I don’t home cook

[Jjustsancs]

I know not everyone will agree with me
I am not rich I am far from it. This year I dropped the guilt. This isn’t AIBU

once you count what your time and energy is worth and the fact you could be doing something else cooking and doing the dishes, meal planning and buying all the ingredients - and all the waste that goes in the bin when a takeaway is inevitably ordered because you’re tired and want something tasty - it’s cheaper and easier to just buy something ready made or easy food in the first place. You can get everything ready made now including sandwiches, soup, and family dinners like big lasagnes.

This reminds me - I saw someone at my Waitrose buy fish at the counter and asked for it to be put straight into her Tupperware container. I think that’s genius!

My kids would refuse to eat curry more than once a week….

I cook because I have to, I don’t particularly enjoy it. I think I used to enjoy it before I had kids, but now it’s another chore really. Perhaps if I lived alone I’d have to reevaluate it, because if I ever do get a rare night alone I never cook. I just eat something basic like a sandwich, something on toast or something out the freezer.

I assume I’m similar to a lot of people - I don’t home make every single ingredient, and yes we have a night or 2 a week where we stick a pizza in the oven or have a microwave meal for convenience, but overall we eat home made family dinners with fresh veg almost every night. Lunch is usually a sandwich or similar (made at home) or leftovers.

My weekly shopping bill is £100-£120. A takeaway comes in around £50 for 4 of us (at least). There is just no comparison. For us anyway.

We’re having spaghetti bolognaise for tea tonight (kids are big fans). Last time I made it I made a big portion, so tonight’s dinner is from a Tupperware in the freezer. All I have to do is cook the pasta and microwave the bolognaise. A home made meal in the time it takes to boil pasta - which is perfect as it’s swimming lessons etc so I don’t have much time tonight.

Well don't make them!

Live with a partner but she's vegan and I'm definitely not so, at least latterly, we mostly cook for ourselves. Stuff like battered fish, meatballs or Kievs with oven chips are easy but so are simple recipes.

For me stuff like Bolognese sauce, hotpots or Kedgeree need a bit of work but not a massive time to sort. Effort faffing in prep is one thing; waiting while stuff cooks/reduces is no work at all.

Cook enough for four meals and freeze three.

I know some great indian restaurants in London but where I live now in the East Midlands the indian restaurants are really pretty crap.

Me and DH make much nicer curries than they do and my onion bhajis are nice and crispy and not greasy balls like so many restaurants do.

I greatly prefer my own curries and other Asian style home cooked food. Less grease and more variety and probably more authentic than a lot of stuff cooked for takeaways.

it’s fine if it’s just you and your DH. Your health, your choice as adults.

It’s irresponsible to raise children on a processed diet when so much is now known about the health risks. They don’t get a say in being fed what may ultimately shorten their lives.

Always cook from scratch, much cheaper and healthier, very rarely get takeaway food as it's usually very expensive and disappointing, everything tastes so much better home cooked, plus you know what's in it and where it's been prepared.

I cook from scratch most days but after nearly 38 years of marriage it does get a bit tedious coming up with new things to eat. Batch cooking (much easier now there are two not six of us at home) is one of my NY resolutions, especially now I've finally defrosted the freezer.

Obvious question but - why do you cook most days?

Its totally up to you and many people feel this way but there is a pay off in terms of your health and cooking healthy meals doesn't have to be a major operation and take loads of time and effort. What exactly does not cooking give you time to do?

I can throw together an home cooked meal quite quickly, but I often use cooking time as me-time, for relaxation. So, instead of focusing on every step and rushing, I kind of ‘potter’ while listening to the radio or some music to sing along to.

I live on my own, am retired and rarely cook for myself. I eat well though, but its just not prepped and cooked stuff. so I have greek yogurt with fruit, avocado and wheat bran in Summer and sometimes in Winter too. then in cold weather its weetabix or porridge with protein powder flax and chia + mashed fruit. I just pour hot water on it and mix it up. Fruit and/or yogurt for lunch and sandwiches on high fibre bread for later. Not much hot food, and few veg but I'm well and no deficiencies.

