If you are resourceful you can get by.
BREAKFAST
I found myself in Dunkin Donuts most mornings getting a coffee with skim milk and an egg white flat bread (No Turkey Bacon for me) which was under $5 and less than 300 calories. An oatmeal breakfast at Starbucks is 140 calories with 4 grams of fiber, a great choice!
After breakfast I would stop at the grocery store for some fruit (mostly grapes, apples and bananas) and a Chobani yogurt to keep around for snacks.
LUNCH
If I was able to find a deli I would get a sandwich: sliced turkey breast, one slice of swiss cheese with mustard and tomato on whole wheat bread. I could typically find this for $5-7. I work in an area on most days that is not food friendly, mostly fast food, Kennedy Fried Chicken -yes, Kennedy, not Kentucky. Typically, I pack my lunch and snacks for the day.
To change it up a bit I stopped at Subway for a 6" Turkey flat bread with lettuce, tomato and provolone cheese which is about 300 calories and also around $5 with a drink (diet soda or water!). Occasionally I would drive through McDonald's (YES!!) and get a grilled chicken snack wrap-NO SAUCE- for just a few dollars and also less than 300 calories. If I had to go into McDonald's and was particularly hungry I could see how the wafting smell and sight of french fries might tempt someone, so DON'T GO INSIDE!
DINNER
This was a bit tricky and a little more difficult. Some used their grills and got creative which is great, but eating in the cold dark house was not an option for us. Keeping it simple with a healthy dinner salad, a few sushi rolls, or a garden salad and a slice of pizza a few times kept us going.
I am thrilled to have our power back and never appreciated a home cooked meal more than I did last night. I will not be frequenting any of the above mentioned eating establishments for a very long time!
My thoughts and prayers are with all the people on Long Island, Staten Island, Queens and New Jersey who are enduring terrible hardships. Losing power for 8 days is nothing in comparison....