Page 25 | Are my dinners rubbish?

Sowhatbigdeal · 2025-05-10T12:38:17+00:00

Been told they are Here’s an example of an average week, more or less: Monday (I work at 6, so do something simple) Feta & red onion salad with new potatoes & rice Tuesday Pasta with jar pesto (working today) Wednesday Dh to do omlette/eggs on toast with salad (working today) Thursday Salmon, salad, new potatoes Friday Homemade chilli with rice, nachos & dips Saturday Takeaway Sunday Roast dinner/homemade lasagne Are they?

QforCucumber · 13/05/2025 15:40

GRex · 13/05/2025 11:59

Crikey. Even a chocolate bar is about 30-40% fat. 51%!!!

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you know they're completely different fats right? OF COURSE Pesto is 51% fat, it is literally olive oil and nuts! Fat isn't bad, it's essential!

Cherrytree86 · 13/05/2025 15:47

DearDenimEagle · 13/05/2025 14:22

I think 3 are ok. Not impressed with the rest and if this is repeated every week, I’d say boring. So many meals can be made in 20/30 minutes and it seems very restricted. And yes, I worked 15 hour days split shifts and did all the cooking before anyone jumps on me and had 3 kids with an OH who refused to do women’s work. Which included child care

@DearDenimEagle

it’s food. It can be boring. It doesn’t always have to be thrilling and exciting.

faerietales · 13/05/2025 15:54

QforCucumber · 13/05/2025 15:40

you know they're completely different fats right? OF COURSE Pesto is 51% fat, it is literally olive oil and nuts! Fat isn't bad, it's essential!

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Get away with your logic and facts 🤣

Calliopespa · 13/05/2025 16:02

timeforachange999 · 13/05/2025 15:28

For those who think they can do better can you share a weeks example menu please and the age of your children?
If it was just me I would do better but my teenager is not interested in my healthy meals (although having now written it out I don't think it is that bad). I'll go first anyway
This week's menu is
Sunday - BBQ - sausage in bricoche bun, burger in brioche bun with mozzarella cheese slice. BBQ courgette, corn on the cob and mini peppers.
Monday- mozzrella and pesto pizza (frozen) with added red onion, sweetcorn and green olives. Salad of mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, celery and sweetcorn.
Tuesday- thai green curry (using a jar of paste and coconut milk) with chicken, onion, mushrooms, courgette and broad beans. served with rice (and DS really wants prawn crackers but I would prefer not to add these).
Wednesday- sausage carbonara with pasta, cream, eggs, cheddar and parmesan cheese, onion, mushroom, peas and courgette
Thursday- pasta, prawns, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, sweet chilli sauce
Friday- BBQ again - lamb kebabs, burgers, corn on the cob, courgette. maybe salad.
Saturday- chicken strips, oven chips , baby corn, green beans.
Sunday- nachos, mince, black beans, cheese, sweetcorn, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado and green salad with cucumber

Take cover @timeforachange999 ! 🤣Incoming!

TwinklyFawn · 13/05/2025 16:45

honeybeetheoneandonly · 10/05/2025 16:14

Is it the sound of your meals that have been deemed rubbish or the actual meals? On paper the meals sound fine but you may be making a pig's ear of them. I have a friend who, I would say , can't cook. Their meals sound fine, too, but it's the blandest food ever. Lasagne where they just add a tin of tomatoes to mince with a stock cube and no other seasoning. They just can't be bothered to cook well.

Exactly. My mum's meals always sounded fine. However her chicken stir fry is tasteless. I think that cardboard would taste better.

soupyspoon · 13/05/2025 18:19

TheTwinklyLilacSquid · 13/05/2025 09:57

If she had listed more meat it would be all....."too much meat!! Don't you know colon cancer is at an all time high in under 50s!!! You need to drop the meat and eat more vegan meals. Why do you hate your own dc 😩"
You can't win with the all knowing perfect posters.

Also dont mention the cruel meat industry or over fishing!!!

soupyspoon · 13/05/2025 18:22

timeforachange999 · 13/05/2025 15:28

For those who think they can do better can you share a weeks example menu please and the age of your children?
If it was just me I would do better but my teenager is not interested in my healthy meals (although having now written it out I don't think it is that bad). I'll go first anyway
This week's menu is
Sunday - BBQ - sausage in bricoche bun, burger in brioche bun with mozzarella cheese slice. BBQ courgette, corn on the cob and mini peppers.
Monday- mozzrella and pesto pizza (frozen) with added red onion, sweetcorn and green olives. Salad of mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, celery and sweetcorn.
Tuesday- thai green curry (using a jar of paste and coconut milk) with chicken, onion, mushrooms, courgette and broad beans. served with rice (and DS really wants prawn crackers but I would prefer not to add these).
Wednesday- sausage carbonara with pasta, cream, eggs, cheddar and parmesan cheese, onion, mushroom, peas and courgette
Thursday- pasta, prawns, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, sweet chilli sauce
Friday- BBQ again - lamb kebabs, burgers, corn on the cob, courgette. maybe salad.
Saturday- chicken strips, oven chips , baby corn, green beans.
Sunday- nachos, mince, black beans, cheese, sweetcorn, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado and green salad with cucumber

OMG what have you done now!!!

