I hate cooking
ChapinaGrande
Posts: 289 Member
I used to love cooking, though. Now, I am an overwhelmed (work, grad school, two kids, husband, housework), sleep-deprived (baby, late nights grading papers and writing papers) Crabby Face and I hate everything. That includes cooking, specifically the cleaning up afterward. I can slowly see myself depending more and more on convenience foods and I want to stop that before it becomes a habit.
I am a believer in "No Food is Bad," and I allow myself to eat whatever in moderation, so pasta and bread aren't off-limits. However, I see myself getting lazy and, in order to save cooking and cleaning effort, I have started filling up my plate with whole wheat noodles instead of a moderate amount of noodles and a lot of vegetables/marinara. I have also been bringing two peanut butter sandwiches to work for lunch instead of leftovers because there are no leftovers because I hate cooking now.
Does anyone have any recipe ideas or tips for meals that require minimal cooking or cleaning up? Raw fruits and vegetables are great, but I am looking for actual meals/side dishes. I spent some time last weekend staring at the Slim Fast shakes at the store, not for the weight loss aspect, but for the convenience. Gaa! Help!
I am a believer in "No Food is Bad," and I allow myself to eat whatever in moderation, so pasta and bread aren't off-limits. However, I see myself getting lazy and, in order to save cooking and cleaning effort, I have started filling up my plate with whole wheat noodles instead of a moderate amount of noodles and a lot of vegetables/marinara. I have also been bringing two peanut butter sandwiches to work for lunch instead of leftovers because there are no leftovers because I hate cooking now.
Does anyone have any recipe ideas or tips for meals that require minimal cooking or cleaning up? Raw fruits and vegetables are great, but I am looking for actual meals/side dishes. I spent some time last weekend staring at the Slim Fast shakes at the store, not for the weight loss aspect, but for the convenience. Gaa! Help!
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Crock Pot!0
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My lazy meal last night (I cooked a large batch so I could take half to work for lunch) was the following:
Turkey mince
Mixed bell peppers (frozen)
Broccoli (frozen)
Sushi rice
The sushi rice went into the rice cooker (but boil in the bag rice is super easy too) which just does its thing. The hardest part there is rinsing the rice before it goes in. Not a problem if you're doing boil in the bag!
The mince and the frozen veg all went into a roasting tray and just went into the oven. Spread the mince out along the bottom of the roasting dish/tray, toss in your veg around the edges - cook until it looks sufficiently done. About 30-40 minutes I think mine took, I wasn't really paying that much attention!
Super lazy and simple meal that can be cooking while you do something else.0 -
I second the crock pot and there are Reynolds crock pot liners that make clean up way easier. The grill is also a way to go if you can stand to use the grill. Then you can make homemade turkey burgers, or even regular ones on the grill. Using paper plates for grilled burger stuff is great too. It won't help with the grilled steaks, but you've gotta take it when you can get it. Good luck! I feel for ya when you say that you're way tired. I try and cut down on the cooking time, so crockpot saved my life on that front.0
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ChapinaGrande wrote: »I used to love cooking, though. Now, I am an overwhelmed (work, grad school, two kids, husband, housework), sleep-deprived (baby, late nights grading papers and writing papers) Crabby Face and I hate everything. That includes cooking, specifically the cleaning up afterward. I can slowly see myself depending more and more on convenience foods and I want to stop that before it becomes a habit.
I am a believer in "No Food is Bad," and I allow myself to eat whatever in moderation, so pasta and bread aren't off-limits. However, I see myself getting lazy and, in order to save cooking and cleaning effort, I have started filling up my plate with whole wheat noodles instead of a moderate amount of noodles and a lot of vegetables/marinara. I have also been bringing two peanut butter sandwiches to work for lunch instead of leftovers because there are no leftovers because I hate cooking now.
Does anyone have any recipe ideas or tips for meals that require minimal cooking or cleaning up? Raw fruits and vegetables are great, but I am looking for actual meals/side dishes. I spent some time last weekend staring at the Slim Fast shakes at the store, not for the weight loss aspect, but for the convenience. Gaa! Help!
