I’m sure I will get a lot of crap for this, but here it goes anyway: I’m training for my first IM and have been finding it really hard to take care of basic life-management tasks (like cooking, cleaning, etc.) in addition to training 20+ hrs/week and working 50-70 hrs. My parents live fairly close to me and my mom graciously volunteered to do my shopping and cooking, as it’s something she’s good at and she wants to support me in my efforts. She has even been reading about training so that she can better understand what and how much food I need. Ultimately, the goal is to figure out a list of foods that she (or I, if I have time) can prepare in advance and freeze or refrigerate for several days. It’s really important that they be simple to prepare and reheat (if heating is required), and the longer it will keep, the better, as going to my parents’ place to pick up food every other day would defeat the purpose or doing this in the first place. Anyone got any good suggestions? What about snacks? Anyone else prepare their meals in advance? How is it working for you?
DW and I work full time and train 10+ per week, so the solution is cooking on weekends and Tupperware. Most foods last 5 days in the refrigerator.
Most of our lunches are pasta or rice combined with some protein (marinated-broiled-chicken, tuna or meatballs) and sauce. Lasagna freezes well. Other option is to put every food group in a stew: potatoes, lentils, beans, chickpeas, veggies, tomatoes, meat, chicken, sausages.
As for snacks: fresh and dried fruit, boiled eggs, protein bars.
You are lucky. I can only get my parents to babysit. Hmmm…maybe I can cc them on this thread so they can do some cooking and cleaning next time they are babysitting.
Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I’ve already started substituting fruit and boiled eggs for the crap they keep in my office, but it never even occurred to me to just throw everything I need into a stew. I’ll forward that one on to mom 
And yeah, I’m clearly very lucky. My mom is still suffering a bit from the empty nest, despite the fact that it’s been 6 years since I last lived at home (high school). I am really happy to see, though, that this might turn out really well for her and my dad. I wouldn’t say they eat poorly by any means, but they could both stand to benefit from a bit more exercise and regimented eating. I think that my training has, on some level, inspired them to at least be a little bit healthier.
My only suggestion would be to take the time to eat one or two of those meals with your parents. If she is suffering from a little bit of empty nest, having the time with you would go a long way to saying thank you.
I LOVE going home. My mom freezes stuff she cooks for me in ziploc bags that are a meal each. It’s great. Saves so much time for me and it’s just her and my dad, so any leftovers that they don’t want to eat, they just freeze and I pick up when I’m home. My parents live an hour and a half from me, so I don’t get to go home that often, but it’s great when they have stuff for me. The ziplocs are cheaper (but not really more convenient) than tupperware. You gotta be sort of careful with the microwave with those things :-).
That’s awesome that they want to help you out like that, though.
I make a vegatable soup at the begging of the week and a big pot of black beans near the middle. cook up some quiona (takes about 15min.) top off with one or the other and enjoy!
Your mom is AWESOME! (and very much like mine in the reading up on what I need bit).
Anyway, in terms of life management, make a schedule and stick to it. Makes things way easier.
Easy, freezable meals:
- Chili. Beans, ground soy meat substitute/chicken/beef, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, mushrooms, onions, peppers spices, beans. High protein, high fibre, low fat (if no red meat), veggies.
- Spaghetti sauce. Using a food processor, blend a bunch of veggies. Add to plain tomato sauce, ground meat of some descript and bake. Gives fabulous taste plus at least a whole serving of veg.
- Someone already said lasagna. But basically any pasta dish really.
-Cook up several chicken breasts. Chop, freeze individually. Keep a bag of frozen stir fry veggies in freezer. Your cooking time has now been cut in half. - Lentil casseroles, etc. Super easy.
-Individual chicken pot pies. Low fat, high veg versions can be made with a tea biscuit top and no pastry. I’ve made it before and it’s delisih. Google “Starvin’ guy chicken pie” . I Tried to post a link but can’t seem to make it go.
Not freezable but very easy:
-Quesadilla + Salad or Frozen Veg . (Use frozen chicken breasts as above)
Okay, that’s all I can think of… good lucl!