I'm done

[Anonymous]

PP again and a fresh salad with the leftover turkey or chicken breast is a great summer meal. I think. He doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Hit ain't sacrilege. Miss Effie Belle says when she cain't think what to have for dinner, she asts God and right off He gives her an idea. To my thinkin', thet's sacrilege."
Miss Love really laughed. "There's not a woman in the world who hasn't prayed what to cook for dinner, Rucker!"
— Olive Ann Burns (Cold Sassy Tree)

One of my favorite quotes about making dinner. I love to cook and this really taught me the difference between making dinner and cooking.

My first suggestion is don't give up. Your children will love you for your cooking. Mine are fairly grown up now and walk in the house sniffing and smiling over what is for dinner and actually cheer. Hang in there. It does become rewarding.

Practical solutions: These are always a hit and really easy.

Stir fry: Chicken, beef or shrimp. I use Soy Vay Very Very teryaki. I usually buy the precut veggies from Whole food. Loved by all. Serve rice or not .

Tacos. Messy when they are little but also easy to sneak in some veggies.
Fajitas. ditto.

Roast chicken. Green salad. Fresh rolls (from the freezer section) stir fry or steamed broccoli.

Any kind of marinated grilled protein.

I mix equal parts of dijon mustard and Caesar Salad dressing and coat chicken breasts with it grill and have a chicken caesar.

In winter I sear very thin chicken cutlets, throw in some butter, lemon white wine and capers and serve with noodles. Yum.

If not everyone seems to like the individual dishes I am serving I have fresh fruit and bread and butter on hand and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Your post brings up old wounds for me; my mom actually said that to her three kids when we were all younger than 10. And, for years she cooked nothing, I'm not kidding. We ate saltines with pb and pickles for dinner and whatever else we could piece together with a child's mind. Years later, she would boil pasta and pour jarred sauce over it and to this day I cannot eat spaghetti. She was a single mom, so I guess she could get away with it since she didn't have the additional demands of dh.

My apologies, I know this isn't at all what you asked for, that you were just ranting. I do think you should know that your kids will likely pick up on your attitude if it continues into the long run.

I've spent my adult life learning to cook and it makes me mad at my mom that she couldn't provide for us in that way. I definitely don't think you, or anyone, should slave over difficult meals. That, too, is unproductive. But, find whatever works for you to provide, some basic cooked, healthy meals for you and your family. Having a core of easy family dishes and meal chart is really helpful. I would have been thrilled to have a fresh salad assembled by my mom. There are no recipes to pass down, and never any love given to us with meals. So, since my kids were about 3yo I have involved them in the kitchen and want them to know how to cook. It's not about me loving cooking, I don't particularly, but I've found my way because I'm determined to help my kids with kitchen skills, show them my love, and for us to have family time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your post brings up old wounds for me; my mom actually said that to her three kids when we were all younger than 10. And, for years she cooked nothing, I'm not kidding. We ate saltines with pb and pickles for dinner and whatever else we could piece together with a child's mind. Years later, she would boil pasta and pour jarred sauce over it and to this day I cannot eat spaghetti. She was a single mom, so I guess she could get away with it since she didn't have the additional demands of dh.

My apologies, I know this isn't at all what you asked for, that you were just ranting. I do think you should know that your kids will likely pick up on your attitude if it continues into the long run.

I've spent my adult life learning to cook and it makes me mad at my mom that she couldn't provide for us in that way. I definitely don't think you, or anyone, should slave over difficult meals. That, too, is unproductive. But, find whatever works for you to provide, some basic cooked, healthy meals for you and your family. Having a core of easy family dishes and meal chart is really helpful. I would have been thrilled to have a fresh salad assembled by my mom. There are no recipes to pass down, and never any love given to us with meals. So, since my kids were about 3yo I have involved them in the kitchen and want them to know how to cook. It's not about me loving cooking, I don't particularly, but I've found my way because I'm determined to help my kids with kitchen skills, show them my love, and for us to have family time.