You are getting burned out and are really just in survival mode. You can not do it all. If no one else in the family can step in to take over cooking, cleaning, child care, etc then just use convenience foods for now. It isn't lazy to use them when you have so much to do already. You won't be living like this forever so don't beat yourself up about it.
Slow cooker meals or casseroles. Dump things together, throw in the pot or oven.
Sandwiches, quesadillas or wraps for dinner with hummus, salad, raw vegetables, fruit.
Double the recipe whenever you cook and have the leftovers for another meal. It doesn't usually take more work.
Breakfast for dinner. Eggs are quick to cook. Lots of breakfast foods are quick.
Buy a whole cooked chicken or ham and add some quickly cooked vegetables or salad.
Pizza made with pita bread, naan, tortillas, English muffins or garlic bread for the crust. Goes together fast. Bake about 10-15 minutes. Have with a salad.
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I hate paying my taxes, too, but I still have to, right?
Just think of cooking as your weight-loss tax, and pay the taxes due.0 -
What's your husband doing while you're cooking and cleaning? Maybe you could alternate some.0
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Google Once A Month Cooking0
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ChapinaGrande wrote: »I used to love cooking, though. Now, I am an overwhelmed (work, grad school, two kids, husband, housework), sleep-deprived (baby, late nights grading papers and writing papers) Crabby Face and I hate everything. That includes cooking, specifically the cleaning up afterward. I can slowly see myself depending more and more on convenience foods and I want to stop that before it becomes a habit.
I am a believer in "No Food is Bad," and I allow myself to eat whatever in moderation, so pasta and bread aren't off-limits. However, I see myself getting lazy and, in order to save cooking and cleaning effort, I have started filling up my plate with whole wheat noodles instead of a moderate amount of noodles and a lot of vegetables/marinara. I have also been bringing two peanut butter sandwiches to work for lunch instead of leftovers because there are no leftovers because I hate cooking now.
Does anyone have any recipe ideas or tips for meals that require minimal cooking or cleaning up? Raw fruits and vegetables are great, but I am looking for actual meals/side dishes. I spent some time last weekend staring at the Slim Fast shakes at the store, not for the weight loss aspect, but for the convenience. Gaa! Help!
Your description gave me a good laugh. I completely understand how you feel! Crock pot is a good suggestion. They have liners you can put in before you cook which minimizes clean up. You can throw some chicken, a seasoning packet and water-cook on low and then shred with a fork when you get home. Chicken for the week. (Works for pork and beef as well).
There are microwaveable packets of rice, you can nuke frozen veggies. If price isn't a huge issue-Tyson makes delicious pre-cooked chicken. They have grilled breasts in pieces (good for burritos), strips (think salad) and whole breasts. They also do nuggets and chicken patties which are reasonable choices calorie-wise. Rotisserie chickens are another good option.
It's pretty easy to make fairly healthy meals from mostly convenience foods. You don't have to rely on chef-boy-ar-dee all the time. Boil some water for pasta, use a light Alfredo sauce and add some pre-cooked chicken and frozen broccoli. Pre-mixed salad on the side. Plenty of room for dessert! Give yourself a break-sounds like you have a lot on your plate.0 -
I used to hate the mess after cooking too, but then I lstarted to clean as I was going. It makes things a lot simpler. It can seem hectic, but its so much nicer to be able to relax after your meal (after cleaning your plate, that is
). I batch cook and meal prep for the week. I cook on Sunday night, then everything is ready for M-F. The weekend I tend to cook things to order since I have a little more time. My meals during the week are pretty basic; a source of protein, a complex carb, and veggies (usually steamed, roasted, or lightly sauteed). This week is grilled pork, baked sweet potato (cut in half), and steamed broccoli. Then, as I'm portioning it out, I put a piece of masking tape on the lid with each items weight so I can log it. Takes me 1.5-2 hours, but it saves A LOT of time during the week. 0 -
I work full time and go to school. I run, I lift... I have little time and less patience for cooking and the clean up that follows so I completely get where you're coming from. I'll go weeks where I cook two meals each week. My husband cooks on the weekends, we eat out with my parents on Friday night and I do take out for my son and I the other two weeknights.
Make huge meals in the crockpot. Use the leftovers for lunches and freeze single or double portions for another meal next week. One of my favorites for this is chili. Stew also freezes and reheats well.
