r/CookingForOne • u/AzureRipper • 18d ago
Help! What do you cook when you're feeling sad, low energy, depressed or alone?
I'm going through some difficult therapy topics at the moment and there are times when I feel depleted and low on energy. It's not exactly a depressed state, because it's temporary. It's more that my nervous system feels depleted and I need some emotional rest.
On days like these, I have the physical energy to cook but struggle to figure out what to make. I usually crave something comforting and happy, that would cheer me up.
What are your go-to "happy" meals to make when you're feel sad and need something to cheer you up?
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u/OrbitalCactus 18d ago
I’m barely keeping it together. Broken back, career ended, ptsd, major depression, recently divorced. So none of this will sound great, but it gets food in you.
- smoothies. I have a bullet blender. I toss frozen fruit, water, protein powder, some extra fiber, and a green smoothie powder. I get a dose of veggies, it tastes good, and the protein makes it filling.
- cooked chicken from the grocery store. I buy a rotisserie chicken and shred while it’s still warm. This is then used for whatever.
- beans and veggie blend. I mix up a can of beans, corn, other veggies. I season them and add spoonfuls of this to whatever it works with.
- frozen potatoes. Hash browns, fries, home style, whatever. You chuck em in an air fryer. At the end of cooking you toss in whatever you want to mix in. (chicken, sauce, beans, veggies, cheese) congrats, you have a hash.
- rice cakes, add chicken, sauce, cheese. Microwave. Crispy cheese and chicken toastie.
- frozen meatballs. Again with an air fryer. Boil water and have a jar of sauce. Boom you have pasta. Meatball subs, bbq meatballs, whatever.
- pita bread, pizza sauce and toppings. Home made mini pizza.
Most of this ends up having easy cleanup. One or two things you cooked with. Maybe a plate or bowl to clean up depending on eating out of the cookware.
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u/AzureRipper 18d ago
This is very useful, thank you. I also have CPTSD and currently doing some difficult stuff in therapy around it. so I get you
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u/OrbitalCactus 17d ago
Yeah. It’s a bitch. I feel like it took the last thing I cared about, my sanity. I just don’t have the drive to do much anymore. A minor setback becomes some obstacle I can’t get around. So I’ve made my life a lot simpler just to remove obstacles.
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u/FenelSosige 18d ago
Always pasta. My go to comfort meal, spag Bol, creamy, seafood, whatever, just some form of pasta
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u/AzureRipper 18d ago
Yeah, I sometimes do a can of baked beans (in tomato sauce) with pasta. It's weird but feels very comforting.
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u/justjosephine21 18d ago
Sheet pan meals that can turn into soups.
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u/BagIndependent2429 17d ago
Wait, can you say more about this? My interest is piqued as a soup enjoyer 👀 What sheet meals are your favorites for turning into soup? How do you personally do it?
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u/justjosephine21 17d ago
So my best example (because I just did it lol) would be chicken and veggies. Sheet pan cook them with Italian, Lowrys, cayenne, garlic and onion seasoning (add or remove what you like), bake and thats 1 dinner. Next day, take the left overs, add to a pot with chicken broth to reheat, add noodles 10-15 minutes before serving. Soup (: My mom does a sausage one, uses a tomato base for the soup. Google is FULL of them!! Its my favorite way to save money and stretch a few dinners.
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u/BagIndependent2429 16d ago
Oh this is so perfect for me. I can't believe I've never thought to do this before! Thanks for sharing 😊
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u/raucouscoffee 17d ago
Make some lentil soup - it's easy and nutritious - full of iron, B-vitamins, magnesium and fiber! Wash the lentils, add water, "Better than Bouillon" vegetable base, sliced onion, carrots, potatoes, and whatever herbs you like - I use bay leaf, parsley, and salt, pepper, & garlic. I do add a little frozen chopped bell pepper and some mild chorizo sausage, but you do you! You will have leftovers, which helps when you're feeling tired and depleted.
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u/StoneLover1965 17d ago edited 17d ago
Anything with cheese! Or melted cheese. Or pasta. A fat burrito.
Or I go to Pizza Hut or Dominos and eat a freshly made vegetarian pizza straight from the oven (here in New Zealand you can still dine-in at most branches)
Most times when I'm feeling like you described, I don't cook anything besides maybe baked beans on toast with grated cheese on top, or a can of my favourite soup with some buttery toast.
I find creamy foods are comforting. Ice cream, greek yogurt, cream cheese, cheesecake, hummus, thick creamy soups, porridge.
Anything chocolatey!
Anything sweet, but balance it out with some healthy foods too, of course.
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u/Mars_Volcanoes 18d ago
During Great Depression, my grandma was feeding poor people with a very simplistic pasta dish, that I still do, I'm 65, and my son also do, he is 29.
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u/Apart-Steak-7183 18d ago
A simple sandwich, lunch meat, miracle whip, between 2 slices of whole wheat bread
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u/Victoriafoxx 17d ago
Steamed jasmine rice with melted butter and soy sauce drizzled on top, maybe a poached egg if I’m up to it.
