Should I throw in the towel?

[Anonymous]

I’m sort of at my wits end and don’t know how to proceed without appearing hysterical or petty.

I cook basic/traditional/comfort foods, everyone is bored. I get more fancy/exotic, everyone complains. I ask for input, everyone draws a blank.

Today, every. single. person. came to the table and gave an audible “ew” over what I had prepared. Even DH.

I’m done. I plan, shop for, cook, and clean up dinner every day. In our sharing of household tasks, cooking is mine, so if I strike over this it will seem hysterical, petty. Is there a more mature way to handle this, or should I just throw in the towel?

[Anonymous]

Solidarity sister. Solidarity

[Anonymous]

The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

Better yet, they (DH and kids, assuming the kids are old enough) can cook a meal for the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

Excellent advice, PP.

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, what did you make tonight?

[Anonymous]

New family plan- everyone chooses 1 meal per week and prepares it. The rest of the time, mom chooses.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try a meal service too--like hello fresh, Martha and Marley or Dinnerly. I think Dinnerly is owned by Martha and Marley but is marketed as being more family friendly. It might shake things up a bit and get you out of your rut. I do these periodically when I'm bored with the usual and can't think of anything on my own.

It's also fun to do breakfast for dinner once in a while too--pancakes or French toast, eggs, fruit.

You can spin classics and make them slightly different--like stacked enchiladas instead of labor intensive regular enchiladas, or lasagna casserole instead of layered, teriyaki chicken on quinoa instead of rice and add a bunch of extra veggies to it--sliced bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple etc. Grilled cheese with ham and thin sliced apples or pears with gouda instead of cheddar or American.

[Anonymous]

PP here--make your own bars---make your own mini pizza, tacos, hoagies, pasta (have 2-3 pastas, and a couple sauces), baked potato bar etc.

I also 100% agree with PP about making everyone come up with suggestions and/or take over cooking one night a week each.

[Anonymous]

I recently enacted the “you need to one up with an idea for dinner next week,” too. I find coming up with the idea to be the hardest part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

Excellent advice, PP.

Yes, I like this a lot.

[Anonymous]

Even the adult in the home said "ew"? Are they generally this disrespectful?

[Anonymous]

If everyone said Eew then they’re free to fix their own meals. I don’t cook for boors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sort of at my wits end and don’t know how to proceed without appearing hysterical or petty.

I cook basic/traditional/comfort foods, everyone is bored. I get more fancy/exotic, everyone complains. I ask for input, everyone draws a blank.

Today, every. single. person. came to the table and gave an audible “ew” over what I had prepared. Even DH.

I’m done. I plan, shop for, cook, and clean up dinner every day. In our sharing of household tasks, cooking is mine, so if I strike over this it will seem hysterical, petty. Is there a more mature way to handle this, or should I just throw in the towel?

Everybody else takes a night and cooks. Especially DH who is setting a bad example for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

Excellent advice, PP.

It is good advice, but only if OP is ready to back it up. The kids are going to slip up and make a rude comment. OP has to insist that they prepare dinner the next evening. I'd tell them to do an inventory of what's in the house and then let me know if any ingredients are needed before they go to bed.