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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Enough Food

208 replies

LaGiaconda · 05/08/2023 18:01

Have been out at work today.

The job involves a lot of being on my feet, lifting, carrying, walking round the building. Suspect I put in several miles in an average day.

I had a not huge breakfast at 7.30 am, I had a sandwich and some fruit for lunch but arrive home tired and hungry.

Partner, who had been at home all day, announced proudly, 'It's going to be a vegetarian supper tonight.

They had got out some rice noodles and had chopped up a bit of veg - peppers, carrots, cabbage.

There was no source of protein - eg chicken, prawns, bean curd.

I said, 'It's not going to be enough.' (No dessert on offer)

They got really huffy and sulky 'I don't know what's got into you etc.'

Would you find that enough?

OP posts:
PromSeason · 05/08/2023 20:45

I mostly post about The Archers. I have long experience in fleshing out a few brief sentences into a 3-d world!

😂 Good on you. It wasn’t a criticism, I love posts like that. It was the ‘I'm guessing NHS, but it could have been retail.’ that made me lol.

I may start stalking your Archers threads. 😊

fluffi · 05/08/2023 20:45

Definitely not enough!

I would asked if my partner thought I was fat or they were putting me on diet. Why else would someone make such an inadequate meal with very little protein (egg noodles are poor source of protein) and then no dessert as well ?

I'd be totally unimpressed if I came home to a vegetarian supper after a long day at work unless it was a plateful of macaroni cheese with extra cheese or a massive tasty omelette!

PeachF · 05/08/2023 20:45

Why does the word 'supper' give me the ick 🫣

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/08/2023 20:46

PromSeason · 05/08/2023 20:45

I mostly post about The Archers. I have long experience in fleshing out a few brief sentences into a 3-d world!

😂 Good on you. It wasn’t a criticism, I love posts like that. It was the ‘I'm guessing NHS, but it could have been retail.’ that made me lol.

I may start stalking your Archers threads. 😊

You'd be very welcome! You'll find us in Radio Addicts.

Ap24 · 05/08/2023 20:48

I do a similar physical job and I regularly have a veggie stir fry for dinner. It's always enough and I've never felt hard done by.

bonzaitree · 05/08/2023 20:48

I would have asked for some protein but in a nicer way.

« Thanks for sorting tea love. I’m starving this evo! Any protein to go with the noodles? »

Ap24 · 05/08/2023 20:49

PeachF · 05/08/2023 20:45

Why does the word 'supper' give me the ick 🫣

You never have a fish supper?

Itsnotrightbutitsok · 05/08/2023 20:53

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/08/2023 20:28

Alternatively:

OP was up at sparrowfart to get to work on time and had no appetite for a big breakfast (many of us would be similar). Very busy day at work. Short break at lunchtime, only time to wolf down a sandwich. Possibly not much choice over what sandwich to have. Gets home, utterly knackered. (I'm guessing NHS, but it could have been retail. Both very tiring, physically.) Partner has had a nice day pottering around at home. Partner has not spent hours lovingly cooking a stew or ragu or prepared a lasagne. A few minutes before OP returns home, partner has chopped some peppers, cabbage and carrots - 5 minutes? - and boiled the kettle for noodles, which take a couple of minutes to prepare. Let's hope there was going to be some sort of sauce, from a jar or sachet, or just a bit of soy. Where's the protein? It's not the fact that it's vegetarian that's the problem. It's the lack of something that's going to be properly filling - tofu, nuts, prawns, chicken, shredded omelette, even a cheese course afterwards, or a yoghourt.

Show quote history

Perhaps she didn’t have time to stand around spending hours cooking.

Just because someone’s at home doesn’t mean they’re just pottering around.

A vegetarian stir fry sounds lovely but if OP was extra hungry then he could have asked more done extra protein or done what normal people would do and gratefully even it and then got a snack afterwards if he was still hungry.

bellac11 · 05/08/2023 20:59

No one knows the sex of the couple

And no one knows the agreement that morning, was the partner jusst cooking dinner without being asked, as a favour if you like, or was it agreed that it was partners turn to cook dinner that night and have it ready to eat when OP got home from their exhausting job?

If the latter, then poor show from the partner.

timberho · 05/08/2023 20:59

YABU. Have a snack after dinner if you're still hungry.

