Perfectly lovely meal plans, but I'm feeling 'meh'

[kitchenplans]

So, firstly I probably need to point out that I'm menopausal, so my 'meh' might be meno 'meh'.

I'm having problems loving my meal plans. This is obviously completely bonkers, since I select the meals, but I've just somehow lost my mojo. I thought it was just a me thing, but in conversation with DH, he did call our meals "all of a type" (quite bravely, bearing in mind my aforementioned meno state), so he clearly feels the same.

I know our meals are on target re fruit and veg and balanced levels of UPF as the app I use tracks that for me.

I'm seeing too much pasta and gnocchi and a general lack of variety in meat.

Any suggestions of what kind of dishes I could put in to add a bit more interest? I do like each individual meal selected, but I think there's something missing in terms of variety.

(3 meal plans attached for ref, pics might take a minute to load)

Can’t really see a problem? Creamy/cheesy is jumping out to me, and they seem quite full on meals. But that’s not necessarily bad. Although they seem to take a while to make. What does DH mean with “all of a type”?

would he prefer some simpler ones maybe? Some treat dinners like steak and chips or a spay bol? Less sauce…

I think just generally a bit samey?

I admit quite a bit of creamy/cheesy. I love cheese! Probably not good for me!

Could you try Gousto or similar and try some new things? They often have discounts for first timers. Maybe add some beef or salmon for a change.

I love cheese too so don’t blame you!! I think some of these meals look yummy!

can DH help plan?

Nope, DH won't be planning, as the deal is that I plan & shop and he cooks. I don't want to swap, or for him to realise how much easier I have it!

I think maybe it's the creamy thing- I wasn't seeing that! I'm not sure it's the cheese as that's quite varied- feta, gorgonzola, ricotta etc, but there's lots of creamy base sauces. Il try to cut that down.

Maybe some more simple meals like sausage, mash and veg, or omelette? Or different cuisines like curry, stir fry?

Off the point but what meal planner app is that please?

They do all sound a bit "twatty" in the nicest sense.
Simple but delicious ( a chip is the perfect example) is better than nice sounding ( hassle back potato)

It's the Cherrypick app. I have a full all frills subscription for free as an early adopter, but I think there's a free and a paid option.

I do wonder if I'm missing the simple salmon, salad, new pots or scrambled egg on toast options...

All seems quite heavy to me. Maybe add some lighter stuff to mix it up, like more salads, salmon, stir fry, and try some meals with different carbs like rice, quinoa or other grains like bulgar etc.

What’s the pesto and sausage hash recipe - I’ve googled but can’t see it. Sounds nice.

It's in an app, so I don't think I can share, sorry.

Thanks any way. I’m the cook and my husband is the shopper so I can’t really help and we don’t really meal plan. But I don’t think I’d look cooking stuff that I hadn’t picked if you see what I mean. Can’t you come up with ideas together?

We eat way more spicy food than you. I wouldn’t like your meal plan at all.

Curries - Indian, Thai, Indonesian etc. Mexican cuisine. More fish, tofu, miso, harissa etc

I have stuck loosely to the plan outlined in Shirley Conran's book Superwoman, but with variations based on likes/dislikes and what's in season or in the garden.

Sunday - roast, never chicken, Yorkshire puddings only with beef, never cauliflower cheese. Could also be a lentil loaf.

Monday - cold meat, baked potatoes and salad in summer or leaf green vegetable at other times of the year. Could be Vitello Tonnato, if we had roast veal.

Tuesday - Hachis Parmentier (translates as cottage pie if we have had beef or Shepherd's pie if we had lamb). Or pork meatballs with leftover pork.

Wednesday - Something eggy like a Spanish Tortilla. Might put vegetables into it, such as red peppers or do a ratatouille. Alternatively a cauliflower cheese variation.

Thursday - Curry.

Friday - Fish.

Saturday - Sausages in some form. Luckily we live in sausage land, so lots of very high quality variations to choose from. Could be just baked in the oven with some form of potato and a seasonal vegetable or two.

Nothing earth-shattering.
Seasonal variations are things like asparagus, mushrooms, game, fresh peas.
Sometimes I do a themed week, so Greek or French or German or Sri Lankan or Middle Eastern Meze or Thai.
Always do Cornish pasties in October and November at least twice, if I can find decent swede.
Rarely do puddings, exception being dinner parties or sometimes on Sundays, there is always fruit available and often a selection of cheese if we have been entertaining. Soup is also useful either as a light starter (sometimes cold in very hot weather) or a prelude to a non-meat baked potato main course.
The odd fish pie appears, as do fish cakes or Thai fish cakes or cured salmon (gin is useful here) with cucumber and dill salad, but we are far from the sea, so I need to be sure that I am getting very fresh produce.
If it is really cold I might do a steamed steak and mushroom pudding or a beef in beer/Guiness.
I am not very keen on pasta or bread, so these type of meals are rare.
If I am feeling lazy, I will do a terrine chaude with a sauce and then chill the leftovers to present as pate.

