At some point, many of us will be faced with life challenges that take over the way we typically function. Maybe it’s a chronic illness like depression, having a close family member in the hospital for an extended period of time, or burnout from stress.
When these things happen, it can be daunting to even think about what to eat, let alone make healthy, balanced meals. Despite this, we still need to take care of ourselves and eat in ways that will help our body function at its best. The question is, how?
Well, we can start by adjusting our meals to be as easy as possible. To do this, let’s first define what different kinds of “easy” might look like:
For some, it means having produce that’s been washed and chopped and is ready to be cooked. For others, easy means having a meal that can be taken out of the fridge and eaten cold or quickly reheated. Easy can even mean buying pre-prepared foods or ingredients and eating them without any preparation.
Regardless of the situation, there are many options to create healthy meals more easily!
Here are some healthy food ideas that vary in degrees of easiness:
Meals with prepped produce:
- Spaghetti with veggie bolognese sauce
- Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, cheese, and spinach
- Roasted veggies with a protein like tofu, chicken, or fish
- Southwestern style baked potato with black beans, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheddar
Meals that can be eaten cold:
- Fruit salad with cottage cheese
- High-fiber cereal with milk (you could sprinkle in some protein powder for protein) and fruit
- Whole wheat toast with mashed berries and nut butter
- Whole wheat toast with mashed avocado
- Veggies with hummus, cheese, and whole wheat crackers
There are also some ingredients that can be sprinkled onto your food that can add more nutrition. Hemp hearts can be sprinkled onto just about anything for added Omega3 fatty acids and protein, while nutritional yeast also has protein and some B vitamins.
Being burned out can make your usual routine feel like climbing a mountain, and that includes continuing your healthy habits. Fueling yourself with foods that are rich in nutrition may not end that burnout, but it will give you the energy needed to keep going. Focus on foods that are nutritious and easy to eat, and they’ll keep you going when you’ve hit that wall.
As you’re going through difficult times, don’t worry about your next meal. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you’ll find your way through.
If you’re in the market for more easy meal ideas, we’ve got inspiration for days.