I Needed to Eat an Hour Ago Meals + Snacks

Meal and Snack Ideas — ADHD Cooking Tips

so, you let yourself get too hungry again

Same. My ADHD often leads me to a very specific situation—I get completely engulfed in some project, completely forget that I need to energy to do said project, then end up an irritable and distracted mess. All of a sudden I realize that needed to eat, like, hours ago.

When I find myself in this too agitated and too-hungry situation, I opt for the super simple, easy, and fast foods I always try to keep on hand.

Next time you find yourself realizing a little too late that you need to refuel, give one of these quick meals or snacks a try.

Photo by Tim De Pauw on Unsplash

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01. Protein Shakes + Drinks

Protein Shakes are my go-to fast and easy meal right now. My brain/ body/ mind/ soul is on the brink of burnout, so I've been relying on every burnout-friendly meal I can think of to soften the edges.

I like the Shakes that use Sugar as opposed to alternative sweeteners like Stevia extract. I find that the Sugar is both helpful when you're super hungry and need energy, like, now. But also I just prefer the flavor.

If you're someone who finds most Protein Shakes sickly sweet like me, look for ones that use Sugar or are unsweetened.

02. Cheeze + Crackers

I talked about this a bit in my Snacking While Cooking post, but I think it's worth mentioning again here—Cheeze and Crackers are an excellent option.

If for some reason you loathe Crackers or want to mix it up, try these variations:

• Cheeze and Pretzels

• Tortilla Chips/ Plantain Chips and Salsa, Guacamole, or Queso

• Crackers/ Veggies and Hummus

• Potato Chips and Spinach Dip or Sour Cream + Onion dip

This "carb n dip" combo is one of those snacks or meals that provide a bit of hearty, longer-lasting fullness which is why I love it. Add some Fruit—dried or fresh—to make a quick cheeze-plate-type-meal.

03. Smoothies

If you wanna go the extra mile by pulling out the trusty blender, a simple Smoothie is always a good way to get food in fast.

I have tons of Smoothie recipes and none of them are too complex, but here are a few simple Smoothie combos you can try:

• PB, Banana, Strawberry, Milk (my go-to)

• Banana, Mango, Juice

• Pineapple, Mango, Coconut Water

Make sure you add enough liquid before blending—I like to make sure any Fruit is covered with liquid, and then a little bit more. This will make your life easier.

Add in some Nut Butter, Seeds, or Protein Powder to make your Smoothie robust enough to carry you to your next meal.

PB + J Smoothie

04. Instant Ramen

I prefer the kind of Instant Ramen that comes with its own microwavable bowl for the ~convenience~ but you can make Instant Ramen on the stovetop if you're ambitious.

Top with some Kimchi and Chili Oil if you want a lil more flavor, crunch, and spice. You can also add in some frozen Peas or other Veggies before cooking, just heat for a lil longer to ensure they're fully cooked through.

05. Roll Up's or Wraps

Tortilla, Cheeze, Deli Meat, Cream Cheeze, Lettuce.

Viola.

A Wrap.

If you want to take it up a notch, use an Herby Cream Cheeze or add a sprinkle of dried Dill, throw some Chutney, Cranberry Sauce, or Fruit Spread in there, or add some fresh cracked Black Pepper and Flaky Salt.

06. Toast!

I really need to make a Toast idea post, because I've truly got so many options floating about in my mind.

Until then, might I suggest:

• Nooch Toast

• Avocado + a splash of Lemon or Lime Juice

• Cream Cheeze + Chili Oil

• Hummus and sliced Veggies

• Sliced Fruit and Peanut Butter

• Cinnamon Sugar + Butter

Generally, make whatever Toast you're most excited about! If you're so inclined, I do have some other ideas listed in the posts for Savory Breakfast Ideas and Sweet Breakfast Ideas.

If you're out of Bread but have Tortillas, many of these flavor combos will work there, too.

07. Uncrustables

These lil freezer Sandwiches, Uncrustables, are wonderful for those moments when you genuinely have no idea what to make for a meal and you're too hungry to heat anything up.

If you've never had one, Uncrustables are frozen PB + J's cut into circles to remove the crusts.

I like to pop these out of their bags and eat them while still frozen—the Peanut Butter is less, Peanut-Buttery-Sticky and the Jam is a lil frosty.

Also, apparently, they make Sandwich Sealers so you can make these yourself?? I'm definitely intrigued but have never tried them. I imagine this is a great option for those who want to customize your sandwiches more, like to plan ahead, or need a GF option.