Oh come on! Your mom was at the far end of the spectrum. pickles and saltines = borderline negligent.

Your guilt trip does nothing to offer solutions to make mealtime easier.

[Anonymous]

I'm another person who will recommend 6 O clock scramble or s similar service. I have been cooking meals for the family since, well, the kids were born and am just out of inspiration these days. I'm tired of cooking for unappreciative or picky eaters. The Scramble doesn't always appeal to my kids any more than the meals I picked out did but I have less invested in them because I'm just reading off of someone else's menu plan.

[Anonymous]

22:32 that is so sad. I suspect somthig like that must have happened to my husband when his mom got divorced. He gets really sad and depressed if I don't make a decent effort at cooking dinner for him, if I just announce suddenly that I don't feel like cooking dinner tonight and he has to put something toegther. He just feeds the kids and himself cereal and then gets depressed for about 2 or 3 days.

It sounds like you are doing a great job with your own kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Switch to Western European-style cold dinners. Put out some bread, cheese, a simple salad or soup and a few prepared meats and you are done. Fruit or yogurt for dessert.

OP - What I find helps is a monthly menu. My mom had one when I was a kid and I always wondered why. Now that I'm a mom, I totally get it. It prevents us from eating the same thing every week (although DH would be thrilled, I get bored way too easily). I spent an afternoon writing a long list of menus. I tried to balance out beef, chicken, pork and veggie meals. Have quick to the table meals M-F. Vary the vegetables, etc......

Can you do us (moms with mealtime issues) a huge favor and post one week of your menu so we have something to start with? I also agree with other PPs that it's the planning that's the most difficult and I imagine having a meal planned for a week will also safe your some money. I spent $150 on groceries yesterday and I honestly can't say that I have all the ingredients to make dinners for a week. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I hated cooking pre-baby and hate it now also, but I make myself. So I know how you feel. Every few weeks I claim myself to be "done". But clearly this is not an option.

I do find weekly planning to help. I plan meals out a week in advance and always have one or two really, super, easy meals to make (black bean tacos, soup, veggie burgers). In the winter I do one crockpot meal a week. It's a pain the night before, but its so nice to have one day where I just get home and dinner is ready. I'm looking for some cold meal ideas for the summer.

I try to not repeat the same thing too often, but haven't yet advance to monthly planning. The weeks I am really discouraged, I focus on foods that I really like. I figure with a 3.5 year old, any food is hit or miss, so I might as well plan something I like to eat.

Given my lack of cooking before I had a kid, my biggest issue is lack of how to cook or what to cook. I did Six O Clock Scramble for awhile, but found it made way too much food for our small family. So now I just try to add a new recipe every week or two.

[Anonymous]

Not the montly planner (weekly planner here), but I'll share this weeks. I love it if some other people would add their weeks. Mines a bit simple - as I am not a gourmet cook and this week's menu is focused on clearing out some freezer space:

Monday: Spaghetti and Meatballs (which was actually replaced with Sunday night's leftovers)
Tuesday: Salmon (frozen), whole-wheat couscous, brocolli
Wed: Stirfry - chicken and a frozen veggie mix with some hoison and terriaki sauce - maybe throw in some pineapple
Thurs: Chicken Tenders, fries (bake both at the same time), steamed carots.
Friday: Hot Dogs (Ok, Ok, I know, but we have a freezer full of them for some reason and Fridays I need a break)

And every day I add some fruit (fresh now, but often use canned or frozen in the winter)

[Anonymous]

This week's menu: dh is gone for work so it's just me and 2 toddlers:

Monday: Hamburger Helper (3 cheese pasta) - gross, won't make again
Tuesday: beef stew - potatoes, carrots, celery
Wed: roasted cornish hen w/ mashed potatoes & fresh corn
Thur: beef stew leftovers
Fri: grilled chicken salad