Make a double batch of meatloaf the night before and pop it in the fridge. When you get home throw both loaves into the oven. Slice up the leftovers and refrigerate or freeze. You could also make mini loaves which cook faster and you don't have to slice.
Pick up a rotisserie chicken one night. Heat up a veggie or two, add a side salad or another side and viola. Easy dinner. Then put the rest of the chicken in the fridge for lunch leftovers or use it as the protein in another meal or two.
One of my favorite easy meals is stirfry. You can use leftover chicken (or another protein), or cut up and cook fresh meat the night before, then just throw it in the pan with frozen veggies until it's hot. At the same time, cook a pot of rice to eat with it or add cooked spaghetti noodles right at the end.
Another easy meal is a salad. Buy bagged salads and add a few cut up veggies, some cheese and leftover meat. Salads are so versatile. It can be almost anything just by changing up the combination of ingredients.
I buy frozen chicken patties and cook them until 5 minutes before being done. I add some spaghetti sauce and a slice of cheese and I have Chicken Parmesan. Add a side of spaghetti and a vegetable and I have dinner.
I buy frozen tilapia filets that are breaded and add a side salad and a veggie side. Costco sells tortilla and lime breaded. I've also found a brand with a good parmesan breading.0 -
Another easy meal is a salad. Buy bagged salads and add a few cut up veggies, some cheese and leftover meat. Salads are so versatile. It can be almost anything just by changing up the combination of ingredients.
I'm eating big salads this week for dinner. Summer in AZ, people stay out of the kitchen as much as possible! haha. I grilled my chicken on Sunday, so I'll just slice it up and throw it in my salad after its dressed. Easy, cold, refreshing!0 -
DisneyDude85 wrote: »Another easy meal is a salad. Buy bagged salads and add a few cut up veggies, some cheese and leftover meat. Salads are so versatile. It can be almost anything just by changing up the combination of ingredients.
I'm eating big salads this week for dinner. Summer in AZ, people stay out of the kitchen as much as possible! haha. I grilled my chicken on Sunday, so I'll just slice it up and throw it in my salad after its dressed. Easy, cold, refreshing!
I'm with you. When it's 110° at 5pm no one wants to grill or eat a heavy meal. We eat a lot of salads in the summer.0 -
ChapinaGrande wrote: »I used to love cooking, though. Now, I am an overwhelmed (work, grad school, two kids, husband, housework), sleep-deprived (baby, late nights grading papers and writing papers) Crabby Face and I hate everything. That includes cooking, specifically the cleaning up afterward. I can slowly see myself depending more and more on convenience foods and I want to stop that before it becomes a habit.
I am a believer in "No Food is Bad," and I allow myself to eat whatever in moderation, so pasta and bread aren't off-limits. However, I see myself getting lazy and, in order to save cooking and cleaning effort, I have started filling up my plate with whole wheat noodles instead of a moderate amount of noodles and a lot of vegetables/marinara. I have also been bringing two peanut butter sandwiches to work for lunch instead of leftovers because there are no leftovers because I hate cooking now.
Does anyone have any recipe ideas or tips for meals that require minimal cooking or cleaning up? Raw fruits and vegetables are great, but I am looking for actual meals/side dishes. I spent some time last weekend staring at the Slim Fast shakes at the store, not for the weight loss aspect, but for the convenience. Gaa! Help!
I love smoothies for a quick meal. Throw some protein, fat, and fruit into a blender. I use my food processor because it is easier to hand wash as I don't currently have a dishwasher. Speaking of which - do YOU have a dishwasher? When my then-husband and I were both working full time and going to school part-time, we got one and it reduced a lot of stress.
Is having someone coming in periodically to do the deep cleaning in the budget?
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When I don't feel like cooking, my go-to weekly shopping includes rotisserie chicken (local Sam's club has delicious whole chickens for $4.88), a huge salad from the salad bar at the grocery, prepared mashed potatoes (usually in the meat section), steamable bags of veggies, and other fresh-prepared store items. It might kick my food budget up for the week, but sometimes I just need a break from the daily grind. I eat the hot chicken the first night, then use it for sandwiches, leftovers with a rice/quinoa side, etc.
