topic Dinner Planning Aggrivation in Kitchen

Dinner Planning Aggrivation

ECBG — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 00:14:00 GMT

Are you traditional about dinner planning and preperation or not? I've known quite a lot of couples where the husband is a wonderful cook, and she isn't.

I planned, shopped for and cooked (unless there was grilling) all of the meals when our boys were growing up. During the normal week now, we have more leftovers. When there is a new meal, and he says "ribs" for example, I always say "AND.....(what else). I am not married to a "meat and potato guy at all. Occasionally, if he wants to grill, he'll come home with a bag of slaw. Other than slaw, forget it as far as meal planning (a balanced meal).

Between balanced meals and pulling him in from the outside, it's constant battle?

How has this always been handled at your home?

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

Meowingkitty — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 00:20:15 GMT

Not traditional at all. We eat what we eat. Sometimes I put something in the crockpot that will made it for a couple of days, sometimes we order out, sometimes we eat whatever we want. Cheese crisp, grilled cheese, cereal. If I do cook I'll usually make some kind of potato and maybe a vegetable. It just depends on the mood. When I cook I try to make sure we have leftovers for a couple of days. Nothing formal.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

Mz iMac — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 00:30:22 GMT

No such thang as "dinner planning" in my household.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

noodleann — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 00:44:11 GMT

My man has never brought home a bag of slaw, but he always comes running when he hears the pop of the Friskies Buffet lid. He tucks into whatever I give him con gusto and always gives me a love rub before he dives in.

I never ask him what he wants. I always surprise him. I think males like that, both the kind who eat at a table and ones that eat on the floor.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

AuntG — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 00:52:24 GMT

Grew up in a rural area. We ate three meals a day. Would open the screen door and yell "lunch" or "supper" and the guys would come in from the barn. I plan my meals well in advance because we don't shop often and freeze much of what we buy. Husband does all the grilling and most of the clean up.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

ECBG — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:00:30 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
Are you traditional about dinner planning and preperation or not? I've known quite a lot of couples where the husband is a wonderful cook, and she isn't.

I planned, shopped for and cooked (unless there was grilling) all of the meals when our boys were growing up. During the normal week now, we have more leftovers. When there is a new meal, and he says "ribs" for example, I always say "AND.....(what else). I am not married to a "meat and potato guy at all. Occasionally, if he wants to grill, he'll come home with a bag of slaw. Other than slaw, forget it as far as meal planning (a balanced meal).

Between balanced meals and pulling him in from the outside, it's constant battle?

How has this always been handled at your home?

@AuntG Then you understand wher I'm coming when I say "where is the vigetable? or where is the green?"!

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:01:51 GMT

@AuntG I'm with you. I've been making three squares for 43 years. Less people to cook for these days, but I have planned out meals a week at a time, because I have worked full time. Now that I'm retired, I can't get out of the routine. DH does all the grilling and most of the smoking, and he decides when that happens. HOWEVER, I would love feedback when I ask "What do you want me to make?" I am so tired of hearing "Whatever you want to make." AARRGG! For example, tonight I said I have a roasting chicken defrosted. I can make just roast chicken, soup, stewed chicken, chicken salad, something else. Can you guess what they said?

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

PA Mom-mom — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:09:45 GMT

@ECBG I think "what for starch, what for green" has been my eternal question for lo these many years. It's possible I overthink things, but no, I don't think so. Hahahaha!

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

jeanlake — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:19:14 GMT

Enjoying your answers. I take time with grocery lists. We prepare meals at home about half the time and remain flexible the other half. Hubs was used to the corporate world where department friends or clients went out for big lunches. He no longer has the weekly birthday celebrations and snacking at work and has lost 20 pounds since his retirement in January. He lost and I gained about 10 since working from home so much. So we're trying to eat healthy. That's my aggrevation.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

wildcat fan — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 01:39:26 GMT

I appreciate input when it comes to meal planning, but mostly I hear that he'll be happy with whatever I want. He doesn't do much cooking, but he's very good to stop by the grocery store on his way home if I need something, and he often goes shopping with me and adds things to the cart. When he knows I have a busy schedule at work, he offers to take me out to dinner, or he gets something and brings it home so that I don't have to cook. Since our schedules are usually pretty crazy, I try to plan a week ahead. I know he'll always be thrilled with spaghetti and meatballs or scrambled eggs if I'm not feeling creative. He likes it when I try the recipes I find here in the Q forums. 😊

Compared to my father, I have a gem of a husband when it comes to meal planning. Dad will sit in his chair and look at my mom and ask, "What do we have to eat/drink?" and she'll run to the kitchen to bring him whatever he asked for. Although I love him dearly, I'm pretty certain my dad doesn't know which cabinet to open for a glass or plate and which drawer contains the silverware. My mother has waited on him hand and foot for 60 years and will continue to do so as long as she can. I have no idea how she's managed that, and just when I wish my husband would do more, I stop and think that I'm lucky he does what he does.

My son, on the other hand, loves to cook. If/When he marries, his bride will have a hard time getting him out of the kitchen.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

jannabelle1 — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:35:05 GMT

It's just not a big deal for DH and me anymore. We're both retired but he isn't able to help much for health reasons. I usually don't ask what he's hungry for or discuss what to make for meals - I make a meal and he's always fine with it. He's 70 years old and very able to make cereal (hot or cold) on his own or microwave a breakfast sandwich. I make one meal per day, although sometimes it's no more than grilled sandwiches....or it's baked, grilled or in the slow cooker. Sometimes I tell him what I'm making and sometimes I just make it, and he's just fine with that. We're casual....and meals are for the most part no longer a big deal. And I'm thankful for that.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

RedTop — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:56:19 GMT

My husband usually cooks breakfast, and I cook supper.

