Page 4 | Are my dinners rubbish?

Sowhatbigdeal · 2025-05-10T12:38:17+00:00

Been told they are Here’s an example of an average week, more or less: Monday (I work at 6, so do something simple) Feta & red onion salad with new potatoes & rice Tuesday Pasta with jar pesto (working today) Wednesday Dh to do omlette/eggs on toast with salad (working today) Thursday Salmon, salad, new potatoes Friday Homemade chilli with rice, nachos & dips Saturday Takeaway Sunday Roast dinner/homemade lasagne Are they?

GRex · 12/05/2025 19:18

Protein needs are by weight so children don’t need as much as you might think.
I'll let you be the one to get in between DS and the ham, fish or chicken... he seems pretty convinced that he's on adult protein portions.

Calliopespa · 12/05/2025 19:15

Sowhatbigdeal · 12/05/2025 18:13

Ok, please tell me why Monday’s for example, is a bit shit? Just made it before, work cancelled, but I made the same dinner.
So, we had salad leaves (variety) cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, red pepper, corn on the cob, boiled egg, grated carrot, hummus, feta cheese..with boiled new potatoes & tomato rice (as ive said before, I don’t usually serve potatoes & rice together but Dd is asking for it recently

Dd had watermelon for dessert and a few marshmallows

Tomorrow, Dh will either do omlette with a similar salad or tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, peppers etc in the omlette (Dd loves it) or he’ll do eggy bread/french toast (agree not massive, substantial meal, but it’s a rushed day on Tuesdays with clubs, him finishing work, then me going etc.

Wednesday-the pasta with pesto-I agree with others that I need to get back to adding more to this. I did used to add broccoli, peas, cheese, but Dd started to say that she didn’t like it all of a sudden, as they do

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Just give them a glass of milk with the pesto dinner if you are worried and can’t press more cheese/nuts or peas onto them. Protein needs are by weight so children don’t need as much as you might think. That’s fine for one meal every so often.

GRex · 12/05/2025 19:03

Sowhatbigdeal · 12/05/2025 18:13

Ok, please tell me why Monday’s for example, is a bit shit? Just made it before, work cancelled, but I made the same dinner.
So, we had salad leaves (variety) cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, red pepper, corn on the cob, boiled egg, grated carrot, hummus, feta cheese..with boiled new potatoes & tomato rice (as ive said before, I don’t usually serve potatoes & rice together but Dd is asking for it recently

Dd had watermelon for dessert and a few marshmallows

Tomorrow, Dh will either do omlette with a similar salad or tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, peppers etc in the omlette (Dd loves it) or he’ll do eggy bread/french toast (agree not massive, substantial meal, but it’s a rushed day on Tuesdays with clubs, him finishing work, then me going etc.

Wednesday-the pasta with pesto-I agree with others that I need to get back to adding more to this. I did used to add broccoli, peas, cheese, but Dd started to say that she didn’t like it all of a sudden, as they do

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I think people are reading feta, onion, rice, potato and thinking that's it, so it could use an extra couple of bits. When you clarify the salad has rafts of other veg and houmous it's clearly healthy. Pesto debate won't have helped, sorry about that!

Original poster

Sowhatbigdeal · 12/05/2025 18:13

SpidersAreShitheads · 12/05/2025 03:35

Well as the focus of my comment was about nutrition for children, no, I’ve never known a child not have a “main” meal each day.

Also, no one said other food doesn’t count. OP said fruit is available throughout the day for the child. No other info has been provided, which would suggest the evening meal is indeed a “main meal”.

Adults are entirely different with an extremely diverse range of eating patterns.

I honestly can’t be arsed with this thread any more, it’s ridiculous. Show any nutritionist what OP has written and they’ll agree Mon-Weds is a bit shit. Many of us do meals that are a bit shit sometimes. It’s fine. But let’s not pretend it’s great nutrition when it’s very clearly lacking. The knots that people are trying to contort themselves into to defend three nights of below-par food is mind-blowing. You think it’s an outstanding menu? Great. Keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, me and other mums will be a bit more honest with ourselves when we serve up dinners that aren’t amazing, but everyone eats.

I’m out. I have no energy for pigeon chess.

