DH away for work - what to eat?

[cooknwithbaby]

DH is going away for a business trip and I'll be on my own with my toddler. I don't eat at restaurants and I don't want to spend money on food delivery. Day 1 or 2 are usually leftovers. But by Day 3-5, I'm out of ideas, energy, and patience. Either I eat frozen meals or instant noodles. They taste good and are easy to reheat/cook.

But I'm aware it's not the healthiest choice. Plus, it would be nice to lose the extra half stone I'm carrying around my waistline.

What do you eat when your partner and co-parent is gone and you're on your own?

I enjoy a plate of cheese, crackers, pickles etc.

A variety of salads

Salmon

Omelettes and salad

Cheese and ham or prawn cocktail baguette.

Not good things…

but in your case …omelette, steak with nice salads, poached eggs and avocado on toast, minestrone, Thai stirfy, mussels, prawn pasta…

When I had young DC we batch cooked so would always have spag bol, cottage pie, curry, fish pie etc in the freezer. If I didn’t fancy any of that it would be something simple like Jacket potatoes with beans or
Cheese on toast and soup. We still have batch cooked things in the freezer for teen so they would have the above but for me these days it would be a sandwich, packet of crisps and a bar of chocolate because I’m too lazy.

Mushroom risotto with a glass of red wine!

Oh I want cheese on toast now! With onion and black pepper.

I usually make the foods that my husband dislikes or can’t eat but I love. Aubergine, tofu and lots of gluten.

I'm on my own, so generally eat quite simple dishes, poached salmon fillets with green vegetables or salad, chicken Caesar salad, pasta Alfredo, chicken & mushroom risotto or asparagus risotto are my regular favourites here.

What did you eat before you had a partner?

I sometimes do something fun, like pancakes for dinner. It's easy, can be healthier, and it's a really different thing to do.
I make healthier ones with banana, wholemeal flour and serve with yogurt and berries.

I also make things he doesn't eat as a vegetarian and I can't adapt, like Fisherman's Pie, my children expect that when he's away!

Eat food which he doesn't like which means you rarely get to eat

Mine are older than toddlers now, but DH is away next week. I asked the kids this morning what they wanted.
I've got requests for: gnocci, something veggie, and "on toast".
Id eat with the toddler in your case, and only cook once a night.

I'm with PPs who have said to take the opportunity to eat things you wouldn't have with him around.

Aldi nibbles tea! Bread, olives, hummus, cheeses. Perfect

I treat myself to expensive things, lobster, fillet steak etc, but always hide the evidence.

I always treat myself to a nice Indian ready meal involving some kind of paneer curry / veg curry (which DP generally hates!) scooped up with a bag of mini poppadoms.

Me tonight. I made a leek risotto, with a couple of leaves of cavolo nero added just to get an extra veg in. Would also do things like cheese and kimchi toasties, teriyaki salmon ramen, massive mushroom omelette…anything I can do more or less in one pan!

DH has been in hospital for over a month and I can't eat the way I do when we eat together. I have lost my muffin top and some, without trying. It's ready meals plus lots of fresh veg here, fruit for pudding.

Cheese on toast with tomatoes, omelette with cheese and spinach, homemade soup, roast veg and salmon or chicken, beans on toast , baked potato with cheese/beans/coleslaw, eggs on toast, strawberries and blueberries, smoked salmon or salmon pate, simple but yummy things!

Eat exactly what you want!

I have been on my own for years with just the kids so I appreciate we are in very different positions, but is there honestly nothing that you can think of that you really fancy?

My favourite lazy supper when dh is away (very, very rare) is beans on toast with Lurpak butter and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. Either that or fishfinger butties with ketchup!

Sorry, I know you were asking for healthy stuff but I can't help you there😂