Eating like a king at the weekend, pauper during the week

I think it's a sensible way to live. I thought originally you meant in respect of dieting - but I see it's both a cost / time thing - and that makes a lot of sense. Often when your children are young and/or you are working full time things can be a bit rushed in the week - so soup and cheese on toast etc makes a quick meal - but also makes sense cost wise. Then you have something to look forward to at the weekend .

Grocery shopping hasn't changed much for us (average earners x2) but the meals out and takeaways are every 2 weeks max and it's either takeaway OR a meal out.

I would go so far as to say, we have a great week long menu. I take a lot of pride in cooking (and eating) nice food. We do have freezer buffets, and our DDs love it! I am meh about it but it feeds our hungry family of 4 and feels like a "treat" at a third of the price of a takeaway 😊 this is roughly every 2 weeks.

I cannot emphasise the positive impact of 2-day dinners. Me and DH work FT and love the big pots we make fresh of fav meals. The next day, they are just warmed up, still fresh, healthy and tasty.

Sorry OP but it made me think of this

We probably do the same but think it’’s more because there was a much re time at weekends, it’s so busy in the week with work/pick ups/bed time that we haven’t time to faff and we’re so backed at the end of the day we want something quick and easy to make and eat

My sister's the same. 2 adult children but always has to be home to cook their dinner ect. Comes a time when you have to let them get on with it themselves. Grandchildren are a different story though lol

We do this OP, though not particularly for economic reasons, it's just that we like cooking and eating and there's more time at the weekend.

Anyway, I think people worry too much about making elaborate meals every evening these days—when I was a kid all our food was made from scratch, no UPFs etc, but 90% of our dinners were jacket potatoes or something-on-toast.

Lasagne absolutely should be a feast, to make it properly takes bloody ages.

As long as you do not have to do it, then what she chooses to do is her own affair. I hate this attitude that women should never do anything for their adult sons, without being called 1950s whatever

I would be truly embarrassed if my mum had to rush back from a social event, in her late sixties or seventies, to prepare me a lunch.

It is also inexplicable why lovely Ian hasn't attracted a wife aged 40 living at home with mum.

This kind of behaviour is doing neither of them any favours.

In winter we try and have either a proper Sunday lunch or dinner.

But then we we have cold cuts and veg, or bubble and squeak, or salad on Monday (easy day) and maybe even shepherds or cottage pie or hash on Tuesday.

So yes we do eat “fancier” at weekends but meat is so expensive that we make sure the benefit lasts throughout the week. For example, I will always make stock from bones and freeze to use another time.

Well I though that slave to adult children home and otherwise .Oh and general worshipper of grandchildren was a bit long. wouldn't really cut it on mumsnet 😁

Yes, but because of time constraints, really.

Today I'm making a mildly faffy Ixta Belfrage lasagna. I'm looking forward to a couple of hours pottering about in the kitchen in peace.

Tomorrow (weekday here in the ME) it'll be home made soup & quick bread machine bread, & the rest of the week it's mac'n'cheese, chicken kapitan, something sausagey in the slow cooker & salmon thai curry. All fairly straightforward & the prep can be done the night before.

If there's a two hour window between getting home & dinner, I'd rather spend at least half of it with my feet up, a book & a g&t.

I've always tended to have nicer dinners at the weekend because we have more time and I want to treat myself, I will generally eat more healthly during the week and may be more indulgent at the weekend. But we do still eat home cooked meals during week too just generally a bit more simple and easy to prep.

I do more elaborate dishes at the weekend because I have more time. That doesn't mean I do cheap dishes in the week. For example, after work I might throw some salmon and potatoes in the oven. The salmon's expensive but it's an easy meal

We eat decent dinners every night, but I'm off work as I'm recovering from severe mental illness. Last year I couldn't be trusted to boil water, so cooking a proper meal each day is an absolute joy I try not to take for granted.

No , eat the same aside from roast on Sunday but that's usual here . I have found meat especially has gone very expensive but try to look for deals and special offers

We eat more expensive at the weekends , and more complex cooking

It makes the weekend meals more a real treat and a bit special and fun

And weekdays is healthy and cheap

I do this @Cravingasimplelife - I try and be relatively virtuous during the week for both diet and ease purposes and am teetotal, and then really enjoy the weekend wine and pizza or whatever treat we (or dsd) chooses. Makes weekends feel more special and a break.

No, I don’t do this, we usually eat what be cooked whatever the day of the week it is. I have a weekly food delivery and plan based on use by dates/freezing stuff as required.

I like cooking and find it relaxing at the end of the working day, if I couldn’t be bothered I’d cook a pizza or take some homemade soup out of the freezer.

I spend a lot on food shopping but never have takeaways. We eat out once or twice a month.

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/fresh-turmeric-peppercorn-curry-prawns-asparagus

It's this one, and it is!

Yes but like others, it’s partially down to time. Standard week meals of chicken burgers on night when I’m out, jacket potatoes, sausage pasta, quick carbonara or something from freezer we’ve previously cooked extra portions of.

Weekend we will usually do more than exiting things. Tonight we are having deep fried feta coated in sesame seeds with honey and then some Greek chicken thing my husband is making

Sunday night is always pizza night with home made dough as the kids love it

We do similar to you OP, my DD8 has hot meal at lunch and at after school club so is never that peckish. My DD2 seems to be stuffed full at nursery so she has a small tea at home. I tend to make a big effort at the weekend, but we'll pick at leftovers in the week. If it works for you and it's balanced and healthy keep going!

I do to an extent because in the week u prioritise easy and quick whereas on the weekend I have more time.

I certainly spend more time on weekend meals. They might also be a tad more expensive but not extravagantly so.

@MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira

That curry sounds delicious!

WTAF?!

It's like the last 70 years never happened.

Check out her username though 🙃

I actually prefer simpler food and less meat.
Dd very much embarrassed me once- her little friend's parents were GPs and she was apparently telling them i feed her peasant food (a lot of vegetarian, lentil soups, even barley stews) whilst I eat luxury - i have the odd Gu chocolate pot as a treat!
Anyway, it's not really foe money reasons, I was brought up with it.