Man-Friendly Meals

GinaJ2006

I have a really hard time finding meals that are healthy that the whole family will eat. My husband complains about whole wheat anything, anything that doesn't have meat in it and anything low fat. Does anyone else have this problem? What meals have you found that your husbands don't complain about too much.

MawJ

Mine is the same way. Wish I could find healthy meals that he would enjoy as much as steak, potatoes, spaghetti, etc.

meggonkgonk

I make a few concessions- I saute my veggies on the side, I make my whole wheat pasta serving in the steamer with the regular pasta in the pot- things that are easy and whatever that's fine. But at a certain point hubby either needs to grow up and either make his own food or pipe down. Guess what?- you're cooking, you get to decide what to cook.

errysmart

you should try speghetti squash. It is a great way to sneak in some more veggies and it is super easy to cook.

smuehlbauer

Make it the way you want. He will eat it.
Tell him to shut up or cook for himself!
Haahaa
I wonder why I'm single......

Mindful_Trent

I think your husband needs to wake up and realize that you are trying to help everyone be healthier! :laugh:

I say that partially in jest... but seriously, if you're doing the cooking, he should be willing to eat what you make. If he doesnt like it, he needs to take a more active role in meal prep.

There's nothing wrong with eating things like steak, potatoes, etc. - they can be part of a *perfectly* healthy diet... just not every day! I try to mix-up my meals between "traditional" dinners like that and other meals like spaghetti made from spaghetti squash, home-made veggie burgers, home-made soups/chili's (turkey chili, etc.), pizza made with a cauliflower crust, etc. It's a matter of compromise and variety. We have 5 adults living in my household - 4 men and 1 woman (not all of whom are trying to lose weight), and we are all happy with the above mentioned routine.

Claudia007

I am not cooking seperate meals for everyone, so he either eats or starves! I made baked parm a few weeks ago and he said: "baked parm is better than no parm!"

veganbird

I have this problem too. When I cook, he either eats what I fixed or eats something else later. I like to eat much earlier than he does. It is frustrating when he won't eat anything healthy.

008Lizzy

I am wheat and gluten free and got fed up having to cook and buy different foods, especially breads, pastas, and making a roux sauce. My husband has no clue that for the past three months now..he has been on a gluten free diet..:bigsmile: Dont tell him, he wont notice the difference:laugh:
he loves "my special" garlic and coriander naan breads :happy: ..one day I might confess, meanwhile, saving me a whole lotta time and trouble !

GinaJ2006

Thank you for the ideas. He does eat the food, but he complains and it bugs me. Like many of you said, I should just tell him to cook for himself and get myself a bunch of lean cuisines.

TK266

long story but you will see how it ties in to your issue:

The Worst Job I Ever Had (Moose Turd Pie!)
Utah Phillips

I'll tell you about the worst job I ever had. It was working for the Santa Fe Rail Road south of Las Vegas, Nevada. That's the old Mormon Muddy Mission, way out in what the Navajos called the "boonies", out in the desert. The job was gandy-dancing.

They run a box car out there that's a bunk car; you sleep in it and it's got bunks that are 18 inches apart. Then you got a tool car with your tamping irons, your tongs, your double jack hammers, and your spikes, and all of the equipment to do the job. And then you got a cook car. There's no restaurants anyplace, so you got a cook car; pots and pans, a coal or wood burning stove, and a long table down the middle to eat at. The only thing they don't hire is a cook That's because they're cheap; saves them money. The rule is that in the crew they're supposed to pick among their own members, who's going to be the cook. They don't try to do this sensibly, like draw lots or decide who the best cook is. What they do is wait to find out who *****es and whines and pisses and moans the most about the cooking, and they say "all right wise-guy, you think you can do better, you get to be the cook". Well, that was me, see! Ol' alligator mouth, new man on the crew ; and that was the worst food I'd ever had. I mean it was otter water, comes out of an otter; terrible terrible stuff. Some people think that's a delicacy, but I thought it was garbage. So I complained, so they said "ok, wiseguy, you get to be the cook". That made me mad! Because I didn't want to cook, but I knew if anybody complained about my cooking, they were going to have to cook.

