Easy meals for someone with anxiety?

[SufferingThroughAnxiety]

I’ve had GAD for years, I also have PTSD. For reasons I can’t go into my anxiety is really bad at the moment (I am receiving support from MH services for these and things should improve soon I don’t need help with that).

I’m not eating properly and preferring to snack, so want easy no cooking required meals that I can just do when I feel up to it. Standing up for anything longer than a few minutes is too much for me at the moment (again receiving help from MH services and my GP) so cooking is too much. I am cooking in moments where I feel up to it and making meals that last me a few days, so just need snacks to see me through the worst days – I ache in my shoulders and ribs and legs if I stand for too long at the moment, I’m assured this is part of my anxiety and not something more serious!

Not a fussy eater so absolutely anything. Preferably tasty though as when I’m really bad eatings really hard for me and if it tastes bland or boring I give up and don’t eat enough.

Thanks in advance. Please no judgement, I am receiving help and the things causing my anxiety aren’t really relevant.

@gogohm

If you eat meat how about ready choooex casserole veg and stewing steak, prep us maybe 2 minutes

Yes I eat meat, will try this thank you.

Bachelors dried pasta packets. Just chuck water milk and a knob of butter in a saucepan, boil it, chuck packet contents in and 10 minutes later, its done. The ham cheese and leek one is lovely.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

Bachelors dried pasta packets. Just chuck water milk and a knob of butter in a saucepan, boil it, chuck packet contents in and 10 minutes later, its done. The ham cheese and leek one is lovely.

I haven't had those for years, since my poor student days. I loved the tomato and cheese one as well as the ham cheese and leek, added to online order. Yummy!

I buy theses packs of spicy instant Korean noodles from Amazon (shin ramen or similar name). Just add boiling water for 5 minutes. I add a couple of hardboiled eggs, big handful of spinach, spring onion, sometimes leftover meat if there's any. Spicy, soothing, comforting and no msg, so not too awful for you when you're stuck.

For a friend in a similar position, I suggested the following for the days she couldn’t even face making noodles:

Bags of plain, assorted nuts such as Brazil, cashew etc
Oat cakes - varying flavours of wanted
Baby Bell and other ‘snack’ cheese portions
Dried fruit
Satsumas etc (easy peel basically)
Small pots of yoghurt, rice pudding, jelly
Pte-prepared carrots with houmous
Ready made bottles of milkshake

They’re all easily prepped, easily digestible, cover a range of the nutrients and are simple and easy to consider.

Get well soon.

As a healthier option to dried pasta packets but with pot noodle style simplicity, how about Huel? They have a "hot and savoury" range, where you just add hot water, mix, leave for 10 min, stir and eat. All of them are nutritionally balanced so it just makes life easier whilst not worrying too much about being unhealthy. There's macaroni cheese, chilli, thai curry, tomato and herb pasta, etc. I've just started getting them due to being ill and exhausted with quite a limited palate currently. I also have a discount referral code if you'd like it.

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

For a friend in a similar position, I suggested the following for the days she couldn’t even face making noodles:

Bags of plain, assorted nuts such as Brazil, cashew etc
Oat cakes - varying flavours of wanted
Baby Bell and other ‘snack’ cheese portions
Dried fruit
Satsumas etc (easy peel basically)
Small pots of yoghurt, rice pudding, jelly
Pte-prepared carrots with houmous
Ready made bottles of milkshake

They’re all easily prepped, easily digestible, cover a range of the nutrients and are simple and easy to consider.

Get well soon.

I always have fruit in and tend to pick at that, I can't keep nuts in as I live in a block of flats with a communal hallway and my neighbours are severely allergic and I'm always worried the "fumes" will go into the communal hall - at the moment the last thing my anxiety needs is more worry, but I love the other suggestions.

My DD loves cheesestrings and babybells so will be happy I buy more of those. Thanks

@MalteserGeezee

I buy theses packs of spicy instant Korean noodles from Amazon (shin ramen or similar name). Just add boiling water for 5 minutes. I add a couple of hardboiled eggs, big handful of spinach, spring onion, sometimes leftover meat if there's any. Spicy, soothing, comforting and no msg, so not too awful for you when you're stuck.

Which ones sorry no picture showing?

@elrider

As a healthier option to dried pasta packets but with pot noodle style simplicity, how about Huel? They have a "hot and savoury" range, where you just add hot water, mix, leave for 10 min, stir and eat. All of them are nutritionally balanced so it just makes life easier whilst not worrying too much about being unhealthy. There's macaroni cheese, chilli, thai curry, tomato and herb pasta, etc. I've just started getting them due to being ill and exhausted with quite a limited palate currently. I also have a discount referral code if you'd like it.

Will look into those thank you a great suggestion, I can boil the kettle, sit down, then pour water in, then bring it to the living room and sit with it which it "makes" and stir sat down, perfect.

