topic DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION in Recipes

DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

ScrapHappy — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:45:29 GMT

The title says it all. I just can't seem to get it together. I've had difficulty meal planning for a while now. It's only 3 in our household. If meal planning wasn't hard enough, my husband is on a no carb diet (after seeing that his brother lost 67 lbs). My daughter, age 12, is a picky eater. Me...I just fall into the cracks and submit to husband or daughters likes. I went to the grocery store today. Again, no plan and no list. I try to be cautious and not buy things just to buy because groceries are just getting expensive. I've tried many, and I mean MANY, new recipes in the last year or so and I will be the first to admit they haven't been all that great. I'm starting to think my cooking skills are going down hill. I was going to sign up for a cooking class at a local grocery store, but it cost $145. I went to you tube today hoping to get some inspiration. UGH! I feel so defeated.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

MickD — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 00:58:46 GMT

@ScrapHappy My son is somewhat of a picky eater. He doesn't always like what my husband likes, and I have recently gone vegetarian (as I have in the past)

Find out what dishes you all like, then offshoot from there. Steak, chicken, turkey, ground beef/turkey. For instance, make tacos, and your husband can have a taco salad. Make spaghetti and sauce, and make zucchini noodles instead. How about wild rice with a meat?

I am by far a great cook, but I've adapted to my family's likes!

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Kachina624 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 01:04:40 GMT

You say you can't plan your meals, yet you go to the grocery store with no plan or list? You are disorganized...thats why you're stressed and frustrated. Sit down during a quiet time, plan a menu, then after checking your cupboards for supplies against your menu, make a grocery list. I'd try to accommodate dh's diet requests but insist dd eat what you prepare or go hungry. She'll eat when there's no short order cook available.

The solution to your problem is not a cooking class; it's organization.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Mz iMac — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 01:25:40 GMT

Plan? Is that what you young folks do now who "eat at home, plan meals?"

Why not let your husband & daughter plan? Better yet, grocery shop & cook! I sure wouldn't stress about it.

Old school....

We gonna eat out tonight & YOU paying.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

september — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 01:33:13 GMT

I'm not sure what a no carb diet is. Low carb isn't so bad..there are lots of online sites that can give you recipes and ideas. I like MyFitnessPal.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

OKPrincess — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 01:56:18 GMT

Back in the comes out but there were 6 of us and believe we ate what mom fixed every night. But she fixed things we all liked so it wasn't too stressful (I hope). For example, I never liked tomatoes so I picked them out of meals.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

SXMGirl — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 02:13:28 GMT

I agree with @Mz iMac. Sit down as a family, make a list of what everyone will/can eat, and have them make the menus for the week. Then, make a grocery list and head to the market. People who make demands on meals need to be responsible for making the menus and even doing some of the cooking. You might even find that they will eat more foods if they have to prepare them for the family.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 02:25:25 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
You say you can't plan your meals, yet you go to the grocery store with no plan or list? You are disorganized...thats why you're stressed and frustrated. Sit down during a quiet time, plan a menu, then after checking your cupboards for supplies against your menu, make a grocery list. I'd try to accommodate dh's diet requests but insist dd eat what you prepare or go hungry. She'll eat when there's no short order cook available.

The solution to your problem is not a cooking class; it's organization.

I can’t imagine doing my weekly grocery shopping without a list that’s based on the menu I made for the week! We were as poor as church mice when we got married 42 years ago, so I had to stick to my list in order to keep to our weekly food budget of $45. Besides, if we had any money left over, we’d go to the dollar movie on the weekend. I suppose old habits die hard, but I can count the number of times I’ve gone shopping without my list on my fingers.

Seriously though, Kachina’s right. You can plan your meals so that your husband has enough to choose from without eating carbs. If your daughter doesn’t like what you’re serving, she can eat cheese and crackers or something else that she can fix herself. Regarding the cost of food, do you have a BJ’s or Costco nearby? I do most of my grocery shopping at BJ’s and use my Food Saver to break the meat down for freezing. BJ’s and Costco sell smaller quantities now and their prices are very good. If not, look for the weekly specials at your supermarket. My husband and son both know to look on the menu to see what we’re having for dinner. While I usually make sure I cook meals that we all like, they know better than to turn up their noses at what I put on the table. I’m not running a restaurant.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

In-x-s — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 02:40:41 GMT

I'm not of the dine in or carry out -- I'm of the take it or leave it.

Let those who "request" certain things plan the meals for the entire family. Then you can shop/cook. One person should not be responsible for making sure the others have what they want.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Mz iMac — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 02:46:44 GMT

@Eileen in Virginia wrote:
they know better than to turn up their noses at what I put on the table. I’m not running a restaurant.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Carmie — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 03:15:24 GMT

I don’t plan meals and I don’t take a list for the grocery store. Sometimes I decide 30 minutes before dinner is due what I am going to make. My freezer and pantry is always full, so I have choices.

Low carb is easy. I do low carb often, but my DH doesn’t. Plan to make a protein like chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish or seafood. Prepare it without breadcrumbs. Next plan a vegetable that is not starchy...no beans or corn. Make a salad with greens and veggies, no carrots or tomatoes for your DH. Then make a starch if you want to satisfy you and your daughter like potatoes, noodles or rice for a,side dish.