We do like spicy food, curries, thai, mexican etc, must add a few more of these in. Don't eat tofu, not for us. Eat plenty of fish, and often use miso and harrissa in our dishes

I have a very similar meal plan to this with variations such as chicken or sausages on Wednesday and veggie food on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It works well.

I think op that it’s much easier to have loose headings allocated to eat day eg cold cuts Monday and fish on Friday and then have six dishes or so under each heading that you can choose from, so you get more interest and variety. That way you are not thinking blindly what to cook each night but at the same time it allows for some variation under the night’s theme.

For example fish on Friday could be:

• fish pie,
• smoked mackerel salad,
• smoked salmon blinis,
• frozen cod fillets with chips and peas
• salad niçoise.
• sushi

That’s a massive variety under the fish heading that can be adapted to the season and the weather and your energy levels.

Ditto Tueday veg night could be:

• chickpea casserole with med veg
• mushroom risotto
• massive chopped salad
• vichysoisse
• lentil dahl
• baked potato and salad.

You can eventually have 10 or 12 dishes to choose from under each heading , adapted to the seasons. Cook some dishes in advance and use your freezer to allow for some flexibility, otherwise it’s all too prescribed.

Incidentally PaddlingSwan I hadn’t realised that the idea for it had originated from Shirley Conran! I suddenly feel quite old! 😃 Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom! 😃

To me it's too samey in terms of flavours. YOu've got the odd chilli thrown in there but largely, it's all sort of southern med food. Which is delicious, but we like a lot more variety in flavours and textures and even so I also sometimes get a bit "meh".

Why don't you go out and buy a couple of food magazines. They're always great in terms of variety but also seasonal. I find it's a great way to get inspiration and new ideas?

Also, I think your meal plan isn't taking the season into account. At this time of year, I think options that include interesting salads etc are important. We're eating a lot less pasta and gnocchi and baked dishes and a lot more things like grilled meat/chicken/fish with salads, or tacos with salsas and pickles etc than we were a few months ago.

I agree. It reminds me of the food I get fed at work conference weeks. Great for the first two days then I'm craving non-recipes. Just simple grilled fish with whole grains and steamed veg with lemon and fresh herbs. Or omelette and salad.

Waitrose free newspaper has loads of recipes each week. It’s summer so more salads. I like a Thai sesame dressing on a noodle based salad, apple, celery and raisin with a light mayo yogurt dressing, similar a potato salad with chopped gherkins. Also do a salad with crispy bacon, hard boiled eggs and salted peanuts new pots or crusty bread for carbs. I often use Cavalo Nero or kale as the base green and add rocket or watercress to give a lift

Can't read the right-hand side, but only 2 chicken + 2 fish on the left.
2 meatless & 1 UPF sausage meal.
I'd add beef, pork, lamb, offal.

What about 'ordinary' food? Food that tastes of what it is rather than being flavoured with all sorts? Not all the time, but sometimes?

Pork chops - as chops, with veg and potatoes.
Cod loins wrapped in bacon
Roast chicken
Steak
Sausage and mash

Not every meal has to be from a recipe. We also have stews, cassoulet, cottage pie, fish pie, curry, stir fries - none of which come from a recipe book.

In the summer we often just have a big salad with something simple... smoked mackerel, steak, salmon, sardines. Or a stir fry. No recipes needed. You can make the salad dressing a bit special with added chili, lime etc. Carbs can be new potatoes, butter beans, couscous, rice.

They all sound nice individually, but a bit heavy/saucy together.

I'd break it up with things like:

• Steak, fries and salad.
• Salmon, new potatoes, green beans.
• Stir fry
• Egg-fried rice with various toppings - chicken, beef, shrimp.
• Burrito bowls

I love meals with low carbs. Feel full but healthy afterwards. Beef (sliced very thinly against the grain) green beans pak choi and peppers. Cook with sesame oil garlic soy sauce and plenty of ground black pepper. I do it in batches, set aside and then throw altogether at the end. Serve with sticky rice. (Sushi rice)

my Korean friend taught me this mix. Sesame oil. Soy sauce. Garlic (loads). Black pepper. I can’t recommend it enough. Perfect it and you won’t regret it

I'd put on far more spicy foods, pickles etc.
We eat a lot of chilli, ginger, cumin flavoured dishes. Lots of salads with whatever's around.
I can only read your first column though