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Feeding Frenzy

What would help you cook dinner?

2:14 pm March 31, 2009, by Jeanne Besser

I frequently encounter people who hate to cook, or like to cook but don’t like to cook dinner. I always wonder what I, as a food writer, can do to make that process less unpleasant…besides, as a few have suggested… making them dinner every night. Sorry, but that ain’t going to happen.

I often wonder which part of making dinner is hardest to overcome. Is it picking recipes? Are recipes too complicated? Is organized food shopping too cumbersome? Maybe, it’s just the thought of all the cleanup.

Let’s dish freely here. What keeps you from cooking dinner, besides total exhaustion at that witching hour? If you could wave a magic wand, what would you change to make getting dinner on the table easier?

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7 comments Add your comment

Osama

January 5th, 2010
12:02 pm

Get back in the kitchen.

Boo hoo, it takes so long to slice up my carrots.
Boo hoo, it takes to long to plan what to eat next week.
Boo hoo, it takes 50 minutes to cook.

Try cleaning up while it is cooking, instead of going over to watch Oprah.

Throw that load of laundry in while it is cooking also, instead of putting it in at 9pm and crying about how you are doing laundry at 10 at night

Cynthia

December 28th, 2009
7:38 pm

Watching your husband on GMA today (or the other day…I DVR and I just came across your info), he talked about how he eats so squarely that he doesn’t need vitamins. My biggest, BIGGEST downfall is the confusion over how to balance what! If we take a multi, do I have to worry about eating too much spinach and my kids getting too much Vit A or the Bs or Z500 (whatever)? If we take DHA, can we have tuna that day?? Acidophiles, can we eat ANY yogurt? It is so very overwhelming that I end up just wanting to give my kids (7, 9) vits and then something bland like mac & cheese so I won’t get them off balance. Going to the store is so overwhelming because of this that I end up getting a bunch of fruits and veggies and boxed food because I am crying inside not knowing what to put in my cart of any use. Breakfast/Snacks/Lunch are a cinch, but DINNER is grueling…. I feel I need to make it beautiful and balanced. HELP!!

Becky

April 23rd, 2009
11:37 am

The cleaning..I don’t mind the prep, going to the store or figuring out what to cook near as much as I dislaike the cleaning up..

Lori

April 15th, 2009
2:55 pm

Even *having* the ingredients to create anything?!??! I’m cooking for only myself, and I always say “if it takes longer to cook than it will to eat, I’m not going to bother”! LOL

Old School

April 10th, 2009
6:03 pm

For me the most difficult part of preparing supper (or any meal) is figuring out WHAT to cook. The answer I get most often from the family is “It doesn’t matter” followed by “Whatever” or “I don’t care.” I take them at their word and prepare something I know I will enjoy, whether they will or not.

My favorite dish to prepare when I have no clue as to what I want or anyone else will eat is “Notadangthing.” Then it’s everyone for him/herself.

FCM

April 6th, 2009
5:06 pm

For me its all the dishes…..I hate coming home from work to cook and then have to clean the kitchen too….by the time all is said and done its 9PM and my whole day has gone with me just running the whole time.

My crockpot is a lifesaver a few times a week. We hate cassaroles (and the kids hate cheese) so those are not an option.

Stan

March 31st, 2009
2:40 pm

For me it the prep work. Slicing, dicing, chopping etc.
Other than that it is planning. Picking out dishes to cook (my wife is on Weight Watchers), and we are watching our budget, and trying to avoid processed foods as much as possible, and trying to cook most everything on Saturday or Sunday for the week. come to think of it that is a much bigger frustration than choppping onions :)

Stan