You also need the equipment at hand. I have one friend that grew up without a refrigerator.

For myself, I went through a couple months when I was taking care of a partner after surgery, working full time, and handling pet care. You better believe we relied on ready-made meals and paper plates during those months.

Even when I had the spoons to cook, there was no guarantee I’d be able to focus on anything complicated without interruption. Pasta and steamed vegetables were about my limit: things that could be abandoned while taking care of more pressing needs (like changing bandages or cleaning up a mess that comes with having an elderly dog).