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.

Pate on toast with chilli jam and a side salad
River cottage everyday cook book has leftovers recipes which are quick to make. ( can usually be found in a second hand bookshop for a couple of £)

Something that would be easy & quick for you, as well as being a treat would be a pack of smoked salmon. A standard pack would make you two or possibly three meals if used for things such as open sandwich with watercress or rocket leaves, sandwich with cream cheese or cucumber, portion of salmon served with ready made potato salad.

If you were up to making it, croque monsieur with a slice of ham under grilled cheese is a comforting dish.
Ready roast chicken breast is good for having with prepared salads, or as chicken sandwiches, or even chopped into tinned soup to add a bit of protein.

Things that could be useful for the store cupboard…
Tins of stuffed vine leaves, ready to eat, good with charcuterie or smoked fish for an easy meal.
Tins of consommé, add gyoza or noodles or soup pasta for a hot quick meal.
Soup pasta and orzo, cooks in moments, good instead of potatoes, or add to casseroles or stews.
Cous-cous, quick and easy and cheap, use instead of potato with stews etc. Let it cool, add cucumber olives tomato etc to use as a salad. Can also cook in with casseroles, just push meat mixture to one side, add cous-cous into space and allow to simmer for a short while.

Thank you everyone sorry for not replying individually, I will go back and try tomorrow, I'm just exhausted right now (anxiety sucks )

Cheese on toast, scrambled eggs on toast, soup and bread, nice bread with a dip of olive oil and balsamic vinegar together, pasta and stir in sauces, jacket potatoes with a bit of salad and/or coleslaw, those part-cooked baguette thingies, and pizzas all helped get me through. As did occasional treats of Morrisons or (for a bit more of a treat) M&S ready meals. Oh, and rice pudding, and custard. Lots and lots of custard in various forms.

Sending you good thoughts - lots of us have been there.

When I can’t face cooking I turn to those pre-made couscous pots (the fruity ones) and cooked salmon. Simple and satisfying.

I recently discovered frozen falafel. Two minutes in the microwave then I stick them in a wrap with a handful of pre-prepared mixed salad, sometimes a blob of yoghurt or dressing if I can be bothered.

@SommerTen

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.

Thanks @SommerTen hope you feel better soon, my DD needs feeding but she does have her main meal at school at the moment, thankfully school have a policy of feed now ask questions later so a quick email to the headteacher has sorted out the payments until I'm back on my feet mentally so it is just sandwiches or similar for DD, she keeps bringing fruit home too saying her teacher told her to take it so sometimes she's not too bothered about food.

@Bananaman123

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 won't fit in my microwave or oven thanks for the laughs.

I have ordered some of those stir in sauces and fresh filled pasta too.

@MolkosTeenageAngst

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.

I do like the Tesco Wicked Kitchen ones actually will have a look at BOL thanks.

I know this feeling!

I find broccoli cooks well in the microwave and is nice tossed with some noodles for a very simple healthy meal.

Japanese 7 spice powder is great to sprinkle on this and lots of other things (eg avocado on toast).

Seven Spice / shichimi / nanami togarashi www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003RL0LMG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_CNK2E115NAE1ATA9YW4E?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Smoked mackerel is yum on toast, stirred into pasta or with rice.

To the PP who suggested jacket potatoes thank you!

I did one in my slow cooker today, only managed a bit with some butter and cheese but the rest is there when I'm ready. DD had a some when she came in from school too, so I didn't feel so guilty about not feeding her (she's had sausages, mash and peas at school so will survive!)

I'll be using some of these suggestions too, thank you so much for being kind and helping a mum out.

Do you likes tinned chickpeas/white beans/kidney beans? They are safe to eat straight out of the tin. Good protein, carbs and fibre content. If you are feeling slightly more energetic you can add olive oil and vinegar and even cherry tomatoes and a little bit of red onion and cucumber to make a great salad. Or feta cheese even. But I also just drain them and eat them plain when I’m working from home and can’t face cooking. Tinned fish is also great for this. Again, perfectly safe to eat straight from the tin with no cooking and nutritionally useful. I like tuna and mackerel personally but salmon or sardines are also great choices.

Get some nutritionally decent snacks in for your daughter so she knows she can make herself something if she’s hungry and dinner’s a bit of a write off. Plain yogurts, milk if she likes to drink that. Cheap easy fruit like bananas and apples, whole meal toast and peanut butter. Crackers and slices of cheese. It’s great that she can have a full meal at school, that must be very reassuring for you.

@Babyiskickingmyribs

Do you likes tinned chickpeas/white beans/kidney beans? They are safe to eat straight out of the tin. Good protein, carbs and fibre content. If you are feeling slightly more energetic you can add olive oil and vinegar and even cherry tomatoes and a little bit of red onion and cucumber to make a great salad. Or feta cheese even. But I also just drain them and eat them plain when I’m working from home and can’t face cooking. Tinned fish is also great for this. Again, perfectly safe to eat straight from the tin with no cooking and nutritionally useful. I like tuna and mackerel personally but salmon or sardines are also great choices.

