Executive Dysfunction Meals

Recipe Request

What do you cook when the entire process of prepping food, cooking it, and then cleaning up feels like Too Much?

I have ADHD and really struggle with cooking on a regular basis. Most of my executive function is eaten up by the work day, and by 5pm I’m usually burnt out on the idea of anything involving actual effort. Compound that with sensory issues that make most leftovers a no-go and it means I eat a lot of takeout. Some days are great, and I manage to get really into the swing of it and make an awesome meal. But those are rare compared to the “sticking a pizza pocket in the microwave and not washing the plate is the most I can manage” days.

That second type of day is unsalvageable because of the aforementioned issues with leftovers. But for the in between days, I need some normal people’s “off day” meals. Ideally healthy to offset the takeout days. I have a bunch of sensory issues with foods but need ideas more than specific recipes, so I’ll sub out anything I can’t tolerate.

in Cookingby Fuzzlechan

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uriboo

Yeeting a chicken thigh in the airfryer for 10 minutes, adding some veggies like broccolli, and going for another 10-15, is sometimes the best I've got. Sometimes I'll add a diced potato, or just settle for a side of (garlic)bread.

One of my faves is, on a day off work, I make chicken pies. You can just grab the pastry from the store, and even just use a bechamel sauce from a jar. Then I put the pastry into a muffin tin, fill it with chicken, sauce and leeks (or whatever filling you like!), and bake for 20 minutes. 1 to eat that night, and the rest to pop in the freezer. You pull one of those out some other night, 14 minutes in the airfryer from frozen. You would never know it's a leftover if you do it in an airfryer or oven (microwave not so great).

Also consider vegetable soups (broccolli creme is my goto), cheap ramen noodles (add a handful of spinach and pop in an egg while the water is boiling and ta-da), and your bog standard sandwich can have some added lettuce or coleslaw.

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about getting all your basic foodgroups and macros than true "healthy" food. Especially fruit and veg are hard to get in takeaway food, so try to consider taking a piece of fruit or some veggie sticks to work to munch on. Even drinking 1 glass of fruit juice a day is not bad for you and can supply you with some vitamins.

Fuzzlechan

Frankly, I’d be more concerned about getting all your basic foodgroups and macros than true “healthy” food. Especially fruit and veg are hard to get in takeaway food, so try to consider taking a piece of fruit or some veggie sticks to work to munch on.

Thankfully I end up eating a lot of wraps and pitas! Raw vegetables are fantastic - I try to have a baggie of baby carrots in the fridge at all times to have as a side or a snack. I can’t do McDonalds type takeout more than once a week or I drive myself nuts with the repetition.

I should do the instant ramen more often though! Maybe pre-cut some ham into cubes on a good day and shove that in the freezer to be tossed in there. I hate frozen spinach and always forget that the fresh stuff exists when I buy it, but I normally have some kind of vegetable I can throw in the pot.

The pie making isn’t happening, but I could probably find a decent premade brand and keep some in the freezer. I think we might actually have some right now, I should check. Husband loves them so he almost definitely wouldn’t complain if they got made more often, haha.

uriboo

Fair play! Raw carrots for snacking is an absolute fav of mine.

Fuzzlechan

I’m lucky that my food issues are mostly around cooked vegetables and not raw ones! Raw are way less effort.

Ooooooh I have a leftover bell pepper in my fridge too! … Why don’t I make myself mini charcuterie boards more often? I love making the big ones for parties!