As much as I love to cook, there are days (or even weeks) when I’m just not up to it. This has been one of those weeks – I’ve been tired, pretty drained, and just don’t feel like cooking. This happens to all of us, whether it’s the weather, a bad cold, or a rough week at work. But even when we’re tired, we still need to eat, and it’s better for us emotionally, financially, and nutritionally if we keep eating home-cooked food, instead of box-of-mac-and-cheese or takeout pizza.
I suspect too-tired-to-cook issue is too new for us to have found a good solution, as a society. Until a few decades ago, there was an easy solution: every household had something called a wife, and the wife made good food and no one else had to worry about it. Today, most families don’t have anyone to stay home and take care of the house and make dinner, so we have to squeeze it in after putting in 8 or more hours at work. I hope that eventually that will change, and we’ll somehow make more free time to take care of ourselves. But for now, as things stand, what do we do?
I have no answers, but there are ways to make cooking easier on days when you have no energy. I’m sharing them here partly for your benefit, and partly for mine, reminding myself to do these things on weeks like this one.
- On a day when you do have mental energy, make a list of five meals that are quick and easy. This will be your go-to list when you’re too tired to decide what to make. Keep the ingredients for a few of them on hand at all times. Here’s my list:
- Refried beans with chips, salsa, and grated cheddar cheese
- Pasta with sauted garlic and vegetables
- Stir-fry seitan or tofu with vegetables
- Eggs, toast or english muffin, and veggie bacon
- Quinoa with spinach, tomato, and cheese
- When you go shopping, buy one or two foods that are special enough that you’ll feel obligated to use them – some artichokes, a fancy cheese, a variety of rice you’ve always wanted to try, whatever you like. It may help to have a dish in mind when you buy them. If they’re perishable, all the better. Then when you’re feeling tired, remember these special foods and how you HAVE to use them before they go bad. You might even enjoy cooking more when you cook with them.
- Limit the amount of prepared food in your pantry or fridge, and keep plenty of quick-cooking foods on hand. You can’t eat what you don’t have. In the amount of time it takes to make mac-and-cheese from a box, you can make pasta with olive oil and fresh vegetables. Couscous is a near-instant favorite of mine, and great for hot weather. A jar of tomato sauce or grill sauce is a fast way to add flavor to a dish with few ingredients – just heat, add sauce, and serve.
- Make extra. Leftovers are your friend, and can be easy lunches or dinners. If you make a lot of extra, freeze it in small containers and it’ll keep for a long time. It will usually not be as tasty as it was the first night (though some things will be better), but it’s still home cooking.
- Spoil yourself. You’ve had a long day, and you probably deserve something special. If you can get yourself excited about something unusual, like breakfast for dinner or homemade pizza, you can probably muster the energy to cook it. Often the hardest part is getting into the kitchen – once you’re there, cooking can even be therapeutic. The other night, I had strawberry shortcake for dinner, and it was just what I needed. Not a good everyday dinner, but it’s perfect for an occasional treat.
- If you find yourself eating out a lot, or getting takeout, start tracking how often you do it. Takeout can be an expensive habit. Set a limit on how often you do it, and slowly cut back. When you’re tempted, ask yourself if now is really worth using up your quota. Then go cook something.
What do you do when you’re too tired to cook?