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Ok, please tell me why Monday’s for example, is a bit shit? Just made it before, work cancelled, but I made the same dinner.
So, we had salad leaves (variety) cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, red pepper, corn on the cob, boiled egg, grated carrot, hummus, feta cheese..with boiled new potatoes & tomato rice (as ive said before, I don’t usually serve potatoes & rice together but Dd is asking for it recently

Dd had watermelon for dessert and a few marshmallows

Tomorrow, Dh will either do omlette with a similar salad or tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, peppers etc in the omlette (Dd loves it) or he’ll do eggy bread/french toast (agree not massive, substantial meal, but it’s a rushed day on Tuesdays with clubs, him finishing work, then me going etc.

Wednesday-the pasta with pesto-I agree with others that I need to get back to adding more to this. I did used to add broccoli, peas, cheese, but Dd started to say that she didn’t like it all of a sudden, as they do

OP posts:

lilkitten · 12/05/2025 17:40

I'd personally probably want something more substantial Mon-Wed. When we're working I do some cheats, like getting a tin of minced beef and onion and making a cottage pie by doing the potatoes on top then baking. I totally get the issues with your DC liking it plainer, we tend to do pasta with broccoli and cheese for DD (she has ARFID and has strict meals she will take) but we will add more for ourselves. In a hurry I usually fry up a few peppers and onions then add a jar, just to give it a bit more

timeforachange999 · 12/05/2025 16:56

LittleBitofBread · 12/05/2025 15:53

Just because your preference is not to serve cheese as a main protein, should it be everyone's?
Omelette eggs on toast with salad is not as far as I'm aware officially codified as lunch-not-dinner, but do pass me the latest Food Highway Code and I'll double-check.

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Don’t vegetarians serve cheese as the main protein fairly often?

faerietales · 12/05/2025 16:48

ChaiLarious · 12/05/2025 16:44

I don't know about you but I'm exhausted just thinking about the effort people go to. It's tiring enough scrolling through my phone looking at Uber Eats.

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I’m glad they think it’s all worth it tbh - I personally can’t think of much worse than spending 40+ minutes a day faffing with dinner, not to mention all the stress that seems to go into meal-planning and providing perfectly balanced snacks 🤣

ChaiLarious · 12/05/2025 16:44

faerietales · 12/05/2025 13:02

It must be exhausting!

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I don't know about you but I'm exhausted just thinking about the effort people go to. It's tiring enough scrolling through my phone looking at Uber Eats.

LittleBitofBread · 12/05/2025 15:53

intrepidpanda · 11/05/2025 17:02

Monday. 2 carbs, no veg, wouldn't serve cheese as a mai protein.
Tuesday. No veg, no protein, just unhealthy bridge carbs
Wednesday. This is a lunch, not a dinner. Again veg??
Rest is fine.

Why are you putting working?
It's not an excuse to just shove a jar of sauce into a bowl of pasta.

Just because your preference is not to serve cheese as a main protein, should it be everyone's?
Omelette eggs on toast with salad is not as far as I'm aware officially codified as lunch-not-dinner, but do pass me the latest Food Highway Code and I'll double-check.

vickylou78 · 12/05/2025 14:35

intrepidpanda · 11/05/2025 17:02

Monday. 2 carbs, no veg, wouldn't serve cheese as a mai protein.
Tuesday. No veg, no protein, just unhealthy bridge carbs
Wednesday. This is a lunch, not a dinner. Again veg??
Rest is fine.

Why are you putting working?
It's not an excuse to just shove a jar of sauce into a bowl of pasta.

Are you being deliberately awkward?? Op has said Monday the feta cheese it's served with a huge salad ......so plenty of veggies in there. Also feta cheese is protein!

LittleBitofBread · 12/05/2025 14:19

timeforachange999 · 12/05/2025 13:46

DS will only eat curry (made with lots of veg and pulses 😇) if it is served with naan and lashings of mango chutney 😂😫On the plus side he's not really bothered about the rice though so at least he's not having double carbs😏

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Oh but pulses are carby, so I’m sending the food police round! 😄
A good mango chutney is a joy. Although my absolute favourite is the Scotch bonnet and pineapple one my local place makes. It’s nuclear.

timeforachange999 · 12/05/2025 13:46

LittleBitofBread · 12/05/2025 10:54

PS I quite often make a curry that includes potatoes, and serve it with rice and sometimes – hang on to your hats! – naan AS WELL.
The food police haven't been round yet.

