I never want to cook another meal for the rest of my life

[Anonymous]

I used to love cooking and food. But since becoming a wife and mother I hate it. At this point I would prefer to just eat enough to survive and that's it. I hate it. My kids eat one thing, my husband is doing some super macro-intense food thing so makes his own food or I make up big batches for him and he portions them all out. This every day grind of making food has taken all the joy of food and eating out of me.

[Anonymous]

I felt the same way for so long. I started cooking for myself - what will I enjoy? And if that means my husband cooks for himself then that’s great and he can do that. And if it means my kids (4 and 6) eat chicken nuggets, steam fresh veggies and fruit each night for dinner then that’s fine too. I can eat my leftovers for lunch or the next night for dinner. I started saying “I’m having….” Vs asking what anyone else wanted for dinner.

[Anonymous]

It’s exhausting. My husband loves what I cook but my kid (5 yo) eats very few things. I hate it bc I ate everything as a child - loved veggies, new flavors, new cuisines. So I give her what she wants (which is healthy at least). I’ve just lowered my standards. I still make us a nice dinner on Sunday nights and have some wine and cheese to make it fancy but weeknights are pretty low effort. Sigh!

[Anonymous]

You cook what you want to eat and the others eat or don't. That's how I feel. Many nights, I don't feel like eating dinner at all. I used to skip dinner a lot when I was younger because I'm always hungry in the morning but rarely at night. The idea that I have to put something on the table is exhausting.

[Anonymous]

i am only cooking for two, but we have several days we are not home for dinner. i usually get a couple things ready in the fridge on sunday or monday and make things from that during the week when we are home.

for instance i might have a pound of cooked chicken. i can add some to a salad, make gyros or add some to a pasta. my husband doesn't care what we eat and i don't care enough to make a big effort. we always have something to eat.

if i had kids here i wouldn't have them eating chicken nuggets every night, though. i would cook actual food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cook what you want to eat and the others eat or don't. That's how I feel. Many nights, I don't feel like eating dinner at all. I used to skip dinner a lot when I was younger because I'm always hungry in the morning but rarely at night. The idea that I have to put something on the table is exhausting.

Same. I give my kids chicken nuggets and vegetables and DH can figure it out himself; he literally never cooks and I didn't sign for the role of full time cook.

[Anonymous]

It's... intense having to make food daily for everyone. I basically cook every other day and then on the off days we eat leftovers (I double the recipes I make). Something that used to stress me out was getting food before 5 or 6pm sports. Now I just make them sandwiches that they eat in the car on the way. Kids aren't hungry now while they're running around and I'm not stressed trying to get a meal out.

DH and I pretty much only cook real food that we want to eat though (other than those sandwiches above). We don't eat junk food or chicken nuggets. All 3 of our kids went through the pick phase from 2-4, but now just eat it all happily. There isn't a second meal forthcoming if you don't like dinner. Going to bed a little hungry is perfectly fine with me. They must finish all vegetables before leaving the table though. That being said, I try to make food that is appetizing and everyone likes it. I also try to make more kid friendly meals.

Baked soy sauce/teriyaki chicken plus peppers and pineapple over rice = "Moana chicken". Mexican pulled chicken bowls with beans are very popular. NYT Chicken Shawarma with tzatziki sauce is always a hit. Chicken and shrimp kabobs on the grill in the summer. Chicken noodle soup with big matza balls. Oh and Costco Rotisserie chicken with a steamed bag of veggies on the side is still a real meal. Kids are obsessed with that chicken.

[Anonymous]

Preach.

DH is vegan and both the kids have allergies. I'm so tired of eating the same stuff over and over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cook what you want to eat and the others eat or don't. That's how I feel. Many nights, I don't feel like eating dinner at all. I used to skip dinner a lot when I was younger because I'm always hungry in the morning but rarely at night. The idea that I have to put something on the table is exhausting.

OP - I would do that but then my kids would probably starve. They eat WAY more than I do (and they are only 5, 8 and 10 years old). I would feel bad making them skip dinner just because I hate eating/cooking food.

[Anonymous]

I'd be content with a bowl of cereal for dinner most days like I used to have pre- husband and pre kids

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP.

The task transformed from cooking to getting dinner on the table, which is not the same thing. It sucks the fun out of it.

[Anonymous]

It’s the ten minutes before dinner that always kill me. I don’t mind cooking, but it drives me crazy to have to set everything on the table and get everyone into the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

Everyone in my house eats the same thing (we have one gluten free) and even cooking one meal per night is utterly exhausting. I don’t think I could ever prepare separate meals. Now I get why housewives were happy with the advent of frozen dinners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP.

The task transformed from cooking to getting dinner on the table, which is not the same thing. It sucks the fun out of it.

This is so perfectly said.

[Anonymous]

There's a similar thread in the Foods forum:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1251187.page