Armed with that knowledge, I sallied forth over the muddy river. I was walking around among the sheet grass and the bunch grass, and I looked down, and there was just a hell of a big moose turd. Biggest damn moose turd; that was a real steamer! I looked down at that meadow wafer, and I said to myself "Self, I'm going to bake up a big moose turd pie." Because if anybody complained about my cooking, they were going to have to cook. So I tipped that pasture pastry up on edge. I got my **** together, so to speak. And I started rolling it down towards the old cook car.

BALUUMP! BALUUMP!

I got it down there and leaned it up against the side and I climbed up in the cook car, and I baked a hell of a big pie shell. And I baked that moose turd in as slick as you please. And I cribbed it with my thumbs, and laid strips of dough across it, & garnished it with a sprig of parsley, a little paprika. It was beautiful; poetry on a plate. And I served it up for dessert, waiting for the first hint of a complaint. Well, this giant dude comes in, about 5 foot 40; I mean he was big. Throwed himself down like a fool on a stool. Picked up his fork. Took a big bite of that moose turd pie. Well, he threw down his fork, and he let out a bellow, and he yelled..

"My God! That's Moose Turd Pie! ... It's Good, Though!"

kanakike8

These have been my tips to help me deal with my family's eating:
Check out "Deceptively Delicious." It's a great cookbook with tips and tricks on how to be sneaky when incorporating more veggies into meals. Also, make sure there are plenty of veggies at the table, even if you're the only one eating them. But try different kinds of veggies and different ways of preparing them: "fried" eggplant sticks are delicious dipped in spaghetti sauce, leftover roasted bell peppers can be used to top burgers or in stirfry, combine some of South Beach Diet's mashed cauliflower "potatoes" with real mashed potatoes, make healthier home made pizza (loaded with fresh veggies) instead of delivery.
Making the switch from regular pasta and white rice to whole wheat and brown rice is difficult. I'm still having trouble myself. Try buying Barilla Plus for awhile. It tastes really good, is better than regular white, and may help stubborn eaters convert to whole wheat a little easier. I also came across a recipe recently for Beef Stroganoff, using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I find the taste almost identical and I bet no one would ever know. (I would post it here but I can't find it. Sorry) The taste is actually so rich and creamy in dishes that I've started adding it on veggies, in cream sauces, even in my homemade mac and cheese. Hope this helps. Good luck!

cmrich0511

My husband is one of those meat & potato, can eat anything he wants & not gain an ounce kind of guys. He's currently overseas, so I don't have to deal with the drama of the food issue yet, BUT I'm waiting for it.

A little suggestion might be to introduce him to different cuisines.. My husband used to eat TONS of junk food & fast food, and it seemed like he wanted to live off of steak, mashed potatoes, and mac & cheese. He got introduced to Middle Eastern/Mediterranean foods (which are very veggie heavy) and he fell in love. Who knew I could make a meat & potatoes man happy with a huge plate full of veggies & one little kabob skewer with 4 little chunks of lamb and more grilled veggies?

Then if all else fails... A) "You eat what you're served, or you do without." or Have fun cooking your own meal; and when you're done, make sure the kitchen is spotless!

GinaJ2006

I haven't seen Greek Yogurt before, but haven't looked for it. Is it available and most stores?

ImaHomer

I have the same problem with my wife. I do all the cooking and she does the complaining. she either eats it or she doesnt. she thinks some of my recipes are bland, but I get complaints from my little boys if they are too flavorful! I think she misses the fat.

melaniecheeks

My fiance and I menu plan.

About once a week or so I might try something new, then we'll agree on how to adapt it to our tastes. We have about a dozen "standard" recipes that we both enjoy, and which are healthy enough for me, and satisfy his manly requirements!

Favourites are poached chicken with boiled potatoes and veggies, but he really enjoyed a pasta with prawn and courgette meal I did last night. He's also fond of a big ole stir-fry. He's not averse to cooking himself, either, so it's very much a shared task.

