How to Make Cooking Easier When you're Struggling

Now that I’ve moved into my own place and have to cook my own food every day, I’m finding it pretty hard; with stress building and work piling up, the last thing I want to do is cook. Sometimes I have days where I’m happy to do it and actually enjoy it, but then there are times where I’m tempted to skip eating because I don’t want to cook, or times where I just look at the oven for ages without moving to actually make something. Things can be like that sometimes, and I’m starting to prepare for those times a little bit more now. Here’s how I’m doing that!

• I’ve downloaded takeaway apps on my phone. Uber Eats, Just Eat, Deliveroo, any delivery app you can think of, I’ve probably got. Plus, if you’re a student, most of these have student discounts. I don’t do takeaways often, but sometimes it’s nice to not have to worry about cooking. Plus, it’s a bit of comfort food!

Foods like rice and noodles, but more so rice, are super filling! You can get bags of microwave rice in shops and they come in handy for when you don’t want to cook. You can get microwave noodles and cup noodles too, but rice is more substantial and filling.

• Bread is a handy thing to have. If I don’t want to cook, I’ll make a toastie or toast or even beans on toast. Quick and easy, plus minimal clean up! Bread is very versatile so it’s always good to keep a loaf around.

 

• Ready meals. I make sure to have at least one microwavable meal in my freezer at all times. They’re not ideal, but they’re quick to make and they fill a hole. 

 

• Speaking of freezer meals, when I cook I often bulk make everything. I made soup last week and made sure to do a lot so I could freeze portions for whenever I might need it. Soup is quick and easy to make plus can stay in the freezer for up to three months. 

The other day I made taco filling and made more than I needed so I had that with pasta the next day. Tomorrow I’m making gnocchi and making more than I need so I can freeze it. It’s always handy to bulk make things when you feel like cooking so you can keep some for the next day or put it in the freezer! 

Those are some things I’ve learnt over the past month. I’m sure there’s more that I’m missing but these are the ones that have really saved me. Remember, you don’t have to go through this alone. Please, if you’re struggling, reach out to someone. There will always be people there to help, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Stay safe and look after yourself! You’ve got this.

~ En

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