Food Again!

Life, lately, has been hectic, stressful, and verging on the unpleasant. Not that anything so very terrible has happened, more that the smaller stressful things in our lives have all ramped up at the same time. Which has not been overly helpful.

As a result, many things have fallen by the wayside, including the quality of the food we have been eating. In all honesty, in the last few weeks it has been a win if we so much as made beans on toast for dinner. Rather more takeaway than is advisable has been consumed.

That's life, and what's done is done. There is no point is stressing about that too. However, it is time to reset. New stress levels are starting to be accommodated (although sadly not particularly reduced, but what can you do?), and I think we are all starting to feel the negative effects of the way we have been eating.

However, I also do not want to get over-zealous and set something up that we are destined to fail at.

A huge part of our problem is that when someone inevitably asks the question "So, what are we doing for dinner?" no-one else has an answer. So first we have to think of ideas, and then decide between them. And then actually do it. There are too many potential exit points there. The initial question, brainstorming, deciding, and then action.

I have tried meal planning multiple times, and always with limited success, and I really am not sure why. It should solve this problem. What it has shown is that although there are too many potential exit points in the discussion that can easily lead to a trip to McDonalds or somewhere, the biggest hurdle for us is action. I have mentioned not being an enthusiastic cook, and frankly, I loathe it. We really do need to start cooking more, though, so I am trying to come up with a plan which will encourage further cooking, but not make it feel like a gigantic failure if we end up getting takeaway or eating fish finger sandwiches (never a failure, actually, I love them!).

This is my plan. To come up with some meals. As easy and quick as possible. Right now, I don't want to over concern myself with nutrition on the basis that almost anything we cook at home will be healthier than the deep fried offerings of our local takeaway emporia. This is more about habit building, right now. Here are the meals.

Burgers - we have some in the fridge, waiting to be eaten. We will eat them with steamed vegetables.
Pan-fried salmon - also with steamed vegetables.
Puff pastry vegetable and cheese tarts
Shepherd's pie

So, two staples, one new idea and one that takes a little longer, but is not particularly complicated. 4 meals, in 7 days. Let's start there, and see how we go!