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?

I love random MN gifs! 🤣

Coolio.

At aged 50 having put up with 30 years of selfish shit from men whilst my domestic labour was seen as a nothing, and op having to work part time around kids whilst he’s at his very important big job and cutting in all this fitness I’m not so sure he’s not taking the piss. And I’m happy to say it.

So he’s bored of his supper last but fussy too. Marvellous!

I could make lots of suggestions of homemade meals, but it seems pointless if he rejects things like fish pie.

If he’s into ‘fitness’ when is he fitting this on with his ‘long hours’? I have no idea, lunchtime maybe? Thats what I do.

Why is OP doing all the meal prepping at the weekends? I have no idea and there is really no need to unless she wants to. I don't.

Where is his contribution? This isn't relationship advice and she isn't complaining about his contribution. She was looking for receipe ideas not marriage counselling.

I chop the veg and marinate the meat/chicken. So, when it comes to it, it’s a ten minute assembly job that takes less time than it takes the rice to cook.

Yes, I probably should have put this in another section in hindsight-but I’ve had some really helpful ideas so thank you.

Sorry that’s been your experience. It’s not everyone’s.

Lots of posters projecting on this thread.

We meal plan for the week depending on what we have in but it is different week on week. Try making a note on your phone of various meals you can make to rotate. Some that go down well here that aren’t on your list are:

Feta and tomato pasta bake
Chicken and black bean enchiladas
Bean and rice burritos
Various curries - maybe mix it up and make a potato or paneer one, a daal or a different type
Homemade pizzas
Homemade Falafel wraps
Pie - chicken or beef and ale/stilton
Shepherd pie/cottage pie
Lasagne
Jacket potatoes for an easy night!

Beans on toast would be more substantial to be fair!

I really find the Rukmini Iyer Roasting Tin books useful for more interesting but quite straight forward recipes - cooked in one tin . My family love her lentil Dahl and a quiche made with pre made puff pastry , Stilton and Broccoli as well as her vegan bean chilli . Think she has a website too though not sure you can see many recipes before it blocks you and suggests you buy a book

I find this really odd, he wants something new, but wants you to come up with suggestions even though from your updates he is quite fussy and has other requirements e.g. has to be healthy, has to be cooked from scratch. He wants you to make suggestions even though he wouldn't actually like many of them? Surely when he says 'can we mix it up a bit' your reply is either 'great, what are you cooking' or 'what do you suggest'

In terms of food
Moroccan chicken tagine with cous cous
Harissa and yoghurt chicken and vegetable tray bake
Pasta with prawns chilli courgette and lemon
Gnocchi baked with brocoli, asparagus, ham hock creme fraiche and cheese
Yuk sung pork or chicken with lettuce wraps
Quesidillas with high protein wraps and home made guacamole
Stir fried beef noodles with greens

Hopefully OP will pipe up in his defence if he does loads. Or even his share.

I'm probably jaded by all the years of posts where OP starts by saying "aibu, he's a great dad and husband, but..." then it turns out he does bugger all, fucks off to his hobby several times a week, makes extra work for her and then critises what she does. But you are right, I shouldn't assume. Sorry OP.

At aged 50 having put up with 30 years of selfish shit from men whilst my domestic labour was seen as a nothing, and op having to work part time around kids whilst he’s at his very important big job and cutting in all this fitness I’m not so sure he’s not taking the piss. And I’m happy to say it.
OK this is really derailing ops thread when she was probably looking for suggestions like macaroni cheese or meatballs in tomato sauce but im 60 and have never put up with selfish shit. Why did you put up with it? Thats on you.
You have to take responsibility for your own choices same as i did. I chucked the selfish tossers away.