Don't let it overwhelm you to where you get off track with your nutrition. If you're stressed out, you need good nutrition and a feeling of accomplishment more than ever!0 -
Crock pot and a husband who does his half.
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I hate cooking as well so I try to keep it to a minimum. I also work 3-11pm most days, so cooking dinner beforehand is a task I usually fail to complete.
My go to is Wegmans (if you have one near you) $6 meal. Includes entrée (grilled chicken, tilapia, pulled pork, meatloaf, etc.) with two sides (roasted veggies, potatoes, etc.).
It's so convenient, a healthy meal, and incredibly tasty. I guess my rant is that I love Wegmans.0 -
SherryTeach wrote: »Crock pot and a husband who does his half.
Lucky you!0 -
God, how do you handle grad school PLUS a baby? Did the grad school; never had the energy for a baby. Certainly couldn't have done both at once.
I too am curious what your husband is doing while you're doing all this.0 -
Crock Pot!
ThisDeguelloTex wrote: »What's your husband doing while you're cooking and cleaning? Maybe you could alternate some.
and This
and meet this:
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I really hope you share the chores with the hubby
further prepping ( one day a week make several meals)
And indeed crock pot.
further i love to stir fry....everything. Simple fast and less cleaning up too.0 -
Buy a family pack of ground beef/ chicken/turkey cook it up plain then divide it it into days worth sizes. Make a plain stew to have with potatoes and veg for one day, spaghetti sauce and bagged salad another, indian curry include bag of frozen veg with brown rice the next, chilli and salad another, and Asian stir fry with a grain the final night. 5 meals prepped in a morning.
Ooh that is some of my winter eating so haven't had any in a while ( missing it as I type)
Summer it is grill something, various salads ( I am loving the Costco chopped kale one right now) , bagged or made, and a baked potato/ sweet potato.
As everyone has said; crock pots and bulk cooking are the way to go, but if life is just too hectic, make a couple of nights a week pre made or take out.
You have to stay sane after all.
Cheers, h.0 -
Tell your husband that it is his turn.
It worked for my mom!0 -
I love my crockpots. I have 4 of them all different sizes, Couple that with a rice cooker and you should be good to go. The biggest thing is still to weigh your foods so you only get a serving size and can log accurately. This site has good tools for that and even lets you put your recipes in. You could also spend an afternoon cooking and freezing portion sizes for the week.0
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Yep , crock pot with liners. And! Now! I'm so lazy I line my casserole dishes with heavy duty foil before I use them. Next to no cleanup. I went through nursing school on my own with two kids under two and a full time job. Keep your head up and remember to do something nice for yourself occasionally. Balance in body and spirit.0
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I truly love to cook; it's the cleaning up that kills me. I rinse off all the dishes and leave them in the sink while the clean dishes stay in the dishwasher. Finally there's no room in the sink or the counters for the rinsed dirty dishes, so I put up the dishes in the dishwasher and fill them with the dirty dishes. But there's always about half a load that won't fit. One day I'll figure it out.0
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Do you want your kids to watch you drink a shake instead of a meal and think that's normal?
- For faster meal prep pre-chopped frozen vegetables might be a good option.
- Make double the amount of food you would normally make each time you cook... twice the food, not much more effort
- can you find a spare couple of hours each week and batch cook? Once you get in the grove you can making an amazing amount of food in a couple of hours.
- get husband to help.
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Hey! OP here.
In defense of my husband, he works upwards of 12 hours a day doing very phisical work. When he comes home, he falls on the couch, eats a quick dinner, and passes out. In fact, I only have about 1 good hour with him per day. I want to spend that hour interacting with him instrad of sending him to do laundry. Having him help out isn't possible.
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[quote= You are getting burned out and are really just in survival mode. You can not do it all. If no one else in the family can step in to take over cooking, cleaning, child care, etc then just use convenience foods for now. It isn't lazy to use them when you have so much to do already. You won't be living like this forever so don't beat yourself up about it.
This made me cry. You get me! Thank you for your understanding, and especially thank you for reminding me that I "...won't be living like this forever." Thank you, thank you,thank you.0
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