I shared in another post that our ds is having MPFL reconstruction surgery next week. We are driving to Houston where we have rented a one-level Airbnb for all of us so we can help him post-surgery. We are booked for nine nights but will extend that if necessary.
We are arriving the afternoon before the surgery. The plan is to pick up ds and his luggage, unload at the Airbnb, and then go grocery shopping. Ds says there are lots of premade meals at HEB. I have never been to an HEB. If you are familiar are there any specific premade meals from there you like?
I’d also like to do some actual cooking for us while there. But, they need to be simple meals without a ton of ingredients/seasonings/spices - and also appropriate for someone on post-surgery pain meds and the tummy issues that accompany those. Any recipes to share? It’s hard to know what is available equipment-wise in the Airbnb. I am not opposed to taking either my crockpot or Instant pot, but I don’t want to schlep too much.
Another friend suggested pre-making meals and taking them? But, it is a long drive and a big ice chest is one more thing to schlep.
And, silly - but any ideas for something fun to buy a 27-year old guy for Valentine’s Day? Is that dumb?
I would think you can’t lose with comfort, gentle foods.
Chicken noodle soup
Grilled cheese
Roasted or rotisserie chicken
Simple veggies - green beans, roasted carrots, baked potato.
Citrus
Meatloaf or meatballs
I’m a sheet pan dinner girl so throw some chicken pieces on a sheet pan with veggies listed above, salt and pepper and lemon and roast till done.
How about a heart shaped choc chip cookie cake?? Who doesn’t like choc chip cookies!
Not sure how it would work with stomach issues, but you could order heart shaped pizzas, cookies, cheesecakes, etc. from Taste of Chicago. They arrive frozen and need no cooking pans.
And off the wall thought, maybe get him a starting knitting, needlework, or rug hook kit? Something to occupy his mind and hands while lying down, with an accomplishment to show off at the end.
I love HEB, which I go to when visiting family in Texas. Haven’t eaten any of their prepared foods, but their “regular” selection is immense and impressive. I would happily make them my major grocery shopping if they had a store in my area.
And I would definitely take any appliances you need. They can always stay in the car unpacked if you end up not using them.
HEB has preprepared “gourmet meals,” which include things like stuffed salmon and mashed potatoes. All you have to do is put it in the oven for 20-30 min. They tend to be on the pricey side, but well worth it. Not to mention they have soups of every variety served both hot and cold. That’s a popular go-to meal with us when we’re feeling under the weather. Another quick favorite is the tamales. They come in a package of 8 or 12 and are usually sold near the sandwiches. Just throw them in a pot of boiling water or steam them and you have a dinner of dinners.
Girl, I am all about HEB. I love the coconut shrimp, but I cook it at a lower temp than recommended. Dh loves the salmon. Oh, I like the empanadas, too.
What part of Houston? If you are close to it, HEB’s upscale grocery brand is Central Market. They are LOADED with great options in a refrigerated case. Houston only has one, oddly. It’s on Westheimer.
One great thing about Houston is its international food scene. I love Cafe Lili and Fadi’s for Lebanese food.
As someone who rents homes in winter and summer I highly recommend bringing your own knives and pans. I have found air BNb knives to be cheap and dangerously dull. And pans to be cheap and not conducive to real cooking. As far as “premade” meals, I wouldn’t overthink it. Rotisserie chicken is available as a stand alone item. With, mashed potatoes from a package in the refrigerator section and some frozen veggies will make a fast quick meal. Most groceries like HEB have some refrigerated soups prepackaged to buy. Add some nice bread from the bakery section and you’re good. Trader Joe’s, if there’s one nearby, will have some fast easy frozen things like chicken parmigiana, lasagna, etc….
That’s the part of town I know the least, but you can Google Central Market and see whether it’s worth the drive. I’m guessing it’s 10-15 miles?
As someone currently recovering from major surgery (DIEP flap breast reconstruction, which includes an incision from hip bone to hip bone), I wish I’d planned my food a bit more. Four weeks out and I’m still on weight, posture, and motion restrictions, no driving, and going into a store exhausts me.
I know not of HEB.
Find a way to take some of your most-used seasonings and spices with you or maybe the grocery will have them in bulk so you can buy small amounts. Even if you purchase a ready-made meal, the seasoning may not be there. I supposed to have lots of protein, but blandness is a real problem. Adding seasoning helps me eat more.
I was off narcotics on day 3 in the hospital and relied on Tylenol and advil for pain. Once the narcotics worked their way out, I was fine.
Raspberries have a lot of fiber Miralax in juice was the hospital’s choice.
Put seasonings in small plastic baggies. Fill small jar with syrup for pancakes.
Small containers of salad dressing you like. Small container butter.
Pre-make hamburger patties and freeze.
Spaghetti sauce, mac n cheese freeeze well.
prewash baking potatoes so you can throw into MW or oven.
Bring own knife, paper plates.
I like to bring things that I dont want a huge bag of–potatoes, onions or already have at home-- aluminum foil or plastic wrap for example
Thankfully, he’s not picky at all. But, kinda hard to know what he will feel like eating. He’s prone to nausea from pain pills (hasn’t had them often). He’s asked for a script for that. It’s tricky because they need to be taken with food. So, he needs to eat enough, but probably needs to be easy on the stomach. Pain pills also cause constipation. Hoping some preemptive Colace helps with that aspect.
Our whole family seems to gravitate to breakfast foods when recovering from surgery. Scrambled eggs and toast are my go to but quiche and egg casseroles would work further into recovery.
Here’s to a successful surgery and quick recovery.
HEB is the BEST! You will want to move to Texas.
The store has a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Each store is a bit different, tailored to fit its neighborhood. HEB also has a wide selection of prepared foods, most of which are pretty good. I do think some of them are salty and fatty. I prefer the simpler, less saucy items.
Post surgery I’ve always liked simple. Scrambled eggs and toast with some fruit. Peanut butter on toast worked well with the pain meds. I’d think they will give him something for nausea to take with the pain meds if he asks. Crackers and graham crackers to nibble on if I felt nauseous.
Ginger—candied, pickled or in any form helps with nausea, if that’s something your S will eat. Ghostbusters did a show which demonstrated the ginger was the best remedy & preventative for nausea.
I have to help D recover from double jaw surgery. She has to have a lot of protein too. She thinks she’ll have a lot of protein drinks while healing.
We like most of the HEB premade meals with our favorites being the steakhouse salmon, teriyaki salmon, southwest chicken, and meat loaf. While they are higher in sodium than what we would cook at home, they are generally a better nutritional (and budgetary) choice than restaurant takeout. Some need a salad to really make it a meal.
HEB branded frozen entrees aren’t bad, and their Creamy Creations ice cream is so good we rarely buy it because it tends to disappear too quickly. I’m looking forward to leaving Texas when we retire, but I will miss HEB.
Miralax in juice was the hospital’s choice.