Does this still stress you now?

Not me, I don’t stress about it at all. I keep the fridge, freezer and cupboards stocked up, I bulk cook, and if on a particular day I fancy something different, I go shopping. I don’t let fridge food go past the sell by date, if we’re not going to finish something I either eat it or freeze it, but I never menu plan. If I’m being honest I’ve never actually menu planned in my life.

Calendargirl

Apparently, nowadays, family meals often involve cooking different dishes for different family members.

Not in my day it didn’t.

Not in our house either. The furthest I went was cooking 2-3 vegetables instead of just one if I knew one child for example, didn’t like parsnips.

I wonder if netmums read the GN fussy eaters thread?

I agree its a bit of a pain but I dont stress about it.

I have found however that since I retired ( 2017) I take a moment to consider what we are going to have for our evening meal, yet can't remember doing so when I worked full-time; 8-6pm 5 days a week, and did the housework and shopping ( food and any other) at the weekend, no online deliveries back then!

I think I must have planned the weeks evening meals and then shopped accordingly, getting fresh bread and milk when needed from the local Spar shop ( only one open after 6pm) on my way home.

When we were working whoever arrived home first started cooking the meal, and the later arrival washed up!

Many children don't realise they're born these days with so many food choices available, I make home deliveries for one of the big four supermarkets, if an alternative has been sent, sometimes a parent will ask a child 'you won't eat that, will you', mostly it's a no, rarely a yes, I feel like shaking my head in despair, when I was growing up it was always 'you'll have what you're given', usually cheap tins of mince, spaghetti, etc; and powdered mash (with undissolved lumps in it, yuk).......

Maybe it goes by opposites. My mother was an excellent cook and although she sometimes got tired of thinking if meals, we always ate very well. She once said “It has to be done, so I may as well enjoy it.”

I was the opposite. I loathed cooking and can’t remember it ever being more than a necessary chore. I did meals on a fortnightly rota - I just had to look at my list. They were quite edible but I never enjoyed it.

Sago

I am glad to hear there are parents putting so much thought in to their children’s diets and not just banging “beige” food from the freezer to the oven.

I loved planning and preparing food for the family even with three children and both of us working.

My mother was a miserable and resentful cook, mealtimes were a battleground, I created something far more positive for our children.

I didn’t mind cooking for the family when they were younger, I spent a lot of time making pies with home made pastry and filling as well as stews and casseroles, I did it all from scratch. Now I cheat and simply don’t have the stamina for cooking big meals for the family though I do push the boat out on occasions like birthdays or Christmas.

You know you're a grown up when the realisation dawns that you've got to think of what to have dinner every day for the rest of your life.

I am glad to hear there are parents putting so much thought in to their children’s diets and not just banging “beige” food from the freezer to the oven.

I loved planning and preparing food for the family even with three children and both of us working.

My mother was a miserable and resentful cook, mealtimes were a battleground, I created something far more positive for our children.

Yes

I should have mentioned, or put in quotes the fact that my first paragraph came from Netmums.

Apparently, nowadays, family meals often involve cooking different dishes for different family members.

Not in my day it didn’t.

Why? 🤷‍♀️ No wonder everything is such a big deal.

We all ate the same meal, DH, two children and me.

Some meals more popular than others, but on the whole, it worked pretty well.

No one too fussy, each of us didn’t like certain foods, but we managed, and little food waste.

Sometimes I think things are over complicated these days.

Fallingstar

Oh I would love to have staff who could take over the weekly shop and making of meals. I sometimes like cooking but it can get tedious and time consuming.

Yes!!!!

Oh I would love to have staff who could take over the weekly shop and making of meals. I sometimes like cooking but it can get tedious and time consuming.

😂🤣😂🤣😂 Yes!