Lazy Healthy Meals
I think we can all relate that making big elaborate meals can get really tiring. In this case, there are a few healthy options from the grocery store that I like to have on hand. Whether it be frozen meals so I don’t have to prepare lunch or a quick and easy breakfast that I can grab from the fridge in the morning. I wanted to share these quick grocery store grabs that make life so much easier.
Sometimes to improve my mental health I need to cook and let go of things, but other times the most important thing for me is to spend that valuable time taking care of myself. Cooking can take up a lot of time, so if you notice that you need to use that time for something else, these meals are perfect.
Breakfast:
So many people skip breakfast and I genuinely don’t understand how. Breakfast brings me an insane amount of joy in the morning. I like to top all of these with tons and tons of berries and banana. If you are on the go, you can either prepare your berries ahead of time or grab an apple or banana.
Overnight oats: I have been obsessed with overnight oats, especially from the brand MUSH. If you feel like making them, all you have to do is combine 1/2 cup of oats, 1/2 cup of milk, and a few splashes of vanilla. You can add any sweetener or flavors of your choice if you’d like. If you don’t feel like making them, grab some from the store and I promise they do not disappoint. My favorite flavors are the apple cinnamon and the peanut swirl.
Oatmeal: Since I don’t have a stove, I can’t actually make oatmeal so I have been buying the pre-packaged oatmeal. There are many brands of pre-packaged oatmeal that have tons of unhealthy ingredients and are full of sugar, but I like the Purely Elizabeth superfood oatmeal and the oats from Nature’s Path.
Nut-butter toast: Pop a piece of toast or two in the toaster, slather it with your favorite nut- butter and there you go.
Hard-boiled eggs: There are prepared hard-boiled eggs or you can batch cook a bunch and have them ready.
Lunch:
When I tell you that preparing my lunch becomes dreadful, I truly mean it. There is never anything that sounds good for lunch, and a lot of times I don’t feel like putting things together to make anything.
Frozen meals: Make sure to check the ingredients of your frozen meals. You want to make sure there are not crazy weird ingredients and you also want to have a good amount of protein. It is important to note that low calorie does not mean healthy.
Protein box: Make your own protein box with whatever you want. You could do hummus, veggies, bread, hard-boiled eggs, meat, cheese, nuts etc. There are also protein boxes you can buy.
Hot bar: At Whole Foods they have an amazing selection of prepared foods. You can put together a salad or you can grab something from the hot section that is already prepared. I love the chickpea chana masala and the mushroom burger. Different store will vary in selections, but there are so many options.
Chickpeas with veggies: I was so excited because I found chickpeas at Whole Foods that were already prepared so all I had to do was add salt. I found the brand AUGA and they were delicious. Eat them with veggies and you are all set.
Dinner:
You can also grab from the hot bar or use a frozen meal for dinner, but in this section I want to provide you with easy recipes. You can meal prep these for lunch or dinner and have them once or multiple times in a week.
Poke Bowl: prep sushi rice, you can either buy it pre-made or make it yourself. Select your protein of choice (chicken, salmon, tuna, etc.) and buy it pre-made or prepare it. Add any toppings you want. I like edamame which you can buy frozen, seaweed or seaweed salad, purple cabbage, carrots, mango, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, etc.
Mexican Bowl: make rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice. Add your protein (grilled chicken, steak, tofu, etc.). Add corn, beans, peppers, jalapeño, guacamole, salsa, etc.
Sausage and veggie skillet: cut up onions, peppers, zucchini, carrots, and sausage. Add to a pan with seasoning of choice.