Those who don't cook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do folks who don't cook do for the 14-21 meals a week? In the Midwest, it was norm to open a can of green beans and eat it straight out of the can and call it a meal, but that was probably not enough at each meal. Frozen meals? take out? Breakfast for dinner? Only pre made salads? Lots of variety have come to shelves and freezers in last few decades but it's still a lotta meals. And if you have kids that's another x2 or 3.

We have a daily personal chef for dinner meals and more as needed. We meal plan a week prior with him, and he works every afternoon/evening.

When all the children are home during the summer he prepares lunch and dinner. Our housekeeper will set up breakfast (hardboiled eggs, fresh fruit, bread, yoghurt) and she will clear the plates from each meal.

[Anonymous]

to the PP midwesterner, my mom (who grew up on a farm) used to say the same. Also, You'd eat whatever was ripe. So when corn came in, it was corn for breakfast lunch and dinner. And like mom, I hate cooking.

Sunday is usually a big dinner, maybe a big roast or chicken which will be our meat for the week on sandwiches/pitas/tacos etc. Most times, I cook that meat in a crock pot all day Sunday. I also cut up all the salad makings for the week and have salad (or fruit) for lunch everyday. Breakfast is toast and jelly, and cereal for the kids. Kids do sandwich and chips and fruit for lunch.

Other dinner items we do is baked potatoes and salad, canned soup and salad; and most times, grilled sandwiches and soup/salad. Friday is pizza night (many times frozen, sometimes pizza hut) We get food out maybe once a week. We used to eat out alot more but can't afford it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do folks who don't cook do for the 14-21 meals a week? In the Midwest, it was norm to open a can of green beans and eat it straight out of the can and call it a meal, but that was probably not enough at each meal. Frozen meals? take out? Breakfast for dinner? Only pre made salads? Lots of variety have come to shelves and freezers in last few decades but it's still a lotta meals. And if you have kids that's another x2 or 3.

We have a daily personal chef for dinner meals and more as needed. We meal plan a week prior with him, and he works every afternoon/evening.

When all the children are home during the summer he prepares lunch and dinner. Our housekeeper will set up breakfast (hardboiled eggs, fresh fruit, bread, yoghurt) and she will clear the plates from each meal.

Is this your chef you have had 19 years?
We don't hear enough about him.

[Anonymous]

It's me, but I'm foreign born who eats a lot of potatoes and black bread.
I boile the potatoes with skin and when meal times comes, I simply peel them, slice them on a pan and add eggs-boiled or fried, onions, dill, dash of sourcream.
Oatmeal with simply salt and butter is also a meal for me, but got to me made with milk.
The black bread I order from EU. It's frozen til I use it, comes in two slices, ihpone size. I melt cheese on it, tomatoes, cucumbers, herring if I'm lucky, smoked salmon.
Trader Joe salads ofcourse. Sometimes I add salmon.
Added grass fed burgers lately. Doesn't take a lot to make the patties with egg yolk.
Flounder soup with carrots, potatoes, rice, dill easy from frozen fillets. I simply warm out small amount. Usually gone in two days.
Sauteed mushrooms yesterday, added gravy (small amount of flour in milk), and peeled the potatoes again.
Potatoes and black bread are the main thing. May be rice and pasta for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whole Foods hot bar and salad bar.

Tastes uniformly terrible.

[Anonymous]

I don’t enjoy cooking, I guess technically I cook but it’s gotta be done in 15 mins or less.
Last night we had black bean quesadillas with avacado and tomatoes on the side.
Tonight spaghetti in pesto sauce with carrots/cucumber on the side.

We do ramen once a week, vegetable soup from Costco that just needs heating up, sandwiches, just bare chicken bites over salad or with rice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do folks who don't cook do for the 14-21 meals a week? In the Midwest, it was norm to open a can of green beans and eat it straight out of the can and call it a meal, but that was probably not enough at each meal. Frozen meals? take out? Breakfast for dinner? Only pre made salads? Lots of variety have come to shelves and freezers in last few decades but it's still a lotta meals. And if you have kids that's another x2 or 3.

