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Lopsided_Block_6796@reddit

So don’t. Live on restaurant food, your tune will change quickly

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Relic53@reddit

I too am burnt out trying to decide. As a kid my mother made the same repeated menu

Fridays was pizza or something from the local seafood store

One day a week we had hamburger helper and another was breakfast for supper.

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lando-hockey@reddit

I don’t know why they call it hamburger helper. It eats just fine all by itself!

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SelectLifeguard3902@reddit

I can still name our childhood dinners by days of the week. I used to wonder why my mom was so rigorous and boring about it, but now, I know.

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lando-hockey@reddit

I love to cook, but the number of times our family defaults to cheese and crackers, bagged salad, and tinned sardines is frightening.

[-]

Since I've gotten divorced I don't cook anymore. I eat meals ready to eat, tv dinners and what can be warmed in the microwave. I cooked for 40 years. I figure at my age if it kills me, oh well at least I didn't waste time prepping, cooking and cleaning but, rather doing what I enjoy.

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Same-Performance-373@reddit

Yes every time I get asked what’s for dinner

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hauntingme43@reddit

It’s a chore anymore? Does this really sound normal?

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SelectLifeguard3902@reddit

It's a very Iowa-esque dialect :)

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hauntingme43@reddit

Yes, and that’s too bad. I just don’t think this should sound normal to anyone. But I’m just an annoying person who cares too much about how people speak and write. It’s a curse, trust me.

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SelectLifeguard3902@reddit

It definitely sounds odd if you're not used to it. I grew up in Chicago so I was exposed to it a bit and I remember having the same reaction when I first heard it lol. But it is a relatively common construction called the "positive anymore," mainly in parts of the Midwest, Appalachia, Pennsylvania. To them, it just means "nowadays." It came over to the US with the Irish and Scots. If things like this are interesting (and even annoying) to you, then you're a natural to study linguistics :) It's actually pretty fascinating!

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WestTwelfth@reddit

I tell my younger friends that if you’ve been dating a guy for three months and he’s never invited you over for a nice dinner that he’s cooked himself, keep dating him if you’re having fun, but write him off as a marriage possibility and start to look around, if you want to get married. It’s not just about sharing the cooking chores. IMHO, it says a lot about what kind of father and family man the guy will be.

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Last_Energy_2000@reddit

My wife and I bonded over our dislike for cooking and love of going out to eat.

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MineAllMineNow@reddit

I like cooking, but I also fall into the convenience of frozen meals more than I'd like to admit. They also are portion-controlled, so there's that. And I've fallen into ruts where all I want is pizza, or battered fish and a frozen veggie mix (I think that one was just nostalgia for the Swanson TV dinners I'd have on Saturday nights when my parents went out). So it varies.

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SelectLifeguard3902@reddit

It is a complete pain in the ass. I tried to shift my focus from "this is a chore" to "making better quality food = caring for my own health" and gradually, cooking has become just another way for me to take care of myself so I don't spend my retirement years in the doctor's office. That, and I'm so lucky that my husband will literally eat anything I put in front of him. I still find meal planning and cleaning up to be a total buzz kill though lol.

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Threeboys0810@reddit

We don’t mind leftovers so a big batch is fine and we can eat the same thing for 4 days in a row.

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Prize_Vegetable_1276@reddit

I would like to know why you have to have a vagina to cook and clean. Yes, I am sick of cooking and eating. I find eating out to never be worth the money, my boyfriend is so picky he eats like the worst garbage and that's what I end up cooking because I don't want to cook two different things. I never even get to eat anything I want. So why bother?

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yep. I joke that if reincarnation is real I want to come back as a man the next time. It’s really not a joke, I guess.

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Prestigious_Duck158@reddit

😂😂😂

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Artistic-Deal5885@reddit

Sick to death of cooking. Planning, shopping, prepping, cooking. Husband used to do the clean up but now he has injured himself and is on a walker. So it's all up to me. He did his own laundry too and that's now on my plate. I'm going to start having him do the folding though. I cannot do it all.

I've started using paper plates and bowl for some things. We are eating more take out and prepared food but that has made me gain weight, plus I have been stress eating. I get out of control and I don't know what to do about it.

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Jadedangel13@reddit

Dude, yes!!!! Having to feed ourselves every goddamn day is a whole ass job in itself. Meal planning and prep suuucks! Yeah, it can make things easier once you get the hang of it, but it's tiring and endless. The stress of rising grocery costs certainly doesn't help. It's cheaper and faster to eat prepackaged garbage and these companies absolutely know it and take advantage.

I just wanna clone myself so I have a wife to cook for me. 😅🤣

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Forsaken_Traffic_183@reddit

Me too! I’m 58 and only eat like fruit or snacks anymore…why should I continue this formal supper? There’s only the two of us…. If it’s not in the house go out and get it or door dash it, I’m getting too old for this…we still both work full time, why is it my responsibility to make sure you eat?

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Right?!