I really empathise. I struggle with meals because of the negative symptoms of Schizoaffective disorder. So I'm living off cheese rolls, apples, tinned or frozen fruit, protein bars, crumpets / toast, & microwave porridge.
Sometimes I do pasta if I feel up to bothering.
Luckily it's just me that needs feeding.

Tonight I made tortellini with a stir in sauce and garlic bread in ten minutes, no need to stand over it really.

Supermodels, chuck in microwave or noodle pots, just add water.

Onion rings, mozzarella sticks, party type food just to chuck in oven.

🤣 supermodels! Super noodles ha

BOL or Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen ready meals are tasty, healthy with fresh veg and really quick to heat up. They ate my go-to when I am struggling to cook as they feel healthier than usual ready meals.

The other thing I suggested OP - sorry, forgot to add! - are those protein balls such as those made by Bounce. They come in a variety of flavours. And things like the Eat Natural bars. Not suggesting you live off them but for those days.

Baked potatoes or baked sweet potatoes.

Take a long time to cook, but so easy, just put in oven and forget about them

I’m in the same position.

On my good days I’ll cook several meals worth of mini sausage rolls and chinks of marinated chicken to have in the fridge for a few days. Because they’re bite size I often find I can eat more without thinking about it if that makes sense? Or if I’m feeling stronger I’ll have a few of those then throw some cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices and cheese cubes on the plate.
Sometimes I find that a single bite size bit of food every time I go into the kitchen is easier than thinking about meals, so this works for me.
Hope this helps

Jacket potatoes - normal or sweet!

@FarmCat31

I’m in the same position.

On my good days I’ll cook several meals worth of mini sausage rolls and chinks of marinated chicken to have in the fridge for a few days. Because they’re bite size I often find I can eat more without thinking about it if that makes sense? Or if I’m feeling stronger I’ll have a few of those then throw some cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices and cheese cubes on the plate.
Sometimes I find that a single bite size bit of food every time I go into the kitchen is easier than thinking about meals, so this works for me.
Hope this helps

Thats what my MH nurse suggested, she said make up a bunch of things like chicken nuggets or chicken cut up, then shove them on a plate and just pick throughout the day on my worst days.

But I do feel bad eating chicken nuggets and sausage rolls all the time so want to try and force myself to mix it up a bit.

Get well soon @FarmCat31 love the name, I have a cat whose a great help to (as is my lovely DD).

Pasta stirin, if you get fresh pasta and a stirin sauce (usually on a deal in most supermarkets) it will be ready in minutes. You could also stick some chicken or tuna/sweetcorn/onions/peppers/Broccoli/courgette or any veg of choice in too. I always find spinach a great easy addition as well. You could stick any left overs in a oven dish and sprinkle with cheese to turn into a pasta bake the next day to eat with garlic bread and a pre prepped salad.

A pork shoulder joint in the slow cooker, add a mug of water, leave all day. When you're ready to eat it discard the liquid and shred the meat up. You can add apple sauce and have it in soft rolls, or add a bottle of BBQ sauce and have it with jacket spud or chips, or add gravy and veg and then you've got a mini roast dinner. You will get several portions from one joint and can freeze them for your not-so-good days.
Beef brisket can be done the same way.

@Blackmagicqueen

Pasta stirin, if you get fresh pasta and a stirin sauce (usually on a deal in most supermarkets) it will be ready in minutes. You could also stick some chicken or tuna/sweetcorn/onions/peppers/Broccoli/courgette or any veg of choice in too. I always find spinach a great easy addition as well. You could stick any left overs in a oven dish and sprinkle with cheese to turn into a pasta bake the next day to eat with garlic bread and a pre prepped salad.

I love this suggestion, meals I can change to use another time are perfect to stopping me getting bored too thanks!

I highly recommend the Waitrose 'easy to cook' range. Just stick it in the oven. Serve with a pouch of microwave rice or oven chips depending on the meal. They are 3 for £10 too , this is one of my favourites www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/easy-to-cook-mozzarella-stuffed-pork-meatballs/466668-578517-578518

Buy panini rolls, bung in some ham & a slice of cheese & press down between the plates of your George Foreman. In less than 10 mins you have a cafe style panini, crispy on the outside & gooey cheese in the middle. I don't know of its just me, but warm melted cheese can always tempt me to eat when I feel rubbish!
I also like the flavoured chicken breast fillets in a wrap. My favourite is tandoori chicken microwaved for a minute then on the wrap with a bit of pre shredded iceberg & some yoghurt & mint sauce (crucials is yummy & in almost all supermarkets), roll up & eat.
Also the fresh filled pasta & sauces from the ready meal bit of the supermarket. Boil the pasta while the sauce is microwaving & the whole lot takes about 5 mins, so about the same time as beans on toast, but gives you the option of something different. I love spicy sausage tortellini with mushroom sauce.