It is just me, which I think is part of the problem. If I had someone else to cook for or with, I think I would be more likely to do it. I would love to know some of your tricks!
Sadly no grill (not allowed in my apartment complex) and I have a small freezer. I do meal prep my breakfast and lunch every weekend, but thinking I maybe need to do more to prep for dinners so I have less of an excuse. If I cut up my veggies and my meats, even season up the meats so I can just toss them right in, I think that would help a bunch alone. I usually only cook like 3x a week (one big meal on the weekends and then 2 smaller meals during the week). But especially by the end of the week I am just so tired to cook yet so bored with leftovers.
I just stocked up at the Indian and Asian markets today so I can make a bunch of meals with those flavors (and they are often fast and easy). I have plenty of rice and noodles and just put naan and roti in the freezer. Pretty much I could just get away with buying protein and veggies and could make an array of meals (and I even have a ton of fish and shrimp in the freezer, plus some chicken).
As a single person, I'd stick with cook once, eat twice for the summer. A nice steak with carmelized onions and peppers seasoned with only s&p grilled one day gets split and becomes steak fajitas the next with just a little bit of changed seasoning or sauce, fresh lettuce, and salsa or guac...
A baked, pan sauteed, or grilled chicken breast with literally any seasoning can be rested on top of greens and raw veg with croutons or fried onions or cheeses the next day for a main course salad.
Spaghetti and meatballs can become meatball subs the next day with just a roll and melted cheese.
You see how this goes...the 1st day protein can be lightly seasoned or kept in the same flavor profile for the 2nd day to make an easy meal.
My 2nd trick is that it's summer...so keep containers of fresh berries and other fruits around (dump in a smoothie at the end of the week, so you don't waste them if you don't eat them)...also keep salad ingredients and fresh cheeses in your fridge and a nice balsamic and olive oil in your pantry (and basil in a pot
)...and simple meal of a panzenella salad (with whatever you have) for Fridays is a wonderful meal, preppable in 10 minutes or made the night before and ready to be savored after it sat all day...and it uses up your fresh breads, your scant veg that sit around, and has tomatoes which are always yummy in summer...and a secret - I always make mine a cross between panzenella and caprese when it's a meal, so add the fresh mozz...it's great
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3rd trick is have a "go to" fridge meal...whether it's a cold fruit soup, a gazpacho, a peanut noodle, a chicken or tuna salad, a pasta salad, etc...have something around that you'll eat on Thursday if you haven't gotten to it before...but that's there for when you don't want to cook...I have a mango lime coconut soup that you can float kiwi or strawberries in that's a refreshing summery goodness...and having a few cocktail shrimp with it (or a container of deli shrimp salad) and the meal is done and delicious - or add a grilled ham and cheese - even a PBJ - it's a soup and sandwich meal any way you want it...and the soup can sit for a few days b/c it's dairy-free (and actually gets better then 2nd day)...have that "it can sit" meal that you love always around
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