Sharing Freezer/Fridge with those who are Unhealthy
MARUW
Posts: 23 Member
Our household sometimes buys too many frozen foods via my husband's shopping trip; therefore, accessing the meat and protein sources in the freezer side of the refrigerator is a pain. Since, I cannot stop my whiney husband from buying his frozen French fries, pizzas, beer, tequila and crowding my fridge; I'm taking it upon myself to find out how to have ready to eat meat/eggs/etc. ready to go in the fridge side. He is a little spoiled and I'm going to designate two food shelves for myself since I eat a lot of yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, beans, veggies If anyone has suggestions for any easy protein dishes or keeping fresh vegetables fresh, I would love the input--thx.
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Let's see: I just checked the fridge. Let see, my husband has beer and coke taking up more room than water. The cheese needs to be switched to lower fat, only because he's overused that as a paleo ingredient (probably the only one he's used.) The croutons need to be omitted from the salad or at least be made homemade by me and infused with seeds and veggies. I Need to purchase a fresh salad for tonight and add in some broccoli. I found the lean hamburger patties. Thank you, J.0
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I usually make dishes in bulk so that I have them for whatever meal during the week, either a crock pot or dutch oven Primal/Paleo friendly dish ensures that I have what I need on-hand. Although my partner and I eat the same foods.
About the cheese, i wouldn't recommend low fat, nothing wrong with regular.0 -
Thank you, GrokRockStar for the recommendations--I haven't used my crock pot for a while but I think I'll do my next meat choice that way. I appreciate the support.0
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Sure thing, sorry I wasn’t much help with actual recipes, but I know there’s are posts that talk about meals and such, which can give you some ideas.0
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So from what I'm understanding from your post is that your issue is that he takes up too much space in the fridge/freezer for you to have enough room for your items, but he doesn't want to change anything such as to rearrange things to increase space. Am I correct? I have two different ideas: 1. organize the fridge/freezer where your items are on two shelves and are on one side of the freezer. His items are on two of the shelves and are on another side of the freezer. After organizing the fridge ask your husband to come over to the fridge and show him how you've reorganized it. When he starts complaining (which is sounds like he will) immediately stop him and assertively (but not in a rude/condescending manner) say "I need your help in this. You are my husband and when you have all this unhealthy food covering the fridge, I have no room for my food. I am not telling you to change your eating habits, but I am asking you as my husband to support me. When you take up space in the fridge so that I have no room, it makes it difficult on me to continue my paleo diet. I am not asking you to remove your food or change your habit, I'm asking you to leave me enough space. We have equal amounts of room and I want you to treat me as an equal by giving me my space in the fridge to continue my lifestyle. I know it is inconvenient to have to keep things organized, but you HAVE to do this for me to support me. My diet is not negotiable and I'm asking you to please keep the fridge ALWAYS looking this way. I want you to always organize it the same way because I really need your support in this." If he tries to interrupt you, stop him in a assertive but polite way. Then continue on with what you need to say. 2. If you guys can afford it, you could get another fridge just for him. Even just a small fridge like college students in dorms have. You could have it in the garage, or if he has a "man cave" have it there.
Soda does NOT need to be refrigerated. I know a lot of people who store a huge amount of soda in the garage and leave only a few cans in the fridge so it can get cold before drinking. If he complains about not having all his soda in the fridge or the inconvenience of having to walk over to the other fridge, put your foot down! I think part of marriage is knowing which battles to fight and which to forfeit. When it comes to your health and well being, that comes first. As long as you don't give in a little he'll eventually stop complaining and the new habits set in will be routine. If you ignore him re-organizing the fridge back to where it used to be, then slowly it will go back to how it was before, so it's important to keep your foot down consistently. I'm sure there are things that you give in for him about, this is just one thing you won't compromise because it's for your health.
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Between my job, the kids, going to school, and homeschooling I'm *worn out* most of the week and barely have time to breathe. On that note, it means that I have to do a lot of pre-cooking just as you are talking about. If I don't then I am put in a rough spot of wanting to grab convenience foods. Here is how the day typically goes, and maybe this will help you!
- First, the night before a day off, I will throw a roast with some water and seasonings in the crock pot.
- The next morning I put two chickens roasting in the oven.
- The roast should be done soon, then I pull the meat (so that it's not just chunks) and fill a large glass container with a lid.
- I put some of the juices from the roast in that container, the rest I leave in the crockpot. You can put all in the container or leave all in the crockpot -- whatever works best for you.
- I get some fresh veggies chopped up and ready to cook for the week. I usually also pre-chop some onions and pre-grate some garlic at this time. I use a few tablespoons of each whenever I reheat my meat and veggies for dinner each week. I don't usually use them in my lunches, but I always heat up my dinners in my cast iron skillet with some grassfed butter, garlic, and onions
- About this time the chickens are ready. One has the meat pulled from it and fills a large glass container with a lid.
- The other chicken meat is pulled off and then frozen in individual serving sizes. These thaw out beautifully later on when I'm needing something quick.
- I put the two carcasses in the crock pot with the roast juices (you can put in a large stock pot if your crock pot isn't large enough) along with water and some bits and pieces from the veggies earlier (ends of carrots, skins of garlic and onions, etc) and let that cook until the next morning. I'll save some of the stock this makes in the fridge to add to dishes during the week if I wish, the rest I freeze in mason jars to use when needed.
- Now that the chickens are out of the oven (and I left it *on*), I throw all the chopped up veggies onto baking sheets. Toss with water fat I'm feeling at the time (usually grassfed butter) and roast them. If there are any I prefer steamed, I'll also steam those on the stove top at this time.
- When all those are done I put them in serving sized containers (which for me are these large containers that hold 3 cups each) and stack everything up in the fridge.
Generally I will have enough meat for myself (lunches and dinners) for the entire week -- sometimes plus some, and then on my other day off I'll cook another run of veggies. This doesn't include breakfast because I make my breakfast every single morning before I go to the gym. I do usually make one special dinner once per week when my husband has off (because it's the only night we have together) and I cook that from scratch. If I have any meat left at the end of the week, I freeze it in portion sizes.
Every morning before work I grab one of the 3-cup containers and put a portion of meat in another container. Grab a few other things in case I get snack-y, and pack in a cooler to take to work. Snacks usually range from fat bombs (grassfed butter+raw honey+cacao powder) to a small piece of dark chocolate to olives.
I hope that helps, and if you need anything else feel free to ask
EDIT: I wanted to add that I do think it would be a good idea for you to talk to your husband about having more space for your things. I mean, you shouldn't be forced into having to pre-make all your food just because he won't wiggle at all. Or heck, do what I did. I bought myself a used small chest deep freezer for all my stuff. Not because my husband didn't give me room, but because it was a convenient option for us.0 -
This thread does hit a sore spot for me. I too have a partner that leaves his "junk" on the fridge for all to see and to tempt. I have asked numerous times to be courteous and keep the junk food to a minimum, but no luck. I am seriously considering buying another fridge just to diffuse the tension and stay focuced on my goals. A couple hundred dollars would probably be worth the investment, will start shopping now0