I also eat a bit when I’m bored, searching for that dopamine hit.

Recently, I have rediscovered those little packets of snacks that are promoted for kids lunchboxes. As my kids are now adults, we haven’t had them for ages… but I’ve recently rediscovered they exist. Honestly, they’ve been a game changer for me!

This includes packets of Shapes, biscuits, cheese and crackers, even yoghurt tubs.

These small packets are portion controlled, so I’m not tempted to eat a whole box of Shapes or similar in a sitting. They are convenient as I can grab and go. Not to mention that every packet tastes the same, so there are no flavour surprises.

They also help me to stop reaching for a packet of lollies or some chocolate as these small packets of whatever takes the edge of the food craving in that moment and are easy to store in the cupboard as well as have a couple in the car for when I’m out and about.

For all of you AuDHDers out there who are looking for some quick & easy foods to have on hand, remember these little snacks aren’t just for kids.

Absolutely choose wisely to fit in with your diet, this is just something that is helping me remember to eat during the day as I don’t have to think too hard about it, and reducing the binge eating.

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I like the theory, but practice is something else entirely.

Over the years, especially since my kids were small, I have tried many different methods of meal planning. From sitting with my mum each week to do a plan, to having Hello Fresh boxes delivered (this worked well until my kid was diagnosed coeliac), to having a whiteboard where I could write down meals, to… whatever else I’ve tried over the years.

I’ve realised that this is part of executive dysfunction as well as time blindness, and not knowing what I will feel like eating or have the energy to cook on any given day.

For me, meal planning ended up being more stressful, and costing more money, especially if I ended up throwing out fresh ingredients that I didn’t end up using…

Instead, I have a few set meals on high rotation and I have the standard ingredients in the fridge and freezer.

At the moment, this includes:

• Pasta sauce – ingredients are mince, tinned tomato, frozen veggies (or any leftover veggies in the fridge), and seasonings, gluten free pasta
• Pizza – pizza bases, pizza sauce, shredded ham, pineapple, mushrooms, capsicum, olives, cheese, anchovies (my kid loves these)
• Sausages & veggies – kid like sausages, I have chops or something else, kid has chips, I have potato gratin, and veggies (I keep a variety of frozen ones on hand, or get prepared ones I can cook in the microwave)
• Mushroom risotto – made in the thermomix with mushrooms, arborio rice, onion, garlic (I keep crushed garlic in the fridge) and a few other ingredients
• Chicken in mustard sauce – chicken, frozen veggies, jar of simmer sauce, rice

There are a few others, like tacos, but these are our main ones right now. Most of the ingredients I keep on hand so I can decide on the night what I feel like cooking. With things like pasta sauce, I make it up and then freeze the rest so I can thaw it out on the nights when I’m tired and don’t have the energy to cook from scratch.

I have found with these staples that most ingredients I can keep in the pantry or freezer, and buy the fresh ingredients when I feel like it. For example, with pizza, I keep things like the olives and pineapple on hand, and buy the mushrooms and capsicum when I’m ready to make pizza.

It does mean I end up at the supermarket more often, however I find that this is less overwhelming for me as I’m doing smaller shops and don’t have to remember a longer list, whether or not I have remembered to write one out!

It also means that I’m being kind to my brain. I don’t have to think more than a couple of days ahead when I’m shopping, and this is less stressful for me.

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