You are busy, right? You’re probably too busy to read this article.

But stay with me! I’ve made it short for a reason … If you hate to cook and you want to eat healthy, here’s some information you may find useful. 

Some people LOVE spending time in their kitchen, creating tasty dishes. For the rest of us, it’s a chore—especially if we’re trying to adhere to a healthy, nutritious diet. Here are my top tips to help you eat healthy even if you don’t like to cook.

These three options are ranked from cheapest to most expensive:

Get prepared meals. 

Grocery stores like Publix, Trader Joe’s, etc. have prepared foods with macros written on them, but there are also fitness-based food stores in most large cities with meals ready to heat and eat.

If you’re buying pre-made and packaged convenience foods, then it’s important to learn how to read the ingredients and nutritional labels on the packet. That way you can make an informed decision on what to buy. 

Remember that there can sometimes be lots of other names for some common ingredients. For example, sugar may be listed as dextrose, maltose, molasses, fructose, glucose and invert sugar. Ingredients are listed in order of how much is in the product, so if sugar is the first ingredient, that means the food contains mostly sugar and might not be the healthiest option.

Use apps to figure out if the product is a good choice, or if you could pick a better brand. For example, the FoodSwitch app allows you to scan the barcode of a food using your phone and lets you know if it’s high in fat, sugar or salt. It may also suggest a similar product which is healthier for you to buy instead.

Sign up for a meal delivery service. 

These are already prepared gourmet meals that are delivered to your home based on your schedule and can be stored in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. All you have to do is crack open a box and get cooking. 

There are so many different services today, there’s something for everyone. Calorie and macronutrient information is usually available on the service’s website, and calorie counts are provided on meal cards. 

Hire a personal meal prep chef. 

If you don’t want to buy prepared meals but you have fitness goals you want to achieve, you have to suck it up and cook something or pay for the convenience of not cooking for yourself.  For most people, hiring a chef isn’t financially sustainable, but it could be a once-in-awhile treat or a way to discover new meal options.

A personal chef can accommodate just about any dietary concern or food allergy. They take the time to learn your individual needs and preferences. They use this information to create delicious meals personalized to your individual tastes.

Most personal chefs cook for their clients weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Some personal chef services will also shop for you, buying the freshest and best ingredients just before coming to your home to prepare your meals.