I actually sort of like cleaning the kitchen. I'm not opposed to spending an afternoon washing and folding laundry. I'll even get it all put neatly away. Bathrooms? Eh, not my favorite, but tolerable. Dusting, vacuuming, washing windows, mopping the floor . . . I don't really mind any of it.
But I hate - abhor, detest, loathe - a thing that, sadly, I must do nearly every stinkin' day of my life: meal planning. I can't stand having to decide each and every day WHAT TO HAVE FOR DINNER.
I enjoy cooking.
I love eating.
I have slaves kids to clean up the kitchen after the meal.
But I can't bear the drudgery of trying to decide what in the heck to cook every day. And it doesn't help that my kids start nagging me with "What's for dinner" even before their breakfast dishes are in the sink.
Since I am obsessively over-analytical, I've spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out exactly why I have such an aversion. Here's what I've come up with so far:
#1 - My appetite varies significantly throughout the day, from "My stomach is still sound asleep" first thing in the morning to "Hold on to your hat or I'll eat it too" around mid-afternoon. So I'm usually either not hungry so nothing sounds good, or else I'm so famished that I can't settle on just one thing to make.
#2 - I'm a tightwad, pure & simple. I hate spending money. Consequently, my kitchen is not very well stocked, which means that whatever I plan to make will probably involve a trip to the grocery store and the spending of money. Blech.
#3 - While my kids are thankfully not picky eaters, my husband sort of is. Granted, he'll at least try pretty much anything I set before him and he NEVER complains about it. But you know how it is - you just KNOW when it's something he likes or something that he's only eating to humor me. So I have the added burden of trying to think of something that will truly appeal to him while not breaking the bank (see #2).
#4 - I'm kind of busy. All the time. So I have to plan my meals based on the little windows of opportunity that I will have during the day to cook.
Basically, if it were just up to me, we'd have cold cereal for dinner each night. Hey, it's fortified. And if you buy it on sale it's around $2 per box.
So today, in honor of MLK Jr. day, I also have a dream. I dream of having my own personal chef to plan & prep all of my evening meals. And I dream of having the money to pay for it. At the very least, I dream that someday, someone will invent a cereal that tastes like a nice grilled steak or a thick, juicy burger. And that it will frequently be on a Buy One Get One Free sale.
8 comments:
Oh I hear ya! That's why I only do it once every 2 weeks. I sit down (with my calendar) and make out a 2 week menu & grocery list. Then I shop for it. I hate grocery shopping with a passion, that's why I only do it every 2 weeks. I don't always stick to the exact menu because, let's face it, somedays just aren't "Spaghetti day's". But I at least know that I have something I can make & all of the ingredients for it. That way I'm not make a last minute dash to the store. On the days I know are really busy I make sure to have something easy planned. Leftovers even. Anyway... that's how I survive the same dilema! Good luck!
Oh, and I'm a cereal girl, too!
Okay, so one of my goals this year is to get to know you better. I made my mind up a couple of weeks ago and this is such a great opportunity to spend time with you!
I find that making new things, makes things exciting in the kitchen. Enlisting a child to help, rotating every night is also fun. "Guess the ingredients" at the dinner table is not only fun but great at teaching your kids how to fend for themselves in the future. It is my mission to make you LOVE cooking/meal planning this year!!
Ha ha! I just had this exact same conversation, complete with the personal chef, with Mariann on Saturday. I do try to make my list for the week, but even that is difficult. I am sooooo tired of potatoes and carrots! They seem to be in everything my kids like (especially in winter). After almost 18 years of cooking dinners I am really tired of it! And the "what's for dinner?" question is enought to send me on a rampage! I told my kids the next time they ask it, they get to make dinner. I have to make my list for the week before 9:00 this morning so I can go to the store before my RS meeting. UGH!!!
Funny, I am currently procrastinating the making of my menus for the week by reading your blog. I hate the thinking about it, making it into a list, shopping, buying and putting away only to do it all again way too soon part of dinner as well. I usually just make a list of about 8 meals that I will shop for. Then I can choose what I feel like making or what I have time for based on a list of suggestions. I truely agree that menu planning is the worst part.
I think I am going to come up with a resolution based on this...
Hahaha. Oh I am in the same boat with you. I try to meal plan, but am horrible at it. I too hate spending money, and would like to just have cereal for dinner every night. It sucks that my husband is a chef in some ways...because he's never home to make ME dinner!! Sheesh! At least he helps me come up with ideas. But recently it has been "Tif, will you cook dinner on my days off?" and I am like whoa, wait, a minute. I want to enjoy your cooking too! Bluh...maybe I will get it together sometime soon... :o)
AMEN SISTER!!!!!! My husband and kids are PICKY like all get out......so I procrastinate like crazy too. I made soup the other night, it took a while...no one really liked it but me....it was a vegetable soup with quinoa in it. I made bread and smoothie. Why on earth did I make the soup? I was derranged I think, tricking myself into thinking my family would love a big bowl of warm soup.....cozy:) They liked the bread and smoothie.
Good luck...:)
(Nathan) I am not picky! I eat anything that is prepared. I just love meat! I want meat and more meat. I am rarely satisfied without meat or some form of protein. Otherwise... I'm pretty easy. Carbs are filler-cheap foods. Protein is the essence of a good life....mixed with vegetables - all fresh and never from a can or frozen.
(Me) Clearly, he's not picky at all. :-)
Post a Comment