Gransnet forums

Chat

Meal preparation

(142 Posts)
Sallywally1 Tue 23-Mar-21 17:20:43

Who does it in your house? I do most of ours partly because I am better at it. (Talk about a poisoned challis). I also do the food shopping. other half is retired and I work 21 hours. He has to be quite closely supervised when he does cook.

If you do it, do you mind?

H1954 Wed 24-Mar-21 08:32:30

Almost always me, OH will peel potatoes and prepare veggies but the actual planning and cooking ................that's me!
Early in our relationship when we both worked we shared the cooking but he had adopted some really dubious practices in his first marriage...........like putting dark green veggies into cold water and bringing them up to the boil.......for about TEN minutes!

silverlining48 Wed 24-Mar-21 08:38:29

Dh does all meals and pre Covid did the shopping too.
I used to cook but never really enjoyed it so had no problem handing the apron to him.
There’s still lots for me to do and we are both happy with the arrangements.

kittylester Wed 24-Mar-21 08:50:00

grandmajet

Yes, not my choice!
White meal tonight, fish pie, no onion, maybe livened up with a bit of carrot. One meal we can share, although he will have a nice bit of broccoli with his.

Actually, I meant the yearning for a sprout!! grin

Seriously, I'm sorry that you have to have such boring meals.

ninathenana Wed 24-Mar-21 09:14:02

Himself always peels spuds, my hands won't let me anymore.
He's a good cook, sometimes he does it sometimes me depending on what's on the menu.

Peasblossom Wed 24-Mar-21 09:16:42

Ha, ha grandmajet, orange juice as well. ?

Could you have cauliflower with your white meal?

Franbern Wed 24-Mar-21 10:20:37

Those of you who live with someone are fortunate that you can have assistance or even the occasional meal prepared by someone else.
Living by myself - there is just me to arrange, prepare and clear up after all meals.
Not that I really mind - means I do not have to take into account anyone elses requirements, or likes and dislikes, I can eat what I want (well - not totally as trying hard to reduce weight), when I like, how I like.
I do enjoy salads and have those as the main part of my evening meal most days. With them will have a salmon fillet, chicken, quiche (shop bought), fish cakes, etc.
I do not use my slim-line dishwasher just for myself, easy enough to wash up in a bowl in the sink a couple of times a day.
Ihave thought about occasionally, getting a takeaway - but does not seem it worth it for just one. Love it when I am able to go to my bubble family and have a meal there.

henetha Wed 24-Mar-21 10:23:14

No choice. There's only us chickens here, me and Miss Wiggy.
And she only likes seed and bits of fruit.
I do long for someone to come in and cook me a lovely meal. I wonder if Jamie Oliver would if I asked him nicely? smile

Awesomegranny Wed 24-Mar-21 10:36:45

The best cook wins. Don’t let a reluctant chef in the kitchen, far better to prep and cook yourself and at least you get to eat what you want done the way you want too. On nights where you don’t feel like cooking takeaway or a ready meal

LynneH Wed 24-Mar-21 10:37:40

I do about 90% of it, because I am quicker and better at it. But, in addition to other tasks, my OH always clears up. This suits us both. He’s also quite appreciative of my efforts (though I had to point out that if he waxed as lyrical over beans on toast as over the five-course dinner part banquets, he’d be likely to get more of the former)

Daffydilly Wed 24-Mar-21 10:39:54

Historically, I've been in charge of food prep and cooking.

A few years ago I had a bit of a strop as he'd be sat there like a baby bird in a nursery, waiting for his dinner to arrive. Now we cook rusher most nights, he washes up /loads the dishwasher and I empty it.

Currently, I have cancer and am on chemo so he's kinda taken over. He's doing a brilliant job, to the point of being a bit possessive over his kitchen. He's also much more organised than me, I'm more of an instinctive cook.

GrammarGrandma Wed 24-Mar-21 10:45:39

Both of us. He says I'm more of a natural cook but he has some very good signature dishes.

Mini2020 Wed 24-Mar-21 10:49:29

I do all household chores, husband still working full time!

EMMYPEMMY Wed 24-Mar-21 10:50:36

I do most of it
I hate cooking, thinking what to do, shopping for it.
Hubby of 37 years still goes out to work, I work from home but TBH it is also a chore for him
I need a personal chef
How much and where do you find them...?.
Good idea for Dragons Den
The people who love cooking should batch cook, advertise to sell to those who hate cooking so who is out there to do this ...