I'm the only one who didnt get flu or cold so far.

Each to their own I say. Cooking for one is a pain and so boring. Far too much effort for a small plate of food.

@Aixellency if that was aimed at me, many reasons.

First, I feel a bit guilty that I gave up work (early 60s) and because of an issue to do with my late dad's house, dh at 65 needs to work at least full time - not physical and he likes it plus gets paid far more than I ever did teaching. Also on his in the office days, he gets back about 8pm.

Secondly, I clear up as I go. DH makes a godalmighty mess, uses every gadget and bowl and doesn't clear it all up - sticky hob, messy microwave (I never use the microwave so know it's him). Yes he does load the dishwasher.

Also, I'm a much better (and healthier) cook :) . I really enjoy cooking and will shut myself in the kitchen with music quite happily. Just hate choosing what to make after all these years.

Dd cooks too but isn't at home full time. All four kids are great cooks

I thonk the cost can be prohibitive when you are cooking from scratch particularly baking, but the benefits out weigh this. At least you know what is in your food. For me a takeaway is a rare treat, that often does not live up to expectations.

Cooking for one is a pain and so boring. Far too much effort for a small plate of food.

Why? Either treat it as relaxation time or cook enough for several meals - either to freeze or incorporate into different dishes or eat again in a day or two.

Do you something worthwhile with the time that you save? Hopefully some
exercise to make up for the lack of vegetables in your diet.

No, sorry. Food is in general for sharing with others. I can't be bothered with the prep and the waiting around for it to be ready, then eating on my own. The hunger just disappears by the time its ready.

I enjoy hosting for friends, and I'm a good, keen cook/ eater. But it's just not worth the time taken just for me! Theres always something far more interesting to do.

and all the waste that goes in the bin when a takeaway is inevitably ordered because you’re tired and want something tasty - it’s cheaper and easier to just buy something ready made or easy food in the first place.
I don’t relate to this at all. I don’t think I’ve ever thrown food away in favour of takeaways. Ready made food is generally disappointing and not satisfying or healthy enough for my family. Easy food is pretty expensive too, one of my favourite easy foods is a tin of lentil and bacon soup which costs now over a pound a tin. I keep it in but wouldn’t class it as a cheap meal if all 6 of us had it especially with the toasties my teens would want on the side.

Judgmental much. 🤣

I’m with you OP. I live alone and in one of the most expensive countries in the world and it’s actually cheaper for me to eat out than buy the ingredients and cook at home.

I am able to cook but I just don’t get much enjoyment out of it. The days of batch cooking and eating the same thing for 5 days in a row are behind me. (Nothing wrong with this but I did it for so many years, I just can’t)

@TheKateColumbo. Me neither, my food waste is only the kind of things you can’t eat, egg shells, outer leaves of veg, carrot tops etc. I have never ordered a takeaway when I hadn’t planned it and they are rare, 4-6 times a year. I can cook better than the local restaurants and a lot better than any takeaway for a fraction of the cost. It’s part of life cooking, what’s more important than excellent nutrition

I think this is a grass is greener thing.
I’ve been the family cook for 25 years now and relish the days when everyone is out and I have only myself to please. Cooking the food that I want to eat rather than the food the family want is a delight. Often I end up not eating family meals because I don’t fancy it once I’ve thought about it, cooked and served it plus put portions away for lunches. When it’s me on my own I pick up whatever appeals, it feels like much less of a chore.

I like to know what goes into my body. I only have one.

i don’t find it takes a huge amount of time of energy to make a lot of basic dinners. And it’s quite meditative- focussed and calming.

sandwich ? I prefer my homemade bread , my filling of choice, not mistreated water filler chicken ,I don’t like butter on the bread.

soup - a pea soup is basically boil frozen peas and add a bit of basil and oil - hardly hard or time consuming but can avoid all UPFs. 5 mins to cook and a minute to blend. Frozen sweetcorn soup - add some grated cheese and it’s lush.

could have made that in the time to write this post