What to make when you don't feel like cooking

sargessexyone

I am in a rut and I really don't feel like cooking tonight and don't know what I even want to fix. Any ideas? Something quick and easy would be preferable :happy:

Pirate_chick

lettuce wraps. your choice of deli meat cheese and veggies.

mlanders22

When I'm feeling lazy I tend to make breakfast for dinner - eggs, toast, oatmeal, etc.

Mia_RagazzaTosta

Cereal

sargessexyone

lettuce wraps. your choice of deli meat cheese and veggies.

You know to be honest I've never had a lettuce wrap. That's a good idea.

sargessexyone

When I'm feeling lazy I tend to make breakfast for dinner - eggs, toast, oatmeal, etc.

Thought I was the only one that did this LOL.

Romyarts2014

Haha ,

I am a student and i told you I hate cooking

So sometimes a sandwich
a microwavable meal
already cooked chicken and veggies
salad
tuna salad
veggie wrap
rice cracker sandwiches (rice cracker, creme cheeze and cucumber


etc..

laurie04427

We keep kashi go lean cereal around for this reason. It's got um I think 14 grams of protein (could be wrong but somewhere in that range) which is pretty good for cereal, so if you add some walnuts to it, it's a relatively balanced meal (more or less) with milk.

Sometimes hubby will cook up egg whites and I'll cut up onions and green peppers and stir fry it with some olive oil and boil some frozen broccoli at the same time. We mix it all together at the end. Yummier than it sounds, especially if you are !HUNGRY!. Yes that is technically cooking but the whole thing takes like ten minutes start to finish.

mamaleftwich

I'll eat fruit or popcorn when I don't really feel like cooking or when I'm really not that hungry

Grumpellina

White rice seems to do it for me.

grandmothercharlie

An omlette with whatever healthy additions you want. A simple, lightly dressed green salad. If you can afford the calories, a glass of wine. Yum. Light a candle and pretend you are in a bistro in Paris. Afterall, the atmosphere is half the satisfaction!

CaitlinW19

On those days I've been falling back on quesadillas...whatever meat I have leftover from other stuff (like buffalo chicken) or beans, some laughing cow cheese wedges and a bit of low fat shredded cheese. They take about 3 minutes in a skillet. Oh and coat one side of the tortilla shell with cooking spray or spray butter...saves calories, is easier and gives you that nice crunchy shell. Can throw other veggies in there or a tablespoon of some sauce too. Depending on what kind you make, can dip in light sour cream or ranch dressing.

motofairy

We do fish tacos or pick up a rotisserie chicken from costco and make wraps/salads on the nights we don't want to cook.

My fish tacos go something like this:

Frozen, non-breaded fish fillets that are already seasoned (or season your own)
Small flour or corn tortillas
Shredded cabbage (I buy coleslaw mix for extra laziness)
Sour cream mixed with various seasonings (cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, cayenne, etc.)
Shredded cheese
Cilantro to a degree that is probably unhealthy for most humans (Um...we love cilantro)

They're fast because while the fish is baking in the oven, I'm mixing up the cabbage with some lime juice and olive oil and chopping up the cilantro. As long as you go easy on the heavier toppings and focus on flavor, these are a great easy and fast dinner. If you are watching carbs, replace tortillas with a lettuce wrap or eat in a bowl as a salad.

MinnieInMaine

If I flat out don't feel like cooking, that's usually take-out night for us. Pick up sandwiches, order a pizza, get chinese, etc. Try to plan them so the calories don't put me too far over but sometimes I'm just tired and if I go over I try to make it up over the next day or two.

If I don't mind cooking but don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I go for quick, easy meals. Shake n bake pork chops or chicken tenderloins with stove top or rice pilaf or instant potatoes and some heated up frozen veggies. I've also got an easy recipe for chip crusted fish filets that takes no time to make. Nuke some boil-in-bag rice and serve with a salad and you're done.

If I just need to feed myself, I might go to the grocery store and get a big salad from the salad bar.

Here's the fish recipe... I leave out all the fancy stuff. Cover the pan with foil, slather a little light miracle whip on the fish, cover it with the crushed chips (I use Cape Cod kettle cooked sea salt and vinegar) and pop it in the oven for 10-12 min. Good with haddock too.

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chip-crusted-fish-fillets-50400000117838/

Betty_Rubble

My go to for quick, easy and healthy is usually any type of flaky fish in the broiler - salmon, tilapia, mahi, snapper, etc. 6 minutes in the broiler on high close to the heat with a little lemon juice and pepper. Pair with some frozen steamed veggies and/or a pre-mixed bag of salad/minute brown rice and you literally have a 10 minute dinner.

MysteriousMerlin

I make fried eggs on an english muffin

sargessexyone

Ohhh I think the fish tacos win out but I got some great ideas that will definitely come in handy. Thanks everyone :flowerforyou:


ETA: You can keep them coming LOL

laurie04427

We do fish tacos or pick up a rotisserie chicken from costco and make wraps/salads on the nights we don't want to cook.

