skip to the end for what to eat because you have to feed yourself and your people.

Hey friend,

I've missed you. And I owe you an explanation for my disappearing act.

Here's the short version: my body staged a full-on revolt.

Turns out I've had severely low iron. Like, embarrassingly, how-are-you-still-standing low. My ferritin level (that's your stored iron) was a 5. FIVE. The normal range starts at 50. I had apparently been running on fumes for so long that I just assumed exhaustion was my personality.

The fix? Five weekly iron infusions. Which sounds very dramatic and important and honestly felt that way too...mostly because the fatigue that comes with iron deficiency anemia is no joke and lasts well beyond the boost of iron from those infusions (turns out, it takes a bit for your body to get on board).
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We're talking can't-keep-my-eyes-open, the-couch-is-my-best-friend, please-don't-ask-me-to-stand-near-the-stove tired.

Which, as a food blogger, is a little embarrassing to admit.

Enter Nate. My husband. My hero. My personal chef for the last couple of months whether he signed up for that or not. 😄

He kept us fed with the kind of meals that require approximately zero culinary ambition -- and I am here for it. Because sometimes survival looks like a rotisserie chicken and a bag of frozen vegetables, and that is perfectly okay.

I'm on the mend now, energy is coming back, and I'm slowly remembering that I actually love being in my kitchen.

But first... I wanted to share what actually got us through. The no-recipe meals. The heat-and-eat heroes. The things we made that I am absolutely not too proud to put in an email.

Just in case you find yourself in a pure barely standing up kind of tired.

I want to share exactly what got us through.

Because when you're running on empty, decision fatigue is real and "what's for dinner" should not be the thing that breaks you.

So here is me being honest about what that looks like for us.

Breakfast - keeping it embarrassingly simple:

• Egg bake. Nate made one every week and we froze it in portions. He used this recipe. But, of course, added meat.
• Leftovers (zero shame)
• Scrambled eggs + Applegate breakfast sausage. already cooked, just heat it up

Here's my truth: if breakfast isn't fast and easy, I just won't eat it. Getting protein in the morning is a real challenge for me when I'm not well and nothing is prepped and waiting.

The meals Nate actually cooked (bless him):

• ​Buffalo Tofu Caesar Salad : Pinch of Yum (my personal favorite)
• ​Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Beef Roast (his personal favorite)from The Recipe Critic​
• ​Pad Thai: Tastes Better From Scratch​

The real rotation — no apologies:

• Taco Salad
• Rotisserie Chicken
• Frozen Beef Patties
• Chicken Tenders
• Baked Salmon (we use the marinated from this recipe when baking it)
• Gluten Free Pizzas
• Steak (I know, I know — but Nate makes incredible ones and it's honestly one of the easiest dinners we do)
• Bagged salad with various proteins
• Rice bowls — microwave rice plus whatever was hanging around

Sides. Three of them. That's it:

• Sweet potato fries
• Bagged salads
• Steamer veggies

And yes - I bought the better-for-you versions of all the convenience items. Because we can keep it easy AND try to keep it nourishing. Small wins, friends.

We got takeout a couple of times too. And I'm not even a little sorry about it.

I've barely cooked in months. And that's okay. Sometimes okay is exactly enough.

Now I want to hear from you - what's on YOUR survival list? The meals you reach for when you have to eat but you're running low on all the energy and cares?

xo Nellie