I do like beans, most beans actually. Cold baked beans was a favourite as a student so I didn't have to leave my room to go to the kitchen or pay the electric bill. Will definitely try that.

Also love tinned fish.

Egg muffins/frittata.

@Babyiskickingmyribs

Get some nutritionally decent snacks in for your daughter so she knows she can make herself something if she’s hungry and dinner’s a bit of a write off. Plain yogurts, milk if she likes to drink that. Cheap easy fruit like bananas and apples, whole meal toast and peanut butter. Crackers and slices of cheese. It’s great that she can have a full meal at school, that must be very reassuring for you.

She loves yogurts, I always have fruit in, she;s not quite mastered making a sandwich yet but she's getting there. Crackers are her favourite thing in the world though, if I left her lose with the jacobs crackers and some Philadelphia there would be none of either left.

Thanks for the ideas, very useful.

Frozen jacket potatoes

Spice tailor dal is nice, add some spinach. It's literally 5 mins and you could have it with some naan or something

Tray of ready prepped med veg to roast, add some feta when it's out the oven and a pouch of merchant gourmet pesto grains (the grains are lovely especially with any form of salad)

My I cannot be bothered meal is ready cooked chicken (usually a flavoured one) with salad and some Parmesan

Scrambled eggs and cheese in a warmed wrap

I guess any kind of spread would work for you.
Tuna one, egg with mayonnaise, cream cheese with garlic etc.

What about soups?

Microwaved sweet potato with tomatoes and bought humous on top , jacket potato with coleslaw , sachet rice with chopped ham and cheese , fried egg sandwich ,

Wholemeal or granary bread sandwiches with crunchy peanut butter and raisins and a glass of milk. Delicious

Ravioli is my go to ! Lots of different flavours
Also nice with a jar of sauce , pesto and grilled pine nuts too
Or just on their own .

Crackers are her favourite thing in the world though, if I left her lose with the jacobs crackers and some Philadelphia there would be none of either left.
My son is mad about gerkins. He’d eat the whole jar if I let him. Crackers and cream cheese is probably a less problematic favorite. My point was really that if your daughter knows there are certain foods in the fridge and cupboard she is always allowed to eat when she’s hungry then it’s takes the pressure off you about preparing her dinner. So it’s not a big deal if she’s still hungry after the sandwich you made her, she can just grab a yogurt or a banana afterwards. And you make those unlimited foods things that are easy and nutritious and affordable. So not the chocolate biscuits or the slices of smoked salmon (unless unlimited smoked salmon is affordable for you - it wouldn’t be for my family. It is both delicious and easy though)

Ideas for you and possibly your dd - some if these can be eaten for any meal
I work shifts and sometimes don’t fancy eating much or proper food.
Pitta breads - white or wholemeal -they keep well and freeze
Pop in toaster: serve with any of the following: hummus, cooked meat, grated cheese (buy it on offer ready grated). Fish fingers.
Forget cooked veg when your knackered or ill. Instead buy cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bag of carrot batons, a pepper or two.
Slice enough for a day or two if you feel up to it.
Your dd can put her own snack meal together
On a day you feel well enough cook 4-5 chicken breasts
Slice and freeze some.
They can be used in sandwiches, salads, with micro rice
Buy quick healthy ish puddings such as yogurts and muller rice, individual tubs of ambrosia rice or custard
Can be served hot useful if the main meal isn’t big.
Get your dd involved in basic slicing up or peeling of fruit to make a fruit salad? Nothing complex - rinse a few grapes, chop a banana, peel a satsuma or two. Put some in a tub for snack it’s a nice feeling if you fee, up to it some days having an extra snack or two in the fridge.
Buy raisin boxes or other dried fruits for a snack if you haven't got much fresh in.
Buy individual milkshake cartons and/or smoothies/juices
Garlic bread or part baked rolls to go with tinned or (better still) fresh carton soup.
Granola with yogurt or kefir and any fruit on top
Hot chocolate - with milk for added nutrition
Check freezer for ends if loaves - make something on toast - beans, spaghetti hoops, hummus, peanut butter, pate
Omelette is lovely
Quick pasta - cook some dried penne/fusilli - cook extra.
Add pesto
Or a can or tuna (drained) heat through add mayo and tinned sweetcorn if you like this
Use the extra for lunches, cold with salad, grated cheese etc

I buy weight watchers frozen ready meals (£1.50 @ Asda) and add extra veg (often pre-prepared microwaveable bags) for the days when my energy has deserted me. Stops me ordering a takeaway since it is so low effort. I like the fact I can have lots of different ones in the freezer rather than batch cooking and eating the same thing repeatedly

Tins of soup, comforting, quick and healthy. There are loads of good flavours which will give you a couple of portions of your 5 a day.