What if I hate to Cook?
4.6 - I Don’t Like to Cook. Can I Eat a WFPB Diet without Cooking?
Our goal at CNS Kitchen is to turn those who do not like to cook into cooking enthusiasts. It is a lofty goal but an important one for many reasons. There are not a lot of WFPB options available in the mainstream market, and cooking is still the best way to ensure that the food you eat aligns with your health goals. But if you are not willing to cook, you can still learn how to put prepared foods together in different ways. To learn more about how to do this, consider our course Whole Food, Plant-Based Cooking: Meal Planning Made Easy. It includes a section called No Prep/Low Prep Meal Planning, and it gives you several dishes you can make with minimal effort. Below are some ideas to help you navigate a WFPB diet without a lot of cooking.
Focus on simplicity and convenience. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods require no cooking and can be easily assembled into salads, snacks, and simple meals. For example, a large salad with a variety of leafy greens, colorful vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, and a simple dressing can be both satisfying and nutritious.
Utilize pre-packaged WFPB options that are available in many grocery stores and online. Look for pre-cut vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, fresh fruit platters, and pre-cooked grains such as quinoa or brown rice. Many stores also offer healthy plant-based dips and spreads like oil-free hummus, guacamole, and salsa, which can be paired with raw veggies or oil-free whole grain crackers. These products can save time and effort while ensuring you still get a variety of nutrients. Be sure to always read labels when purchasing pre-packaged foods. You will learn more about label reading in Lesson 5.2.
Explore restaurants and cafes that offer WFPB options. Many places now cater to and offer dishes that align with a WFPB lifestyle. Research local restaurants or food delivery services that provide healthy plant-based meals. You can often find menu items like grain bowls, vegetable-based soups, and hearty salads that require no cooking on your part.
Consider preparing some no-cook essentials at the beginning of the week. Items like overnight oats, chia pudding, and smoothie packs can be prepped in advance and require no cooking when it’s time to eat. This approach can help streamline your meals and ensure you always have something healthy on hand, even when your schedule is busy or you lack the desire to cook.
One potential drawback of relying on convenience foods and restaurant meals is the higher cost. Pre-packaged items are often more expensive, and the costs can add up quickly if you rely on these foods regularly. Additionally, you might be concerned about the environmental impact of food with so much packaging. Single-use plastics and excessive packaging contribute to waste and environmental degradation, which may be at odds with the sustainability goals often associated with a WFPB lifestyle.
Our goal at CNS Kitchen is to turn those who do not like to cook into cooking enthusiasts. It is a lofty goal but an important one for many reasons. There are not a lot of WFPB options available in the mainstream market, and cooking is still the best way to ensure that the food you eat aligns with your health goals. But if you are not willing to cook, you can still learn how to put prepared foods together in different ways. To learn more about how to do this, consider our course Whole Food, Plant-Based Cooking: Meal Planning Made Easy. It includes a section called No Prep/Low Prep Meal Planning, and it gives you several dishes you can make with minimal effort. Below are some ideas to help you navigate a WFPB diet without a lot of cooking.
Focus on simplicity and convenience. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods require no cooking and can be easily assembled into salads, snacks, and simple meals. For example, a large salad with a variety of leafy greens, colorful vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, and a simple dressing can be both satisfying and nutritious.
Utilize pre-packaged WFPB options that are available in many grocery stores and online. Look for pre-cut vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, fresh fruit platters, and pre-cooked grains such as quinoa or brown rice. Many stores also offer healthy plant-based dips and spreads like oil-free hummus, guacamole, and salsa, which can be paired with raw veggies or oil-free whole grain crackers. These products can save time and effort while ensuring you still get a variety of nutrients. Be sure to always read labels when purchasing pre-packaged foods. You will learn more about label reading in Lesson 5.2.
Explore restaurants and cafes that offer WFPB options. Many places now cater to and offer dishes that align with a WFPB lifestyle. Research local restaurants or food delivery services that provide healthy plant-based meals. You can often find menu items like grain bowls, vegetable-based soups, and hearty salads that require no cooking on your part.
Consider preparing some no-cook essentials at the beginning of the week. Items like overnight oats, chia pudding, and smoothie packs can be prepped in advance and require no cooking when it’s time to eat. This approach can help streamline your meals and ensure you always have something healthy on hand, even when your schedule is busy or you lack the desire to cook.
One potential drawback of relying on convenience foods and restaurant meals is the higher cost. Pre-packaged items are often more expensive, and the costs can add up quickly if you rely on these foods regularly. Additionally, you might be concerned about the environmental impact of food with so much packaging. Single-use plastics and excessive packaging contribute to waste and environmental degradation, which may be at odds with the sustainability goals often associated with a WFPB lifestyle.