Chicken and fish diet

Citygirl1

Me again The main food I eat is chicken and fish, the only red meat I eat is mince but not that often (say once a week or so).

I realise that fresh fish and chicken is expensive but better for you. As I work full time I tend to go for Birds Eye frozen chicken chargrills or frozen fish fillets that I can bung in the oven and they are done in no time when I get home. I also eat breaded and ready cooked chicken. It also seems cheaper than fresh.

I do sometimes cook chicken breasts or thighs in the microwave so that I know they are cooked when I get home but sometimes they shrivel up if I don't use enough stock.

What is the quickest, cheapest and healthiest way of eating fish and chicken, can anyone help?

Linda32

For fish I would say, buy in the tin. No waste for a single person, quick and healthy.

Chicken, cook a whole one and freeze in portions, defrost and eat cold however you like.

littlegreenparrot

Roast a chicken at the weekend, eat through the week.

Or don't bother, eat vegetarian meals. Baked potatoes, soup, salad with falafel etc etc...
All cheap, nutritious, quick to make, and imo much better than birds eye processed stuff.

Citygirl1

Thanks for your replies. I do like fish and chicken and wouldn't like to go without it altogether. I have thought about the whole chicken idea but as I live alone I don't know I would get through it all before it goes off, unless I freeze it of course and I am paranoid about freezing and reheating chicken.

I do like jacket potatoes and soup but I didn't think that would replace a proper meal if eaten every night.

Fish in a tin is fine, I like Salmon and Tuna but how would that go into a full meal? I tend to have it more in sandwiches. I do like fresh fish fillets but as I say it can get costly.

bouicca21

I quite often buy chicken thighs rather than a whole chicken.

Cheap fish, with a bit of smoked to liven up the taste, makes a great fish pie.

JIL

Have you thought about using roasting bags? You could put a piece of fish or chicken in one, season and seal and cook.

My other thoughts would be chicken thighs as a tray bake, surrounded by some potatoes, onion, pepper, courgette and baked. Leftovers could be lunch.

I make a really simple fish dish. Poach a piece of smoked haddock/cod I prefer for loin. It's cheap in Iceland in individual portions and cook from frozen. Poach or microwave, top with some cooked spinach, then some grated cheese. Either grill or bake until cheese has melted. If liked top with a poached egg.

Something else I do with fish. Use an oven proof dish. Chop up some cherry tomatoes, lay a piece of fish on top. Mix some breadcrumbs with a little feta, parsley and a little oil. Top the fish. Bake for about 25 mins.

Linda32

If you are worried about re heating then don't. Just eat it cold with whatever you like. Salmon and boiled eggs with salad would make a meal. Tuna and sweetcorn on jacket potato.

Roast a full chicken is most certainly the cheapest. Look at the price per kg compared to chicken thighs or breasts.

JIL

I buy a whole chicken and often portion it up. It really is not difficult, loads of tutorials on line. You could easily buy a £2.09 chicken from Aldi, portion it into four and you could do something different with each quarter.

Fusspot

JIL wrote: »

Have you thought about using roasting bags? You could put a piece of fish or chicken in one, season and seal and cook.

My other thoughts would be chicken thighs as a tray bake, surrounded by some potatoes, onion, pepper, courgette and baked. Leftovers could be lunch.

I make a really simple fish dish. Poach a piece of smoked haddock/cod I prefer for loin. It's cheap in Iceland in individual portions and cook from frozen. Poach or microwave, top with some cooked spinach, then some grated cheese. Either grill or bake until cheese has melted. If liked top with a poached egg.

Something else I do with fish. Use an oven proof dish. Chop up some cherry tomatoes, lay a piece of fish on top. Mix some breadcrumbs with a little feta, parsley and a little oil. Top the fish. Bake for about 25 mins.

The roasting bags sound a good idea. What would you use to season the fish and chicken and how long would a chicken breast take to cook? My friend uses those Magi bags where you put in four chicken breasts and they cook in the sauce, only thing it would mean freezing the ones I don't eat straight away.

esuhl

JIL wrote: »

Have you thought about using roasting bags? You could put a piece of fish or chicken in one, season and seal and cook.

You can also get microwave steaming bags. These are great for veg -- 3mins in the microwave and healthier than boiling.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quickasteam-Pack-Medium-Microwave-Cooking/dp/B00PHCCXLK



You can also use them for steaming fish, but...

Linda32 wrote: »

For fish I would say, buy in the tin.

I find fresh fish tastes so much better. Sprinkle with salt and lightly fry in olive oil and it only takes a few minutes.

suki1964

Large roast chicken -2kg -£3.50 9n lidl this week

for one person, thats a weeks ( near enough) protein for a week

roast it Sunday, two slices of breast and a bit of thigh for a roast chicken dinner ( more if you need it)

Monday or Tuesday - same again. If you are cooking a bunch of veg, cook for two meals and nuke it

Tuesday, take the mini fillet of and chop finely, now use that in a stirfry with a bunch of veg

Wednesday, use the legs for a curry

thursday, the other mini fillet for a chicken/sweetcorn/mayo topping for a jacket spud

Friday, take the best bits left on the chicken and make a chicken omelette served with salad and don't mention it out loud - chips

Saturday, boil the carcus for a few hours with a carrot, onion, bayleaf, strain. pick all chicken off the bones, add to the stock, season and you have soup ( or stew if you want to add a dumpling or two )