Most nights it’s just me and Levi in the kitchen.
And some nights, I absolutely cannot be bothered.
Not with chopping.
Not with planning.
Not with anything that requires more than a minimal level of effort.
Those are the nights where it’s very easy to fall back into crackers.
But over time, I’ve figured out a few meals that are almost as easy — and a hell of a lot better.
These are the ones I go to when I’m tired, hungry, and not interested in making a production out of dinner.
1. Eggs on Something
This is the fallback.
Eggs on:
- toast
- leftover rice
- sautéed vegetables
Fry them, scramble them, doesn’t matter.
Add something sharp if you have it — mustard, hot sauce, vinegar.
Done.
2. Ground Meat + Whatever’s Around
This is as simple as it gets.
Cook:
- ground beef (or whatever you have)
- onion if you can be bothered
- garlic if you feel like it
Then throw in:
- vegetables
- leftover rice
- or just eat it as is
It’s not fancy.
It works.
3. Rotisserie Chicken Shortcut
This one feels like cheating in the best way.
Buy a cooked chicken.
Eat it:
- straight
- in a wrap
- with a quick salad
- or just standing at the counter
Then use what’s left the next day.
Minimal effort. Multiple meals.
4. Pasta + Something
Boil pasta.
Add:
- butter and cheese
- jarred sauce
- leftover meat
- or just olive oil and pepper
You don’t need a full recipe.
You just need something warm and filling.
5. The “Assemble, Don’t Cook” Plate
This is for the lowest-energy nights.
Put things on a plate:
- cheese
- crackers (yes, but not only crackers)
- sliced vegetables
- leftover meat
It’s not cooking.
But it’s still a proper plate of food.
The Point
These meals are not impressive.
They’re not meant to be.
They exist so you don’t have to decide between:
- cooking something complicated
- or not eating properly at all
A Small Standard
Even on the nights you can’t be bothered, you can still do a little better than nothing.
You can still feed yourself.
That’s the standard.
Not perfection.
Just… better.
The Reality
Some nights you’ll still eat toast.
Some nights you’ll still give up.
That’s fine.
But most nights, one of these will get you through.
And that’s enough.
Tonight I’ll probably pick the easiest one.
Levi will be watching, just in case something falls.
And dinner will happen, whether I feel like it or not.
That’s the system.