Ah fair enough. I chop everything before I get the wok going obv but it wouldn't have occurred to me to prep a stir fry on a Sunday to eat on a Thursday. Just not one of those dishes which I have in mind as being very preppable or getting better with time (unlike eg lots of curries which are so much better after a day or two)

I was a single mum and I cooked every single evenng and over the years it morphed from something I used to enjoy to something that was a tedious and exhausting chore but I still got on and did it beause opting out was not an option. I presume that if you were unwell your husband would have to cook. If he was not married to you he would have to cook too

So at the very least he needs to provide a list of food that he wants to eat and fits into his dietary preferences.

You can then decide if it's food that you can be arsed to cook and if it fits into the family food budget.

And yes, if his 'fitness' translates into him spending hours in the gym he needs to find time to do some batch cooking. Do you get the same amount of free time as he does? How often do you get to eat food of your own choosing?

Myself and DH are keen gym goers so I work everything out to our macros and am keen on keeping protein high.

Our meal plan for the week is:

Pulled pork tacos with slaw, salad and spicy potatoes - fast to make

Bbq Mac & cheese with garlic broccoli, sticky BBQ chicken and garlic bread

Jamaican butter bean curry with rice & peas, jerk tofu, slaw and left over mac

Peanut tofu & veg ramen with spring rolls - fast to make

Spicy tomato pasta with lentils & side salad and garlic bread - fast to make

Roast dinner

We have a four week rotating menu, which means we don't have to think about meal planning most of the time. Every so often we get rid of something we're bored of and add in something new. Our supermarket delivery allows us to have multiple shopping lists, so we have one for each week's menu to use as a starting point, and then add on other bits and pieces we need.

Have a look at Jamie’s 15 min meals and 30 min meals.

However, something like koftas with feta, flatbreads, yoghurt dip and salad

Chicken traybake : just peppers, red onion and courgette chunked up, halved baby potatoes add couple of garlic cloves and rosemary, olive oil and season with s&p and oregano. Roast off 30 mins, add a chicken breast for everyone, and tear up some soft goats cheese or dots of Boursin. Roast off for 30. Finish with a little balsamic.

As above with cod fillets, sprinkled with cajun spice.

Salmon, top with pesto and pine nuts. Bake in foil.

Cottage pie, make with venison mince.

Lamb shanks, slow cooked.

Stroganoff

Spicy sausage stew, fry off sausages, fry off onion and garlic, add tinned tomatoes and paste, herbs and a bit of chilli and paprika, can of butterbeans. Cook about 45 mins.

Air fryer salt and pepper chicken (Dean Edwards recipe)

Roast a whole chicken, make a big Caesar salad. Next day, boil up the carcass and make chicken boodle broth with crusty bread

A nice big salad, coleslaw and cheese omelettes

Given that women are frequently gaslighted into this domestic servitude at the expense of their career abc future I have no qualms highlighting potential disparities.

Cheers.

This woman is pretty good for inspiration https://www.instagram.com/simple.home.edit?igsh=MWp5MXc2czlyeWxnNA==

poke bowls, tacos and rice paper rolls are staples in my house for quick and easy meals that you can assemble yourself with the veg/ salad you like. I often make a roast chicken and use the leftover meat in one of the above a day or two later.

a gas bbq is also a quick and healthy way to cook veg and protein with lots of flavour.

Hopefully OP will pipe up in his defence if he does loads. Or even his share
She forgot have to justify anything to people here.
She wanted recipes
she'll be told to LTB next just because he's bored with chili on Mondays.
😆 .

Second this. And daal really seems to fit your brief, it keeps really well and it's packed with protein if he's into fitness. You can make or buy some roti and keep them in the freezer. Defrost and, if you have a gas hob, whack them on the flame and serve. Mmm. Now I want that.

I tend to do it the night before, when I know we’ve lots on/won’t have a lot of time the next evening. I don’t think I’ve ever meal prepped for a whole week, tbh. I tend to just plan a couple of days ahead!

Totally agree re curries improving over a couple of days.

I would definitely ask him to provide some ideas as he is the one wanting to change things up.