AIBU to want to check out?

[ShtoppenDerFloppen]

Actually, this is more of a "wallowing in self pity" thread, but I will try and make it productive.

I am sick - but it isn't a short term, I will be done with it soon sort of sick. The last 3-4 days have been a little rougher than most, though.

I am sitting here trying to think of what to feed the family for the evening meal, and just about to totally give up. I would really like to avoid a takeaway, though.

The family are usually good about pitching in, but right now all 3 DCs are at school/work, DH is at work and will probably roll in late as he has to complete month end submissions today, and 2 of the 3 DCs have evening sports activities, so we don't have the luxury of deciding what to make when everyone rolls in.

So, instead of giving up - would you be so kind as to offer me some easy but healthy food ideas? We are well stocked for food, so I will take any low effort ideas that you are willing to share.

I still have 5 hours or so (am in Canada, so it is only lunch time now).

Thanks in advance.

Omelettes are quick and delicious, and you can add any veg/meat/fish that you like. :-)

Whenever I want something healthy but feel uninspired I make this big salad. I saw it in a BBC Good Food magazine years ago I think, and it's basically just mixing the following things together (the only thing that needs cooking is the bacon) but everyone always wants seconds:
Cherry tomatoes cut in half
Tinned sweetcorn
Feta cheese
Red peppers
Advocadoes
Crispy cubes of bacon
Crunchy lettuce

Hope this helps and that you feel a bit better soon!

Banned potatoe, cheese and beans and salad on the side

Chicken breasts in an oven dish in a row, spread with pesto, then thick sliced tomatoes over the top, topped with grated cheese. Bake for 40 mins at 180°. Absolutely delicious, with baked potatoes or homemade wedges on the side.

Rice (we just use microwave sachets, I use one that is brown rice and quinoa) with chopped up cheese, cucumber, chicken, sweetcorn and a dollop of tzatziki on top - super easy, chuck in whatever you like, problem solved!

Agree baked potato is easy - my go to emergency dinner. Is lovely simply with butter salt and pepper.

Add grated cheese, beans, tuna and sweetcorn - whatever you have. Add a salad if you have it.

A few mins in the microwave and then in the oven. No real prep. Filling and healthy enough

A little late now perhaps, but we found a slow cooker a godsend on days we were tired, busy etc.
Just chop and and sling in a few ingredients, then leave it on for a few hours.

Otherwise pasta dishes can be reasonably quick.

Big roasting tray and chuck on either halved cherry tomatoes or quartered larger tomato, add a glug of olive oil and stick in the oven. Cube up some bread and put it in a food bag, add olive oil and coat it well. Then add to the tomatoes when they're nearly roasted. Cube some cheese, I use feta or halloumi but cheddar will do, add a little oil, some mint, chilli and then a squeeze of honey. Add the cheese to the bread and tomatoes. I sometimes add asparagus or even broccoli to it but sometimes just wilt some spinach. Pretty easy and uses stuff I often have in the fridge or cupboards. Hope things get a little better soon x

Pasta with bacon and peas - just boil pasta, fry bacon and a chopped onion (or you can even leave the onion out of can't be bothered), mix the bacon, onion and some frozen peas into the cooked, drained pasta with lots of cheese, black pepper and some cream/creme fraiche/marscapone/natural yogurt and then grate more cheese on top. YUM!

Omlette is good.

So is fry two onions, add passata or chopped tomatoes and a stock cube and let cook. Then add a handful of pasta for each person, enough water for the pasta to absorb and cook until ready. Serve and grate some cheese over it.

Or if in real need of quick food; cook pasta and once cooked, add a tin of chick peas, some pesto and some cheese. Stir through, season and serve.