My fish tacos go something like this:

Frozen, non-breaded fish fillets that are already seasoned (or season your own)
Small flour or corn tortillas
Shredded cabbage (I buy coleslaw mix for extra laziness)
Sour cream mixed with various seasonings (cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, paprika, cayenne, etc.)
Shredded cheese
Cilantro to a degree that is probably unhealthy for most humans (Um...we love cilantro)

They're fast because while the fish is baking in the oven, I'm mixing up the cabbage with some lime juice and olive oil and chopping up the cilantro. As long as you go easy on the heavier toppings and focus on flavor, these are a great easy and fast dinner. If you are watching carbs, replace tortillas with a lettuce wrap or eat in a bowl as a salad.

OMG this sounds so good I had to print it out. 10 am here and I'm dying for fish tacos now hehe.

slimzandra

A few thoughts - - I found that my mother's old George Foreman grill is my new best friend. Also, planning and prep on Sunday for the whole week goes a long way to fighting this dilemma. I shop, then go home and prepare everything for the week. I take meals out of the freezer when I'm in one of those - I just don't feel like it moods. (Which is often and usually on a Friday night.)

On the grill, it takes less than 4 minutes to cook a chicken breast that was marinated with a few spices; a small London broil seasoned with Montreal Steak spices or veal chops. Along with fresh veggies, quick salad, or microwave a package of frozen veggies. Done. No pots & pans to have to cleanup afterwards.

I also like to stock up on Lean Cusine packages and Progresso soups. However, for both, check the sodium content and make selective choices at the store. I like them because everything is measured and you know exactly what you ate for dinner. (add fresh veggies)

Laurie mentioned rotisserie chicken from Costco in her post. I also use that as a great fall back. Most all the grocery stores have them. - just be careful of the portions- I tend to pick at the carcass all night.

Rather than takeout food, perhaps go out to a restaurant that you know has calories listed on the menus with healthy options. In the US - Applebees is good for that, or even better - - my favorite a place that has good raw seafood. That way the family can order what they want and I don't feel guilty about what I'm eating and I don't take home leftovers - that was dinner - nothing else in the house to nibble on. Enjoy - It's FRIDAY and the weekend!

asdowe13

Don't know! I pretty much always feel like cooking, baking, eating.

But then again McDonald's is always so damn tasty.

crazybg101

We make wraps with lunch meat and veggies and a wedge of laughing cow cheese, or bagel thins with pizza sauce, canadian bacon, veggies and cheese and warm in microwave. Also, a can of soup is an occasional go to on the nights I don't have my boys.

Shock_Wave

I make a phone call for take out. :bigsmile:

jkwolly

Soup, tuna melts or salads are my go-to when I don't feel like cooking

Though, I usually have portioned meals for the week, so I usually only cook a couple times and then just split it out! Prep is important!

sunandskies

Breakfast every time. Even when I don't feel up to cooking I can manage to crack some eggs and mix some veggies in for an easy omelette. And I really can never say no to bacon.

rocketblaster

Breakfast for dinner is always my idea when I'm too lazy. I can also really enjoy zucchini noodles with tomato sauce (regular noodles also fine but I've developed a love for zucchini noodles in almost all of my noodle dishes). I also keep frozen salmon on hand. Toss a piece of salmon on tin foil, mix a bit of grated ginger, garlic, diced shallor / onion, hoisin sauce, splenda, few drops of sesame oil in a dish (this takes like 1 minute) pour on salmon. Fold over a pouch. Cook in oven for 20 mins with 1/2 of a sweet potato when that's out of the oven I'll cut up some tomato and cuke. This actually takes less effort than an omlette and is filling.

couchbunny

Leftovers.

With that said, I second the breakfast suggestions. It doesn't take much effort to fry or scramble an egg and make toast. Sometimes I graze. An apple, some reduced fat cheese, some nuts, maybe some raw veggies. Hummus with veggies/pretzels, whatever I have on hand. It helps to have it pre-measured in the fridge. Even less work that way.

ETA: Also, soup! Mind the sodium.

avskk

I keep a stash of turkey burgers in the freezer. Pan-fry those with cooking spray, throw together a salad or quickly steam a frozen veggie, top the burgers with half a tablespoon of jarred pesto. Done.

Another thing I like to do is if I have leftover grilled chicken or steak or pork (which I often do) I tear it into chunks and quickly heat it on the stove with some cumin and chili powder. I just throw that into corn tortillas or low-carb wraps with lettuce, tomato, salsa, and maybe some sour cream or cheese. Fake tacos!

timetravelforfitness

I'm a brinner girl, too. And I force everyone to eat rice and lentils. Throw them and veg into the rice cooker and top with water. And clean up is so easy. Really need more meals like this.