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Old 26-09-2011, 18:04
Elanor
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Ok, so I have been working really long hours recently, and having been exhausted and getting home late, I've been mostly eating rubbish and junk and ready meals. I've also been feeling unwell (these two things may be related!) and in particular, suffering from extreme exhaustion and mild depression almost all the time.

Work is calming down a bit, so I do have more time in the evenings, but I am still tired. I know I need to eat better, but I haven't got the energy to spend ages cooking, or to make anything that requries every pot in the kitchen and an hour's washing up. What can I cook that is nice and easy, and that might make me feel better?
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Old 26-09-2011, 18:25
guernseysnail
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Do you have a slow cooker? I have just bought one and have done a couple of meals and a veg soup in mine..It's great to have that lovely smell of something home~made when I come in.
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Old 26-09-2011, 18:27
Elanor
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Do you have a slow cooker? I have just bought one and have done a couple of meals and a veg soup in mine..It's great to have that lovely smell of something home~made when I come in.
I don't, no.
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Old 26-09-2011, 18:45
guernseysnail
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Then I would highly recommend getting one!

There is a thread with slow cooker recipes on it..I'm doing the pork one tomorrow!

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1531113
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Old 26-09-2011, 19:02
Elanor
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To be honest I've never really fancied one. The idea of preparing food first thing in the morning doesn't really appeal to me (I'm even more tired then, and a choice between preparing veg and spending ten minutes in bed is not a hard one!) and I don't need food to be ready the minute I walk in the door in the evening - I've got a good hour or so before I need to eat.
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Old 26-09-2011, 19:28
degsyhufc
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When I feel that I need something fresh & healthy I like to have a chicken wrap or chicken noodle stirfry with loads of crunchy veg.

Usually in the wrap it's just peppers and onions, maybe lettuce and salsa.

You can add lots more to the stirfry. brocolli, sugar snap peas, green beans, baby corn etc.
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Old 26-09-2011, 23:33
smudges dad
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Cutting out sugar, especially soft drinks and sweets, will probably do most good to start with.
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Old 19-11-2012, 20:57
Elanor
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I'm sorry to bump an old thread again, but I started writing a new thread and then remembered I'd done something similar before!

I've been feeling very tired and mildly depressed again for the last month or so. This ends up being a viscious circle, as I then eat junk, and then get more tired and depressed. I usually eat pretty healthily, and enjoy cooking, but I've totally lost all motivation and interest in cooking or eating properly.

I can't remember when I last cooked a proper meal - maybe about a month ago. I've been eating lots and lots of carbs and cheese, and mostly living on baked potatoes, oven chips, toast, bought sandwiches, the odd ready meal, that kind of rubbish. I know it makes me feel worse, but I'm struggling to summon up the energy or the enthusiasm to cook.

Re the posts last time - I'm still not really interested in a slow cooker. I don't have much sugar or soft drinks or sweets, I've been going for the carbs and cheese more than anything else.

I know I need to change, but I just can't remember where to start! Does anyone have any ideas please for a way I can ease myself in to getting back in to cooking a nice simple evening meal that isn't made of 99% potato?
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:01
Kpops
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Stir fry
Cook a chicken on a Sunday use leftovers for a chicken salad, chicken, mushroom and noodle soup and chicken wraps.
Beans on toast - filling and cheap
Pasta bake
Omelette

I work late and find these dinners cheap, filling and healthy
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:05
Elanor
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Beans on toast and pasta bakes are the kinds of thing I'm trying to avoid really, as they're so carb heavy.

I could try a chicken at the weekend, that's an idea. It's not a particularly quick dinner though, and I find the demolition of the cold chicken later in the week quite off putting.

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult.
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:15
foxydog
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I have a steamer and find I can eat some healthy meals that are quick to make and the cooking time is short.
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:21
Kpops
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Beans on toast and pasta bakes are the kinds of thing I'm trying to avoid really, as they're so carb heavy.

