Takeaways every night !

[Lookwhostalking25]

I am sure I will be absolutely jumped on
but I just cannot get the hang of sorting dinner out 😂😂🙈
single mum of 3 ( baby and 2 primary school kids, one of which is disabled ) widowed nearly a year now.
I can juggle about everything else but food I struggled before returning back to work but wasn’t too bad but since returning I just haven’t managed it.
today was day 14 of takeouts after going back to work 2 weeks ago 😂😂
please send me tips because I’m sure the kids will come accustomed very shortly to take our lives haha !

Place cook order. The meals are better than takeaway, you'll save yourself money and time.

Sometimes you've just got to do what you've got do.

As you find a routine and the kids get a bit older you'll cook more. Until then be kind to yourself.

Also, ask for help!

Make lunch at work/school the hot meal then have sandwiches/toast in the evening.

Sorry for your loss op. All the takeaways round me are rubbish so I am glad you live somewhere with some better choice 😁

I don’t know if they are reasonably priced where you are but if they are really expensive I would swap some out for ready meals from m and s or cook (cook do children’s meals which my kids love) and spend the extra money on yourself.

www.cookfood.net/menu/main-meals

Even as a single woman I found Hello Fresh and Gousto an absolute ball ache with loads of chopping and washing up….I wouldn’t even consider it now with a baby!!

OP you sound like you’ve got absolutely loads on at the minute and that isn’t going to change! Do not sign up to recipe kits, just get some simple teas on the go:

Pasta and the Heinz sauces that come in jars and are UPF free

Beans on toast

Jacket potatoes

something with home made wedges (5 mins prep) and corn on the cob

Cook do frozen family meals (eg big lasagne) or small meals for kids that are UPF free and so nice

It doesn’t matter if you are repeating the same meals, just do what you need to do to keep your head above water! And all the money you save on the takeaways I think you should use to treat yourself as it sounds like you are doing an amazing job.

Widowed with 3 small children. That must be incredibly tough. I'm not sure suggestions about Gusto and the like will help here.

I remember a programme where they used a base and made meals from the base item. A large chicken for example. The initial meal. Leftovers, microwave rice and peas.5 minute meal.

Mince, the initial meal. Leftovers in a taco shell with cheese and salad. 5 minute meal.

https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/slow-cooker-tomato-sauce/

I make this tomato sauce a lot

Very easy in slow cooker. Blitz with a stick blender. Freeze in small plastic containers

Double quantities makes approx 8 x 300 ml tubs

Good with pasta. Add any veg lurking in the fridge, han, peas etc

One batch of this is Wednesday dinner for 8 weeks

I was so shocked when I received my first Hello Fresh box. I had assumed that everything would come in exact portions and ready chopped etc. The meals take ages. I remember one recipe requiring me to grate around 30 radishes! I cancelled my subscription pretty quickly!

I know its been mantioned but slow cooker protein or veg, jar of sauce, packet of rice. Its a start.

Kids have cooked meals at school/childcare? As pp said, take the stress out and do eggs, wraps, sandwiches and such. Primary aged kids usually like to assemble their own. Cooked meals, if they are sausages and nuggets, are not healthier than a wrap with vegetables.

Don't go for Hello Fresh, it's good for discovering new recipes and helps with the decision what to cook, but they are usually not that quick and easy. Do check out the one-tray meals like Roasting Tin series though.

Don’t try and take it all on at once, you’re more likely to be overwhelmed. Consider baby steps:

1. order Cook frozen meals - you can order veg and sides too. Get into the habit of coming home and putting them in the oven
2. order a box like hello fresh for a couple of meals a week, do Cook meals the rest of the time
3. gradually change the ratio so you’re doing more box meals and fewer Cook meals, but always have some Cook meals as back up
4. once you’ve done box meals fully for a few weeks, start introducing some simple meals a couple of times a week - beans on toast, baked potatoes
5. gradually switch ratios so more simple home cooked meals versus box meals
6. gradually start making more complex meals at home and, once confident, batch cook a bit

Order supermarket deliveries on repeat, always have a couple of Cook meals as back up so that they become the default rather than takeaway, and never beat yourself up if you need to go back a step.

Hi OP,
I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you don't mind if I check that you have claimed Bereavement Support Payment? (assuming you are in the UK). If not consider it as a matter of urgency as the longer you wait the less you can claim and the one year mark makes a difference to that. Don't feel the need to reply I just wanted to make sure you are aware of it.

To help you ease in to cooking I would suggest doing an online shop with a couple of meals in mind but not too much fresh stuff that you will have to chuck if you don't use it.

A big freezer is very useful. If you don't have one we got ours for around £100 from a second hand furniture shop (BHF) and they delivered it for a small fee.

We buy ready cooked chicken pieces
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/302282232
and they form the basis of
currys (often just fried with an onion adding a jar of curry sauce),
pesto chicken (with jar of pesto/chopped up cherry tomatoes/pine nuts)
sweet and sour chicken (jar of sauce)
Chicken wraps or pittas - with salad/Dips
Chicken fried rice with fried spring onion, chopped peppers/egg/rice.

We use microwave rice most of the time for ease.

We use a bag of frozen mince for bolognaise or cooked up before making into fajitas.

You can use shop bought chopped frozen onion/chopped frozen peppers in these recipes also for ease and no waste.

