Do you often resort to take-away meals when you are too busy or lazy to cook? I used to. But then my tummy started to look like a baby whale while my bank account shrivelled into a piggy bank.
So, I changed my tactic. How can I make sure I have some tasty food even when I don’t feel like preparing any?
Before I go any further, I should tell you I’m quite fussy. My meal must meet two minimal requirements. It has to be nutritious and delicious. (ha! New word: Nutrilicious.)
Take-away meals can be tasty, but I can’t be sure of their nutritional value. It’s safe to assume that the food sellers don’t use the best quality ingredients as they are there to make profits and not to look after my health.
So, I started to keep my cupboard well stocked. I also make sure I have at least some cherry tomatoes lying about. And I always have cooked rice in the fridge.
With that, I’ve been able to create fast food any time without having to cook.
This is one base formula I use.
This will serve one. So, scale it up if there are other people as well.
Here’s the list of ingredients:
• 120g tin of tuna (no drain version is the best)
• a bowl of cooked rice
• a chunk of onion
• 5 to 10 cherry tomatoes or one big one
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of salt (add more if necessary)
Now, time yourself.
1. Warm the rice in the microwave.
2. Dice the onion and halve the tomatoes if they are big.
3. Grab a big bowl.
4. Tip all the ingredients in and mix them up.
5. Eat it up.
I’ve always managed to do the whole thing in 10 minutes. And I’m not even a fast worker.
This meal is healthy. Well … at least, healthier than any take out meal you might otherwise have bought.
It’s always a good idea to have cooked rice in the fridge. One useful thing I’ve found is to cook a big batch of rice in my rice cooker. That way, I always have cooked rice in the fridge. It’s very versatile.
What If You Don’t Have Cooked Rice Ready?
You can replace it with cooked pasta. If not, you can simply have it on a slice of bread.
What If You Don’t Have Any Tomatoes?
Throw in any vegetables you can eat raw. Things like lettuce and baby spinach make a good alternative.
If you don’t have any vegetables at all, throw in some nuts. My favourites are cashew and macadamia.
There you go. I hope you enjoy this simple fast food.