I'm from the Midwest and eating green beans out of a can was never a thing, let alone the norm.

[Anonymous]

I don't enjoy cooking, but I can do it.
This is what is in regular rotation:

Salad kit with air fryer fish fillets or chicken strips
Soup and fancy grilled cheese
Loaded nachos with my homemade guacamole
Steamed broccoli with air fryer salmon
TJs pizza or Tarte flambee and salad kit
Tortellini with jarred sauce and Caesar salad kit
Momofuku ramen with spinach and poached egg

These are all super quick and easy. I love my air fryer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do folks who don't cook do for the 14-21 meals a week? In the Midwest, it was norm to open a can of green beans and eat it straight out of the can and call it a meal, but that was probably not enough at each meal. Frozen meals? take out? Breakfast for dinner? Only pre made salads? Lots of variety have come to shelves and freezers in last few decades but it's still a lotta meals. And if you have kids that's another x2 or 3.

We have a daily personal chef for dinner meals and more as needed. We meal plan a week prior with him, and he works every afternoon/evening.

When all the children are home during the summer he prepares lunch and dinner. Our housekeeper will set up breakfast (hardboiled eggs, fresh fruit, bread, yoghurt) and she will clear the plates from each meal.

So, how does the chef schedule work during summer?
Is it like 11AM -3PM work around four hours for lunch and make and pack dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Empty nester single mom. I had peanut butter crackers for dinner (admittedly, after a big lunch out).

I can cook fine, but it is such a relief not to have to do it every night, and more importantly, not to have to wash all the da*n dishes!!

Yep. That often deters people from getting started, and cooking regularly. If you have another human in the hime, they can assist with dishes/dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

My kids' father does a lot of gross carry-out from the hot bar at Fresh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do folks who don't cook do for the 14-21 meals a week? In the Midwest, it was norm to open a can of green beans and eat it straight out of the can and call it a meal, but that was probably not enough at each meal. Frozen meals? take out? Breakfast for dinner? Only pre made salads? Lots of variety have come to shelves and freezers in last few decades but it's still a lotta meals. And if you have kids that's another x2 or 3.

I'm from the Midwest and eating green beans out of a can was never a thing, let alone the norm.

It was norm, just not where you are/were from. Have met many in DMV that know about eating corn and beans, from cans.

[Anonymous]

Never too late to learn
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1228223.page

[Anonymous]

I always wonder this too. I had a colleague who lived in the same building as me and she told me she hadn't turned the stove or oven on since she moved in (more than 2 years ago)!

And I was watching a house hunters international and the lady was shown a house with a beautiful kitchen and she told them it would be wasted on her as she doesn't cook and doesn't need all that kitchen space. She said that as long as she had a coffee machine and a microwave, she was good as that is all she used in her current house.

I do wonder how these people eat. I can't imagine the cost of buying take out or ready meals every day for every meal and I would get so tired of that....and the lack of healthy options. And the planning / waiting required.

So good question. It is one I have pondered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always wonder this too. I had a colleague who lived in the same building as me and she told me she hadn't turned the stove or oven on since she moved in (more than 2 years ago)!

And I was watching a house hunters international and the lady was shown a house with a beautiful kitchen and she told them it would be wasted on her as she doesn't cook and doesn't need all that kitchen space. She said that as long as she had a coffee machine and a microwave, she was good as that is all she used in her current house.

I do wonder how these people eat. I can't imagine the cost of buying take out or ready meals every day for every meal and I would get so tired of that....and the lack of healthy options. And the planning / waiting required.

So good question. It is one I have pondered.

Breakfast: yogurt or oatmeal with fruit
Lunch: leftovers from going out to dinner, or apple with pb, carrots with hummus, etc.
Dinner: big salad with premade lentils and quinoa