I’ve been in survival mode lately. It’s been one thing after another. My father had a heart attack. Two weeks later, my grandmother had a hospital stay, transitioned to hospice, and passed away within the span of a week. My toddler had a stomach bug and, with all the other commotion, got thrown out of her routine and has had trouble sleeping. I’ve had my own health challenges recently that have involved extreme fatigue. All that is to say—I am worn out. 

One of the things that’s been difficult is coming up with meals for my family. It’s easy to turn to takeout, fast food, and food delivery—they’re quick and easy options when you’re in a bind, but the cost adds up quickly and they’re not as healthy as meals you whip up at home. 

So, I asked my community of friends and family—what is the go-to meal you fix when you’re in survival mode? I received a ton of responses and inspiration, and I’d like to share them with you for the next time you’re exhausted but still need to feed yourself and your family. 

Also included are recipe links in case some of these are new to you.

Breakfast Ideas

Good for breakfast /breakfast for dinner

• French toast
• Quick and Easy French Toast
• Easy French Toast Recipe
• Oatmeal with blueberries
• Blueberry Oatmeal
• Easy Blueberry Oatmeal
• Fried egg sandwiches
• The Viral Feta Fried Egg Sandwich
• The Viral Feta Fried Egg Sandwich with Chili Sauce
• Fried Egg, Ham, and Cheese Sandwiches
• Scrambled Eggs with Toast and/or Sausage/Bacon 
• Coconut yogurt and berries 
• Cheerios

Lunch and Dinner Ideas

Good for lunch and dinner

• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
• Grilled Ham and Cheese
• Crock Pot Hot Ham and Cheese
• Cheese and Pickle sandwich (Grilled)
• Spaghetti or Pasta
• 10 Minute Easy Spaghetti
• Easy Creamy Lemon Caper Pasta
• Butter Noodles with cheese
• Macaroni and Cheese (Kraft, Stouffers, etc)
• Ramen
• Tacos
• Best Homemade Tacos
• Easy 20 Minute Chicken Tacos
• Rice/Potato Dishes
• Microwave Fried Rice (Instant rice with a microwaved egg, soy sauce, and scallions
• Easy Ham Steak with Microwaved Mashed Potatoes
• JasmineRice with Fish Sauce, Lime Juice, and Diced Chilies 
• Miscellaneous (Snack, salads, etc)
• Buffalo Chicken Dip with Veggies, Crackers, or Nothing at all
• Cheese and Crackers
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets with French Fries/Tater Tots
• Salad with Tofu, Homegrown Tomatoes and Cucumbers, Chia and Ground Flax Seeds, and Nutritional Yeast 

What’s in your fridge?

My Fridge Food is a website that allows you to check a box next to items in your fridge to generate a recipe.I checked off avocado, bacon, cheese and bread and received a recipe for a bacon and avocado grilled cheese.

Here’s a list of other websites that will do the same:

• Cook Pad
• Big Oven
• Pinterest
• Epicurious (app)

Photo: “A Woman Preparing Food with Her Daughter” by Kampus Productions