Frozen dumplings
Sure, they may have a few extra ingredients compared to homemade ones. But they can easily turn into a more balanced meal by adding a handful of bok choy, cabbage, or choy sum (菜心).
Pre-washed/chopped veggies
My gosh, do I dislike stripping/washing/drying kale! I fully acknowledge the extra plastic waste that can come from pre-washed/chopped veggies. But I'd probably write off eating kale altogether otherwise. Bagged kale is my go-to for omelets and soups.
Jarred marinated artichokes
Instantly elevates a pile of arugula or my bag of kale for a salad. If I'm out of veggies, a cup of roughly chopped marinated artichokes saves me from eating a plate of uninspired pasta and tomato sauce. It also makes for a fancy pesto when mixed with basil/parsley and lemon juice in a food processor!
Hummus
Excellent as a dip on its own but also as a sandwich spread and a salad dressing. For the latter, thin it out with water or lemon juice.
Rotisserie chicken or Chinese steamed chicken from restaurant
Another item that's great on its own but also infinitely versatile. Serve it with rice, on top of veggies, strip the meat and stir into porridge or soup, fold into a quesadilla or layer in a sandwich.
Thai curry paste
I must have watched 735 videos on how to make it from scratch. But I have -5% motivation to gather 13 ingredients and bust out a mortar and pestle that I do not own. With store-bought curry paste, I can be in charge of how much veggies and protein at a fraction of the cost. Because let's face it, there's never enough of them in a restaurant portion, and I'm not paying $6 extra for more protein.
Add grains and veggies to takeout, leftovers, and meal kits
I get excited about the leftover tikka marsala sauce after all the chicken and paneer pieces are eaten because I know it'll become a delicious second meal. Warm up the sauce with some baked tofu cubes and defrosted veg and serve with whatever cooked grains available -- voila! Pro tip from a client: they used a meal delivery service after having a newborn and would add grains and veggies they cooked earlier in the week to stretch the meals and reduce meal prep time!
Pre-peeled/minced garlic
Pre-minced garlic has been divisive since the beginning of time. While people can debate about its flavor, it's hard to dispute how it can save busy people a few minutes or help out those who are physically unable to crush and peel and mince the cloves. In defending garlic in a jar, Gabrielle Drolet wrote one of my favorite pieces in 2022 on how “the culture that surrounds cooking today is one that lends itself well to casual ableism." It's great reminder that “the wrong way of cooking” can be someone else's best or most available way. 