I could try a chicken at the weekend, that's an idea. It's not a particularly quick dinner though, and I find the demolition of the cold chicken later in the week quite off putting.

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be difficult.
Chilli and rice is another quick effective meal, tons left over so could freeze the rest and use another night.
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:43
dosanjh1
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Chilli and rice is another quick effective meal, tons left over so could freeze the rest and use another night.
I've just come home from work and finished off a chilli I froze about a month ago with a baked potato. Now I'm gonna watch this programme about Hitler and go to bed happy

OP, making big batches of 1 pot meals and then freeze them are the way to go; I've got soups, stews, bolognese and chilli all in my freezer ready to be munched when I need 'em.
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:44
eggplant
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I'm a crap cook so can't do recipes but tend to have the same issues re. mood and food. Can you start by adding a proportion of fresh / crunchy things ( fruit, veg, nuts pulses) to the comfort food? When I'm trying to get some nutrients in I go for anything I can keep and chop up and add such as cooked beetroot, tomatoes, radishes, apples, edamame, cashew nuts, pine nuts, chickpeas. It's also good to get some oily fish in and maybe keep some nuts or dried fruit around to nibble on between meals.
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Old 19-11-2012, 21:47
degsyhufc
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I'm sorry to bump an old thread again, but I started writing a new thread and then remembered I'd done something similar before!

I've been feeling very tired and mildly depressed again for the last month or so. This ends up being a viscious circle, as I then eat junk, and then get more tired and depressed. I usually eat pretty healthily, and enjoy cooking, but I've totally lost all motivation and interest in cooking or eating properly.

I can't remember when I last cooked a proper meal - maybe about a month ago. I've been eating lots and lots of carbs and cheese, and mostly living on baked potatoes, oven chips, toast, bought sandwiches, the odd ready meal, that kind of rubbish. I know it makes me feel worse, but I'm struggling to summon up the energy or the enthusiasm to cook.

Re the posts last time - I'm still not really interested in a slow cooker. I don't have much sugar or soft drinks or sweets, I've been going for the carbs and cheese more than anything else.

I know I need to change, but I just can't remember where to start! Does anyone have any ideas please for a way I can ease myself in to getting back in to cooking a nice simple evening meal that isn't made of 99% potato?
I sometim es go through the same phase and even tonight I was going to have a chicken kebab but realsied that i'd be wasting money on other ingredients that I have in the fridge so now it will be a bulgarwheat salad.
It's the same usual thing that i've been doing but it is healthyish and uses up the beetroot, courgette, feta and fresh corriander in the cupboard.

I think sometimes you have to make yourself use things up even if it is a basic stirfry or fried rice. Then at other times you can really push the boat out on a recipe that you've seen on telly.

I too don't like to have potato two days running if I can help it.
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Old 19-11-2012, 23:28
Iggy's Boy
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OP, if you are feeling de-motivated and depressed nothing anyone says will be right.

You need to think what (non-carb) things YOU like to eat. And then cook them.

There's no have your cake and eat it solution. If you want nice food you have to make the effort to cook it.

I would suggest making stews, chillis or casseroles on non-working days to reheat during the week.

If it's fresh and quick you want a steak takes 4 mins, a piece of fish cooks in no time. Just don't have it with carbs, get some ready prepared packs of veg to steam and have with it.

Stir fries are also ideal for speed and freshness.
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Old 20-11-2012, 10:08
JulesF
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OP, I know you've said a few times now that you are not interested in a slow cooker, but I would urge you to think again. It sounds ideal for you, especially as you say you are just not motivated to cook yourself meals in the evening.

I'm a slow-cooker convert myself. Like you, I was not interested because I work from home, so have plenty of time to cook, and I also didn't fancy the idea of preparing food at an ungodly hour of a morning.

BUT I am now totally sold on it. You don't have to mess around with it in the morning. I just do any chopping, marinading etc the night before, leave it all in the fridge, and literally throw everything in the slow-cooker in the morning. There's a minimum of washing up too - one pot wonder, chuck it in the dishwasher. You'll end up with a whole load of healthy, homecooked stews/soups etc in the freezer.

