6 Tips For Eating Healthy When You Don’t Want To Cook
Is it just me?
Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling a bit tired these days? The gray, rainy, Seattle weather is no doubt taking a toll on my mood and energy at the moment. I find myself dragging my feet just a teensy bit more than usual and wanting to sleep in an extra hour (or 2) each morning.
Normally I have enough energy when I get home after work to cook, clean, put laundry away, etc. But these days it’s like, chores? Who’s got the time and energy for those? I mean, to be honest, I still have leftover Christmas items cluttering the hall and walls of my apartment…maybe by Easter they’ll get put away. Please tell me I’m not alone with this!
Cooking when You’re Tired
So yeah, basically the winter weather can be a drag on our energy, and unfortunately, that lack of energy can have a ripple effect throughout our day-to-day routines. And what is the first thing that falls behind for many of us when we get tired and busy? You guessed it, it’s cooking.
So listen up, I’m going to share with you my top six tips for eating healthy, even when you don’t have the energy to get fancy in the kitchen. It happens to most of us, those days when we really don’t want to go through the motions of prepping and cooking. But, we can safely avoid sabotaging our healthy eating habits with these simple yet effective hacks.
6 Tips For Eating Healthy When You Don’t Want To Cook
Get your groceries delivered
No joke, this is a lifesaver for me. I used to have a serious Postmates problem and would spend like $30+ on a meal and delivery just to spare the energy of cooking. Thankfully I’ve (mostly) grown away from that habit, and this hack seriously helped! Instead of spending $30 on one meal, I put that toward a whole load of groceries, which provides much more bang for its buck.
I typically use Prime Now* (either online or on the app), which allows you to get groceries from Amazon and Whole Foods. They offer free 2-hour delivery, so all you have to do is leave a tip, and then you’re really not spending that much more than you typically would on groceries. Plus, it saves you a trip to the store, which ultimately saves you time and energy.
I’ve also tried the app/service Instacart, which is similar to Prime Now. Another option is Imperfect Foods, a grocery delivery service that helps fight food waste. I know there are other similar services to these ones out there too, so check out what’s available in your area and use that resource next time you want to skip the store.
*Hot tip: if you frequently shop at Amazon and/or Whole Foods you should get the Prime Rewards Credit Card! It saves you 5% on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, so you can get an extra discount on those grocery deliveries.
Buy frozen, canned, and jarred foods
Making a salad but don’t want to chop things? Pull out some canned garbanzo beans, marinated artichokes, and roasted red peppers from the jar and you’ve got your toppings. Making dinner but don’t want to spend a ton of time on prep? Defrost some peas (I love the “petite” kind) or whatever frozen veggies you choose and you’re ready to go in less than 10 minutes. In general, I really try to always have these items on hand:
Frozen fruit - this is my go-to for smoothies, oatmeal toppings, and post-dinner sweet tooth satisfaction. Frozen produce is just as (or more) nutrient-dense as its fresh counterpart, and more affordable too.
Frozen veggies - if peas aren’t your thing, get whatever veggies you like. Edamame is a great one to keep on hand for a quick source of plant-based protein.
Canned beans - black, garbanzo, lentil, whatever you like
Jarred items - my personal favorites? Artichokes, roasted bell peppers, kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and marinated mushrooms. These make salads and grain bowls so easy and quick to prepare.
Hummus or minimally processed vegan dressing - for salads, sandwiches, or grain bowls, because let’s face it, not many of us have the time, energy, or desire to make our own.
Buy Pre-Washed Pre-Cut fruit and veg
I think every grocery store has this option available these days - pre-washed, pre-cut fruit and veggies. Yes, it’s not quite as environmentally or wallet-friendly, but if it’s going to help you keep up your healthy eating habits, go for the convenient option. Some of the easy options include:
Greens - all kinds of greens! Pre-washed and ready-to-go so a delicious salad is only 5 minutes away. You can also throw them in a wrap, sandwich, smoothie, stir-fry, tofu scramble, or whatever floats your boat.
Broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, snap peas, and more - I know you’ve seen them, they’re washed, chopped, bagged, and ready for you to eat straight out the bag or dump on a baking sheet to roast in the oven. You’ll have delicious roasted veggies with minimal effort in no time
Zoodles, stir fry kits, salad kits - Yes, the grocery stores are stepping up their games these days. You can buy pre-spiralized veggies and stir-fry mixes that only need a quick saute on the pan before they’re ready to be devoured. Plus, salad kits. These aren’t new but better options are becoming available and getting your veggie servings in has never been so easy
Fruits - I think most grocery stores have a section now with pre-cut fruits like pineapple, melon, grapes, mango, etc. Pick these up to have handy for snacks, toppings, and whenever that sweet-tooth strikes.
Have the right kitchen tools
Blender - There’s nothing easier than just throwing everything in a blender, blending it up, and calling it good. Use it for smoothies, soups, and homemade dressings.
Baking sheets - Use them for roasting and baking veggies, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, and more.
Microwave - Use it when you’re in a pinch to defrost frozen veggies and reheat leftovers.
Instant Pot - On those nights when I just want to hit a button and be done, the Instant Pot is my go-to. I love making big batches of beans, rice, and other versatile bases with this handy tool. It’s also great for sweet potatoes, winter squashes, and similar foods that usually take quite some time to prep and cook.
I will say that some of the Instant Pot recipes I’ve tried don’t always produce as tasty results compared to the traditionally cooked/baked/roasted versions, but that’s a price I’m willing to pay when I’m just too tired for all the fuss.
On the other hand, some of the Instant Pot recipes I’ve made are absolutely delicious and have become staples in my home, like this Instant Pot Vegan Chili. Though the ones I love most tend to require some extra prep work, so those are best reserved for when you have a bit more time and energy.
Keep it Simple
When we’re tired there’s no point in overcomplicating things. Our trusty friends olive oil, sea salt, and lemon can pretty much make any meal taste good. I also love my good pal coconut aminos, which I put on basically anything savory. So, you know, we can just throw a simple grain, veggie, and protein together, dress it simply, and call it good. Piece of cake.
Try a meal delivery service
I recently partnered up with Splendid Spoon and I’m seriously loving their service! They have lots of pre-prepped meal options including smoothies, grain bowls, noodle bowls, and soups that get delivered straight to your door. All of their items are plant-based and gluten-free. They taste just like a yummy healthy home-cooked meal so it’s a great option to turn to when you don’t have time or energy to cook. You can use this affiliate link for $25 off your first order or this one for $60 off your first 3 orders.
Splendid Spoon isn’t the only service out there like this though, so shop around and see what works best for you! Some of them provide all the prepped ingredients and leave you to do the cooking yourself, while others do all the work for you, start to finish.
Just Order the Dang Delivery
Okay let’s get real with this last tip, sometimes we’re hustlin and bustlin all day long and we just can’t deal with the kitchen and all that jazz. In that case, I’m giving you permission to go ahead and just order the dang delivery!
BUT, yes, there’s a but, let’s not make this an everyday habit, okay? Home-cooked meals are almost always going to be healthier than take-out, so let’s keep it on a case-by-case basis. We can also try to find some healthier options for delivery too, or pair the indulgent option with a salad or veg to get more of a balanced meal (this way you’ll probably have some leftover for a second meal the next day too).
When I order delivery, I love to order from a couple of my favorite healthy vegan restaurants in the area. Not only do I actually love the food, but I know I am getting a nutrient-dense meal even though it’s take-out. Of course, occasionally I crave a more indulgent option as well *cough cough thai food*, so if that’s what I’m really craving, then I just go for it and make sure to really enjoy every single bite.
We got this
At the end of the day, adulting can be hard. The daily demands start to add up more and more and eventually we may get fatigued or burnt out. But, we all know that we feel better when we eat better, so it’s important to make an effort to keep healthy eating a priority.
With that, I hope these six tips help make healthy eating just a little bit easier - grocery delivery, low-maintenance fruit and veg options, Instant Pot, keeping it simple, and just ordering the dang delivery. With these options, I think we all can manage to get a healthy balanced meal on our plates without slaving away in the kitchen to make it.
We got this!
Leave a comment below if you liked these tips! Feel free to leave your own favorite tips and tricks for eating healthy too, and follow me on Instagram @wellismore for more content and recipes!