<p>Have anyone every used one of those machines that suck the air out of bags of food and seal them? I have this new idea that I NEED one of those so I can put portion-controlled meals in the freezer to take out and heat at will. My husband has just started a diet in hopes of losing about 70 pounds and portion control is his big issue. Also, I would like to stock D’s freezer with mom cooked food in her off-campus house in the fall. However, I have never actually known anyone who used one of those machines, so I’m a little hesitant.</p>
<p>In my observation, vacuum-sealed items don’t stack well, and end up sliding all around in the freezer. Uniform sizes of freezer boxes, or (when workable for the food contained) old-fashioned freezer-paper wrapped items store more easily. Get yourself a new Sharpie to label things, and it will be all good.</p>
<p>I have one of the hand-held devices (ZipLoc?) a couple of years ago and unless they’ve significantly improved the technology, I would not recommend it. Sometimes it sucked the air out of the bags and sometimes it just sucked. ;)</p>
<p>The counter-top models get better reviews, but I have not tried one. I generally just do the best I can in squeezing air out of plastic freezer bags by hand. We freeze about a week’s worth of meats/fish at a time and haven’t had any significant quality issues.</p>
<p>You guys are the best! Thank you.</p>
<p>I wrap portions in glad wrap or freezer paper, put in zips (to keep things together) and freeze. I try to suck the air out of the bag with a straw and do pretty well.
That being said, I have a friend who had a machine and it worked great–counter top model.
Foods lasted a long time. The only drawback I saw was the price of the wrap.</p>
<p>My aunt has been using a Seal-a-meal type product to help uncle with portion control and for long term freezing. She is very pleased with it. </p>
<p>I wonder if seeing the little tiny bag with the sucked out air would make your H feel like he isn’t getting much food.</p>
<p>No one has a foodsaver? I have one, my sister has one, my SIL has one, her sister has one lol!</p>
<p>This is what I did. I signed up for emails from foodsaver and then they sent me special offers. I got mine pretty cheap, I can’t remember right now but I think it was under $50. My sister has a bigger nicer one but I wanted to see if I used it. I use it sometimes. If I buy a bunch of meat then I will take it out and use it. It’s great for the things you are talking about.</p>
<p>I have a H who needs to lose weight and has a problem with portion control. I think the foodsaver works really good for that. You can buy the supplies at Walmart. The bags are easier to use, you can buy a roll and make your own bags, it’s not hard just a little more time consuming.</p>
<p>I have things that I’ve vacuumed sealed and they save much better than things I put into plastic baggies and freeze. I think they stack better also but I can see that others have different opinions. My SIL likes to buy food from Whole Foods which she vacuum seals and it is a good way not to waste expensive food and have better portion control.</p>
<p>I’ve thought about getting one of those machines, too, but I am concerned about food contact with plastic, particularly if the food is reheated in a microwave. I have pretty much gotten rid of plastic storage containers, and use square and rectangular glass storage containers for the frig and freezer. I cook large quantities and freeze the rest. I don’t freeze in single-portion sizes, though, but in relatively large containers. </p>
<p>What kinds of food will your husband be eating on his diet? Would it help to have foods around that he can eat without worrying about portions? I found this great salad recipe:</p>
<p>[Winter</a> Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad Recipe | MyRecipes.com](<a href=“http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/citrus-escarole-endive-salad-50400000124434/]Winter”>http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/citrus-escarole-endive-salad-50400000124434/)</p>
<p>I’ve made it about 6 times in the past two weeks. It’s great even without all the ingredients. I have never had blood oranges around, made it with grapefruit and oranges, and after we ran out of grapefruit, with oranges only. I have never used the pistachios (nut allergy) and only had pomegranate seeds once. The best thing about it is that leftovers keep well in the frig for a day or two, dressing and all, without wilting. I would think that your husband could eat large quantities of things like this without breaking his diet.</p>
<p>Gave the in-laws a foodsaver years ago and they use it a ton. They love it.</p>
<p>
We couldn’t have any other food in the house. He is relentless. If I set the table with a nice meal like roasted chicken, salad, veggies, my husband will either stay at or stalk the table until he has eaten every bite of food that is left around and, if it wasn’t initially on his plate he thinks the calories don’t count. Really. That’s why my thought was that if he had individual portions, so then he wouldn’t be allowed to eat anything else until he got a handle on how much was enough.</p>
<p>Weight Watchers has an option in which you don’t have to count points for certain foods, nor count portion size. It used to be called Core, then Power Foods; I don’t know what they’re calling it this year. If you eat the foods on the list (lots of fruits, veggies, lean meats and healthy carbs), no counting and no portion control. If you eat foods off the list, however, you have to count the points.</p>
<p>I hate weighing and measuring and couldn’t do the regular counting system. But the Core worked for me since I really could eat my fill.</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva. I have to check that out for him.</p>
<p>zoosermom - too funny about the table stalker! I had surgery in June and had an allergic reaction to the preservatives in the anesthesia. I have been on a no preservative diet and I lost 25 lbs. Google sulfite/sulphite allergy and you will be amazed at the foods containing this preservative. (corn byproducts, the absorbent liner under packaged chicken, bottled lemon juice, etc) What surprised me is how these preservatives impact the way your body processes glucose and causes weight gain/diabetes and how they are basically “oxygen eaters” and can wreak havoc on on asthma sufferers. </p>
<p>Good luck to you and your H</p>
<p>zm, I second Chedva’s suggestion about the WW Core program (not sure what it is called now). I was doing WW when it came in. I’d been bothered by the focus on total point. I used to buy these 2-point bars, until I saw that the first ingredient was corn syrup! The minute I heard about the Core program, I knew that it made sense for me. The points system worked for some people. They would talk about how they could have one skinny cow (diet ice-cream treat) after dinner and that would satisfy their sweet tooth. If I had one skinny cow, I’d eat the whole package. It was so much easier for me to avoid sweets completely. Maybe your husband would be better off, at least at first, just eating good foods without worrying too much about portions? (This is assuming that he is eating the wrong things now.)</p>
<p>He actually doesn’t eat the wrong things. No snacks, sweets or junk foods. He just eats a lot. A real lot. He could polish off an entire roast meant for the family if the kids are too slow in getting to the table. He does, however, eat entirely too much bread. Everything is on a sandwich and he feels virtuous when he uses a bagel instead of sliced bread. Which is insane.</p>
<p>Then it sounds like bread is his major problem. Could you get him to try this program?</p>
<p>[Radiant</a> Recovery® - Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, author of Potatoes Not Prozac, The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program, Your Last Diet](<a href=“http://radiantrecovery.com/]Radiant”>http://radiantrecovery.com/)</p>
<p>I think this woman is brilliant. I’ve done her program, and after 3 days without sugar or white carbs, the cravings are gone.</p>
<p>I am certainly going to check that out. Thank you so much!</p>
<p>My brother-in-law gave me a demo of his food saver and I’m convinced. He is a hunter and his wife is a gardener and they use it for everything. It keeps food preserved very well for a long time</p>