I have never been one to plan meals by day, or week. I keep a wide variety of foods we like in the house, and cook whatever we’re in the mood for. My husband is not a picky eater, and very rarely makes a special request.

Steaks are the only grilled foods eaten here, and are cooked by our daughters. My husband and I are not major fans of grilling.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

ECBG — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 03:44:25 GMT

@wildcat fan When I took DH with me when we were VERY young, I ended up with a wide assprtment of cookies, ice cream, and ice cream treats.

That cured me.

He hates (with a purple passion) to go by the grocery store, but he does like a beer walking Shadow, and he'll sometime pick up paper towels.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

Sooner — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 03:58:25 GMT

We both cook and plan meals and always have. When we worked I did more because he was gone longer hours. He is a great cook--he learned from me! I feel like that has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.

We have healthy meals for the most part--occasional burger or hot dog. Lots of fish and chicken, some lean beef, lean pork etc. We use rice and grains for salads and we do a lot of veggie stir frys. Chicken tacos are piled with lettuce and tomatoes and we eat a LOT of low fat and lower sodium salsa and hot sauce.

We do some meatless meals such as pasta and tomato sauce and top either with roasted eggplant or low fat cottage cheese. Grain and rice bowls and salads and lots of veggies and fruits, low fat home made pizzas, and we aren't big cheese eaters. We're pretty creative too! And both of us will eat about anything!

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

denisemb — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 05:50:13 GMT

We kinda play it by ear. When DH retired & I worked, he became a pretty darn good cook (thanks to his mom) & I'd bring home take out a few times a week.

Now I'm retired, but with neoropathy in my hands, so I "help".

Most real meals are slow cooker, casseroles, hearty soups, where half can be frozen for another later meal. Tomorrow will be Antipasto Pasta Salad (allrecipes with some tweaks) that we'll devour daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner for a few days. LOVE that stuff.

Used to do a lot of romaine salads, until they got polluted. Luckily we both love brussels sprouts, broccoli and asparagus, so that covers the greens. We both prefer pasta, noodles, rice and barley to potatoes. Once a week order from our favorite Greek restaurant to help keep them going.

(shrug) Breakfast for dinner, maybe once a week Stouffer's or whatever, or we find ourselves late at night eating Ramen. LOL

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

CalminHeart — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 11:56:52 GMT

Not traditional. Now that I'm retired, I try to eat a balanced diet but I eat when I want and don't when I don't want to. I love seafood, chicken, and non-meat proteins but crave beef about once a week or so. I have fresh fruits and vegies every day but when is when I feel like it. If I'm not really hungry or in the mood to fix something, I might have a protein shake at lunch or dinner - Premier Protein chocolate is my fav.

I grew up in a very meal-traditional family. My dad still sits down for a meal every night. He struggles now that Mom is gone because meals were always a special time. I did the same when my kids were growing up.

Relax about meals. Why impose more angst in your life? I can't imagine it's enjoyable to sit down to a meal when someone is always irritated about the time or menu.

Decide what you're fixing. You know he's going to be outside so cook when he's done or negotiate the time of dinner. If he's not there, fix something for yourself and save the leftovers. He's a big boy and can reheat and clean up after himself.

Even better, sit down and work out an arrangement where he cooks 2 nights a week. Never make a negative comment about it. If it's not ready at a reasonable time, fix yourself a salad or sandwich and move on. IMO, grilled meat and slaw sounds perfect. Go with the flow and relax. Just be sure you and he get quality time together each day.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

Eileen in Virginia — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 12:50:22 GMT

I plan a weekly dinner menu every week, which I post on the fridge. It forms the basis for my grocery list. I started doing this when we were first married because we had a very small food budget and couldn't afford for extras to be thrown into the shopping cart. It also made things easier to decide what needed to be defrosted in advance, especially when we were both working full-time jobs, had to get DS to sports practices, etc. I still do it from force of habit and because it still simplifies things. If I don't, they act like we aren't going to have dinner. 🙄 Sometimes we switch meals around or substitute items, but we usually stick to the menu. DH only has one dinner item on his culinary repertoire - hamburgers. He's also very good at ordering take-out.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

LindaSal — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 13:34:23 GMT

We are fairly laid back when it comes to meals. My hubby is 130 lbs and eats like an oink.......that being said he is not fussy at all about his meals and grazes all day. I do most of the cooking but like others have stated, he does the grilling. When holidays arrive I will do the sides and he will cook the main prime rib or whatever it is. Works out well for us and always has.

Of course more planning had to go into this when we worked and the kids were at home.

Now it's just "cooking with wine and sometimes I even put it in the food!!" (Sorry, don't know who came up with that phrase) LOL

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

Miss Pepsi — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 13:42:41 GMT

We plan a couple of days out, hubby and I don't like the same veggies so while the meat is planned the veggie is not and we seldom have bread with dinner. Been just the 2 of us for many years so meals have always been casual. We both work so during the week the meals are whatever can be cooked in a hurry or take out.

Never been "Formal" planners. Mom was though, just wasn't our thing.

Re: Dinner Planning Aggrivation

wagirl — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 14:31:28 GMT

I HATE TO COOK, PLAN AND SHOP-----for meals!!! Just not into it anymore. If there wasn't 2 other peeps in my house, I wouldn't do any of it. I am very easy to please and don't require anything fancy---would do well having a bowl of oatmeal for dinner----