Husband moaning about dinners

[Willow990]

I meal prep every Sunday for dinners for the week ahead, a typical week looks something like this:

Mon - chilli or spaghetti bolognese
Tuesday - curry (chicken)
Wednesday - fish (salmon usually)
Thursday - stir fry
Friday - Steak

I told DH this morning what I was planning for next week and he asked whether there’s any chance of some variety and for me to try some new dishes. He works long days and I’m usually about to serve up as he walks through the door.

Has anyone got any ideas for how I could freshen things up?

Ha! I like your style!😅

Fair enough you do the cooking, a bit like me really! But he could also make some suggestions!

I’m in a mood. I’m in a mood with the world.

I appreciate you fitting in with the vibe 🍷

I don't enjoy washing up or vacuuming, but unfortunately I haven't got a wifey to do it for me so I just have to crack on! What does he enjoy, in terms of contributing to the running of the house (apart from financially?).

We agree the meal list together. Search BBC Good Food or ChatGpt for weekly meals if you both struggle for ideas.

Variety doesn’t mean top end. I’d get bored with this rotation too week after week.

Completely not helpful ! 🙄
OP asked a simple question, any suggestions on new dishes to cook !
It’s perfectly normal for her husband to ask is there anything new they could possibly have for dinner , my kids do it all the time , ask me to change things up !
What’s the big deal , it’s normal family Life ..

If you're cooking let him come up with the ideas.

So what if he doesn't enjoy it?

He wants variety, he can do the meal prep himself

He's had the same weekend you've had

I'm sure you can cook though can't you and also I very much doubt you are as ungrateful as ops husband.

If it was the same every week, I probably would suggest alternatives Tbf.

What does he do to contribute towards the unpaid shit work?

Now I'm hungry...

Have a look at BBC good food. Loads of ideas there.

Erm tell him to make the fucking tea?

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/quick-dinner-recipes

And also what is he doing at yhd weekend whilst you are preparing all the meals for the week?

Tell him to bring a Chinese home with him at least once a week minimum

I bet you’d suggest concrete ideas though. The fact you know certain meals are ‘high end’ shows you’d probably have already priced them up in your head and thought about how long they’d take to cook.

I don't do this very much nowadays but in the past I just had themes

So;

Monday- potatos
Tuesdays - Rice
Wednesdays-Pasta
Thursdays-bread
Fridays- breakfast for dinner

So a Monday might look like cottage pie / sausages and mash/ grilled something with potato salad

Tuesdays might be - Mexican rice with prawns - risotto etc

So i would start with the base which alleviated the mental load and it always seemed like a 'new' meal. Breakfast for dnner might be a full english or smoked salmon bagels etc.

I can't eat the same every week either to be fair. I mostly cook as I finish work at 1pm but my husband is in charge of sorting a Hello Fresh once a month and we do a quick run through to pick 4 meals together. We also take it in turns to pop out to the supermarket for yellow label stuff to cook that night or freeze.

Your issue isn't the cooking but the shopping for those meals. Sit together and do an online shop. With him suggesting the meals. Then he can see how "easy" the inspo is! (Not very)

Mon - chilli or spaghetti bolognese
Tuesday - curry (chicken)
Wednesday - fish (salmon usually)
Thursday - stir fry
Friday - Steak

How about this to change it up without going too far outside your comfort zone for what you usually cook:
Mon: Risotto
Tuesday: Thai green/red curry (chicken)
Wednesday: Shepherd's Pie or fish pie
Thursday: Spanish omelette or quiche
Friday: Pizza

Yes I can. I’m not sure suggesting a bit more variety is so terrible, though?

OP doesn’t seem fed up about it either. She’s just asking for meal ideas. Other posters have decided it’s outrageous.

so, OP: instead of bolognese or chilli, maybe lasagna or keema

Instead of chicken curry, teriyaki chicken

Salmon: fish pie, lemon sole with butter and capers

Stir fry: sky’s the limit, really

Steak: steak pie/pudding

This! Whether he 'enjoys' it or not.

I’d also get bored of the same dinners every week BUT I wouldn’t be so cheeky to say anything if I was doing F all to contribute towards said meals. Even if he doesn’t want to cook/not back in time to cook, could he do the shopping or the meal plan? For some ideas:

This week we had:
burritos (just me and DH)
udon noodles, tofu and veg (just me and DH)
chickpea and avocado salad with new potatoes (just me and DH)
fajitas (me, DH and DSC)
airfryer wedges, sausages, peas, corn on the cob (me, DH and DSC)
curry and rice (me, DH and DSC)
it’ll be lucky dip tonight….