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Food/Recipes

Getting bored of the same meals every week

16 replies

NeeChee · 18/02/2018 07:31

Trying to plan meals, but I'm really uninspired at the moment. We seem to circulate between the same few meals every week. I'm in desperate need of some ideas!
Our stock meals (ones everyone will eat, at least) consist mainly of chilli, spag bol, fresh pasta and tomato sauce, pasta bake, chicken fajitas, veg curry. DSS is 10 and very fussy, won't eat onions, mushrooms, picks the 'lumps' out of the tomato sauce, no creamy sauces. Hates chicken dinner (although he loved it a few years ago) won't eat the 'chicken in a bag' type concoctions. But he does like chicken.
He will eat peas and carrots and cauliflower, but that's about it for vegetables. I swear he'd live off bacon sandwiches if he could. He pulls face and moans if it's not one of his favourite meals, I think he confuses not liking something and it just not being his favourite, because he will eat veg curry, for example, but will complain if he knows in advance we are having it. To me, not liking somehting means I can't physically eat it, like seafood (yuk).
DP is less fussy, so when it's just us two we're less restricted. Although he does hate herbs.
I'm trying to make healthy meals and cut back on meat too. Apparently Quorn is now also off the menu though :(
Me and DP are getting so bored of the same repetitive meals, but I'm wary of trying new things because one or both will turn their nose up at it.
Might get DP to plan meals for next week for a change.
We like spicy food, Italian and Mexican are favourites. I don't like seafood or offal.

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NeeChee · 18/02/2018 07:33

Forgot to add, quick meals would be good, we don't always have a lot of time during the week. We do have a slow cooker, which I need to make more use of :)

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Situp · 18/02/2018 07:42

We have the same problem! DS is 7 and very fussy and I find it so annoying making a meal which he doesn't eat.

I use the slow cooker for vegetarian soups which go in the blender and avoids the problem of picking out bits.

Stir fry can be very easy with frozen mixed veg, chicken and either a few spices or a sauce. We also do carbonara, risotto and omelettes for quick food

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Summer70 · 18/02/2018 07:49

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/family-meal
I am in the same boat but found this the other day - lots of nice ideas!

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Tika77 · 18/02/2018 07:50

I also do a vegetarian stew kind of thing, just theow everything in and put some potatoes/sweet poatatoes in for carbs. (Quorn frankfurters give it a nice smokey taste.)

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PrincessoftheSea · 18/02/2018 07:50

Hello Fresh/ Gousto

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Situp · 18/02/2018 07:52

Oh and baked potatoes in the slow cooker are great. Just wrap them in foil and put them in for about 8 hours on low

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orangesticker · 18/02/2018 08:30

When the kids were younger and life was busier, i used to try out one new meal at the weekend and if they passed the family taste test they got moved to midweek.

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AtleastitsnotMonday · 18/02/2018 09:14

What about looking at variations of what you are having for example could you try quaesidilla? What goes in your usual pasta bake?
If ds eats bacon could you do chicken breasts wrapped in bacon (stuff with cheese for those who would eat it). Or gammon steaks, roast gammon with a glaze.
How about frittata?
I know you say no seafood, is that fish as well as shell fish?
Chicken tagine with cous cous
Sausage casserole/toad in the hole
Falafels in pita
Homemade burgers/bean burgers?

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NeeChee · 18/02/2018 12:56

Thanks for the suggestions everyone :)
This week we are having fish curry and Mexican chicken (for just me and DP). Stuffed tortellini for when we have DSS (it's a very busy night, so very quick tea required) . And I'm thinking toad in the hole for the other night we have him. I've just discovered how to make Yorkshire puddings (only took me 33 years lol).
I love morrocan food but DP won't eat fruit and meat together (it's a Yorkshire thing I think).

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ShortandAnnoying · 18/02/2018 13:02

I know it's a faff to cook different meals but to save boredom with your fussy family I would look at doing that sometimes. Make a double batch of something that freezes and reheats easily one day so you can give them that and make yourself a fancy tagine or whatever.

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DontCallMeBaby · 18/02/2018 13:11

“I think he confuses not liking something and it just not being his favourite, because he will eat veg curry, for example, but will complain if he knows in advance we are having it.”

Ha, that could be DD you’re describing (apart from actually eating veg curry). At nearly 14 she now knows better than to whine ‘it’s not my favourite’ any more, and her two reactions to being told what’s for dinner are now ‘yay!’ and ‘oh, okay’. Obviously I know what ‘oh, okay’ means, but it’s a big improvement of whinging or the tragic face of doom. It’s taken years of ‘I know it’s not your favourite, but we’re not eating fish fingers every day’ but it’s worth it. It’s just good manners, and genuinely not having a fight or whinge fest over dinner makes it a lot more pleasant.

Will DSS eat mince? That opens up bolognese, lasagne (we had lasagne last night, accidentally gave DD nearly a third and she ate almost all), cottage or shepherds pie, etc. Bulked out with lentils if you’re trying to reduce meat consumption.

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NeeChee · 18/02/2018 14:13

Yes, he likes mince, and lasagna is one of his favourites. We actually made one last night, but he said wasn't feeling well so only ate garlic bread. He did have a late lunch though (4pm), because he'd had nothing since breakfast when his mum dropped him off just before 3pm.
It's tricky trying to get him to eat healthy food, and we like to make dishes from scratch.

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starlight123456 · 15/03/2018 14:54

Hi,

I have sort of had the same problem and recently come across a range called Latin American Kitchen by Santa Maria. I usually buy the sauces from Morrisons. They are really tasty and come in a variety of spice levels, from mild to hot. My niece is extremely fussy but she seems to love these, particularly the Pineapple & Chilli Sauce. I'd definitely recommend giving them a go!

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Taffeta · 15/03/2018 16:32

10 is a great age to start them cooking

Esp if he’s not used to cooking from scratch

On the night you’re not busy

Give him some cookbooks to look through and pick out a few he likes

Shop for ingreds and cook with him

He’s chosen it, he’s helped cook it, chances are he’ll eat it and may surprise you with what he picks

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Icklepickle101 · 18/03/2018 16:44

Marinated chicken drums/thighs with a selection of:
Salad
Spicy rice
Corn on the cob
Sweet potato chips
Coleslaw
Beans

Cauliflower tacos - coat the cauliflower in hummus and then bake and pop in to wraps

Risotto?

Ham, egg and wedges

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Icklepickle101 · 18/03/2018 16:45

Pizzas on tortillas are nice too

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