Anyone who has children knows this frustration: You shop, think up something, you cook and afterwards everyone is still in a bad mood because someone always looks disgusted on the plate. Our author had had enough of it at some point – and found a solution.
Always those wrinkled noses!
I have three children. I love cooking – and I like to eat; unfortunately (but never mind, it doesn't belong here …). What I Not Dear, are the following sentences, which are always used in a whine tone:
- What is there today?
- So what is that?
- What are these weird little things in there?
- Oh sew, again?
- I hate XYZ ….
- No thanks, I'd rather make a cereal Can we finally eat XYZ again?
- (And then, half an hour after eating, which barely touched anything 🙂 I'm hungry!
I've been listening to these sentences for twelve years now and swearing loudly, sometimes softly. Something shouted because of the children in Africa or because of lack of respect or watt I know. For free. Then I decided: it enough. Something has to change.
And then the constant shopping!
Because I was annoyed by something else: the constant running to the supermarket because something is missing. Such a waste of time! And constantly having to think about what to eat – ideally when three children are talking to me while I clear the refrigerator from expired yogurts. Because even if not everyone is having lunch at home: having to think about what to eat in the evening at 6:00 p.m. in the face of howling, hungry children is also no better. So, as I said: a solution had to be found – said, done.
Stop it! Solution found!
And what can I say: I found the solution! It reads: meal plan. It is awesome. Life can be so easy!
So, this is how it works: You make a rough list of all things that the family generally likes to cook and eat. Then you create a table on the computer with seven days and as many columns as you need: either dinner only or lunch and dinner. You spread the well-known recipes over five days (I will come to the WE later) and make sure that every meal has a filler that everyone likes (for us it's potatoes, herb butter baguette, curd cheese dishes or something). So you write four weeks in full. Then two, then three months with dishes that change as much as possible (enough if the side dish changes or the sauce …) And then – and there is the joke – the plan starts again! Hang on the kitchen wall (just like in the canteen) and off you go!
The result is: – Do work once and then everything will finally be easier! – Never worry about food again! – Shop once a week because you know exactly what you need! – Never have to think again in the supermarket! – And of course you still have the freedom to buy any little extras.
Practical test passed!
We have been doing this for exactly three months now – and I really only shop once a week. (Okay, milk or butter every now and then). I no longer have any internal stress when it comes to eating. The only thing I have to say: At some point you will have to go back to the plan again if you have new favorite recipes. And yes: for the weekend you always have to think again, but that's also fun. But the best thing is: Since the children can already see what there is to eat in the morning, no one says anything about the food! No joke. Is it really like that. Maybe because they can adjust to it at school. I don't know why – I'm just grateful for it.
Oh yes: The weekend is not planned so that it doesn't get boring – there is room for spontaneous cravings or new recipes.
This article originally appeared on Eltern.de.