But the key is communication - sit down together and agree in advance what's on the menu.

MrsDuv

My husband would not go near asparagus, sweet pots or broc. He said they tasted awful but when we first got married he would try anything i made at least once. I started roasting my veggie's (little olive oil, sea salt, pepper) and he loves them!

ssmom

I use a lot of ground turkey for meatloaf, chili, meatballs and burgers and my husband has no problem with that. I do stir fry and baked chicken or lean pork chops. But my hubby is not real picky. He eats what I put in front of him, if he doesn't go back for seconds then I know he doesn't like it...so it's helping him lose too! Ha-ha!

meeeshell

I'm lucky I guess, my husband is being so supportive. However I do make some meals for him, maybe you can alternate days and modify your portion. For example, my husband loves his taco/Gordita night. So I make his, and then take my gr beef and wrap it in a low cal tortilla with the lettuce and tom and a 1/2 oz of cheese or I add broccoli slaw b/c its filling. Maybe there could be some compromise. My husband does'nt need to loose any weight so he is definately compromising for me

Rupeedoo

Have you ever made Shakshuka? It's a middle eastern dish that is uber low fat but can tehn be plumped up with thick slices of bread, babaganoush, salads etc.
Here's a really good recipe... try it, it's awesome!!!
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/shakshuka/

Hotbottom

Every night now I make a protein and vegetables and both him and the teenager are happy and have no complaints. Try cornflake coated chicken with a huge salad and nice creamy dressing. ( dressing try olive oil and cider vinegar with djon mustard and a little mayo or vegenaise, stick all in jar and shake). Grilled salmon and green beans/ broccoli/ bok choy. Lamb steaks with cauliflower cheese ( steamed cauliflower with white sauce made with low fat milk, sprinkle cheese on top before grilling). For the teenager I make sure she has some carbs for breakfast to give her energy at school... and hubby has his fix at work....

ottawagirl613

My hubby almost melted when I made him a turkey chili recipe I found online. I have since made it 2 more times and it turned out perfectly both times. Only about 250 calories in a cup and loaded with vegetables and lean meat. Perfect with a whole wheat bun and a salad. If you are a chili fan (which I wasn't before making it myself) I can pass it along to you.

Other then that lean roasts (cooked to perfection with a meat thermometre and a lot of veggies) and thick soups loaded with veggies, meats, and brown rice have been my go to. I also make a few pureed thick vegetable soups that he loves. And he adores the mini pizzas we make on whole wheat naan bread (homemade sauce (no salt), 1-2 oz. light cheese, grilled chicken and sliced veggies). It's the best with a little crumbled goat cheese on top. We have that with a cucumber/tomato/balsamic salad and a bowl of veggie soup and we're completely satisfied.

I find it best to fool him into thinking he's eating a lot by having a few different things on hand for each meal (i.e. the homemade pizza, soup and salad combo). Lots of different flavours and textures are great to fool men. Mine fools easy!

GorillaNJ

I have the opposite problem... my wife does not like whole wheat pasta. A trick I learned is to make sure to boil it in a lot of water. yes it will take longer to heat up but if you use twice the amount of water that you normally would i guarantee it will taste much better. Along those lines I also find that thinner pastas like angel hair are better then linguine or zitti.

I also dump the fresh cooked pasta into whatever pan sauce I make with dinner that night... when the pasta is right out of the water it will absorb that sauce and taste great!

rhyneman

I know that meat every meal is the way all men (including myself) want to go. The way I have helped myself is by weaning myself out of the idea that if there is no meat then it is not a meal. While you are trying to eat and cook healthy, switch over to cooking more chicken. If you cook beef/steak, try a smaller meat portion and more vegetables. Ease him into the transition because most of us are truly stubborn to giving up meat. It can be fairly taxing on a relationship to go the "Im cooking so eat what I make" route.

