Kitchen

[jannabelle1]

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.

[RedTop]

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.  

[ECBG]

@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.

[Sooner]

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!  

[denisemb]

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

[CalminHeart]

---

---

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.

[Eileen in Virginia]

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. 

[LindaSal]

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

[Miss Pepsi]

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.

[wagirl]

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----