I hate food

Yeah just different schedules. I used to eat a little later when the kids were at the after school club. Now they are older they do their own cooking, so I tend to finish work around 5 and then eat. If i’m working at home I tend to cook my dinner at lunchtime so its ready, or i will cook a big bowl of pasta and eat that for a few days. So i can eat soon after i finish work. I eat lunch at midday, as i eat breakfast at 5.30. I grew up eating around 5, so its a normal time to eat an evening meal to me. I couldn’t eat late as i go to bed early as I am up early. Guess we all eat to our own schedules.

That’s the complete opposite to me, I don’t know any adults in this country that eat at 5/6pm - most are still at work! My parents and in-laws are retired and they don’t eat that early. Everyone I know eat around 8pm. We tend to eat at 9pm.

Urs different schedules, I guess also when you like your free time. DH will lounge about after finishing work at 5:30/6 or do some gardening or DIY project, then cook to eat around 7:30/8. I prefer to cook straight after work and be done and dusted by 6:30/7pm to then do something with my evening.

@CuttySarcasm Ha! Not in London. Many people don't even leave the office until 6pm - I am still having work meetings at 5/6pm and usually don't get home until 7.30pm. Mr Monkey works in retail and his shifts don't end until 8pm some nights.

I don’t have an afternoon snack because I don’t eat lunch until 2ish. It’s just different schedules I guess. By the time we’re all home from work and someone has cooked, 6.30pm is the absolute earliest we can eat. Pre kids id often meet friends for a drink after work, or go straight to the gym or an exercise class, which mean I didn’t eat dinner until 8-9pm ish.

Im in the UK and pre kids we ate at 8-9. It’s still my ideal eating time but now we have children we like to eat as a family so eat at about 6.30pm. I don’t judge anyone else for what time they eat though, whatever works for them. I just know I’d be hungry by bed time if I ate at 5! Plus I’m not home from work by then anyway.
Actually I think that might play a large part in it. My ex boyfriend’s parents had dinner on the table at 5, but his mum didn’t work and his dad was a tradesman who finished at 4 and worked locally so was home at 5 for tea. My parents both worked full time in more professional careers and my dad commuted a fair distance so no one was home before 6, then obviously someone had to cook.

No I never eat after dinner. I will have a cup of tea around 7.30pm but that’s it. I go to sleep early, up at 5.30 or before most days, so eat breakfast early. That’s my schedule and works well for me. If i didn’t eat early i’d want to snack mid afternoon, as i’d be very hungry waiting until 7-8pm. Do late eaters have an afternoon snack? I have to watch snacks as i’m only 5ft 1, so gain weight easily.

Most adults I know eat at 5/6pm in this country, are you not in the UK? I don’t know anyone that eats at 8.

But if you eat at 5 aren’t you snacking all evening? I know if I ate at 5 I’d be starving by bed time!

Either cook once and he can reheat his later, or you cook for the children and he cooks for you both. You must be eating above maintenance calories to be 16 stone at 5'10, are you not hungry at dinner as you eat most of your food during the day? Maybe have a bigger meal for lunch and then just a small dinner.

Yes, many do. I grew up eating around 5, many of my friends did. Maybe it’s a regional thing. I’m up at 5, so eat lunch at midday. I’d be snacking all afternoon if i ate late. Plus i’ve got things i want to do in the evening.

This. And if you have a freezer and can batch cook a bunch of them and freeze then that removes all thinking about it for a few weeks

Different people have different schedules. I’m an early riser so I eat earlier. I couldn’t eat at 8 or 9… I’d be up all night, probably with indigestion lol.

5pm? Do adults really eat a main meal at 5pm? Can't imagine having an evening meal before 8/9pm

Agree. Though I'd suggest more than 7!
And make meals that can be kept warm/reheated as per other PP.
This was my world for many years too. Then when we all ate together my DD became a veggie and I still had to cook 2 meals most nights.

He could always do some of the cooking?

I hate eating that early too. Of you hate cooking, can’t you swap with another chore with your husband? If he’s working late, he can cook double at 20.00 and if you are home earlier then just reheat two portions the next day for the children.

I’d cook dinner once, if your DH doesn’t want to eat at 5 then he can reheat it. No chance i’d be making 2 separate meals

This.

Don’t eat when you’re not hungry. Figure out when you like eating and need to eat and eat then. Make sure you’re getting enough protein and a mixture of fruits and vegetables. Ignore anyone who says otherwise, including your DH.

DH can cook for himself if he won’t eat the same time as the children.

I am only hungry in the evening. I either eat with DD and DP at 6ish or just with DP once DD is in bed. I otherwise don’t eat during the day, because I’m not hungry. If DP is hungry outside these times, he fends for himself. Eating when you’re not hungry is the quickest way to overeating, ime. I’ve lost a significant amount of weight (6 stone+) I stopped doing it.

I couldn’t eat at 4-5pm either. When the kids were younger I did their dinner for 5ish as I was home from work first, then DH cooked for me and him for 7.30ish when the kids were in bed. It meant neither of us were cooking twice. Let me guess though, he does none of the cooking?
Now mine are a bit older (10, 9 and 5) we all eat together at around 6.30.

Your husband is being a pita. I have lunch at two-ish, I'm k no it eating dinner at 5, even if I could, dont get until 7.

Kids get leftovers of the night before or you cook once and reheat for you later.

Your husband needs to back off and stop pressuring you to eat with his 'worrying'. Your bmi is not in the healthy range, he should be supporting you in bettering your health instead.

I hear you, it's constant - making the food, clearing up, planning the meals around all the kids activities, catering for fussy kids, doing the shopping, putting the shopping away, making packed lunches. I'm very serious about healthy eating and it seems the only way to eat healthily all the time is with a humongous amount of effort and planning. With fussy kids you're then also making more than one meal at a time. And to all the posters who say 'don't do it they eat what they're given' ...........no they won't. And I don't want to eat pasta with grated cheese on. So yes I feel your pain but don't have any particularly good advice. Although I would make it all in one go and heat yours and DHs up. At least then you're not clearing up late at night. I also do a jacket potato for everyone one night a week which is an easy meal. I tried Hello Fresh but that didn't work for us for various reasons and seems expensive. You could also try a 'something on toast or out of a tin' for tea. We do that some days that are busy.

Why don't you batch cook some slow cooker or one pot meals one day a week, and reheat for the rest of the week or the next few days?