10 Healthy Meal and Snack Ideas When You're Moving and Basically Kitchen-less

Over the past month I've experienced a very big life change - my husband and I moved from San Antonio, Texas to Denver, Colorado. It was my first BIG move. I've lived in Texas my entire life and only moved from Dallas/Ft. Worth to San Antonio for college; however, I'm very familiar with moving in general. During my time in San Antonio, I moved dorms/apartments/houses almost every single year for about nine years. Crazy, I know. But still, I'd never gone more than a few days without any kitchen appliances/cookware/utensils/dishes... until this move.

We packed up our POD with most of our belongings, and expected to be basically kitchen-less for about seven days. Fast-forward to moving into our new apartment and wouldn't ya know it, our POD can't be delivered until next week. *Big sigh* That means our time in the new apartment basically kitchen-less is at about day seven now. If you've been keeping up with the math, that makes it two weeks and some change that we have been/will be without most of our kitchen things. For a dietitian and lover of cooking/baking, you can see how this has been a real challenge! We did end up buying a fairly inexpensive frying pan, baking sheet and rubber spatulas at IKEA a few days ago so we could have eggs and roast veggies, which has been a blessing. That being said, I wanted to share ten healthy meal and snack ideas that you can throw together if you find yourself in a similar predicament!

1. Cereal + Milk (+ Berries) -- I'm personally a fan of Kashi GoLean cereals because they're high in fiber and protein, and relatively low in added sugars. If I'm craving Cinnamon Life though, I'll choose that instead. For milk, we are big fans of Fairlife milk, because it tastes super rich and creamy, but is also ultra-filtered to have more protein, plus it's fortified with vitamin D and vitamin A. Sometimes we even buy the premium version of Fairlife with added omega-3s/DHA, which support brain health and contain anti-inflammatory benefits. I like to throw in some berries as well to get extra fiber, vitamins and phytonutrients AND because they're delicious. No matter what varieties you choose, you can't go wrong with the classic no-cooking-required cereal + milk (+ berries) for breakfast.

2. Nut/Seed Butter + Bread or Fruit or Veggies -- Whether you've got peanut butter, almond butter, mixed nut butter or sunflower seed butter, they are shelf-stable and can easily be slathered on an apple or banana, or on celery sticks or even carrots. If you prefer your bread toasted (me!), use the 'Broil' function on your oven if you're toaster-less. I turned mine on High and let each side go for about 1-2 minutes until golden-brown; and because we didn't have oven mitts or pans, I literally just set the bread on the rack, used a dish towel folded over a few times to make it thick so I could pull out the hot rack and used my fingers to flip over the slice of bread (caution: please be careful and smart if you're attempting this, because it is an oven and it is hot). If you're without knives, we have been rinsing and reusing a plastic knife (because it's slightly more serrated) to spread nut butter and cut the celery sticks. If you're eating an apple with nut butter, instead of doing apple slices, my advice is to just spoon out or spread the nut butter on your apple as you bite through it.

3. Sandwiches -- Obviously sandwiches are another classic no-cooking-required meal option, easy to assemble, plus you can get a lot of different flavors depending on the type of meat and cheese and veggies you load it up with. One of my faves is turkey + muenster or sharp cheddar + spinach + red onion slices + avocado and/or mayo + mustard. Don't be afraid to get creative with what you have on hand as you're going through and getting rid of food in your fridge and pantry. You can add oil + vinegar, pesto, BBQ sauce, hot sauce or hummus to sandwiches, and use up any veggies that might be about to go bad so you reduce food waste. Or if you're feeling a classic PB & J, I love to use fresh berries instead of jelly or jam to reduce added sugar and increase fiber.

4. Frozen Meals and Steamable Veggies -- There are so many frozen entrees on the market now that are pretty well-balanced in terms of their macronutrients, and you can't go wrong with some simple veggies that you toss in the microwave for five minutes to steam. Some of my favorite frozen entree brands are Evol, Amy's, Healthy Choice, and Smart Ones. One thing I will point out is that many single-serving frozen meals may not be enough calories for a lunch or dinner depending on your needs. If I'm still hungry I will typically add something extra on the side like frozen steamable veggies or a salad, string cheese, or maybe fruit & pb. The key is to listen to your hunger and fullness cues and honor what your body is telling you.

5. Canned Soups with Pull-Tab Lids -- The important thing to note here is pull-tab lids, or one of the boxes that folds at the top and you can tear it open. All to say, think ahead if you don't have a can opener in your possession. Some of my favorite soup brands are Imagine, Pacific Foods, Campbell's Well Yes! Soups and Progresso.

6. Canned Tuna or Salmon on Salad or Bread -- You can either use the tuna or salmon in the can (again, remember to look for a pull-tab lid!) OR they now come in pouches (in tons of different flavors), which is super convenient and it's a great source of lean protein with brain-boosting healthy fats. You can eat it straight out of the can/pouch, or if you like more of a tuna salad consistency add a squirt of mayo and/or plain Greek yogurt (I mix both) and if you have any other add-ins available, use them up! One of my fave tuna salad combo is pickles/olives + celery + dill. Add it to a bed of mixed greens or on bread for a meal.

7. Snack Attack Variety Tray -- Here's one creative way to use up all those random things left in your refrigerator - throw it on a big plate or tray and call it a day! Or as I now call it, a snack attack 'cause it's more fun that way. Some suggestions: crackers or bread slices, cheese cubes, goat cheese or fresh mozzarella, pickle slices, olives, grapes, apple slices, fresh veggies (e.g. carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, celery), nuts, or sliced deli meats. Try making fun combos using different jams, honey, pesto, hummus, hot sauces or dressings/dips (I love using plain full-fat Greek/Icelandic yogurt + Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packet for a protein-packed veggie dip). One of my favorite combos is a little bread, white cheddar cheese, apple slice, walnut and drizzle of honey. You never what yummy flavor combo you may fall in love with!

8. Frozen Pizza + Chopped Salad Kit -- I love pizza. My husband and I started our own family tradition of Pizza Fridays and even in the midst of moving we didn't want to break tradition. Go ahead and throw a frozen pizza in the oven (whether you need a gluten-free diet or not, this Milton's Cauliflower Crust Pizza tastes SO GOOD!), straight on the rack, and pair it with a chopped salad kit (currently loving Taylor Farms' Southwest and Mediterranean Crunch Salads).

9. Yogurt Bowl + All The Toppings -- Great for a breakfast, snack or even dessert. Just pick your favorite yogurt (I'm a big Siggi's fan) and layer on the goods! For carbs and fiber, add fresh/frozen fruit. For plant-based proteins and/or healthy fats, try slivered almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and/or peanut butter. For flavor, sprinkle on cinnamon or a drizzle of honey.

10. Spaghetti Squash + Marinara Sauce -- Did ya know you can microwave a spaghetti squash? Just use a sharp knife or fork to make 10-12 half-inch slits around the spaghetti squash, place in the microwave (if you have a microwave safe glass dish or plate, I recommend putting it on that first), and cook about 10 minutes, flipping over halfway through. You want to be able to easily pierce the flesh to know it's done, so it may take a little longer depending on your microwave. Allow it to cool or else you will burn yourself! Once cool enough to handle, cut lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and then you can add your favorite marinara or pasta sauce right into the "bowl" and eat! (Bonus: less dishes). For extra protein, add some shredded cheese and/or buy a ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for fresh meat.