Give one a go! You can pick up a small one very cheaply.
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Old 20-11-2012, 10:15
stud u like
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Slow cookers are brilliant. Plus you don't have to chop anything up these days if you don't want to as supermarkets sell them already done in neater cubes than my dyspraxic fingers could manage.
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Old 20-11-2012, 10:50
CBFreak
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A nice stir fry is a quick and healthy meal to make. Get some soy or oyster sauce to flavour the veg (and meat if you wish to add some) and you've got yourself a tasty meal

Or you can get some smoked kippers, quick fry them and have them with some buttered bread and swimming in vinegar.
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Old 20-11-2012, 10:59
MICH78
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Low carb meals can be any form of meat, fish and veg. They will all be higher protein than what you are eating now and will stop you feeling sluggish.

Prepare meals on your days off and freeze them for quickness to eat after work. Even if they are pasta or potato based like bolognaise/sherpherd's pie, at least they will be homemade so you can use less carbs.
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Old 20-11-2012, 18:36
Elanor
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OP, if you are feeling de-motivated and depressed nothing anyone says will be right.
You know what, you're completely right, thank you.

I do appreciate people taking time to comment and make suggestions. There are definitely good ideas there.

Tonight I'm going to cook up some spinach, because I suddenly feel like eating it, with an oniony-blue-cheesey sauce. Still high fat but at least it's not potato and I do actually feel like eating it.
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Old 20-11-2012, 18:53
florencee
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Smoothies!!

Really easy to fit into your life, even if youre sloth like as i am in the mornings! Fruit are filled with vitamins and minerals- b vits are good for depression etc and will give you a bit of a lift, and it will overall just pep you up.

You can bung in other healthy stiff which is a bore to eat without noticing it.
I add spirulina powder; filled w anti oxidents. Also soak a handful of nuts in water overnight- makes them easier to digest. And bung in some spinich or alfafa. You cant taste a small amount but its an extra way if getting greens.

Bananas are slow release energy. Try to steer clear of high GI fruits like mango as they will give you a sugar blast then leave you a bit tired, or at least only have a little.

I also chuck in oils. Im vegetarian but i wouldnt buy the pill form of EFA oils (like fish oil) as they are very expensive. You can get good cold pressed oils in healthfood shops far cheaper- a table spoon is usually tasteless.

Its really easy to do but if youre stuck get an innocent smoothie book - second hand theyre v cheap- for suggestions

Hope you have more energy soon.
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Old 20-11-2012, 19:02
florencee
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Avocadoes are also a really bice base for smoothies- very creamy. With berries etc you can't taste it but get all the nutrition

Im a very weird cook. Mostly i just want to eat and find cooking a hassle, tho i can do brilliantly if bothered.. But its rare!

At least this way i get a decent shot of fresh fruit each day. When i first heard of green smoothies (adding greens to fruit smoothies) i thought itd be foul. But you really dont taste it in small amounts so its worth trying!

For Quick and easy food i get soft wraps, lightly heat them on the hob to give them a little flavour, then spread hummous on them. Crumble in cheese, and add toppings- those jars of grilled red peppers are nice, grated carrot, watercress, rocket, roast nuts.
Put the radio on while you do it and it seems to shorten the time as it pulls your focus away. The wraps have comparativly little carbs in them, but still enough to stop it feeling like a 'worthy' meal which can feel a bit depressing.
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Old 20-11-2012, 20:00
Rotationbl
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Nice suggestions florencee
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Old 20-11-2012, 20:16
florencee
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Nice suggestions florencee

Thank you! I actually hate eating fruit so i pat myself in the back for liking smoothies, ha ha.
Somehow its easier to digest than eating singly. You can use water, juice or yoghurt as a base but i just have water as its less hass.

I also smoke and lie about in bed so im not a self righteous health freak! Its sooo easy though!
Try it!
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