To have these kind of dinners when DH is away?

[DaphneeBridgerton]

Backstory: I do have anxiety and depression which is a lot worse since having DD 14 months ago, am starting fluoxetine tomorrow and have had various types of therapy but investigating more

So I think I’m second-guessing myself / looking for a bit of reassurance but do want to keep it lighthearted if possible!

Whenever DH is away overnight for work (once or twice a week usually) I can never be bothered to cook myself a ‘proper’ meal…

When he’s here I will cook things like lasagne, stir fry, shepherds pie, risotto etc for us both but when left to my own devices I can’t be bothered and end up eating things like a fried egg sandwich, beans on toast or even a packet of spicy rice with some avocado on the side. I always eat but never anything really wholesome or complicated.

Also I do cook for my DD - tonight she had waffles, scrambled egg and broccoli as an example. So she’s not suffering!

Is this my depression? Is this something other people do? Or am I just lazy?! I genuinely think I just like simpler meals, my mum is very similar but I’m just wondering what other people think.

omg I agree!!! Can’t believe all these posts I’m reading - it’s like everyone is stuck in the 1950’s!!!

When we were first married my DH used to work away occasionally I realised I could get Chinese just for me in the middle of the week. What a revelation. Not that he would have said anything but it felt weird doing it mid week.

My kind of food! Love fried egg sandwich with runny yolk and ketchup or beans on toast! Before I met DH my go to food was tinned salmon with a handful of oven chips 😳 on my own I can’t be bothered to cook.

When dh was away Sunday to Friday every week I did cook, ate same as dc. Now he's only away for a night or 2 at a time I eat like you. Or make dc cook 😂(but they are significantly older than yours!).

I love a snacky solo meal. If it takes longer to prepare than to eat then it's too much faff. Preferably no cooking either to save on clearing up. If I lived on my own I doubt if I would cook a "proper" meal more than once a week.

As others have said, beans on toast was a proper meal years ago. Expectations have got far too fancy in the past couple of decades.

Nothing better than a large piece of cheese for tea imho.

Honestly, I’ve reached the age where the whole rigmarole about “preparing the evening meal” and making a whole bloody ritual of eating something… I’m just about done with it.

Well OP I just ordered KFC and DH is only at the pub.
Its fine to eat food you enjoy, maybe a bit comforting etc when you're on your own

My DP is away now until Sunday and I have M&S microwave or oven meals for every night. He hates fish so we never have it at home (because it is easier to cook/eat the same, not that he stops me having it) and I always get fishy things when he’s away.

That said, today I was out for lunch so had a sausage sandwich and a Magnum for dinner.

Yep! I cook dinner for us all every single night pretty much. If DH is not here (rarely) then the kids get nuggets and chips and peas and I’ll have whatever I fancy that takes zero effort.

Usually I have crumpets and then crisps, chocolate and wine. And I get to watch whatever I want on tv.

Since my OH died at the start of lockdown I find that I quite often eat very little in the evening, I used to cook something almost every evening before, now I may have a banana or a bit of soup if I've made some,

All of the things you list are pretty healthy OP. When DH is away I usually have muesli for dinner. Can't be bothered to cook.

So sorry about your partner @JudgeJ

This is exactly why I like the nights I only have to cater for myself - enjoy, beans on toast, food of the gods!

Dh is away tonight. I ate some melted feta and cheddar mixed together using tortilla chips as a spoon.

When we worked with the military I was told on no uncertain terms at the NAAFI that they didn't bother stocking joints of beef etc when the men were away on exercise!

Totally fine ! Tonight’s dinner for me was bagel with cheese and last night was toast. Yes I will be starving tomorrow and promise to cook tomorrow for myself but life is busy and sometimes I want to just sit down

I love a lazy dinner, I often have breakfast things. Granola and yogurt or avocado on toast.

I just got told off for having a bowl of muesli tonight for my supper as my OH isn’t here … think it’s quite normal

Does he cook when he’s back too or is it you ?

I stock the freezer with ready meals when I know dh is away for work. Dc have hot dinners at school then either scrambled egg or beans on toast.

I think it’s just a thing, if you are home alone you don’t need to eat proper grown up dinners.

pancakes and coke for me, wine with a cheese sandwich and crisps for DH if I’m away. If I have the house to myself I have a long bath and watch crap tv, where as DH likes to spring clean.

No woman who'd lived alone before shacking up with their spouse/partner would even think twice as to if this was unreasonable. I feel like it's only women who've gone from parents' home to shared home with spouse who might wonder. But no men, of any variety, would ever question if this was in any way noteworthy. They'd just eat the nachos.

Toast cereal sandwich. Sorted 👍

My DP works two nights a week and I usually eat a tub of ice cream for my dinner 😂

One of my favourites suppers at the moment is some Brie (the more ripe the better), Wensleydale and apricot cheese, oatcakes. Small bowl of grapes, bar of chocolate and mug of coffee. I quite often take this feast to bed and eat it whilst watching telly or mumsnetting