Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Those Three Dreaded Words

Van Gogh's "Potato Eaters"

"What's for supper??"

I hate trying to come up with meals, do you? I have tried menus and planning. I have tried holding out for just cereal. And, I have tried being a Sunday planner for the week. Nothing holds my interest.

Personally, I could have a milk shake every night and be quite satisfied. But, not the Mister. He wants meat. Lots of meat. Bleh. Salads would be good, but he ends up hungry an hour later. And, since we are doing the Gazelle Dave Ramsey Plan, we don't like to eat out more than once a week for any meal -- Thursdays -- breakfast -- Aunt Bea's.  $6.76 every week. No compromise.

Anyhow, I have grown weary with meal dodging and have decided I need to either enter a 12-step program for Meal Haters Anonymous.... or, I need to come up with a cunning plan... or exploit other's ideas.

So, how do you handle this challenge??

8 comments:

  1. In some ways, it was easier when there were four of us at home because I knew if I made a casserole or put a roast in the Crockpot, it would be eaten.

    I never know if Christopher is going to be home for dinner and it's hard to plan meals for just the two of us.

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  2. My husband is very good about helping me decide what to have for dinner. He also takes one night a week that is his resposability to come up with something. But I do get tired of coming up with something every night also. Sometimes its breakfast or a roast chicken from the store. If you come up with other ideas I would love to hear about them also.

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  3. I'm the wrong one to ask! I'm in the exact same boat as you. I know that doesn't help you one iota, but I just wanted you to know that you're not alone in dreading those words!

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  4. Hi Matty, meals are becoming a bit of a challenge for me too. I used to be able to happily cook up anything at a moments notice, but now with some of my health issues, there are days when I just don't feel well enough to cook or I can't stand up at the stove for the length of time needed. The medicine I take has also taken a great deal of my appetite away and on most days I would be completely happy with a bowl of cocoa puffs or a dish of peach non fat yogurt. So something I have started doing that is really working well for us, is freezing leftovers and on days when I'm feeling good, I cook up stuff like rice and put it in packets, pasta, mashed potatoes, biscuits, cornbread. That makes is so much easier to get a meal together when half of it is already made. It has been saving us quite a bit of money on the grocery bill too. When hubby dear gets out the BBQ I have him cook a whole bag or two of chicken, I season it lightly. They we freeze it into single servings and it can be defrosted and spruced up with more spice or sauces, we can make chicken soft tacos, soup, the choices are endless. Then of course there is always Pizza. Glorious pizza, magically appearing on our doorstep in 30 -45 minutes! Life is good! Delisa :)

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  5. I couldn't agree with you more, Matty. I hate cooking meals!!!! But I'm lucky, Jim is happy with fresh bread and a jar of Skippy!

    Thanks for asking about Mom. She is back home and doing great. Her issue turned out to be a critically low sodium level which was remedied in just a few days of a sodium drip.

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  6. Maybe when you do cook, cook double and stick some in the freezer for a quick meal. We dont eat out much either and boy its tough sometimes to come up with something that is different from what we have been eating!
    We make flat breads/Chapti/tortillas whatever you want to call them a lot and stick all sorts of stuff on them Veggies, meat and beans depending on the seasonal stuff. Kyle eats 2 maybe 3 and they fill you up!
    Check out www.allrecipes.com They have more recipes than you ever care to see in your life!Lol

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  7. I love to plan and cook dinner. Unfortunately, with my diet and Jamie's lack of enthusiasm for food in general, we get in quite a rut here.

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  8. "Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy-burdened...about what to make for supper... and I will give you rest.

    For My yoke is easy and My burden is light --
    Ask Holy Spirit and it'll turn out right."

    I've finally realized that's one more 'anxiety' to cast on Him -- truly -- and when I don't forget, it's amazing how many times new ideas (or even old ones) came to mind just in time.

    The other thing that helps me during these 'slumps' and I've had lots of late, is to recipe surf -- whether online (check out places like foodgawker for great photos and recipes) or in my store of books and magazines. Something usually jumps out at me that looks perfect for what I have on hand.

    The third thing that really helped is to recognize it's a non-negotiable (we have to do it every day), so I prepare for it mentally and physically, e.g I gather some of the ingredients I'll need early in the day. I think ahead early in the week, and in the day.... so that I'm not rushed to think 'on the spur of the moment'..... I find that feeling 'rushed' really stifles creativity on any front.

    Hope that adds something helpful, m'dear. It's interesting to hear so many others find that too.

    Oh yes, I almost forgot a most important bit -- I turn to gratitude... and think of the miracle that I have such wonderful food to eat every day, and that I don't have to eat beans and rice cooked in a big refugee pot day after day after day. (It really turns the slump around).

    (That verse above came to me last night and I felt it really was a 'word from Home' for us).

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Thanks for dropping in on the farm today! I enjoy your comments!

Warmly,

Matty