Growing0ldDisgracefully Wed 24-Mar-21 10:52:02

99.9% of it and hate it. I am actually starting to hate anything to do with food - trying to plan meals (4 of us, all with differing preferences), shopping for it (made worse by mask wearing), lugging it home from the supermarket and putting it away, preparing and cooking it, and then clearing up after, something else rarely done by anyone else. The other half occasionally makes a bacon sandwich and I dragged my son out to the kitchen to make the mother's day meal (or I would have ended up doing that as well). I'd happily live on sandwiches and soup if it was just me. So I am so relieved to hear just how many on here are also not keen on this daily chore❤️

grandmajet Wed 24-Mar-21 10:54:01

No probs, kittylester, funny what I yearn for now!
I’m not sure about cauliflower, Peasblossom, a bit high in fibre I think, sadly.
I’ve been on this low residue diet for 14 months now since spending a couple of weeks in hospital on a drip with a tube up my nose due to a malignant bowel obstruction, and I was told to stick strictly to it. I’ve become quite good at adding flavouring to bland food, but having to avoid so much of what I used to eat - most fruit and veg, nuts, seeds, pulses etc etc - is annoying.

NanaPlenty Wed 24-Mar-21 10:57:23

I do all the shopping and all the cooking. I do occasionally get fed up with it but it’s my normal now. It would be nice just once in a blue moon if someone cooked for me or at least ordered a takeaway and put it on the table without me organising it but it’s not likely to happen and I have plenty to be thankful for .

CBBL Wed 24-Mar-21 11:00:45

I do it all, unless it's toast, crumpets or bagels.
My husband has shaky hands, and a spinal nerve injury, which means he is wobbly on his feet. He should use a cane indoors, but won't!
I'm not a particularly good cook (lack of interest and a "picky eater), but do my best. OH never complains, and insists every meal is delicious, even when I haven't enjoyed it at all!
I wish I did enjoy cooking, and can't wait to find a lovely place to eat when restrictions are over. We have moved to the north of Scotland this year, and so have left behind our regular and much missed dining venue (run by our friends).

maturefloosy Wed 24-Mar-21 11:05:55

I prefer to do all the cooking - OH tries sometimes as he feels he should help but I like cooking and although it is a bit tedious now after such a long lockdown we do have the occasional takeaway to break it up. He does all the washing up and each week 'does' all the floors in the house and all his own washing and ironing so I consider myself very lucky.! grin

CarlyD7 Wed 24-Mar-21 11:06:24

Since he retired, my OH does the cooking 5 days out of 7 (and I do the other 2). he's a good cook, although tends to forget to taste things as he goes along, and makes a bit of a mess, but he enjoys being in the kitchen with Radio 5 Live on (mainly for the sport) and a glass of something. I used to then have to face all the washing up but a dishwasher sorted that out - hurray.

greenlady102 Wed 24-Mar-21 11:12:53

I do it all because the dog and the tortoises can't cook

4allweknow Wed 24-Mar-21 11:16:18

Used to love cooking but now hate it. Every single day plus shopping is there another task that is so repetitive. Only a few days ago I mentioned the garden will need some attention and I was told it is such a chore having to do things like painting and gardening. I pointed out painting/decorating is done every few years and gardening is seasonal. Cooking meals is every day. I do but very rarely have a holiday and buy a ready meal. Rare event though.

Alioop Wed 24-Mar-21 11:16:55

On my own, so everything. I miss my meals out cos its the only time someone else makes my dinner.

cornishpatsy Wed 24-Mar-21 11:20:32

I do not accept that people cannot cook at all. If you can read you can cook, follow a recipe or the instructions on food packaging.

Grannyjacq1 Wed 24-Mar-21 11:20:34

We share it quite amicably. My husband retired before me, and went on a cookery course - he likes to do things properly. At first I was coming home to elaborate 3 course meals every day, then I gently broke it to him that I didn't really want this every day! He was actually very good at it. Now we're both retired, and sometimes I cook, sometimes he does, and sometimes it's a shared venture. We both enjoy it.

Happysexagenarian Wed 24-Mar-21 11:21:32

My husband does all the cooking in our house. He's a much better cook than me and actually enjoys the cooking process. He does a fabulous Sunday roast and takes the trouble to time things and watch over what's cooking. He's also recently started baking cakes and bread as well, and watches cookery progammes. He plans all our meals each week and simply tells me what to buy.

I HATE cooking and have absolutely no interest in it. I just shove food in the oven and go off to do something more interesting and only remember it when I smell burning! I occasionally cook shepherds pie or fish pie and slow cook casseroles, but I still resent the time spent preparing the ingredients. Left on my own I'd probably live on raw foods and sandwiches!!