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Chronic fatigue syndrome makes even the most basic activities difficult. And far too often that includes cooking. After all, making sure you have a balanced and nutritious diet is something most people can’t manage even when they aren’t constantly fatigued. But your diet can make a huge difference when it comes to managing the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. And that’s why a good chronic fatigue syndrome diet plan is an important thing to have.

Knowing what you’re going to cook ahead of time helps you plan your meals and cooking time. And that means that when you’re nearing the end of your energy reserves at dinner time you don’t have to waste any mental energy deciding what you’re going to do for dinner. You’ll already know.

And most importantly, having a nutritious diet planned out means that you can get all the vitamins your body needs to give you as much energy as possible.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diet

Chronic fatigue syndrome leaves you feeling drained, which means that by the end of the day you’re usually running on fumes. You’ve spent all day fighting through mental fog and fatigue just to do your everyday routine, so when it comes to dinner you don’t want to have to do a lot of preparation or cooking.

At the same time, nutrition is vital when it comes to a good chronic fatigue syndrome diet plan. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead. Being tired and hungry will end up with you eating something easy but highly processed like fast food. And while that’s an easy solution to the problem of cooking, it’s actually likely to make your condition worse.

That’s why it’s useful to have an idea of what you’re going to eat at every meal in the near future. It keeps the amount of willpower you need at a minimum, which is also the amount you’re going to have after fighting chronic fatigue all day.

So with that in mind, here are a few sample meals you can use if you’re struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Easy Chronic Fatigue Meals

Green Smoothie

A green smoothie is a great option for a chronic fatigue syndrome diet plan because not only is it packed with nutritious leafy greens, but it’s really easy to make. Just get together kale, spinach, or any of your favorite greens with a fresh apple. Then all you have to do is throw all the ingredients in a blender and drink it.

Egg Sandwich

Eggs are full of protein, which makes them a great way to start your day. And the good thing about turning eggs into a sandwich, besides the fact that it’s delicious, is that you can take it with you on the way to work. And that gives you a little extra leeway when your chronic fatigue has you running late. Here’s a list of 25 different recipes, so it should be a while before you get bored of these.

Chicken Cobb Salad

Salads are great for lunch because they’re easy to make and pack with you for lunch. This cobb salad recipe is a great example of a nutritious meal that’s also a breeze to prepare.

Thai Tempeh Buddha Bowl

This is a cool because it’s not only easy to make and delicious, it’s totally vegan. Some of the ingredients might require a trip to a specialty supermarket, but feel free to sub those out for some more available options.

Veggie Wholewheat Pot Noodle

Noodles are good for easy meals since all you really need to do is wait for them to boil. And this recipe gives you a healthy lunch option that uses them. Just stick the whole wheat noodles in a portable pot along with some chopped vegetables and you have a healthy, easy lunch.

Spicy Chicken Wraps

And for dinner, this recipe for spicy chicken wraps is pretty easy to make. All you have to do is pan fry some chicken with a few veggies and throw it all in a spinach wrap. While it isn’t as quick as a microwave dinner, it tastes a lot better and is much better for you.

Spaghetti With Smokey Tomato Sauce

Finally, this spaghetti recipe uses a smokey tomato sauce and some fresh seafood for an easy and delicious dinner.

The important thing to remember is that while it might be easier and thus very tempting to eat quick, processed foods when you’re struggling with chronic fatigue syndrome, that’s a counterproductive strategy in the long run because it makes your symptoms worse. Instead, just put in the extra effort upfront if you can. But don’t beat yourself up if you can’t make a fresh meal every night, just try your best the next day.

That’s what living with chronic illness is, taking it one day at a time. So let us know, what do you do for your meals when you’re living with chronic fatigue syndrome? Tell us in the comments.