If you do not have time to cook every day, or you are just looking for an easy meal, a slow cooker may be just the ticket for a simple, and yes, even healthy meal. Time Warner Cable News’ Kristen Shaughnessy has some recipes perfect for a slow cooker in this Healthy Living report.

If you're like me, you rarely use your slow cooker. I never know what to make or exactly how to do it. Chef Mark Bailey set me straight. He says there really is not anything easier.

“It's two steps: throw everything in the slow cooker and turn it on. That’s it,” he says.

Chef Bailey says spaghetti sauce is better in a slow cooker.

“You throw tomatoes, your normal ingredients for tomato sauce, you just throw everything in there - onions, peppers. You can even throw your meat in there as well, if you want to throw meatballs, ground beef or what have you. It will cook really, really slow and the meat will lend to the flavor of the spaghetti sauce," says Bailey.

Chili is a slow cooker staple - just throw in everything you like.

"It's another item that can could cook really, really slow and taste so much better when it's done and when you get home just top it with a little cheese and sour cream and you're good to go," says  Bailey.

There is also chicken tikka marsala.

"Normally, everyone is like ‘oh my God, can you really make Indian food in a slow cooker?’ But you can. Once again, tomato sauce, cream, your chicken, your garlic, your cumin and really that's about it," says Bailey.

Alternatively, you can make something like soup with shrimp, veggies and rice.

"You throw all the ingredients in there, excess water, which will simmer down. But with this particular soup, there is rice in there so it'll cook really, really nicely," says Bailey.

Another plus: slow cookers keep you at home where it's easier to count calories and control your portions.

"A slow cooker doesn't require a lot of frying and oils and all that stuff, so it really is healthier," Bailey explains.

In addition, it is good even for breakfast. Put your slow cooker on at night, and you have porridge in the morning.

"I particularly like corn meal, which is a combination of milk and cornmeal and just a little sugar or agave if you want to watch your calories," says Bailey.

In the end, the hardest part of using a slow cooker might just be deciding what you want to make.