Cooking can be a task when you have a busy schedule or simply don’t enjoy the process of cooking. Forcing yourself to cook is no good either. This often makes us want to order food from a restaurant, but that means that you will have to settle for something unhealthy. With the lifestyle we lead today, it becomes imperative to consciously eat healthy. But now the most important question remains—how to eat healthy without cooking?

If you’re wondering whether eating healthy without cooking is a difficult task, fret not. There are many foods that can be cooked in a number of ways to ensure that you get your daily dose of nutrients. Here are 9 ways to get you started with eating healthy without cooking.

Milkshakes

Milkshakes are not just delicious but can also be healthy and do not require any cooking. They are perfect for treating yourself in summers. But they often contain fat and calories. However, you can turn a milkshake into a healthy and nutritious beverage through just a few simple steps. Milkshakes filled with Vitamin D, calcium, protein, and other essential vitamins and minerals are just as simple as making a regular milkshake. One of the most efficient ways to turn a regular milkshake in a nutrient-packed shake is by adding whole foods like sweet potatoes and cow’s milk. You may also add dry fruits and chia seeds to improve the milkshake’s health quotient.

Vegetable juices

The best part about vegetable juices is that you get to have healthy food without cooking. Juices have gained popularity worldwide among fitness and health conscious individuals. Drinking vegetable juice is a quick and convenient way to get your nutrients. There are different vegetables that can be used to make power-packed juices. Some popular choices are kale, carrots, beets, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, parsley, cucumbers, wheatgrass, celery, and tomatoes. These vegetables are high in several important nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamin A, C, and K. Benefits of drinking vegetable juices include sufficient consumption of biotin, potassium, and carotenoids. Beets contain high amounts of manganese, nitrates, folate, and potassium. Vegetable juices are easy to make and super healthy to consume.

Smoothies

Smoothies are the best way to get as much nutrition as possible in just one drink. You can make smoothies of some superfoods to ensure that you eat healthy without cooking. Making a smoothie is simple and fun. All you need is plenty of fruits and some milk. You may add honey to your smoothie instead of sugar to sweeten it. Adding certain vegetables will boost the nutritional content of your smoothie. Consider making a smoothie using these vegetables and fruits—kale, spinach, blueberries, strawberries, Greek yogurt, cucumber, banana, turmeric, ginger, and chia/flax seeds.

Salad

Preparing a vegetable salad is the easiest way to make a healthy snack. Some of the healthiest options you can add to a salad are chickpea, cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, capsicum, tofu, mayonnaise, avocado, lentil, cheese, and lettuce. You may also add foods of your own choice that are healthy and do not require any cooking. To add to your salad’s nutritious value, you can sprinkle some healthy seeds on top.

Yogurt bowl

A yogurt bowl, or a parfait, is a simple way of eating healthy without cooking. You can flavor your yogurt with a superfood like blueberry or strawberry. Adding banana slices, apple slices, strawberries, blueberries, oats, and seeds to a bowl of yogurt will give you a delicious and powerful bowl of nutrition. Add raisins, almonds, and walnuts to the yogurt bowl for better taste and added nutrition.

Fruit salad

Fruit salad is another fun way to feed yourself healthy foods without having to cook. What’s more? A fruit salad is extremely easy to make. You can take 4-5 different kinds of fruits, peel them off, and cut them into small bite-sized pieces. Making a fruit bowl with only seasonal fruits is also beneficial. You may pick up fruits like oranges, bananas, pineapples, papaya, watermelon, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, and grapes to prepare a healthy snack without the hassle of cooking.

Flax seeds, quinoa, chia seeds

Flax seeds are loaded with potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, folate, Omega-3 fatty acids, and more. They improve heart health and lower the risk of stroke. They also have powerful antioxidant properties. Quinoa seeds too are nutritious; they contain plant compounds that have numerous health benefits, and are high in fiber. Known as modern day superfoods, chia seeds are a great source of energy. They are packed with fiber, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, and several other micronutrients. All these seeds are great for health and can be added to dishes or snacks. You can sprinkle them onto your salad, yogurt bowl, smoothies, and milkshakes. You may also consume them directly as per your preference. However, chia seeds should be soaked in water for a few hours before you consume them with water.

Dry fruits

Dry fruits like almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and raisins are rich sources of antioxidants that are bound to benefit your health. Eating a handful of dry fruits every day is healthy as they provide numerous benefits like balanced blood pressure, improved blood sugar, and reduced inflammation. They are also great for preventing several diseases as they are filled with antioxidants, which help reduce oxidative damage in the body.

Milk with honey

Lastly, one of the most simplest ways to eat healthy without cooking is by having a glass of cow’s milk with honey in it. Milk is filled with calcium and contains protein, potassium, and vitamins that improve a person’s health. Combining milk with honey provides several health benefits and even improves stamina.