3 Tips to Overcoming Kitchen Fatigue

Almost a year into surviving through a pandemic, and it’s undoubtedly impacting every area of my life. 

Most notably, I’ve developed a love/hate relationship with my kitchen. 

I cook a lot more of my meals at home, while not having a lot of time to spend in the kitchen - what a combo. At the beginning of working from home, I found myself skipping meals or eating one massive meal at the end of the day. Basically, working from home caused me to develop some pretty unsustainable eating habits. Over the last few months, I’ve found some habits and tips that have helped me manage kitchen fatigue while still making sure my body gets the fuel it needs.

Here are three tips to overcoming kitchen fatigue in a pandemic -

Make it a date

I noticed that on days where cooking feels like a chore, I make it a “date”. At least one night of the week, I schedule at least an hour in the kitchen and prepare myself a dish. I typically prepare a meal that I’ve been craving or something that brings me comfort. I play my favorite podcast or FT a friend during the hour, and it really makes that time in the kitchen feel less like a chore and more like a “date” or something to look forward to. I also enjoy cooking earlier on in the week so that I can use the leftovers for lunch sometime throughout the week.

Frozen meals and veggies

I don’t know about you, but I have been sick of dishes since June of 2020. In hopes of limiting prep work and the amount of cleaning at the end of the night, I have resorted to using a lot of frozen vegetables and frozen meals. I toss frozen kale or spinach in a saucepan with garlic, onion, and extra virgin olive oil and serve it with toast when I have a 25-minute break between mid-day zoom meetings. A satisfying meal with easy clean-up.

Snack plates and sandwiches

I have always been a fan of sandwiches, but kitchen fatigue has made me develop a newfound appreciation for sandwiches. I made buffalo “chicken” sandwiches, (v)BLTs, veggie burgers, and mushroom melts for lunch over the last few weeks, and they are the perfect mid-day pick me up. Believe it or not, sandwiches can be very comforting. I recently brought a sandwich griddle, and it has taken my sandwich making skills to the next level! Check it out here. Keeping your pantry and fridge stocked with your favorite sandwich ingredients will help you get through kitchen fatigue. 

Besides sandwiches, I’ve started making snack plates with raw veggies, crackers, and fruits to get me through days where I have meetings or class that runs through lunch. My typical plates include dips, cheeses, or sauces such as hummus, dairy-free ranch, guacamole, or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) dips.