Can't be bothered to cook

[poshme]

Every weekend I write a meal plan, and try and think of a range of stuff through the week- healthy, balanced etc.

And then I get to this point mid week and I look at the plan and just think it's such a faff.

I just want someone else to cook! And then call me through and say it's ready- and I sit down and eat something delicious.

And in about 20 minutes the kids are going to start asking me what's for tea, and I just can't be arsed to cook anything.

It’s the dishing up that kills me.

How old are the kids? If they're old enough - get them to cook.

Also, batch cook. It's a pain in the arse for 1 day every few weeks but if you make some soup, chilli / bolognese, even mash, it's a case of heating things up rather than cooking.

I feel your pain OP.

I know.

I feel you, OP. I plan meals (loosely) and try and hit a target of 12-15 different fruit and veg a day or at least 10. Just chuck them in everywhere or on the side etc.

But I totally can’t be arsed tonight. We have a shop coming Saturday so surviving on mainly cupboard and freezer type things til then. Got a toddler and weaning baby so I’ve already done picnic and breakfast and all the shit tonne of mess they entail and I just don’t have the energy. Was going to do a veggie massaman but instead DH has come in and put veggie burgers and chips in the oven 😂 It was going to be that or a takeaway!

Do you think curly fries is an acceptable mid week meal?

There'd be ketchup for veg.

Scrambled eggs, toast and beans. Easy

And if you can be bothered grate some cheese

I feel you though, it's laborious

What if you include in your plan a couple of easy meals?
Jack potatoes with beans and broccoli.
(dump potatoes in oven, microwave broccoli and beans, add sprinkle of cheese if feeling fancy)
Omelette with cut up veggies and yogurt for pudding.
If your kids are old enough let them cook you a meal.
Double batch and freeze. The day you are not feeling like defrost and eat. Meatballs, stew, soup, curry, lasagna.

Yes @poshme definitely! It’s not just the cooking it’s the clean up for me. Most evenings I’m not finished with clean up til about half 10-11!

@hazandduck 12-15 fruits and veg! You must be on the loo all day

Result!

Just found some forgotten sausage rolls at the bottom of the freezer.

So: curly fries, sausage rolls, onion rings, sweet corn.

Plan meals that literally take 20 mins (max 5 mins prep) my kid's favourites from primary school age were taco mince (fry beef mince, add taco seasoning) served with wraps, grated cheese, bagged salad and sour cream, fridge pasta (literally anything knocking around the fridge which wasn't mouldy, eg courgette, sun dried tomatoes, jarred peppers, pesto, mushrooms), curry (similar approach to fridge pasta but using curry paste and a can of coconut milk served with rice). My biggest cheat though was frozen med vegetables mixed with couscous and lemon juice (plus water) thrown into an oven dish topped with salmon fillets (or other fish) cover with foil and bake 20 mins.

curly fries, sausage rolls, onion rings, sweet corn.
Jealous!

We are having jacket potatoes and reduced salt/sugar baked beans (we also have a weaning baby, am too lazy to cook two different things)

Haha it’s surprisingly easy to hit 10 (I probably don’t eat enough for it to be a proper portion) but for example on my plate I’ve now got a corn on the cob, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, asparagus, and a veggie burger, spaghetti hoops, that all count. I’ve snacked on grapes, an apple and an apricot today, have peppers, celery, cucumber sticks with lunch. I don’t go for volume just a variety! And have no tummy troubles generally 😂 just trying to eat a rainbow where I can. I eat way too much sugar though I had a bowl of blackberry crumble as a snack earlier lol.

I hear you all... it's beyond monotonous sometimes and I too wish that somebody would cook for us all rather than me doing it all the flipping time.

I'm noting down what you're all doing for tonight and will have a rifle through the freezer which needs defrosting badly.

I have a ready meal evening and a scrambled eggs on toast evening in the middle of the week when we've all had busier days and energy is low. I recommend it.