for getting pee'd off with trying to decide WHAT to do for dinner ?????!

[ChunkyMonkeysMum]

Every night we have the same conversation

DH: "What shall we have for dinner?"

Me: "What do you want?"

DH: "Dunno, what do you want?"

Me: "Why do I always have to decide?!"

I'm sick and tired of being the one to make all the decisions about bloody meals !!!!
Why are men so blood indecisive ? It makes me .

I also get pissed off trying to think up new things to cook.

Anyone else have this problem ?

[ChunkyMonkeysMum]

Haha !! You lot make me laugh !! I'm glad I'm not the only one in this dilemma

At least your DH has actually put the potatoes in the oven.....don't think mine would even do that unless I asked him to do it.

[Doodlez]

Try a new supermarket.

Dunno what it is but having to hunt around unfamiliar shelves inspires me from time to time.

Also, check out the recipe and meal planners section on Mumsnet. Always good for fresh ideas.

[ChunkyMonkeysMum]

Cheers Doodlez I will definitely have a poke around the meal planners section on here.

As for different supermarkets, I also like doing this, but end up spending a fortune on goodies

[diddl]

Same here.

What does anyone want.
Don´t know, shoulders shrugged.

When it´s out on the table "But I didn´t want this"!

[mrstimlovejoy]

i know what you mean i was writing my shopping list earlier and asked dh what he fancied for dinners over the week we both just sat there saying i don't mind
i get fed up trying to think what to do always end up with the same things week in week out

[GossipMonger]

I told DH I was a bit upset that I was trying to juggle working FT with doing the housework and cooking and kids afterschool things and he said,'Dont worry I am here now so I will cook.'

He then whipped up the most amazing tomato and buffalo mozzarella (no cook) tagliatelli dish ever! With fresh basil too.

Yum yum!

[ChunkyMonkeysMum]

Wow, lucky you GossipMonger !! Can you send him over to mine to teach my DH a thing or too please ?? In fact, how much will you charge to rent him out as it seems like a lot of us would pay !

[herbgarden]

I join the meal planners !...I got fed up with asking DH and having exactly the same conversation as the OP...and resenting DH for being able to absolve himself for all responsibility for what we eat

Since going back to work I have my "meal planner" book - it has a selection of easy stuff we eat week in /week out (including stuff I forgot about and I also add quick recipes I pick up from magazines/supermarket recipe cards etc ) and then I just choose stuff from the "meals", plan for a week and shop on a Thursday afternoon. Fridge gets right down to its last bits and bobs but we really don't waste much. My food bills have been cut by about 20% too and I don't have much of our food in the freezer (not enough room as it's full of little pots of mush for dd and quick lunches for ds)...but what's in there gets used up.

It really really helps not having to think up stuff to cook. If I'm cooking spag bol/chilli/casserole I usually do double quantity so we have one or two easy thaw out meals in the week too.

[ChunkyMonkeysMum]

Thanks herbgarden - might try that myself !

[giveloveachance]

I used to ask DP and whatever I suggested he would say, no, don't fancy that, but could not come up with an idea himself - used to get me very annoyed.

so now, I don't even ask him, I just make all the evening meals by deciding what I want (and for DD of course)and how much effort I want to put in that night, ie a quick omelette or stir fry or something roasted - he has not complained yet.

I do meal plan too - so much easier when shopping and it means i can plan ahead and make some things in advance.

Always try to double batch cook mince or toad in the hole and similar to pop half in the freezer.

As for thinking up new ideas, I don't - i get most of my ideas from watching tv cookery programmes or recipes in the paper!!! Loving Economy Gastronomy - good tips and ideas on it!

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

I do an internet shop once a fortnight and top up with fresh produce and meat as necessary. I do a two-week meal plan before the shop and ask for family input on it. Then noone can complain about what I cook. Well, that's the theory anyway.
DH doesn't cook so it is all down to me, which is a bit of a pain. Sometimes you just want someone else to make the decisions.

[Othersideofthechannel]

Ooh, I like deciding what we are going to eat. Sitting on the sofa curled up with my recipe folder and books I am relaxing but I feel like I am doing something useful! Also trying to fit it all in to our timetable is like a puzzle to be solved. Certain nights of the week it has to be quick, other nights (when DH has been doing sport) has to be HIGH in protein etc.

We have a few meals which feature nearly every week but I try to create meals from what is in season so that stops me from getting bored.

[scodgie]

My DH is the same. Next time your DH says 'don't know, you decide' and is less than helpful do what I do, make something you really like but know he doesn't like much.
Childish I'm sure but at least you get to aleviate your stress but eating something YOU really want.

[janeite]

Dp used his initiative today - I am impressed! I got home from work late and he had already got jacket potatoes in the oven - AND announced proudly that he had bought some corn on the cob!

Maybe he's been reading this thread over my shoulder?

[TheInvisibleManDidIt]

Dh doesn't cook or shop, but is a fussy eater so I always ask what he fancies to avoid me spending ages cooking only for him to say 'oh I don't really fancy that- I'll just go get a kebab'

But when I ask him what he wants he always says 'I dunno- you pick', which just results in the above.

So on Saturday I typed up a 'menu' of everything that I could make with what I had in and I'm making him pick a different one every morning. Has worked so far this week.

[funtimewincies]

I've also got a subscription to Good Food Magazine as a Christmas present, which means that I have fresh inspiration landing on the doorstep each month.