Your DH will be eating mostly meat and low carb veggies...for fruit... berries only. So you can always make him a steak and salad... then make a baked potato for yourself and your daughter, or a combo salad with chicken, eggs, olives, low carb veggies and low carb dressing. A ham and cheese omelet with green pepper and a little onion is good and satisfying.

i can understand your frustration. Just buy plenty of protein products, veggies and fruits and have some potatoes, rice and noodles on hand. With these items you can whip up meals in a hurry. Your DH will not be eating pasta, potatoes or most bread products...they do make low carb bread and wraps.

You don’t have to have fancy meals

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

AuntG — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 12:25:53 GMT

You need a plan, so start with, "hey guys, I'm making a shopping list so what would you like for dinner next week." Once you have some ideas, prepare some menus and a grocery list. Libraries are full of low carb recipe books too.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

house_cat — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:01:32 GMT

I've had a weekly menu for most of my 35 years married. I can't function without it. Every Saturday morning, I sit down with my menu and list and plan our meals, then I head to the grocery store. The family likes it because they know what to expect and I never have the stress of wondering what to cook or prep ahead of time.

The best trick to this, is falling into a routine.

For example:

Saturday - burgers and oven fries (DH would revolt if I changed this)

Sunday - slow cooker, casserole, roast

Monday - fish

Tuesday - chicken

Wednesday - pasta

Thursday - soup or salad and sandwich

Friday - leftovers or once in a blue moon, take out

There's still a lot of wiggle room with a plan like that, yet it's structured enough to plan easily. I enjoy browsing Pinterest or other sites for ideas.

At the end of the month, I take a photo of the menu, so if I'm running out of ideas at anytime I can look back at previous months. I have friends who think this is all quite insane, but on the contrary, it has saved my sanity for decades.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

nyc1 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 14:22:36 GMT

Yep... For dinner, my Mom used to say... I'm not running a restaurant here! She was a great cook, and we ate what she cooked. My sister was really fussy, but she picked at things and never went hungry. My Mom catered to her more for breakfast and lunch.

I like the idea of planning things with the family so that they too can take some responsibility in the meal planning, if that makes you stressed. DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN... there are too many other things in this world that will do that to you and meal planning shouldn't be one of them.

Don't forget EGGS. Sometimes we have breakfast for dinner. You can make omlettes and everyone can have their own filling. Also, you can do an easy parmesan and not add breadcrumbs for your husband, if that will make a huge difference. Parmesan can be chicken ..... and you can do it very easily with a thinner white fish ... fish, sauce cheese, and spices .... in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 mins. EASY EASY EASY. Stir fry.... with tons of vegetables and a protein... also quick and easy. The prep takes all the work. On line recipes will be helpful.

USE A LIST! I even make my list in the order that the store is laid out! Good luck.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

software — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 15:31:54 GMT

I'm a widow, live alone but back in the day my family would eat anything and plenty of it! My problem now is the grand kids. Both their parents are restaurant managers, so they eat restarant food (not fast food) almost every day. They don't like home cooked food!

They all show up on Sunday so I've learned to cook simple. Funny how it works, if I put a roast in the crock pot, kids won't eat it but if I shove the roast in a slider bun, they can't stop eating it! They will eat almost any veggie raw (with dip, Ranch dressing) but won't touch cooked veggies. I can handle that.

Why do you need to prepare a meal? Have a protein ready, fresh greens, raw veggies, let them fix their own plate the way they like it.

Assign a night to your hubby and a night to you DD. Let them be in charge of the meal.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

ECBG — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:24:51 GMT

Your husband is on a "no" or low carb diet? Those can be very dangerous because the body can throw off keotones in the urine which is what diabetics can do. No carbs is very hard on the kidneys.

I would suggest your husband see his doctor who will give him meal plans for his body.

Please give yourself some fresh fruits and vegetables.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

house_cat — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 19:04:12 GMT

@ScrapHappy

One of the magazines I subscribed to when I was first married, had a monthly menu in it. I think it was Women's Day or Family Circle. I would follow it loosely and make changes according to our taste. I'm sure there are websites like that nowadays.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 20:54:14 GMT

DH and I are also in a rut..but he is fairly easy to cook for...we generally eat out 1-2 times on the weekend, so if he wants a large meal (usually steak) he eats it then...otherwise thru the week....salads, taco salad, goulash, meatloaf, chicken, eggs....we are not big eaters.

When I was a kid the rule was your mother prepared it YOU WILL EAT IT or leave the table and nothing else until breakfast.....that was how it was done back in the day.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Noel7 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:19:08 GMT

Hi @ScrapHappy

I do plan meals, here’s how...

I sit down once a week and flip through recipes in a box I keep, collections online, in magazines, whatever I am in the mood for.

I list those that appeal to me in a steno book, then make a new page listing ingredients I will need from the store.

You can always google low carb recipes online and copy those you like.

I think you should cook what YOU like for awhile, taking your husband’s needs into consideration.

Re: DINNER PLANNING FRUSTRATION

Noel7 — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 23:23:22 GMT

wrote:
@ScrapHappy

One of the magazines I subscribed to when I was first married, had a monthly menu in it. I think it was Women's Day or Family Circle. I would follow it loosely and make changes according to our taste. I'm sure there are websites like that nowadays.

I did that, too! @house_cat I am pretty sure it was Women’s Day 😀