“the last bite of an uncrustable”. bread with peanut butter and jam, 2021

08. Toaster Hashbrowns

So, I love Toaster Hashbrowns. You know, the little pancakes of Hashbrown that come filed neatly in a box.

They can actually go in your toaster.

I typically pop mine in for 2 rounds at the max length and they come out crispy and perfect.

Wait until they're cooled a bit to remove them or they'll disintegrate into the toaster and, if you're already super hungry, you might wind up crying. It happens.

Some folks have fancy toasters—if you're one of those people, don't make it this way. Pop it in a pan or toaster oven instead to preserve the longevity of your fancy toaster.

A word of warning: the toaster method does get Hashbrown Oil on the spokes that hold Bread in place and it will drip into the bottom crumb pan. Regularly clean out this oily crumb pan! And if for some reason the Oil gets on the coils, your kitchen could get a lil smokey.

09. Peanut Butter Cups

...yeah so this is one of my favorite ways to get food in me fast. I know it's not the heartiest or the most robust snack, but that’s not its purpose in my “I needed to eat like, an hour ago” toolbelt.

The Peanut Butter and Sugary Chocolate help propel me into action when I need to make something more substantial. It’s a starting off point. A jolt of energy, if you will.

I really enjoy the Trader Joe's Sunflower Butter Cups, but any Nut Butter + Chocolate combo should do the trick.

Heck, you could probably just dip some Chocolate Covered Pretzels in Peanut Butter if you want a similar effect.

10. Yogurt and Granola

Or just Yogurt if the extra step of adding Granola is just too much.

I've been enjoying the French-style Coconut Yogurt "Oui" by Yoplait as of late. To be honest, though, it's mostly because they come in the cutest little glass jars that are now scattered all across my house.

Any Yogurt will do! Just make sure it's one you're excited to eat. For some people, that's a Plain, Unsweetened Greek Yogurt.

That's not me. I like the kinds infused with some fruity flavor or Jam.

11. Microwave Nachos!

Nachos are probably in my top 10 favorite foods—maybe even top 5. They can truly be as simple or complex as you like, but for these purposes, I'd like to remind you of the trifecta of flavor:

1. Salsa

2. Cheeze

3. Refried Beans

This trio is typically my baseline Nacho for when I'm way too hungry to make a big meal but need something robust. Anything else I add is a bonus. A delicious, delicious bonus.

If you want to get fancy, add in some Pickled Jalapenos or Pepperoncinis. Top with some Cashew Lime Crema hiding in your fridge or a scoop of Sour Cream.

Layer the Beans, Chips, and Cheeze on a big plate or bowl and microwave till everything is heated through. Top with the Salsa at the end and eat with enthusiastic hands or your favorite spoon.

When you're got the zest for it, give the Tater Tot Nachos I included in my newsletter a try.

And while you're at it, make sure you're signed up for my newsletter, bites and pieces ! You'll get even more kinda-weird-but-really-good recipes you won't find on the blog, cozied up in your inbox each month.

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okay, but what if I want to eat BEFORE it's too late??

Many of the tips I included in my post, How to Eat When Your Meds Ruin Your Appetite, are applicable here.

But off the top of my head, here are some strategies I like to keep in mind to avoid a complete plummet of energy:

• Liquid food is so fast and amazing and beautiful. Opt for Juice, Milk, Protein Shakes, Kombucha, Sugary Coffee Drinks (with Milk of choice), Gatorade. Anything with a lil Sugar can give you that burst of energy to make a fuller meal. Even a sip can help a lot to give that brain a boost of glucose.

• Similar idea as above—a lil candy can go a long way. If I'm feeling angsty and irritable, I often opt for a few gummy candies to get something in my system, quick.

• Keep other appropriate Snacks nearby. If sweet stuff doesn't work for you, stock up on the "kid's lunchbox items" like those Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, Plantain Chips, Corn Nuts, Jerky, Protein Bars, etc.

• If you work from home, keep a Snack Basket near your workspace! Fill it with things you can enjoy that don’t make a mess while you eat em.

• If you're often out-n-about, ensure you've got a backpack, purse, or other pack with a few Snacky items at the ready.

• Make Your Staple Meal List!! Utilize your list whenever you need to decide what to eat. This makes it so much easier to pick a meal when you’re not putting it off for hours on end.

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