What to Eat When You’re Trying to Be Healthy, but Don’t Want to Cook

Because cooking is fun, but not when you’re exhausted.…

Because cooking is fun, but not when you’re exhausted.

I don’t know about you guys, but when I get home after work and it’s dark, I want my evening to consist of my sofa and Gilmore Girls reruns, not slaving over my stove to make something healthy.

On days when I’m feeling like I really can’t muster the strength to cook, I make stovetop popcorn with olive oil and coconut oil, but it’s not the best option nutritionally.

So I figured I’d do some ‘research’ (i.e. speak to our nutritionists) and share my learnings with you guys, because the only thing better than delicious food is delicious food that takes 5 minutes to throw together.

If you’re keto…

You will need:
1/4 cup walnuts
1 oz pecorino romano cheese
1 serving chia pudding (1 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup chia seeds – soaked in the fridge overnight)

The best thing about this recipe is that there is literally no prep involved. Everything is pretty much ready when you get to it. Just enjoy! (We’d have the chia as dessert.)

If you’re paleo…

You will need:
4 oz smoked salmon
2 tbsp of pine nuts
1/4 cup of green peas
1/2 an avocado
s+p for seasoning
drop of olive oil

There’s little bit of prep work here. You need to mash the peas and avocado together. Then you sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle a little olive oil on top, and throw in the pine nuts. Grab a spoon and eat your yummy nutritious ‘guac’.

If you’re eating clean…

You will need:
1 wholewheat tortilla wrap
1/2 an avocado
1/2 cup of spinach
1/4 cup alfalfa sprouts
1/4 of a red onion
1/4 cup of sweetcorn
1/4 cup of garbanzo beans
drop of olive oil
s+p for seasoning

TACOS! Mash your avocado, spread it on the tortilla wrap, add spinach on top, then slice the red onion, placing the slices on top of the spinach; add the sweetcorn, garbanzo beans, a tiny bit of olive oil and salt and pepper and enjoy!

If you’re bulking up on protein…

You will need:
1/2 cup shrimp
1/4 cup full-fat, quark
1/2 cup watercress
1/4 cup sliced cucumber
2 slices of dark seeded rye bread, thinly-sliced
s+p for seasoning

It’s tempting to go for deli meats like salami, but we think seafood is better as it’s less processed. For your high-protein dinner, take your two slices of rye bread, spread them with quark, pack tightly with sliced cucumber, top with shrimp, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top off with watercress.

If you just want something light…

You will need:
1/4 cup spinach
1/4 cup arugula
1/4 cup sliced radishes
1/4 cup sliced fennel
1/4 lemon, squeezed
tsp olive oil
s+p for seasoning

Throw all the greens into a bowl, add the s+p, lemon juice and olive oil, toss together and serve!

See, no-cook meals don’t have to be hard! Did you find a recipe you like? Make it and tag us in it on Instagram!

RELATED: This Is What Nutritionists Actually Eat In A Day

All of the content and media on Lifesum is created and published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Users should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice. If you have or think you are at risk of developing an eating disorder, do not use the Lifesum app and seek immediate medical help.