Some ideas to try,
- One day suggest turkey chili as stated before. He will realize that it tastes no different then regular chili. This can open doors to him exploring other options such as turkey burgers / turkey bacon.
- Once you have gotten him to explore these other meals, start adding in new vegetables.
- During this whole trial period, get him to rate what you cook. Find out his likes/dislikes. It will give you an idea into what his tastes are and it will make him feel like he is still getting what he wants.
- Lemon juice makes a difference with all types of green veggies! Takes away a lot of the bland taste that many guys seem to shy away from. Try some steaming some brussel sprouts over a water/lemon juice mixture, one of my favorites!

It make take a while but dont give up! He will soon realize there are other good foods out there other then bacon wrapped steaks and sour cream doused potatoes. Good luck, dealing with us stubborn men can be quite the pain!

CaraRadz

My fiance isn't the biggest fan of veggies, so I struggled to find healthy things that we would both eat (I'm not about to make two meals every night!!) Here's a jambalaya that we tried last night, and it was awesome!! My fiance usually doesn't like onions or peppers, but he still loved this. It's a super easy recipe, and it's pretty fast, too.

I got the recipe from Hungry Girl: http://www.hungry-girl.com/newsletters/raw/1603

JAMBALAYA

Ingredients:
6 oz. (about 2 links) fully cooked chicken sausage (like the kind by Applegate Farms), sliced into coins
One 14.5-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (not drained)
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup low-sodium fat-free chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
1 tbsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/2 tsp. hot sauce, or more to taste
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
6 oz. raw shrimp, tails removed, deveined, chopped
Optional: salt and black pepper

Directions:
Add all ingredients except shrimp to a large pot on the stove. Mix thoroughly. Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer until veggies are tender and rice is fluffy, about 35 minutes. Add shrimp and re-cover. Continue to cook until shrimp are tender and cooked through, about 6 minutes.

If you like, season to taste with salt, black pepper, and additional hot sauce. Serve and enjoy!!!

MAKES 4 SERVINGS

Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
Calories: 256
Fat: 5.5g
Sodium: 688mg
Carbs: 30.5g
Fiber: 3.5g
Sugars: 6.5g
Protein: 20g

kwardklinck

I grill chicken or porkchops. I make a side dish for my boys (19 year old son and hubby) and just eat meat and veggies myself. I also make turkey chili. That's really the only kind of food they like. They're not into the whole wheat pasta or grilled fish thing. I also buy frozen pizza, soup, chicken patties for sandwiches, lunchmeat, and bread. I only cook maybe 2-3 nights a week. The rest of the time, they make their own and I make my own.

kanakike8

I haven't seen Greek Yogurt before, but haven't looked for it. Is it available and most stores?

It should be available at most supermarkets. I have even seen it at Target and Walmart in their grocery sections. It's usually in the same section as the plain yogurt or sometimes even near the cottage cheese. It has a rich, tangy flavor and thick, creamy texture. Quite similar to sour cream but lower in cals and higher in protein.

jenbusick

I have a really hard time finding meals that are healthy that the whole family will eat. My husband complains about whole wheat anything, anything that doesn't have meat in it and anything low fat. Does anyone else have this problem? What meals have you found that your husbands don't complain about too much.

I think perhaps our husbands were separated at birth. I had to quit buying the whole-grain white sandwich buns because my spouse hated them, and I'm afraid to even try whole-wheat pasta. He does not eat vegetables at all, so all of our meals have to be built around a meat entree and a carb side (which I sometimes do and sometimes don't eat). I usually make a veggie side also for me and the kids, but I don't always have the time or energy for that.

My solutions have included changing preparation methods, and portion control. For example, if I make tacos, I know what portions of meat and cheese and shells I can have that will work for me, and I let him eat whatever he wants. I have a handful of chicken recipes that don't involve frying/added fat. I have learned to make a good roast. I buy the leanest ground meat I can find and drain/rinse it after browning. I sometimes use ground turkey or ground chicken in recipes (like turkey) instead of ground beef.

Good luck!

GinaJ2006

Rupeedo, thank you, i will check that out.

GinaJ2006

Thanks for all of the ideas and advice. I think I will try to compromise a little more and he'll be happy. I get tunnel vision sometimes.