"I don't have time to cook!" As founder of Eat This, Not That!, I hear that from fans every day. And my answer is simple: "You don't have to." That's because it's possible to eat healthy and delicious meals in minutes, especially if you choose from this list of amazingly awesome time savers.
Each of these picks is new, as in you haven't seen it before. Every one is trendy, made with the latest and most mouth-watering ingredients. And every one tastes homemade but is ready in just minutes, saving you more than seven hours of cooking time.
Farin' UP Pancake, Crepe, Brownie and Cookie mixes, $6, Farin' UP
Who doesn't like European pastries? Now you can make them at home in minutes — and save yourself a flight — thanks to Farin' UP bake mixes. The scrumptious flavors include French crepes, pancakes, brownies and chocolate chip cookies with Belgian chocolate. All in an easy, pourable container — you just add milk. The packaging features an easy twist-off cap for no-mess pours, accurate measuring and longer shelf life. The brand is from Luxemburg, and after centuries of success overseas (since 1704), it's finally coming to America. Yum.
Time it would normally take: 30 minutes
Time this takes: 10 minutes
You Save: 20 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts for French Crepes: 156 calories, 3 g fat, 72 mg sodium, 4 g sugar, 5 g protein
PB2 Smoothie Kits, available this fall at local supermarkets and warehouse clubs
Smoothies are nutrition at the press of a button (I should know, I wrote the book on it called Zero Belly Smoothies). And they just got even easier. PB2 sells what are essentially meal kits for smoothies — a collection of cut-up fruit, which is frozen along with a pre-measured container of powder made out of peanuts. No more cutting up fruit, or getting your hands sticky from frozen fruit, or hunting down a canister of protein powder and measuring it. All you need is a blender. And you get 16 grams of plant protein. No belly-bloating whey, dairy or soy.
Time it would normally take: 8 minutes
Time this takes: 1 minutes
You save: 7 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts: About 260 calories, 15 g protein
Mann's Nourish Bowls, $5, Jet
You'll love this new line of single-serve, warm meals with fresh veggies, grains and sauce. Pop one in the microwave and three minutes later you have a healthy, delicious lunch. They feature uber-trending vegetables like kohlrabi, butternut squash, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, kale and sugar snap peas. And with flavors like Southwest Chipotle, Monterey Risotto, Sesame Sriracha and Bacon Maple Brussels, you can tell they were developed by chefs.
Time it would normally take: 45 minutes
Time this takes: 3 minutes
You save: 42 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts for Southwest Chipotle: 220 calories, 6 g fat, 680 mg sodium, 9 g sugar, 11 g protein
Hip Chick Farms Organic Ketchup Chicken Fingers, $32 for four 8-ounce boxes, Hip Chick Farms
Also available in-store at Walmart.
Here's one for the kid in all of us — chicken fingers with the ketchup cooked right in! Yes, organic ketchup is mixed with crunchy panko breadcrumbs to create a unique and tasty meal. They come fully cooked and frozen for a protein-rich meal ready in minutes. They're made by Hip Chick Farms, a company started by two women from California devoted to "transparently sourced poultry products that are convenient for busy families." No antibiotics. No hormones. All good.
Time it would normally take: 1 hour
Time this takes: 10 minutes in an oven; 2 minutes in the microwave
You save: 58 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts: 190 calories, 8 g fat, 480 mg sodium, 3 g sugar, 18 g protein
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Ancient Harvest Heat-and-Eat Quinoa, $38 for twelve 8-ounce pouches, Amazon
At Eat This, Not That!, we love quinoa but always end up cooking too much. Ancient Harvest has made it beyond easy to get a serving of legumes (via lentils) and grains (the quinoa) in a flavorful packet ready in just 90 seconds. They're called Heat and Eat and that's all you have to do. You can get them in Chickpeas and Garlic, Lentils and Garlic, Southwestern Quinoa or Sea Salt. Each has 8 to 11 grams of protein. They're great for lunch, dinner — or as a side!
Time it would normally take: 15 minutes
Time this takes: 90 seconds
You save: 13½ minutes
Calorie Count/Nutrition Facts for Quinoa with Sea Salt: 230 calories, 8 g protein
Crock-Pot Delicious Dinner Kits, $37, Amazon
Yes, slow cooking can be fast. The time savings is in the preparation. These Crock-Pot Delicious Dinner Kits are filled with all the spices and pasta you need. You just add four simple ingredients — including your protein — for a one step prep. They come in eight flavors: White Chicken Chili, Chicken & Dumplings, Beef Burgundy, Chicken Marsala, Jambalaya, Beef Chili, Chicken Cacciatore and Cuban Black Beans & Pork. The kits are all natural — they contain no artificial ingredients, flavoring, preservatives or coloring.
Time it would normally take: 1 hour
Time this takes: 1 minute
You save: 59 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts for Beef Burgundy: 90 calories, 500 mg sodium, 2 g sugar, 3 g protein
Tyson Tastemakers, $11, Amazon Fresh
A big name brand is finally getting into the marinade game, with Tyson Tastemakers. All the ingredients are ready to cook right from the package. The meat has been marinated and chopped, the fresh sauces have been blended and the sides are ready to go. What's also great is that this kit tastes great on its own or you can easily throw in some broccolini or snap peas to add your own touch and get a serving of fresh veggies.
Time it would normally take: Up to 4 hours
Time this takes: 15 minutes
You save: 3 hours and 45 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts for Korean BBQ Chicken: 380 calories, 11 g fat, 990 mg sodium, 16 g sugar, 22 g protein
Foodstirs Organic Minute Mug Cake Mix, $5 for four 2.5-ounce packets, Amazon
Also available at Starbucks locations nationwide, mug cakes are all the rage on Instagram, and it's easy to see why. They are decadent, gooey and the perfect treat. Now it takes just about a minute in the microwave, thanks to these Foodstirs Organic Minute Mug Cake Mixes. You can get them in flavors such as Celebration Confetti, Molten Chocolate Chip and Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake.
Time it would normally take: 15 minutes
Time this takes: 1 minute
You save: 14 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts for Molten Chocolate Chip: 310 calories, 38 g sugar, 4g of protein
Sprelly, $11, Sprelly
Stop arguing over which jelly goes best with peanut butter. Sprelly has cracked that nut. The jars feature purple or orange dots on the packaging. Match 'em up and you've got the perfect pair. Bonus, they're made by a grassroots company in Virginia. Support them and feel good by eating well.
Time it would normally take: 10 minutes
Time this takes: 0 minutes
You save: 10 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts: About 300 calories
Freshe's Small Meals, available this fall
There's nothing sadder than opening a can of tuna and eating it over the kitchen counter — the movie cliché of the sad bachelor. That's why I love these Small Meals from Freshe. They're vibrant and delicious, with sustainably sourced wild tuna, and infused with savory herbs and spices. The flavors include: Sicilian Caponata, Aztec Ensalada, Thai Sriracha and Provence Niçoise.
Time it would normally take: 15 minutes
Time this takes: 1 minutes
You save: 14 minutes
Calorie count/nutrition facts: About 250 calories per tin