No energy to cook- any help?!
No energy to cook- any help?
I work full time, and when I get home, I have no energy left to cook. I tried buying easy things, like chicken bakes, etc, but still can't always manage time to cook them. On top of that, I also have a picky eater, who doesn't really like any veggies, or potatos. I would appreciate any no-cook meal ideas. Thanks a lot!
Answers:
Once a week, cook a few pounds of ground beef. It will save you a LOT of time.
Each morning put raw ingredients together in a pan, cover, and place them in the fridge. When you get home, all you have to do is pop it into the oven.
IF you would rather, each weekend maked 3-5 meals. Once made, divide them into eatable portions and place in tuperwear into your freezer. Instead of having to bake anything, you'll just have to reheat.
I completely understand your exhaustion AND the picky eater! :-) Good luck!
You don't have to cook everyday, just schedule yourself when you feel like it/want to cook like Tue Thur Sat: cook by yourself and Mon Wed Fri Sun: buy foods from restaurants or fast foods
I understand 100%. Cold cereal is my I'm-not-cooking-tonight standby. I also like to heat up a can of soup - that's not like real cooking. Things I can grab out of the fridge are good, like hummus, guacamole or salsa with crackers, chips or bread.
Another suggestion that works for me is to do all of your cooking on your days off, then you just have to heat it up or eat it cold. Roast chicken, chili, homemade soups are all good like that.
What's wrong with the occasional bowl of cereal for dinner? I used to do that when I was too tired to cook. You can make a plate of cheese and crackers and add some little sausages like Little Smokies for your little one. The english muffin pizzas are easy to make. Just toast, add the toppings and throw in the microwave just to melt the cheese. Why not make a few meals on your day off and then freeze them for days when you don't want to cook. And a crock pot will cook everything for you so your meal will be done when you get home. Try broccoli for your picky eater. Kids seem to love it. Top it with cheese and that's also another meal.
Use a slow cooker so many easy meals in a pot
That's a little difficult cause you dint like veggies. Okay here's some idea, lemme know if you like them.
1. Canned soup
2. Boiled pasta with egg
- The recipe for this one is boil up some pasta, add salt and pasta sauce and some pepper (any other spices if you like) and make an egg with the sun side up. Then put your egg on the pasta and your good to go. It take about 10 minutes to make depending on what pasta you are using.
3. Tuna and mushroom
- Use canned tuna and canned mushroom together. Add some olive oil, ketchup and a little cheese heat up in the stove (3/4 minutes), put it on top a toast and there you go.
Another tip I can give you is that buy a slow cooker. Put whatever you want to eat in it and when you get back from work you have food ready to eat. Many slow cooker recipes are available on the internet.
I tend to cook large amounts over the weekends and freeze them in containers, that can be thawed during the day and microwaved for dinner. Also, the following are good ideas,
1. Pita bread with pre-cooked meat, salads.
2. Frozen vegetables that can be cooked in minutes.
3. Instant oats, rice and other options.
4. Canned beans, which can be combined with meat to get a delicious soup in minutes to go with bread.
5. Slow cooking methods such as rice, chicken, meat, vegetable casseroles that can be started off in the morning and are ready by evening as they cook by slow cooking (really delicious).
6. Try and keep different varieties of bread and fillings at all times so that a nourishing sandwich or burger or hot dog can be rustled up for the children.
7. Frozen salads are also good ideas.
Hope all this helps.