'd be likely to be able to afford buying it
> new.

I agree!

Head Beagle wrote:
> Thanks for all the replies, don't have time right now for a more
> complete response, but here is an approximation of my cooking
> equipment.
>
> Mircrowave
> Electric stove top
> Oven
> Probably a foreman grill
> Fridge
> Freezer
> working on assembling pots, pans, knives, and those other cookware
> sort of things I will need. Right now I don't have much, but that is
> something I am trying to learn right now so I can get what I need.
>
> Thanks for all the responses, definitely useful stuff for me.

I don't know anything about foods needed to keep up energy for althletes.
As far as I'm concerned everyone eats food for energy, otherwise you're
probably dead or something

While you're thinking about stocking up on cooking utensils (and I agree
with Dan, check thrift shops and places like that for your basic starter
things) you should also consider some basic herbs and spices. They make or
break a dish. Some standard things (but by no means a complete list)
should, IMHO, include bay leaves and and at the risk of showing my age by
invoking an old song by Simon & Garfunkle, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Note: fresh herbs can be frozen; dried herbs should be used with a
lighter hand as they are slightly more intense unless they are very old.

Spices should include pepper, of course. Salt is not the evil being it has
been touted to be; so long as you aren't liberally dousing everything with
it (I prefer to salt at the table). Also, you don't need to be suckered
into buying fancy-schmantzy sea salts. As for what other spices you might
enjoy, check here (you don't have to buy from there, just a suggestion which
a lot of us on rfc utilize): www.penzeys.com Even better if there is one
located near you! There is also http://www.thespicehouse.com/info/home.php
Both web sites have some nice recipes on them, too!

I'm sure I'll think of more things when I'm fully awake

Jill

cathyxyz wrote:
> Head Beagle wrote:
>
> >
> > #1
> > what does a guy like me eat to keep my energy up and try to establish
> > healthy eating habits for life?
>
> Dunno. What do trolls normally eat?

Billy goats - in revenge for the unahppy demise of the troll in the
Scnadanavian folktale, The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Sandi