Shop bought frozen mash is quick and easy. when it is nearly done and stir in a bit of milk and butter. You can keep a bag of frozen sausages such as Richmond skinless sausages for a quick sausage and mash.

Frozen shop bought jacket potatoes. Not cheap at up to £1 each potato but cheaper than take out.

Frozen peas/sweetcorn and green beans all cook up nicely.

A Gammon usually has a use by date of several weeks so when you have more time e.g. the weekend you can put that in the oven and have with jackets and boiled up frozen veg with little work.

Fishfingers/chipshop style fish with oven or air fried chips and peas/bread and butter is a good replacement for a Friday takeaway and will probably add up to about £5 depending on the price of the fish you buy so much cheaper than chippy. We love the Tesco 80p for 10 fish fingers.

Always have pizzas in the freezer for when you don't want to cook. Curly fries and garlic bread slices too if you like them. A home pizza night will cost you £5 -£10 rather than £20++. In the case of pizza kids might enjoy making their own as a weekend activity or adding topping to a basic shop bought one.

Spare loaves of bread in the freezer also saves a trip to the shop.

If you are buying takeaway everyday I would start by planning and aiming to cook one or two nights each week and build it up from there.

Well done OP for keeping your family going it can’t be easy. Could you maybe ask friends and family for help? I know it will be hard to ask but with your circumstances I’m sure they would want to help

I'd also suggest an air fryer. It makes things so much quicker. Freezer food, but also fresh food like fish and chicken thighs. I've even done a small roast. You do need to plan a bit.

Last night's dinner for us was gnocchi in a tomato sauce (all bought) with cheese on top. No boiling just shoved in the oven for half an hour. Very easy.

Hello fresh is good, but it's not a time saver.

Most supermarkets do a casserole pack of veg.

Get pack mixes of things you like. The good.ones.
Put some meat , the vets, and sauce mix it, leave it on all day, you have a meal to come home to.

Sausage and mash can be on the table in 35 mins. Just bath the children while things cook in the oven...

If you order a food shopping delivery for night time, you don't have to drag the children round the shops.

I was like this when we moved, we lived on takeout for months. Buying an air fryer helped me, it's brilliant for quick nutritious meals.

Sorry if already suggested but check out the batch lady. She shows how you can make loads of meals for the freezer in an hour and also her new grab and cook book looks good

https://thebatchlady.com/recipe/10-meals-in-1-hour-chicken/

Chop and freeze ingredients - one ingredient an evening and then once that’s done you get them out of the freezer and put them into the saucepan or slow cooker - break the process down to bite size chunks. I use a nutribullet to chop the base of my ragu (don’t use it for any other reason!) and that can be frozen and whipped out when I’m ready to cook the actual dish. A mini chopper is also really useful or a food processor. You’re doing amazingly well!

I've just realised how easy sweet potatoes are to cook in the microwave! Stab with fork, in for around 5 mins, add any topping. They are so healthy!

Hello fresh can help to break the cycle - look at the ones that are quick cook the first week, 2 portions should be enough for the 3 of you assuming baby isn't eating much yet as we often stretch to include our boxes to 3 adults.

I find it is convenient to browse the recipes whilst watching tv or whatever then it all arrives bags per recipe with simple instructions. The quick cook are 25 minutes typically and usually I can beat the guide time anyway, they are not difficult.

Batch cooking including the children as an activity is a cheaper option of course, but start somewhere. I have put a free box coupon on the promo board.

You sound amazing!
I'm a rubbish cook but with mentions of pasta, Tesco do a smallish pasta sauce that contains hidden veg. I always think of that as as super healthy fast food! My kids love it and my son will not eat fruit or veg.
It's called: Tesco Goodness Pasta Sauce and is a little 200g jar, it's sometimes on bulk buy offers.
Oh and I second microwave frozen potatoes, they're amazing.

Sorry for your loss. I think you’re doing incredibly well. What works for us on busy days is that I prep the slow cooker the night before With the herbs spices etc. then just have to turn it on in the morning and add liquid and meat. We then come back to a curry or stew etc and I whack some microwave rice on. Those days I’m winning (this doesn’t happen everyday!!’)

My mum and I struggled when we lost my beloved gran last year. We found meal planning helped. We used to prepare a meal plan together and we each had a photo of each other's to keep us accountable. You are by yourself but by sticking it to the fridge it will help you stay on track. The kids can help you do it - the rules are, it has to be healthy and can't take 4 hours to make but everyone can pick a day. Definitely agree with the slow cooker/batch cooking idea too.

The thing I’m confused about is would I be making their meals unhealthier by switching to easier options like chicken nuggets ?

Why not buy a packet of chicken thighs instead of nuggets?
Season and bake in the oven - they cook in about the same time as oven chips, cook more than you need and they're there ready for the next day.

I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough time. Simple things like jacket potato with tuna and a portion of veg, baked beans on toast, eggs and toast, spaghetti bolognaise (make a big batch and freeze the rest) fish fingers with new potatoes and veg are all good starting points. Maybe start with a few nights of the week and slowly change things over. I love some of the Joe Wicks 15 minute meals too. In the week I aim for quick, easy and fairly nutritious and try and cook the odd batch of things to go in the freezer. Also jotting down what we are having each night. It can be a meal plan that’s repeated a few weeks in a row then you can get the odd thing out the night before too.