Wife is just unimaginative with food and prefers to eat crap...at my wits’ end

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PPs that you need to take over cooking. If she doesn’t like healthy foods, can’t think of ideas, and isn’t interested in learning, you’re not going to make her change.

Also it’s waaaay easier to go to a drive thu than it is to completely change your habits and learn how to cook healthy foods that toddlers would be interested in. Of course she is choosing the fast food route.

This. You need to cook if you are concerned about your kids’ diet. She’s not your chef.

[Anonymous]

What were you eating before she retired? If she just separated from the military, she had PT and H/W requirements to serve. Has she always eaten crap? Have you guys eaten crap together? This isn't new.

Now to be helpful. Mark Bittman's books on How to Cook Everything, they are great for setting up a 'system' for eating. Certain basics with interchangeable ingredients/variables.

[Anonymous]

I'd make lunch teh big meal, and cook together and eat together for a while. Eating with little kids can be stressful. It's not just as simple as putting healthy food on the table. If you're involved in the whole process you can get a better sense of where the stress points are and problem solve them together.

[Anonymous]

Anyone can learn how to cook if they want to so, obviously, your wife doesn’t. Buying her cookbooks and an Instapot or any other cooking equipment is not going to work. I don’t like doing yardwork so I hire a gardener or don’t have a garden. How did you not know this when you married her? Did she eat all her meals on base? If you don’t like what she is serving the kids, purchase single serving healthy snacks and frozen dinners for her to heat up for them.

[Anonymous]

Could ok reheatable meals on days off or on the weekends. Make enough for leftovers. If you only provide even three meals a week, that’s a good start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about ordering some of those meal prep kits such as Hello Fresh? They’re pretty easy to follow.

Or get some cooking lessons. I’m sure you could find someone that could coach her online.

Hello fresh.

[Anonymous]

She’s obsessed, not sleeping well and has a 1 year old. I’d suggest that she get screened for post partum depression.

[Anonymous]

Not obsessed^^ obese

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She’s obsessed, not sleeping well and has a 1 year old. I’d suggest that she get screened for post partum depression.

Especially if she's gone from full time military to stay at home parent which is a huge change. Plus if she is actually obese now that means she put on a tremendous amount of weight after leaving the military which has weight restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Start with the most basic crock pot. Buy a 2 pound ham. Wrap in foil, put on low, + one cup of water. It will be ready when you get home. You can wrap vegetables in foil + are to pot. That makes a whole meal. Do the same with a brisket or small turkey or chicke.

Buy frozen shrimp. Boil for seven minutes. Buy taco shells + assemble your own tacos. Cut up lettuce + vegetables twice a week + put in plastic tubs. Use for salads.

Boil a box of spaghetti + instant rice. Put cut meats + or vegetables over it.

If you help her with prep one hour a week, you can have easy meals every night.

[Anonymous]

What does her being retired military have to do with things? She should dump you. You are annoying.

[Anonymous]

How do I manage? I do the cooking. My DH is terrible at it, can’t follow a recipe of you paid him. So I do it. Dinner it probably the easiest since you have all day to make it. So you do that and have her reheat it. That is what a loving spouse does. Not buy a cookbook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were you eating before she retired? If she just separated from the military, she had PT and H/W requirements to serve. Has she always eaten crap? Have you guys eaten crap together? This isn't new.

Now to be helpful. Mark Bittman's books on How to Cook Everything, they are great for setting up a 'system' for eating. Certain basics with interchangeable ingredients/variables.

OP again. She was in the Air Force and did eat on base for most of the time. She had a weight problem when we married but it’s gotten worse since kids. I cooked more often before she retired so all these problems were not as apparent. She seems to be perfectly fine just existing on chicken nuggets and doughnuts on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

What do you do all day? Sleep?

Is money an issue? I'm assuming you aren't rolling in the dough if you are doing nightshift work and she's staying at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you do all day? Sleep?

Is money an issue? I'm assuming you aren't rolling in the dough if you are doing nightshift work and she's staying at home.

Yep, it's always the man's fault.