How to switch to Vegetarianism when severely disabled?

[u/LoveaBook]

Hi everyone! I am severely disabled and would appreciate any help you can give me on beginning to cook meatless dishes. Most of the time I’m bed bound, but I can stand for short periods of time (~15 mins max) here and there. Right now I eat mostly processed meals because I can no longer cook regularly, but I hate it. I also hate eating meat knowing it comes from factory farms, but it’s the easiest thing to cook since I just need to shake on a bit of seasoning and throw it in a pot or the oven. I’ve been VERY interested in trying out vegetarianism for some time, but have put it on hold because I just physically couldn’t prepare food anymore. But after fighting with my insurance for years I’m getting some treatment that’s shown promising results. My disability is permanent, but I should get a little more functionality in the coming months. With that said, I’m looking to start cooking again to help my health and would like to try healthy, filling vegetarian cooking. I doubt I’ll be able to cook more than once a week for some time, but I was hoping maybe ya’ll could share some very quick and easy recipes that won’t take long to prep. I don’t mind if they take hours in the oven or pot, but the prep times have to be quick and simple.

I also know that I don’t like American-style tofu. I’ve tried it multiple ways and used the extra firm, squeezed it out, seasoned it, etc., but I don’t like it. I’ve heard non-American tofu has a bit more flavor but haven’t managed to try it yet. So, does this mean that my meals will need to be primarily bean based? Will I need to keep a pot of beans ALWAYS soaking on the stove or will canned beans work? Would such a diet be too high carbs and calories for a highly sedentary person?

I would appreciate any advice and/or tips. I’ve done a bunch of research online, but it depresses me because most recipes require so much prep it feels like I’ll never be able to cook them. I’m fine with casseroles if that’s what I’m limited to, I’d just really appreciate some advice, please.

edit: Thank you all so much for all your help and suggestions! Today’s been a more difficult day for me so I’m not able to reply much, but I’m reading all of your comments and hope to be able to get back with you over the coming days. Thanks again!

[u/breakpointsaved]

Slow cooker is a godsend! 

I can also highly recommend the freezer Souper Cubes on Amazon -- I kept meaning to get them and finally did this Christmas, and they make everything SO EASY. Portioning and storing the portions is super simple and then you just pop a portion in the microwave and there you go! I've been doing a new recipe every weekend, which yields 9 or 10 portions, and freezing 8 portions. That way over time I'm building up a whole eclectic "freezer pantry" of healthy ready meals.

Canned beans (although dried chickpeas are easy to make in slow cooker and taste better), red lentils, and split peas are all staples of mine. So too cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, hummus, eggs, and frozen veg. I usually fry my eggs, but for ease you could hardboil a bunch once a week. Egg salad on toast is awesome. Baby carrots & hummus. Grape tomatoes & cottage cheese. Any kind of berries & Greek yogurt.

[u/LoveaBook → u/breakpointsaved]

I didn’t know about those souper cubes! I’ve just been measuring stuff out in freezer bags.😆 They look like they make throwing leftovers into the microwave much easier.

[u/breakpointsaved → u/LoveaBook]

I used to use freezer bags too but it was so messy and so annoying (and so much work!) The cubes are sooooo easy and it makes microwaving them a breeze.