Minced garlic is one. A lot of people scoff at that. But when you're desperate, that's one less thing you have to do. They're easy to add to soups, sauces, pasta, rice and casseroles. Cans of small pink beans and small white beans are good backups.
Canned tomatoes offer the same ease, and throughout most of the year are better than fresh.
Stock a variety, trying the many seasoned tomato products, which range from diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning to tomatoes with green chilies. Prepared vegetables can get your kitchen jump- started. A package of lettuce is a simple base for a more elaborate salad of salmon or a simple accompaniment to a main course you spend more time with. Packaged baby carrots are great snacks but also go quickly into a cooking pot. If prepared too far in advance, however, they'll lose nutrients.