Posters will literally be falling over themselves to tell you about your UPF intake!!!

soupyspoon · 13/05/2025 18:23

QforCucumber · 13/05/2025 15:40

you know they're completely different fats right? OF COURSE Pesto is 51% fat, it is literally olive oil and nuts! Fat isn't bad, it's essential!

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My macros average around 40% fats, 40% protein and 20% carbs, or there abouts. I virtually live off nuts and oil!!

No3392 · 13/05/2025 18:28

timeforachange999 · 13/05/2025 15:28

For those who think they can do better can you share a weeks example menu please and the age of your children?
If it was just me I would do better but my teenager is not interested in my healthy meals (although having now written it out I don't think it is that bad). I'll go first anyway
This week's menu is
Sunday - BBQ - sausage in bricoche bun, burger in brioche bun with mozzarella cheese slice. BBQ courgette, corn on the cob and mini peppers.
Monday- mozzrella and pesto pizza (frozen) with added red onion, sweetcorn and green olives. Salad of mixed leaves, tomatoes, cucumber, celery and sweetcorn.
Tuesday- thai green curry (using a jar of paste and coconut milk) with chicken, onion, mushrooms, courgette and broad beans. served with rice (and DS really wants prawn crackers but I would prefer not to add these).
Wednesday- sausage carbonara with pasta, cream, eggs, cheddar and parmesan cheese, onion, mushroom, peas and courgette
Thursday- pasta, prawns, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, sweet chilli sauce
Friday- BBQ again - lamb kebabs, burgers, corn on the cob, courgette. maybe salad.
Saturday- chicken strips, oven chips , baby corn, green beans.
Sunday- nachos, mince, black beans, cheese, sweetcorn, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado and green salad with cucumber

That's a hell of a lot more, and even more varied veg than my teen will eat.

inmyera · 13/05/2025 18:29

Sowhatbigdeal · 10/05/2025 21:33

Can you list the 30 plant foods per week we should be eating please?

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The 30 plant foods thing sounds daunting but it includes things like herbs, spices, olive oil, pulses, etc. so once you've made your chilli, a spag bol, etc with herbs and spices it's not hard to reach.

I'd add green beans and /or broccoli to your pasta pesto but otherwise I think your meals sound fine and much more healthy than some of the options people have listed above.

Calliopespa · 13/05/2025 21:07

inmyera · 13/05/2025 18:29

The 30 plant foods thing sounds daunting but it includes things like herbs, spices, olive oil, pulses, etc. so once you've made your chilli, a spag bol, etc with herbs and spices it's not hard to reach.

I'd add green beans and /or broccoli to your pasta pesto but otherwise I think your meals sound fine and much more healthy than some of the options people have listed above.

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I’m doing quite well with the 30 plants thing! I’ve started this week after reading on here and have now finished ! It wasn’t too tricky. But I’m kind of into repeats now . I guess normally it would be better not to have all the different plants up front. But I was just curious so swapped about !

timeforachange999 · 13/05/2025 22:49

No3392 · 13/05/2025 18:28

That's a hell of a lot more, and even more varied veg than my teen will eat.

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It’s taken me a long time to get courgette to be accepted! And all those salad items- if I do much as suggest them as part of his packed lunch or even with lunch at home I now get a 🤮 carrot is currently the only acceptable lunch veg 😫 must be something to do with the salad dressing when it’s in a salad 😂

Original poster

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:25

Hi all 👋

Soooo, I took on board all the feedback and this is this week’s menu. I still have to keep Mon-Wed easy and quick and I need to keep costs in mind at the moment

Friday (today)

Chicken and veg stir fry (red peppers, onion, Chinese veg) and noodles

Saturday

Bbq chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coleslaw etc)

Sunday

lasagna with potatoes & broccoli

Monday

Pasta with pesto & brocolli, peas & ricotta cheese

Tuesday

Jacket potato with tuna salad (my packed salads)

Wednesday

Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, prawns, onions and red peppers

Thursday

Chicken stir fry with veg & rice

Any better?!

