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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What’s for dinner AND is it from a packet/box?

246 replies

Bigpinksweater · 15/10/2025 17:48

Be honest!

These threads usually attract replies from busy mums saying ‘aubergine orzo with lemon chicken’ and I think ‘from scratch, at 5pm, with 2 hungry kids??’

Please let me know!

OP posts:
DaisyDayz · 15/10/2025 19:11

I made a chilli con carne at 7am from scratch so we had that for dinner with rice.

Tomorrow is chicken tray bake, sadly no orzo or lemon in sight.

notacooldad · 15/10/2025 19:10

Bigpinksweater
What did you have and did it come out of a packet?

JustAnotherMinionForAMerchantOfDeath · 15/10/2025 19:10

The kids had pork and veg noodles. When DH eventually gets home we’ll have something with lamb mince. I was going to do keema but it might change before I get it underway.

Last night was trout, stirfried spicy cabbage and sprouting broccoli

Getamoveon2024 · 15/10/2025 19:10

Big fat Chinese for me 🤣🤣 Totally not the norm for a Wednesday night, usually only once or twice a year and I much prefer to cook from scratch. But we are moving tomorrow and our whole life is in boxes so….

toadstool32 · 15/10/2025 19:10

Bbq ribs from a packet and frozen chips. I’ve mixed up the packet Caesar salad though!

Liondoesntsleepatnight · 15/10/2025 19:09

Cottage pie here, bought shop mash but otherwise from scratch….

Enko · 15/10/2025 19:09

Sticky ginger pak choi chicken with rice. Yes made from scratch. Its rare we habe from a box. Your meal in the original post from 5 om sounds very doable to me.

marriednotdead · 15/10/2025 19:09

Bigpinksweater · 15/10/2025 18:21

Did you use any sauces etc?

Show quote history

Some soy sauce and chow mein seasoning powder and then a bit of oyster sauce on top.

JBJ · 15/10/2025 19:08

Pasta with a jar of Loyd Grossman sauce, cherry tomatoes (from a tin), meatballs from a bag in the freezer, some frozen broccoli and grated cheese. Had a very busy day so just wanted something quick and easy to clean up after!

FlyingUnicornWings · 15/10/2025 19:07

Redpeach · 15/10/2025 18:35

Ooh, I need to get a slow cooker, any recommendations?

If you’ve got the budget for it, the Ninja Possible Cooker is incredible. I use mine at least 3 times a week.

Dinner tonight for us was home made mac & cheese, batch cooked and frozen so straight to the oven, with chicken breast and brocilli.

Pineapples123 · 15/10/2025 19:07

Confit tandoori chickpeas with wild rice here. Sounds fancy but it’s an easy chuck everything together job and feels vaguely nutritious.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 15/10/2025 19:06

BauhausOfEliott · 15/10/2025 19:03

No kids and DP’s out tonight. I had a Brie and cranberry sandwich, a plum and a bar of Dairy Milk.

I love plums. They’re so underrated.

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 15/10/2025 19:06

Carbonara, and apart from the linguine, all made by me.

BauhausOfEliott · 15/10/2025 19:03

No kids and DP’s out tonight. I had a Brie and cranberry sandwich, a plum and a bar of Dairy Milk.

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 15/10/2025 19:02

I always cook from scratch, rarely have processed foods.

We had sage and onion chicken meatballs, roast potatoes and braised leek, brussel sprouts and cabbage.

Dramatic · 15/10/2025 19:01

Chicken wraps; frozen chicken strips from Aldi, wraps from a packet and cucumber/lettuce. I very rarely cook from scratch

PlattyPlattPlat · 15/10/2025 19:00

Homemade tomato soup and garlic bread. I'm WFH today so prepped it at lunchtime

TragicMuse · 15/10/2025 19:00

Butternut squash and chickpea curry. With added spinach. I think we’ll have it with rice.

I do tend to cook homemade most of the time - I enjoy it. Sometimes we use a packet or two, I don’t get too exercised by it.

PleasedontdothatGeorge · 15/10/2025 18:59

Homemade vegetable soup, bread and cheese, homemade walnut cake. (Made at the weekend so needed finishing).

carbuncleonapigsposterior · 15/10/2025 18:57

Cottage pie homemade and sprouts.

PrissyGalore · 15/10/2025 18:56

My dh is just about to serve up fried cod loin with butter bean mash and greens! Sounds pinch but took about 20 minutes to do.

stargirl1701 · 15/10/2025 18:56

Lentil soup, crusty bread and a sticky toffee pudding from the local farm shop.

Favouritefruits · 15/10/2025 18:56

Stir fry, rice (from a microwave packet) and chicken Kyiv (definitely not homemade)

Bimblebombles · 15/10/2025 18:55

Duck breasts with oven chips and gravy plus a bag of stir fry veg - random one tonight

justjuggling · 15/10/2025 18:54

Cottage pie, no packets involved!

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