I breeze through breakfast, sail through lunch, and even manage a couple of healthy snacks each day, but dinner? It’s my downfall.
First of all, it comes at the most inconvenient time. By the time dinner rolls around I’m worn out from the day, and in no mood to cook. Add to that the fact that I don’t particularly like to grocery shop, and we have a real issue. Each day I face the fridge and wonder, “What’s for dinner?”
There have been times in my life when I’ve made menus and followed them, but that hasn’t happened for a long time. It just seems like whenever I make a plan, life gets in the way. Twice a month I’m in a writing group, once a week I take a writing class, and I regularly spend the “dinner hour” in my car waiting for my son to return from some sporting event or other. How can I plan dinner?
I know, I know… sounds like a lot of excuses to me too. So what do I do? Frozen dinners? Crock pot meals? Sandwiches? I’m trying to eat well, so I really want to incorporate fresh vegetables and lean meats and fish, unfortunately those ingredients just don’t last. I hate to buy food then throw it out, and shopping each day is out of the question.
Last night I had a wonderful fish dinner (out) and the night before I had delicious beef and vegetables (out). This can’t go on. I need a solution, and I need it soon. My budget and my waistline are both in danger. Maybe this will be the topic for my next visit with the nutritionist. In the meantime, I’m open to your suggestions. Bring on the dinner ideas, I’m hungry!
BulgingButtons 
September 9, 2015 at 8:55 pm
I gave up the nutritionist because I couldn’t make it work. Look forward to reading your successes!
September 9, 2015 at 9:13 pm
So far it’s been going well for me, hopefully she’ll have some great suggestions for me about this latest issue. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. Hang in there!
September 9, 2015 at 9:22 pm
I wish I could have stuck with it. It’s just always easier said than done. CURSES! Thanks!
September 10, 2015 at 4:27 am
I’ve been getting double chicken Salads from Subway with an embarrassing amount if frequency. But they’re really good. You can even order it online when you’re on the way there so you don’t have to wait while they make it.
September 10, 2015 at 5:55 am
Thanks for the tip. I quite like the southwest chicken salad from McDonald’s but could use more variety.
September 10, 2015 at 1:55 pm
I love to stack the fridge with fresh cut up veggies that I prep on the weekend. They save all week and longer. I then buy low-fat cheese sticks (80 cal.), hummus, and you could make a black bean dip with salsa. Throw a chicken, pot roast, pork roast, whatever, in the crock pot and use it throughout the week on the side of these fun veggies or not at all (eat the cheese). You can also buy a bag of salad or spinach and toss the same cut up veggies and meat on a bed of lettuce. If salads are boring to you, add some low-fat feta, pumpkin seeds, and a fun vinaigrette. Watermelon, grapes, and blueberries are an awesome side dish or dessert, as well. Raisins serve as another great side dish or addition to salad. I am your friend, not your nutritionist, so please take these suggestions with that in mind. xoxo
September 10, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Oh, and check out the Big Easy Fryer… it is a propane based non-oil fryer that can be used for all types of meats and skewers with meats and veggies. Might be worth it to cook something up on the weekend and save/freeze it.
Most important suggestion… start small, commit to eat at home twice a week for now. 🙂
September 10, 2015 at 4:40 pm
You, my dear, are a wealth of information! Thank you so much, and I love the advice to start small. I need those small victories to push me forward. xoxo
September 10, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Crock pot. You can shop once a month, lay in the lean beef, the chicken breasts, the frozen veggies. Then you put it all in a crock pot in the morning and add a bunch of good spices. I have tons of recipes if you want them! (this from my years as a working Mom!)
September 10, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Would you mind posting one of your all time favorites in the comments for everyone to enjoy? 🙂
September 11, 2015 at 5:06 am
Well, I’m not really a “recipe” cook; I’m a “throw everything in the pot” cook! But I’ll try.
Barbecued Beef:
Any small beef roast
Rub the beef with spices (salt/cumin/brown sugar/mustard powder/chili powder….almost anything)
Lay a sliced onion in the pot
Add the beef on top
Cook on high for about 6 hours
Pull apart with a fork, serve with bread or rice or pasta.
How’s that? Ten minute prep, two days of delicious foods (at least two! You can freeze the leftovers).