Meals Can Be Stressful
Lately I've been playing a game. I lovingly call that game, "What the Hell Am I Going To Eat Today?'
Whether it's a suppressed appetite, a depressive episode, or anxiety, so many things can make meals and meal planning super stressful.
Recently I have found some shortcuts to make things a little easier, and I wanted to share them with you today.
Remember, eating, hydrating and sleeping are the big three when it comes to self-care. Doing whatever it takes to get some food in you is important.
I hope these meal hacks can help.
My 5 Self-Care Shortcuts
1. Prep your veggies when you get them, then freeze them
Don't worry about if those veggies might go bad.
Clean them, cut and prep them and throw them in a freezer-safe container. If you are worried about them sticking together, freeze them on a cookie sheet first, then throw them in a freezer-safe container.
This way you can just pull out the amount you need when you need them, and you ensure that your produce doesn't go bad. As someone who hardly ever got to all her produce before it spoiled, this has changed my life. I also frequently use the steamer bags of veggies.
IMAGE BY @LIMSENKHE
2. Use that air fryer!
I will be the first to admit, I did not get the air fryer hype for the longest.
Friends, I have been converted. A couple weeks ago, I even made a grilled cheese in mine! Can you belieeeeeve?
There are so many recipes out there, and so many different resources.
I just found the YouTube channel for Fabulessly Frugal. She has so many air fryer videos, and they are easy to understand and simple to make! You can check out her channel here.
3. My favorite easy peasy chicken recipe
I make this chicken recipe any time I want to have something on hand for the week that I know will heat up well and keep for several days. It's a variation on this grill recipe from Easy Chicken Recipes.
Ali's Balsamic Chicken:
2 T Minced Garlic
1 C Balsamic Vinegar
1 C Honey
Pinch of Salt
1 t Paprika
1 Lb Chicken Tenderloins
Mix garlic, vinegar, honey, salt and paprika in large bowl. Add marinade and chicken to a dish, cover and let marinate for at least 1 hour. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy!
This keeps in the fridge for a week in a covered container. It microwaves well, too. I pair mine with red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, or rice of some kind.
4. Make that crockpot WERK
I would not have survived when I was working outside the home and commuting if I had not had a crock pot.
Currently, I split any crock pot recipes in half, then freeze half of the meal while it's fresh, since I am only cooking for one and most meals are for 4-6.
Crock pot meals are the quickest things to prep. I put frozen meatballs in with a jar of BBQ sauce over them, or chicken breasts with a bottle of my fave salad dressing. There are a ton of options, hacks and recipes.
I will sometimes put the meat in the crockpot the night before, cover it, and stick the inner part of the crock in the fridge, and not even have to think about that much prep in the morning.
My favorite place to start for crock pot recipes is a series of cookbooks called "Fix It and Forget It." There are a million of them, and you can find one that meets your needs.
5. Some of my favorite (almost) ready-to-go foods
Sometimes you just have to pull something out of the pantry, fridge or freezer and go for it. Some of my favorite grab and go foods include:
Rana Ravioli (this can be refrigerated or frozen)
Fishsticks
Mac and Cheese
Cereal
Cheese Toast
Image by @enginakyurt
The Most Important Thing is to Eat Something
Here's the deal, friends. You can get real bogged down in what you "should" eat, or what you "need" to eat, but at the end of the day, you need to eat SOMETHING.
Anything.
Nutrition is the key.
If you are struggling with what to eat, take some shortcuts. There is nothing wrong with working to make meals easier and less stressful so that you can focus on other things.
If you'd like more self-care tips, tricks and hacks, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter here. Bon appetit!