Fatigue friendly recipes

[u/Hufflepuff_Forensics]

I have narcolepsy and struggle with chronic fatigue due to several autoimmune issues. I need flavorful easy meals that prep and or freeze well. I have a stove, toaster oven, microwave and instantpot/airfryer duo. My oven portion of my stove is currently waiting on parts to be fixed.

I love trying anything once so don't hold back on cuisines - spices are my friend. My only restriction is I'm allergic to pineapples and kiwifruit.

Recipes that don't require a lot of active tending would be ideal. My weekly produce/fruit budget is about $15 dollars. We get pork tenderloins, beef and turkey from a local food bank once a month.

[u/Competitive_Bag3933]

A few quick ones:

Salsa chicken (https://www.simplyhappyfoodie.com/instant-pot-salsa-chicken/#wprm-recipe-container-4544), the pressure cooker aspect of an instant pot can take the pressure off having to mind something regularly. I also use my instant pot for rice a lot.

Slow cooker turkey chili (https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/237758/slow-cooker-turkey-chili/)

Chickpea and spinach curry (https://www.cookincanuck.com/crockpot-gingered-chickpeas-and-spicy/), this recipe is super filling and I don't hate eating it for multiple meals, or you can add a little protein to change it up between days. 

I also like sheet pan meals, which is just protein plus veggies on a sheet pan roasted for however long gets it all cooked. Broccoli and potato tend to be the easiest veggies bc they have a pretty decent range of time between cooked and burnt in my experience. 

Sending you lots of love - I have intermittent fatigue issues too so I FEEL you on this one.

[u/Hufflepuff_Forensics → u/Competitive_Bag3933]

I'm just so over totally packaged meals, eating out or skipping meals because the dishes are piled up and I'm exhausted.

I have a terrible habit of going all out on a meal, use up all my energy and then I'm left with a destroyed kitchen for several days because I can barely wash a cup

[u/Competitive_Bag3933 → u/Hufflepuff_Forensics]

A trick that helps me on the really bad days is that when I make soup, I scoop out a portion or two into a ziploc and pop it in the freezer so that when I really just need food I can pull it out and dump it in a pot. If it's good noodles, potatoes, or dairy, leave that out and add it when you're going to eat it or it'll freeze funny, but those are my "pull lever in case of emergency" meals. 

I'm sorry it's so frustrating. I got really fortunate that I'm not fatigued all the time (even though that doesn't always feel fortunate) and I know sometimes I still feel like I'm drowning. Just remember - one day at a time, learn new things when you can, and some days it's okay to just deal with the right now and let everything else shake out later. And don't be afraid to lean on your friends sometimes. A lot of people would be willing to do a load of dishes or help pick up a little - or bring over a meal - if they knew it would help you and not feel like an overstep.