Help with meal planning?

Question

This is our situation.  I work from home except for going into my stores a few times a week.  My husband travels a lot for his business.  He may be gone for a few days or a few weeks.  It just depends.  The rest of the time he works from home and he may be home for a few days or a few weeks at a time.

My husband likes to eat a huge breakfast, a light lunch, and a big dinner.  No snacks at all.  He eats a lot of food but is muscular and not overweight at all.  He eats out so much when he travels so picking up carryout is not an option.

I like a moderate breakfast (oatmeal or fruit and yogurt), a big lunch, and a light dinner.  I eat fruit, nuts, and cheese as snacks.  Sometimes veggies too.

If my husband is at home, he will NOT eat unless I make him the food.  This sounds selfish but with all his other talents, cooking is not one of them.  He can barely make a sandwich.  And he just won't eat at all unless it is put in front of him.  I like to cook so that part isn't the problem.

I can't get my work done when he's home.  I spend all day cooking and cleaning up.  We need a better system!  I had thought of hiring someone but the hours are so unpredictable and I'm not sure I would trust someone to cook the way I like it.

Any suggestions on how to manage meals in our house?

mjaki · Accepted Answer

Being a personal chef myself, I'd say it's our job to cook things how you like them.  I've made/make variations on dishes to please almost all my clients.  Generally speaking, personal chefs are pretty flexible with scheduling. 

As far as meal planning goes, it's hard to say without knowing other facets of your lifestyles, such as meal times, favorite foods, etc.  There are things you can par-cook such as pasta to have "ready" when you need it.  

Check out this site:

http://www.mealsmatter.org/CookingForFamily/Planning/article.aspx?articleId=30

foodieNY · Answer

You need a crockpot so you can throw dinner together while you are preparing breakfast.  Let the dinner cook itself during the day while you work.  Search crockpot recipes.  Clean up would be easy, dinner plates and the insert from the crockpot.  You can prepare things like lasagna and macaroni and cheese on weekend day, like Sunday,  and freeze them.  They reheat very well.  Make a big pot of sauce, use some on the lasagna, use the rest for spaghetti and meatballs, which you could heat up during the week using the crockpot, just cook the pasta right before you eat.  You can roast a chicken for Sunday dinner, use the leftovers for a soup or casserole, making the chicken into a two meal option, which saves time and money.

wistylist · Answer

You could make up a recipe that can be divided into containers and then freeze them and pull them out and heat them in the microwave when needed.  Very quick.  Take a day and cook and divide them up and then pull them out when needed.  I do this a lot especially  for myself because I work different hours and aren't home for dinner or lunches most of the time.

rivergirl5986 · Answer

Can he at least heat things up?? in the oven or microwave? If he can....you could maybe take one day a week and make different meals that can be frozen or stuck in the refrigerator. You can put them in those individual Glad containers with directions written on the top. then he can take one out...pop it in the microwave or oven and be good to go.

CheddarCheese · Answer

Sounds like a crock pot is the solution to your lunch/dinner issues.  You can put everything in it in the morning and you two can eat on your own schedules and still keep it warm for hours.  As for breakfast, I would suggest keeping some boiled eggs in the fridge for quick eggs and toast along with fruit and cereal in the mornings

Here's a couple of good crock pot recipes to get you started:



Slow Cooked Pork Barbeque 

4 pork chops 
1 (18 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce 
salt and pepper to taste 

Put the chops in the slow cooker and pour a bottle of your favorite barbeque sauce over. With your hands, mix the sauce all over the chops making sure the are coated very well. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. 
Makes great sandwiches  - serve with a side of cole slaw
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Slow Cooker Pizza Stuff

1 1/2 pounds ground beef 
1 (8 ounce) package rigatoni pasta 
1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese 
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of tomato soup 
2 (14 ounce) jars pizza sauce 
1 (8 ounce) package sliced pepperoni sausage 

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and set aside. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain off grease. 
In slow cooker, alternate layers of ground beef, noodles, cheese, soup, sauce and pepperoni. 
Cook on Low setting for 4 hours
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Slow Cooker Dump and Go Cheesy Chicken 

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 
2 (11 ounce) cans condensed cream of Cheddar cheese soup 
1/2 cup milk 
salt and pepper to taste 
1 teaspoon garlic powder 

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts inside. In a medium bowl mix together soup and milk, and pour mixture over chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garlic powder. 
Cook on High for about 6 hours. Note: Do not lift lid while cooking! 
Great on buns as sandwiches or over rice or noodles.  TIP: Toss in a bag of frozen broccoli at the start of cooking for a well rounded meal.
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go.greenbay · Answer

When you cook make extra large batches, freeze in portions appropriatly.

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Help with meal planning?

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