OP posts:

noworklifebalance · 16/05/2025 17:27

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:25

Hi all 👋

Soooo, I took on board all the feedback and this is this week’s menu. I still have to keep Mon-Wed easy and quick and I need to keep costs in mind at the moment

Friday (today)

Chicken and veg stir fry (red peppers, onion, Chinese veg) and noodles

Saturday

Bbq chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coleslaw etc)

Sunday

lasagna with potatoes & broccoli

Monday

Pasta with pesto & brocolli, peas & ricotta cheese

Tuesday

Jacket potato with tuna salad (my packed salads)

Wednesday

Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, prawns, onions and red peppers

Thursday

Chicken stir fry with veg & rice

Any better?!

Can I come for dinner?

Waterbaby41 · 16/05/2025 17:31

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:25

Hi all 👋

Soooo, I took on board all the feedback and this is this week’s menu. I still have to keep Mon-Wed easy and quick and I need to keep costs in mind at the moment

Friday (today)

Chicken and veg stir fry (red peppers, onion, Chinese veg) and noodles

Saturday

Bbq chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coleslaw etc)

Sunday

lasagna with potatoes & broccoli

Monday

Pasta with pesto & brocolli, peas & ricotta cheese

Tuesday

Jacket potato with tuna salad (my packed salads)

Wednesday

Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, prawns, onions and red peppers

Thursday

Chicken stir fry with veg & rice

Any better?!

Way better!

GRex · 16/05/2025 17:32

That looks very nice!

Tasty to add nuts and seeds to the stir fries and salads, if you enjoy them.

noworklifebalance · 16/05/2025 17:34

faerietales · 13/05/2025 14:26

But as has been said multiple times, not every single meal needs to contain a perfect balance of nutrients, fats etc. Pasta with pesto is a lot better than many other quick dinners.

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But as has been said multiple times, not every single meal needs to contain a perfect balance of nutrients, fats etc

Yes, including by me! I eat pesto pasta and have fed it to my DC when they were younger. I also thought OP’s menu was perfectly fine in the context that they would be eating other things throughout the day.
I was just answering PPs who said that pesto pasta is a nutritious meal. It is not and that’s ok if you generally eat healthily. I just explained why it isn’t, including that most shop based pesto is made with other vegetable oils, not olive oil.

Calliopespa · 16/05/2025 17:57

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:25

Hi all 👋

Soooo, I took on board all the feedback and this is this week’s menu. I still have to keep Mon-Wed easy and quick and I need to keep costs in mind at the moment

Friday (today)

Chicken and veg stir fry (red peppers, onion, Chinese veg) and noodles

Saturday

Bbq chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coleslaw etc)

Sunday

lasagna with potatoes & broccoli

Monday

Pasta with pesto & brocolli, peas & ricotta cheese

Tuesday

Jacket potato with tuna salad (my packed salads)

Wednesday

Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, prawns, onions and red peppers

Thursday

Chicken stir fry with veg & rice

Any better?!

Wot?! Are you still alive OP after that protein deficient week?!

Original poster

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:57

Calliopespa · 16/05/2025 17:57

Wot?! Are you still alive OP after that protein deficient week?!

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Where is it lacking protein still 🙈ffs

OP posts:

Calliopespa · 16/05/2025 17:58

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:57

Where is it lacking protein still 🙈ffs

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It’s not! It’s great! I was meaning last week!!
And only teasing anyway as I thought the protein was ok.

Can’t see anyone will manage to find fault with this.

VickiFromAmsterdam · 16/05/2025 18:04

It’s OK to do something like that a few times a week to give you a break, but not almost every night.

Calliopespa · 16/05/2025 18:15

VickiFromAmsterdam · 16/05/2025 18:04

It’s OK to do something like that a few times a week to give you a break, but not almost every night.

This is ridiculous! What are you suggesting she cooks for a family?

raspberrieswithchocolate · 16/05/2025 18:19

Sowhatbigdeal · 16/05/2025 17:25

Hi all 👋

Soooo, I took on board all the feedback and this is this week’s menu. I still have to keep Mon-Wed easy and quick and I need to keep costs in mind at the moment

Friday (today)

Chicken and veg stir fry (red peppers, onion, Chinese veg) and noodles

Saturday

Bbq chicken with corn on the cob, potatoes and salad (tomatoes, cucumber, onion, coleslaw etc)

Sunday

lasagna with potatoes & broccoli

Monday

Pasta with pesto & brocolli, peas & ricotta cheese

Tuesday

Jacket potato with tuna salad (my packed salads)

Wednesday

Spaghetti with tomato basil sauce, prawns, onions and red peppers

Thursday

Chicken stir fry with veg & rice

Any better?!

I think these dinners are healthy and tasty, I'd happily eat them!

Endofyear · 16/05/2025 18:24

Your menu looks lovely! Lots of variety and healthy and delicious 😊

Sugargliderwombat · 16/05/2025 18:24

Yum!!!