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What to Eat When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking

Do you guys have those weeks where you just don’t feel like cooking?

I do, and several of my clients need inspiration. So, I figured why not put together a list of what to eat when you don’t feel like cooking.

Don’t worry, it’s completely normal. Not every Wednesday night dinner idea needs to be gourmet.

Vegan Cous Cous Salad

I love cooking and find time in the kitchen as cathartic, but let’s be honest, it just doesn’t happen night after night. Or, week after week.

We’re allowed off weeks and days. I’ve learned to give myself grace.

Many of these meal ideas aren’t even “recipes,” you just mix and match.

I Don’t Feel Like Cooking…

People think that because I’m a Registered Dietitian, I have it all together. I cook a perfectly balanced and nutritious meal every night.

Those who know me know this isn’t the case, and I try to be as real as I can through this blog.

white bowls with couscous vegan salad

Sometimes, meal prep goes out the window, and I think about what takeout I want on the way home from work.

Other times, I have an idea of what to make, and I get home and just don’t feel like cooking. So, we’ll head back out.

Here’s the thing. I love cooking, and I love eating out. But, you can totally balance the two!

tacos and nachos on white plates

Start With Your Pantry Staples

Firstly, to be successful in eating healthy and being somewhat prepared without meal prep, it’s important to keep a well stocked pantry.

And yes, I’m referring to canned goods and boxes that last a long time but come in handy in a pinch.

Canned soups, canned beans, lentils, canned tuna/salmon, extra virgin olive oil (great to use as a salad dressing in a pinch), canned tomatoes, nuts, peanut butter, oats, pasta, pasta sauce (look for low sodium/low sugar), whole grains (get microwaveable versions for quicker 90 second results) are vital.

No need to ban all processed foods. With this outline of ingredients, you can put together a healthy meal in no time.

For more insight on what I keep in my pantry, check how to stock your pantry.

canned goods and baknig staples

Frozen Options

Aside from my pantry, the freezer is LITERALLY my best friend for putting a meal together.

I’m going to be honest with you guys. Half the dinners we eat each week are probably just plucked and put together.

From postpartum freezer meals to freezer meals for new moms, these apply to everyone!

Individual freezer meals in ziplock bags

By that I mean, heating up a bag of frozen veggies, microwaving brown rice, and sauteeing some meat or tofu. As long as your meal has a close combination of fruits/veggies, carbohydrates and protein, you can really call it a meal.

It doesn’t have to be marinated overnight, and cooked for an hour to be a healthy meal (but when you can do that, GREAT).

Things I always keep in the freezer: Whole wheat bread, frozen veggies (mostly broccoli, which happens to be my favorite), frozen chicken and fish, chicken sausage, sweet potato fries (Alexia has a great tasting and nutritionally sound option!), frozen oatmeal bakes.

I realize these simple options may not work for everyone, or those trying to feed a family or those with different food allergies/preferences but in the spirit of trying to keep it simple!

Easy Meal Options

A sandwich on whole grain bread with a side salad, or side chips/hummus.

My go to’s: grilled cheese, tuna/turkey sandwich, fried egg sandwich. This can be a perfectly healthy and balanced dinner option.

Feel free to add all the veggies in your sandwich as you like.

grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup

Eat Banza Pasta with added veggies (I love to add broccoli and spinach).

I find that this is enough for a meal because the pasta has extra protein, thanks to the chickpeas!

Eat banza pasta with broccoli

Microwave sweet potatoes (~7-8 minutes). While they are cooking, boil black beans and cut up some veggies (or buy, precut)!

Stuff black beans and cheese into the sweet potatoes and enjoy. Or, you can make sweet potato nachos.

Note that they do take time to cook, but it’s not time you need to be standing in the kitchen watching it. You can go shower, watch the news, get ready for tomorrow, etc.

More often than not, I just saute chicken sausage and veggies in one pan with some olive oil or sesame oil (love the flavor for stir fries), throw it over quinoa or sweet potatoes, and top it with cheese.

This is very minimal “cooking” and takes 10 minutes at the most.

Quinoa takes 5-6 minutes to cook, and we cook 3 cups at once to last for the week. So, that’s easy to reheat while the chicken sausage is cooking!

Quick dinner

Here’s a similar throw together!

bowl of veggies and sweet potatoes

Similarly, combine cous cous with veggies, add in some protein if you want and bam.

Cous cous cooks in like 5 minutes and is easy to reheat!

white bowls of cous cous and vegetables

Also, eggs! While you technically have to cook the eggs, they cook quickly and pair perfectly with toast for a healthy, balanced meal. Quiche, omelets, frittatas, scrambles, all are high in protein and nutrients (hello, choline and Vitamin D from egg yolks) and easy and tasty.

Breakfast for dinner is a favorite! I love to add yogurt to my toast for extra protein plus it’s creamy and a great base for toppings.

toast with fruit and scrambled eggs

Another favorite easy idea that requires barely any cooking is taking tortillas and coating them with hummus. Then, add cooked black beans and veggies (I like onions, peppers and spinach), and topping with cheese.

Easy tacos/tortillas. Or, using tortillas as a base for pizza. So, I’ll cover it with pasta sauce, shredded cheese and whatever veggies/protein I have. And just throw it in the toaster oven.

Also, who says you can’t just have a yogurt parfait, or cottage cheese with some cereal and fruit? Easy, balanced and nutrient dense.

Give yourself permission to not stress out about a home cooked meal every night. Stressing out about these small things can be more damaging to our health.

I’ll be the first to admit that on a busy night when I’ve been on my feet all day, I have no desire to cook. So, be realistic with yourself.

Maybe takeout 1-2 weeks will keep you sane, or do some meal delivery.

I know I can’t relate to being a busy mom with kids, but this is something I talk about with clients all the time. Mom has to take care of herself for the family to thrive.

And sometimes, taking care of yourself means not stressing about cooking.

pizza with toppings

Life can be messy and healthy at the same time.

Lastly, crockpot/Sheet pan meals! Is it really “cooking” if you just place a bunch of things on one sheet pan and throw it in the oven?

Also, salmon – preheat oven to 350. Marinate salmon with mustard, soy sauce, garlic and honey and throw it in the oven for 10 minutes. Super easy. Or, I love to top with BBQ sauce. Or throw it on a sheetpan salmon with potatoes

You can also make this easy salmon recipe.

sheetpan salmon with quinoa

Those are some of the main ideas I discuss with clients.

Do you have any quick go to dinner ideas?

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  1. Don’t have any quick go to dinner ideas at the moment but I love your healthy meal options here..

    Thanks for sharing.
    Nhick

  2. These are such great tips! I am all about quick meals because, at the end of a busy day, the last thing I want to do is spend hours in the kitchen! Generally I’m all about one pot meals that I can make in 20 minutes or less πŸ˜›

  3. Love all these ideas! Recently I’ve had to be super creative because I’ve got a tooth thing going on, think cauliflower rice and canned chilli lol This is giving me even more ideas!

  4. Your pics just keep getting more and more beautiful. I love your creativity with toast. I havn’t ventured much further than PB and banana

  5. This is so helpful! There are so many nights I don’t want to cook but also don’t feel like I have the “staples” necessary to throw something together… I need to make sure I stock my cabinets with those non perishable things!