DS will only eat curry (made with lots of veg and pulses 😇) if it is served with naan and lashings of mango chutney 😂😫On the plus side he's not really bothered about the rice though so at least he's not having double carbs😏

lovegoodlovegood · 12/05/2025 13:27

Bjorkdidit · 12/05/2025 12:48

I never cease to be amazed by how weird some people on here are about food.

Rigid rules about what a meal must or must not contain, what time of day or year a particular food can be eaten, what combinations may or may not be eaten, the compulsion to add random salads and vegetables, limits on daily frequency of hot food, the list goes on.

Do none of you ever eat food for enjoyment's sale or think 'I really fancy eating X' and just eat it without any of this mental gymnastics?

Edited

I do but I’m fat so… l
last week I just wanted quiche and salad so I had that
if I wanted pesto pasta I would have it without changing it

Nikki75 · 12/05/2025 13:22

I think they sound lovely add salad with the pasta on the side some crusty bread .. somwtimes we just shake it up a bit not same meals every week .. I never cook a roast in spring /summer end of .

faerietales · 12/05/2025 13:02

Bjorkdidit · 12/05/2025 12:48

I never cease to be amazed by how weird some people on here are about food.

Rigid rules about what a meal must or must not contain, what time of day or year a particular food can be eaten, what combinations may or may not be eaten, the compulsion to add random salads and vegetables, limits on daily frequency of hot food, the list goes on.

Do none of you ever eat food for enjoyment's sale or think 'I really fancy eating X' and just eat it without any of this mental gymnastics?

Edited

It must be exhausting!

Jumpingthruhoops · 12/05/2025 12:58

Cherrytree86 · 12/05/2025 12:35

@Jumpingthruhoops

nah, who wants a stew or a casserole or whatever when it’s blazing sunshine outside?!

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No one said anything about stew or casserole. Hearty in my mind just means something that will satisfy an appetite/hunger, which many of those meals would not.

Bjorkdidit · 12/05/2025 12:48

I never cease to be amazed by how weird some people on here are about food.

Rigid rules about what a meal must or must not contain, what time of day or year a particular food can be eaten, what combinations may or may not be eaten, the compulsion to add random salads and vegetables, limits on daily frequency of hot food, the list goes on.

Do none of you ever eat food for enjoyment's sale or think 'I really fancy eating X' and just eat it without any of this mental gymnastics?

Cherrytree86 · 12/05/2025 12:35

Jumpingthruhoops · 12/05/2025 12:32

Hearty meals are ALWAYS needed 😀

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@Jumpingthruhoops

nah, who wants a stew or a casserole or whatever when it’s blazing sunshine outside?!

Inthetyreshop · 12/05/2025 12:32

I think that sounds fine, maybe do spaghetti bol one day as that is easy and not long to cook

Jumpingthruhoops · 12/05/2025 12:32

Cherrytree86 · 12/05/2025 12:29

@Jumpingthruhoops

hearty meals aren’t needed in summer

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Hearty meals are ALWAYS needed 😀

Cherrytree86 · 12/05/2025 12:29

Jumpingthruhoops · 12/05/2025 10:55

Not rubbish - but not what I'd call 'hearty' either. Other than the chilli, they seem more like lunches than dinners.

Also, takeaway once a week is probably a bit much.

@Jumpingthruhoops

hearty meals aren’t needed in summer

Cherrytree86 · 12/05/2025 12:25

OhHellolittleone · 12/05/2025 09:26

No, it’s added nutrients and variety. Variety is key when it comes to fruit, veg etc

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@OhHellolittleone

the salad already has 5 different vegetables in it, plenty of variety

faerietales · 12/05/2025 12:00

GRex · 12/05/2025 10:43

I don't know how else to say that it doesn't have enough protein nor fibre, and is a limited set of nutrients. It's a snack or a side dish, not a balanced diet.

If you ate carrots dipped in cream cheese, that also wouldn't be a healthy meal because it's limited nutrients and not enough fibre. It's a snack.

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But that doesn’t make it unhealthy. Not every single meal you put into your body has to be perfectly balanced in order to be good for you.

WhiteJasmin · 12/05/2025 11:40

I think there are potentially more nutritious meals you can cook with the same time on making salads and potatoes.

Consider getting a slow cooker and pop ingredients in and set timer before going to work? Can unlock a lot of potentials here. That or an instant pot.

What about one pot pasta recipes?

A stir fry with rice?

One tray bakes?

Namechanger2578 · 12/05/2025 11:31

@Sowhatbigdeal who has complained? I can't see where you've said this.