To be sick to death of cooking

[Icedlatteplease]

It's been a rough year. DS15 has been seriously ill since February, we've had carers in and out the house, social services involvement and l've had trouble recovering from a serious injury. This month I've been ill on and off for pretty much the last three weeks. DD is ill. And DS is reaching a crunch point treatment wise which is leaving everyone in the air

I'm usually a meal plan cook everything from scratch right number of veg kinda person. I love watching eat well for less

I just can't be bothered, and DD is off anything with dodgy texture wise (no mushrooms is actually a right bugger) which happens when she's stressed and the antibiotics are giving me waves of nausea. Meal planning is just so much decision making.

This week I decided I had enough. I bought a selection of family sized ready made lasagna, pasta bakes, shepherd's pies etc

Frankly I'm loving it. Everyone is enjoying the food and there is barely any mess. Dishwasher needs unloading and loading less. It seems to be comparable cost wise.

So AIBU? Will the initial novelty wear off?

Oh I agree, the buying food/preparing food/cleaning up is relentless. The trouble with ready meals is the quality nod the meat.

Why don't you stop cooking for him full stop? I would.

Carry on with your nice meals for yourself and any kids/guests. He can make himself a Pot Noodle.

The ungrateful bugger.

In answer to the OP: I don't know why you haven't done ready made food already? But if you're feeling that guilty, you could consider Hello Fresh or similar. I have friends who swear by it.

OP I'm with you

I feel your pain. There's just me and DS 14, who cooks about four times a year.

I try to vary our food as much as possible, try to cook something new every weekend but I work full time so time is limited during the week. It's got a bit better since wfh because I can put something in the slow cooker at lunchtime.

It isn't helped by the fact that DS was a fussy eater although better now.

Sometimes I just need a night off, so he has breaded haddock, oven chips and peas, or shop-bought sausage rolls, baked beans and mash. And frozen pizza, salad and garlic bread on Friday nights.

YANBU. Everyone needs a night off. The occasional ready meal won't give them ricketts, but don't you find them expensive?.

Simply Cook is your friend here - lots of delicious recipes which don't take too long,but feel like a treat.Loads of different things to try which can be tailored to different needs and tastes.Also,no pressure to use up recipe kits,just use as and when you want to.
www.simplycook.com/invite/N6FYNV?t=cp&pg=ref&via=dt
If you want to try it out,we both get a completely free box containing 4 recipe kits.

Married 34 years. Husband has cooked 6 times. The deal was cooking for washing up. My hands and nails are important to my work.
I started shopping at Marks in 2020. We love 99% of their stuff, no waste.
I buy portions of salmon, curries, steak etc. Bags of veg and shock, horror frozen onions. There are three of us at home.
I too am a trained 'cook', my sister a chef and my late mother Cordon Bleu. I absolutely hate cooking now. Years of caring and now ill health. I would get home from London to people waiting for tea. Give yourself a break and buy it in. There is no need for poor nutrition. Add veg, fruit pud and put your feet up.

That resonates @WendyWagon.

I do hope I'll enjoy cooking again when I have more time. I'm often not home until 8pm. Like you there are three of us at home.

There's lots of decent ready to cook meals now and all the prepackaged veg - I really wouldn't feel guilty in your position (or anyone that's short of time). I even used to buy the frozen jacket potatoes which is the height of laziness and poor financial sense but my kids were young and very demanding. I like those birdseye veg pouches you stick in the microwave. I personally prefer food I've cooked myself but it is so bloody relentless cooking for a family - I don't judge anyone who needs a break from it.

I've had exactly the same thoughts the last month. I normally cook because it's cheaper but now feel I cba cooking. I never enjoyed it but now suddenly understand why some people live on ready made food.

I don't have any guilt as it's just me but the money thing needs to be pondered.

I think I prefer the taste too.

When I win the lottery which I rarely play I will employ a chef to cook delicious healthy meals for lunch and dinner. Unless I request a specific thing they will surprise me with what we're having so I don't have to give it any thought unless I want to