What food woukd you take on this trip away?

[towardagain]

Two nights self catering for two people. We have a kettle, microwave and one ring of a hob. It’s rural and not near shops or restaurants.

One person (me) eats anything. The other has an extremely limited palette (not his fault). He lives on sweets, chocolate, ice cream, smoothies, one type of cheese and steak. He takes little pleasure from food.

What would you take so you can still enjoy the food whilst away when it doesn’t really lend itself to shared meals/meals as an experience?

Is there also a fridge and freezer?

Definitely a fridge. Not sure about a freezer but I hope so for ice cubes for the drinks.

Jacket potatoes and cheese or tuna salad

couscous with halomi salad ( salad can be a cabbage and Carrie slaw )

Ask the other person exactly what they will eat, and narrow it down to what's doable with the facilities you have. Present them with the options, and stand back.....

He’ll literally eat what I’ve said. He’ll sometimes eat toast or a Sunday roast but it’s a case of forcing it down, not getting enjoyment. There’s nothing I can do about it, so really I’m just thinking of what I can do to make sure I still have nice enjoyable ‘holiday’ food but that doesn’t require sitting down for a meal, if that makes sense (it probably doesn’t).

I’m going to take myself a nice cheeseboard and charcuterie to pick on, so things like that. Bits I can help myself too whilst playing cards or whatever.

Mezze/packet stuff like dips, cheese charcuterie with crackers. Fancy ready meal. If the fusspot likes steak you could take a good pan/griddle and attempt it on the burner to be served with microwave jacket potatoes maybe?

Ooo yes, dips and crackers are on my list now!

I think I will suggest taking steaks and I can do myself a jacket. It’s not that he’s fussy, he lost his sense of smell and taste when he had Covid and things he used to enjoy now taste disgusting. I feel really sorry for him.

Poor man, I know how he feels about food. I eat to live now following treatment for an illness and that's why I said what I did in my post. I was happy with whatever was supplied, provided it was within my "eatable" menu!

So do try the steaks, the mezze style eats, and I can say hand on heart that I survived on protein yogurts, yakult and ice cream for months! I'm not there yet but have improved the variety of things a bit.

I hope he appreciates your efforts! Enjoy the break.

Thank you. I feel slightly guilty now - I didn’t mean I wanted to put any effort in for him . I was more concerned about myself, because I don’t want to have a full sit down meal that he can’t enjoy, but I also still want to enjoy food whilst I’m there.

No need to feel guilty at all. If it's any consolation to you, in my case I couldn't have cared less what anyone else was eating, since none of it appealed to me! As long as I could fill up somewhat with the "fuel" I could actually stomach I was happy as Larry and was happy to see others eat what they wanted. So go ahead and fill yer boots with your favourite foods, he won't like them or be able to eat them and won't mind at all. Trust me!

The worst thing for me, honestly.... was people trying to encourage me to eat this or that, or try this, you might like that, and oh dear you're not eating much are you? I felt the focus was entirely on me and it made me very uncomfortable. I was happy enough to pick at whatever I felt I could eat at the time. I think it might be similar for others with post illness lack of appetite/fussiness.

Yes, I can see that. I honestly, in the nicest way, don’t care what he’s eating. He can/will have to sort himself out. I have bought chocolates and sweets to take that we can both enjoy.

So, for me, it’s really just what I can take and enjoy which also doesn’t take any time to prepare or cook (or eat), since food isn’t a big part of the weekend. I’ve just thought that I could take a pie and a quiche, they’re quick, easy and not what I’d usually eat.

Yes, you are right to focus on your food desires! So go for it, and have whatever will be feasible given the facilities you have. Pie and quiche, yep even I'll chance a bit of quiche these days! Progress for me.... And if you're like me I like mayo with the quiche. Yes to jacket spuds, yes to mash that you can add lashings of butter and s+p to. What about a ready meal from say M+S, something that you wouldn't normally have that's microwaveable?

It's funny, I can talk about food all day long, but when it comes to eating it, I can't!

We always visit the closest M&S en route to holiday cottage and we all pick the things we like - usually have our main meal at lunchtime and then in the evening more of a picky tea

2 people x 3 meals x 2 nights = 12

That's 12 Pot Noodles + 3 for contingencies.

So 15 Pot Noodles (vary the flavours to introduce some excitement into what may be dull evenings).

The other person should bring/take the sweets, chocolate and other safe foods they want to have.

It’s only a short time so very manageable.
I would take a bag of pasta (quick cook is handy) plus sauce. You can microwave the sauce or take stir in, plus pre grated cheese. +/ salad.
Pre-made quiche and some bought salads is a good call
in similar circumstances I have cooked jacket pots in advanced then reheated in the microwave.
Soup and bread

microwave porridge or individually packaged pain au chocolate or similar

yummy biscuit supplies etc!

What do you have on the picky tea?

When I’m sorted for what I want Im just going to ask him what he wants added to the list.

Pasta is a good shout - I might just buy a pre-made one.

I’d just go to M&S food and pick whatever took my fancy to be honest. Nice bread, cheeses (maybe a small Camembert to bake), some Iberico ham, olives, maybe some prawns to fry up with olive oil, garlic and chilli, little Jerusalem artichokes from the deli section, a nice quiche… that sort of stuff.