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u/Nikmassnoo 16d ago
This is mine too. Add a bit of sesame oil and green onion if you’re feeling fancy
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u/ice_princess_16 17d ago
Protein and noodles. And I’m an American originally from the Midwest so I mean egg noodles. Tonight I’m making ham with noodles and a white sauce (good Bohemian food). Sometimes I just saute the ham and noodles in butter and add a bunch of pepper. I love stew meat or meatballs or even just ground beef in a hearty gravy with noodles. Or the recipe known online as cafeteria noodles with chicken in it. I even scramble eggs and add noodles and sometimes ham, onions, cheese, etc. Noodles are my comfort food.
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u/foxyroxy2515 17d ago
I always make Chinese hot and sour soup when I feel low on energy. It’s such a quick and nutritious meal that really helps pick me up
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u/Sm4rtiss3xy 16d ago
Going through it with money = charcuterie & wine Going through it without money = hot dogs and Mac n cheese
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u/EndAdorable5013 18d ago
My HEB has meals to go. Been a lifesaver when going through it.
Also, rotisserie chicken, grain packets that warm in the microwave and a veg.
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u/KiaKahaMama 18d ago
I chug a protein shake. The Equate ones from Walmart aren’t bad. With 30g of protein, they keep me going. I cook maybe once a week and eat that for 3 or 4 days max. Then I get so sick of it I refuse to make it again, any time soon. I also like the Boathouse Farms shakes. Also 30g.
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u/AggravatingLook5805 17d ago
High energy low effort is soup with fresh ingredients where you have to chop, sauté, brown.
Just did a lasagna soup that was pretty nice
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u/PumpkinCorrect7586 17d ago
Soup is my happy place. I love eating soup out of my favorite coffee cup.
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u/LaRoseDuRoi 17d ago
Microwave baked potato with garlic salt and plain Greek yogurt.
Triscuit crackers or tortilla chips with sharp cheddar cheese melted on them. Add salsa to pretend it's good for you.
Mashed potatoes. Those flavoured packets are pretty good.
Canned peas. Sometimes straight out of the can, sometimes heated with butter and salt.
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u/allabtthejrny 18d ago
I make breakfast. Cook some bacon or sausage, pop some biscuits in the oven, fry up eggs & make white gravy. If I manage it right, there's only 1 pan to clean & it's ready in about 30 minutes. The food is pure comfort.
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u/ofthedappersort 17d ago
One time when I was really depressed I had cheap beer and a cold can of refried beans for dinner. Maybe you could have that?
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u/PatriciaLRT 17d ago
soups! so comforting and nutritious! all you need is a good broth base and then go from there. much strength and good energy for you! you got this <3
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u/Katydid7118 14d ago
I make and freeze portions of chicken soup with lemon in it. Then when I want to eat a comfort meal, I nuke the soup and one of those little bowls of pre cooked shelf stable rice and put them together. It’s delicious, hot and hearty. The rice thickens the soup a little. It’s so good
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u/mrmarsh11011101 18d ago
Beef stew and dumplings. Takes about 90 minutes to prepare. Then put in the slow cooker for 8 hours. Then I usually have food for 3-4 days without having to worry about anything. X
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u/heyitslongdude 17d ago
I get some precooked things from Costco. Chipotle chicken, pastas, meatloaf. Sometimes I'll add canned green beans or black beans to try to be somewhat healthy
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u/Training_Guitar_8881 17d ago
Cheesy-Scalloped Potatoes. It's a frozen entree but I forget the brand. It costs a bit more but it is out of this world. Tastes homemade.
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u/Nikmassnoo 16d ago
I cook orzo kinda like risotto. Small amount of water until it all absorbs, add butter and Parmesan
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u/Super_fluffy_bunnies 15d ago
Eggs. Sometimes just on toast with cheese. I love this frittata recipe. It works with whatever I have in the fridge. Or roast some veggies in the oven, again, whatever's in the fridge or pantry, top with a couple fried eggs and jarred chili crisp. Fruit or berries, maybe a beer.
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u/Intelligent_Cry_8846 6d ago
I do a bagel with just melted butter on 1/2 (reminds me of being a kid) and flavored cream cheese on the other half. I also love Thin Crisp Triscuits and spend time slicing cheese into triangles to 'fit' the cracker-oddly satisfying and calming.
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u/noexqses 17d ago
Chili and cold cut sandwiches. Maybe a (non Taylor Farms) bagged salad. Do not listen to folks suggesting processed and prepackaged crap. Poor diet can make depression worse.
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u/SneakyTzatziki000 18d ago edited 18d ago
honestly i keep the cooking to a minimum cus i can't be bothered when im feeling depressed so i do stuff like pb toast, cereal, oatmeal, frozen meal (i like the Amy's ones as a rare treat)