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.

By the way this is a lovely thread
Lots of mums/parents pulling together and sharing ideas which are probably useful for lots of us
Meant to say sorry you’re unwell x

This (several varieties available) with breaded fish or even topped with grated cheese is easy and tasty

Start cooking pasta - I think orzo is particularly good for this. Chop an onion and fry it. When soft, add a tin of mackerel fillets in tomato (or whatever) sauce and heat them. When pasta is cooked, serve. Make sure not to cook the mackerel too much or it will be a bit dry. I’d do one tin per person.

@MaybeWeShouldGoToEastbourne

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

Thankfully I can't resort to takeaways as I live in a block of flats that seems to be invisible to everyone including any new posties we get so I have to make at least a small snack or go for a walk if I want takeaway when I might as well go to the supermarket and grab a ready meal as it's closer.

Also, quite a bit more indulgent, fry some scallops and serve with nice bread and butter.

For lunch today I cooked a Dover sole this way and thought the method would be useful for you too @SufferingThroughAnxiety.

Lightly butter or oil a dinner plate, put fresh fish (lemon sole, plaice fillet, salmon fillet etc) on plate, add a knob of butter (and a splash of wine if available). Cover, I used the lid from a microwavable bowl. Microwave for three to four minutes depending on thickness of fish.

Very quick, little preparation, a tasty hot meal in moments. You can dress it up with mayonnaise or capers if you're feeling fancy!
I hope you're feeling a bit more positive about your meals now @SufferingThroughAnxiety.

All the best.

Tin of tomato soup (Aldi /Lidl) tin of chicken peas or butter beans. Blitz up in blender, add some milk to thin to desired consistency.
Hot soup full of protein and fibre, serve with fresh bread.

Tin of peaches and carton of custard, quick desert.

@AdaColeman

For lunch today I cooked a Dover sole this way and thought the method would be useful for you too *@SufferingThroughAnxiety*.

Lightly butter or oil a dinner plate, put fresh fish (lemon sole, plaice fillet, salmon fillet etc) on plate, add a knob of butter (and a splash of wine if available). Cover, I used the lid from a microwavable bowl. Microwave for three to four minutes depending on thickness of fish.

Very quick, little preparation, a tasty hot meal in moments. You can dress it up with mayonnaise or capers if you're feeling fancy!
I hope you're feeling a bit more positive about your meals now @SufferingThroughAnxiety.

All the best.

Dover sole omg, not had that in years, I used to love it dipped in lemon juice and oven baked. Emailing the local fish monger to see if he has any!

Anything simple... so something like a soup or pizza.
On your good days, batch make something.... a healthily stew... chuck it in the freezer

I made cheese scones on Wednesday as I was feeling ok, ate some today as I've had a really bad day and they were just what I needed.

Inspired by this thread as well! Thanks all.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese stirred into pasta.

Also, not to be patronising but you're not on hormonal contraception are you? It can make anxiety much worse

@Unsureschool

Smoked salmon and cream cheese stirred into pasta.

Also, not to be patronising but you're not on hormonal contraception are you? It can make anxiety much worse

I am but it needs taking out as it's over 5 years old, I just haven't had time it's probably closer to 7 years old.

I buy packets of authentic Japnese/ Korean noodle soup from the international aisle in Tesco. I throw in a handful of frozen mixed veg and some frozen cooked chicken strips and it is a relatively nutritional meal.

Either part baked rolls or nice crusty bread with cheese or pate and salad.

The mirena scored worst for anxiety in the research. I have had so many friends medicated for anxiety and depression that was actually being caused/ exacerbated by their contraception. Makes me so angry

Those tortellini things in packets. You just boil them for three mins and you can stir a ready made pasta sauce like pesto through or even just cream cheese. They're tasty.

Beans in toast

Spaghetti and sauce with hot dog sausages

Cheese toastie with soup

Buy a chicken from the hot counter... you could get a jar of curry sauce and have chicken curry or stir fry pack. There's loads of things you could do with ready cooked chicken. Baguette, coleslaw etc

Microwave a jacket potato and have it with cheese snd beans. Ham and cream cheese. Tuna Mayo.

Tuna pasta sweetcorn

Just stir garlic, oil, chilli through spaghetti, could maybe add some prawns and feta. (This one would require chopping things though).

Oven pizza, the ones at the counters at supermarkets are good, especially if you add extra mozzarella

Of course there are always ready meals. Depends on budget but m&s ones are just as good as takeaway IMO.

Noodles on toast. Indomie and mama noodles are both delicious, you could add a fried egg on top.

Fish fingers chips and beans. Or chicken nuggets, Kiev, frozen pie etc .

Rice and stir in egg, frozen peas, frozen chicken or quorn, or prawns etc, anything you like really.

Somethings I just make cuscus and put loads of veg and chicken in it with maybe a squeeze of lemon and some feta.

If you have the energy at any point, a chilli is very easy to make and if you put it on a low heat you can do it in your own time and just add things as you feel capable. This could last you quite a few days as well, same with spaghetti Bol.

Put a wrap in a frying pan on low- sprinkle shredded cheese and ham ( did I say sprinkle? I mean load it up) put another wrap on top. Flip when the bottom gets crispy. Cut like a pizza and serve with salsa/ sour cream if you have it. Takes 5 mins.

Deli sliced beef in instant gravy + premade mash + peas. Takes 5 mins and is hearty

I sometimes make turkey meatballs seasoned with sweet chilli and 5 spice. If you freeze them, they can be served with ready rice.

You can buy those packs of mixed tomatoey, beans? Excellent with a fried egg on top

Get lots of tins/pasta in and frozen veg and potatoes, so that you can mix and match meals depending on how you feel
Don't put yourself under any pressure to produce the perfect meal, it's enough just to eat

Milkshakes are really good OP, it's sometimes easier to drink than eat. You can make really simple ones with banana honey and milk, or you can buy frozen fruit from places like lidl and Iceland (much cheaper than fresh fruit but just as good for you) for cheap. You can just blend with milk, or you can add in things like weetabix or porridge oats for something a bit extra.