PeachF · 05/08/2023 20:59

@Ap24 no I just have a 'chippy tea' I must be common 🤔 😅

bellac11 · 05/08/2023 21:00

Yes, Im eating me tea now

Supper doesnt exist here.

SleepingStandingUp · 05/08/2023 21:01

tbh it sounds like miserable meal, not for the lack of meat just that its basically some noodles and a few vegetables, nothing really for much taste. but yes, depends on historical experience and tone

lljkk · 05/08/2023 21:04

Protein is not especially calorific, what's the obsession with protein about?

Just say "Wow thanks! That was great... I just need a top up..." and make yourself some bagels with cream cheese or tuna mayonaise. Those would be calorific.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/08/2023 21:07

I thought it was well established that eating protein is a good way to feel full after eating without having the big spikes in blood sugar that can come from filling up on non-complex carbohydrates.

riotlady · 05/08/2023 21:15

I’m so surprised by how many people can’t fathom a meal without protein! Like do you never just have a lazy bowl of pasta or some toast?

timberho · 05/08/2023 21:19

Agree @riotlady. Protein has become 'a thing.' Yes, it's healthy, filling etc but people cling onto protein obsessively!

VeridicalVagabond · 05/08/2023 21:20

Loooots of people making the assumption that OP is a woman and the partner is a man.

Can't wait for OP to come back and say "oh by the way I'm a man, partner is a woman" and just watch the backpedaling unfold. Popcorn at the ready.

bellac11 · 05/08/2023 21:22

riotlady · 05/08/2023 21:15

I’m so surprised by how many people can’t fathom a meal without protein! Like do you never just have a lazy bowl of pasta or some toast?

Thats comparing apples and oranges though isnt it, because when people make a choice like that, its because as you say, you're just putting something quick together that isnt really a 'meal' as such. OPs partern by the sound of it had all day to put this meal together knowing OP is knackered when coming home and has done a full days manual work so needs filling up

Most people having had a lazy bowl of pasta or a bit of toast would say or think 'Ive not eaten properly tonight'

Of course if the toast is covered in a couple of scrambled eggs with some mushrooms and tomatoes, perhaps thats different, or my old favourite when I ate bread would be sardines on toast with cheese on top, or beans with cheese on top (you get the picture)

same with the pasta, chuck some tuna or chicken in it, with some veg and its a meal

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/08/2023 21:22

I don't think I ever have pasta without some sort of protein added, no. Very occasionally I might just have toast, but only if I've had something more nutritionally balanced earlier, or if I'm ill.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/08/2023 21:24

phoenixrosehere · 05/08/2023 19:51

Have you actually ever had a vegetable noodle stir-fry? The noodles alone depending on the amount and portion would easily go over 160kcals.

Show quote history

I've just checked the packet in the kitchen. 351kcal per 100g, 40g portion size. 140.4 kcal per portion.

A few bits of onion, beansprouts, cabbage, mushroom, carrot, two broccoli sprigs and some tamari doesn't make it suddenly turn into an obesogenic meal.

PromSeason · 05/08/2023 21:27

OPs partern by the sound of it had all day to put this meal together knowing OP is knackered when coming home and has done a full days manual work so needs filling up

All day? Just because one person is working, why does that mean the other one has to spend all day preparing a meal.

bellac11 · 05/08/2023 21:27

NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/08/2023 21:24

I've just checked the packet in the kitchen. 351kcal per 100g, 40g portion size. 140.4 kcal per portion.

A few bits of onion, beansprouts, cabbage, mushroom, carrot, two broccoli sprigs and some tamari doesn't make it suddenly turn into an obesogenic meal.

Show quote history

Is that 40g dry, presumably 40g dry makes about 100g cooked?

JanesBlond · 05/08/2023 21:28

Surely this is a question of portion sizes? Of course I would find a dinnerplate of vegetable stir fry and noodles enough. Would I find a saucer full enough, no. People nowadays are needlessly obsessed with protein.

autienotnaughti · 05/08/2023 21:28

bellac11 · 05/08/2023 21:00

Yes, Im eating me tea now

Supper doesnt exist here.

I am very northern.

We have -
Breakfast
Dinner
Tea
Supper