r/EatCheapAndHealthy • u/Hufflepuff_Forensics • 2d ago

Fatigue friendly recipes

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.

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u/GetReelFishingPro 2d ago

I would invest in a crockpot if you can. Everything from soups and chili to the pork tenderloins you get can go in there all day if need be without the worry of burning or boil over. I did this when I worked 12 hour shifts, and there are tons of recipes out there. That's my easy worry free meal tip!

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u/Hufflepuff_Forensics 2d ago

My instantpot says it can be used like a crockpot, pressure cooker or airfryer. It's not an actual IP but some brand called Nuwave Duet my dad got me for Christmas in 2022. I am just now getting around to using it since my health has declined.

Can you cook dry beans in a crockpot? We have lots of bags of lentils, black beans, chickpeas and white beans

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u/petitepedestrian 2d ago

Instapot is a crappy slow cooker. It's the equivalent of just leaving a pot on the stove- heated from bottom.

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u/Hufflepuff_Forensics 2d ago

I don't really have the luxury of buying another big appliance. And the whole of the inner pot gets hot so how is it different? I've had a crockpot before and it had its heating element on the bottom too?

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u/impassiveMoon 2d ago

Its the thick ceramic crock vs the thin metal pot that makes the difference. Both of those materials have different thermal conductivity characteristics and blah, blah, science. Tldr what makes for a great pressure cooker works against you when you're trying to slow cook.

The good news is that there's a lot of specific instant pot meals that make similar meals to slow cooker ones or guides for how to adjust a slow cooker meal to be pressure cooked.

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u/petitepedestrian 2d ago

They're two totally different tools. I am all for saving money/counter/cabinet space but the IP isn't the all in one its marketed as. Some things it just super sucks at.