From Monday i have NO kitchen for approx 2 weeks, please give me tips to stay sane!

[PinkChick]

i work from home as im a childminder, door is going to be taped up as we and builder have own access via back and french doors in playrrom, we have a breakfast room off kitchen so can take table down and move f/freezer,washer and dishwasher(for surface space) to put microwave and toaster on..but meals, drinks, snacks, washing is going to be so hard to jyggle..have you done it? and how did you manage??

You could be me, i'm going to have no kitchen and no bedroom for about 3-4 weeks. I've pre-cooked and frozen meals for me to heat up in the microwave. Its going to be a disaster I can tell, no washing machine either. Our bedroom is moving into our living room for the 4 weeks too.

when we had no access/restricted access to kitchen for 3 months we used a combi microwave, and M & S ready meals (mostly the Cook! range as they are at least real food).

we found that we got by reasonably well with this combination of oven/grill/microwave, alhtough we were very glad to have the kitchen back!

We were without for 6 weeks in March/April.

A combi oven would be a fab idea if you can get one. If not, try and get a lean mean machine thing.

We tried to rely on ready meals but given we don't usually eat them (in fact never), I found myself feeling quite unwell with them.

If you have time, make some meals and freeze them.

Do you have a gas BBQ? With the nicer weather you could have various things on the BBQ with some decent salads.

could you get one of these or similar?

i couldnt really use one of those as we have limited space in the small breakfast room and thinkn it would be unsafe with all the children around?...
We will be getting new microwave though so may go for one of those combi ones??

Thanks for tips everyone

we used a slow cooker, microwave, camping stove, bbq, toaster, sandwich toaster. You can get sick of the chip shop - I was shocked.

We had our kitchen done recently and we were only actually 'without' for four nights, even though they were here for a month (building works included). They got the oven, hob and sink in fairly quickly and then we could cook again, although I got through a bottle of domestos spray cleaner a week, getting rid of the dust every night. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that it's worth checking with them how long they think your kitchen really will be out of action.

What about a 2 burner gas camping stove? Don't take up much space, will usually fold up and put away if you need, and its just like having 2 gas hobs as normal.
We had one as our only cooking equipment (in the corner of a room on a very small table) for about 18 months at one point and it was fine.

yes i wanted new toasty maker as well, so may buy that nowinstead of when finished!?

In terms of time, he has said ill see a difference withing 3 days, but by that he means the units will be rippe dout the water damaged plster hacked off and the ceiling pulled down (and hopefully replaced with new one pretty sharpish!)..there is lots of work needed to be done before he can start putting appliances back in for me as all electrics and plumbing are being taken out and started from scratch..i think day time with the children will be fine as beans on toast, sandwhiches, wraps etc are fine for them, but i started a diet two weeks ago and have done really well, so take outs are off for me, so i need to find out what lese i can eat fairly healthilly instead of micro pizza/chips/sausages!

wow you all managed for so much longer than i will have too (hopefully!)