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chdude3@reddit

Bro I'm tired of everything

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Same.

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CelticGardenGirl@reddit

For me it’s not so much the actual cooking…but the lack of fucking ideas on WHAT to cook. When the only answer I get once I ask is shrug, then I lose all motivation.

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RayP52@reddit

I have been collecting recipes for years. They are written on index cards which are then put into photo albums (with the plastic pockets) or if they are printed off the Internet, they are in three ring binders. There are tabs with labels that say fish, meat, vegetables, desserts, etc. This system is a breeze when it comes to meal planning.

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japhia_aurantia@reddit

I have a 2 week rotating schedule for dinners. We change things up sometimes, but removing the mental load of deciding is SO GOOD.

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CelticGardenGirl@reddit

I might have to initiate the same process, because I CANNOT DO ANOTHER TACO TUESDAY SO HELP ME GOD.

😂 Who am I kidding…I’d do some shady shit for tacos 🌮.

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japhia_aurantia@reddit

I would totally do taco Tuesday every week but the family vote is once per rotation

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CelticGardenGirl@reddit

Time for a new family! 😂

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Ashamed-Date-7747@reddit

What is on your 2-week rotation?

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japhia_aurantia@reddit

Lots of kid friendly stuff tbh. Taco Tuesday, pizza Friday (a mix of homemade, frozen, and takeout), orange chicken, beef stew, cheese tortellini, soup (cook's choice), spaghetti, etc. We usually eat out or get takeout on Fridays.

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Life_Progress568@reddit

100%. If my wife says “have any thoughts on supper?” one more time I might kill myself. I cook, I come up with the ideas, I tell her all the time, “just tell me what you want me to make”. I’ll cook, I do all the cooking anyway, just say “pasta”, or whatever. Rant over.

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The_Latverian@reddit

I feel that. My ex was the absolute queen of "What are you making for supper?"

Me answering "How about ____?"

Her replying..."mmm....no"

Repeat 5 or 6 times until the fight started 😂.

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Maleficent_Ratio_95@reddit

I don’t know if it’s cooking or the having to plan. The decision fatigue is so real.

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Defiant_Ad_2970@reddit

god yes. If I wasn’t married I wouldn’t cook at all.

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According_Log_3264@reddit

One of the big reasons I won't get married...cooking and all the other jobs that come with it. When I get home from work I'm tired from taking care of other people. I'm not looking for a more then full time time job taking care of someone else when I get home. Already raised my family.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Amen.

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JanaT2@reddit

Me either

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According_Log_3264@reddit

So tell husband to cook for the nect 35 years...you've earned it. Yes cooking is a Lot of work and clean up.

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Ordinary_Nothing_348@reddit

100% feel that!

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No_Musician596@reddit

I feel you on this one. I'm an almost obese middle aged woman, how many times daily do I even want to eat? Often I'll make a casserole and he can eat leftovers a few days. I can buy lunch at work, and he gets his free. I have a rather bad hip right now, and if it starts hurting too much, I detach altogether and will do nothing in the kitchen - no cooking nor cleaning, only water drinking, and eat all meals elsewhere. So he doesn't push too much. It may be different because I earn similar to him and he moved into my house, so traditional norms don't apply.

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JanaT2@reddit

A bit but we have to eat.

I usually make a big Sunday dinner for leftovers Monday. Tuesday another meal for leftovers Wednesday. Thursday something like seafood, breakfast for dinner, tuna/chicken salad, pasta. Friday is takeout. Saturday is do whatever - sandwiches, tacos, sloppy joe.

Sometimes my husband cooks. Sometimes we get takeout on other days. Summer is much lighter and we can grill.

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Jet_1955@reddit

I sat my husband down and explained I would not be responsible for his meals unless I chose to cook. Once I got past the guilt, it’s been smooth sailing. I highly recommend it.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

❤️

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soozysunnyremiginger@reddit

Cooking sucks. I only cook for husband the days I don’t work. If I was mean I would just stop all together. I am decent at cooking but never really enjoyed it.

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myeggsarebig@reddit

Once my kids were gone, I’d make a big batch soup/stew/gravy on Sunday with a big grain-type salad, and use that until it’s out, then it’s cereal, pb&j, cheese and fruit, stuff like that. I try to get my necessary nutrients during breakfast and lunch (fruits, veggies, whole grains) so dinner can be easy.

I say this as someone who is a decent cook who used to love it, so I totally get the burnout

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bigjimnm@reddit

I actually very much enjoy cooking. I find it fun to look up new things to try and new flavors to explore. I didn't enjoy it much when I was younger, though.

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No-Conference1424@reddit

If it has more than 3 ingredients it ain’t happening.

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hidinginzion@reddit

I signed up for a good meal delivery system. I use Tovala and love it. My husband cooks his own or goes out to eat. My husband is a reasonable person. We're both retired.

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Beautiful-Routine489@reddit

Tell husband the next 35 years are his turn.

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ExcellentGuarantee82@reddit

No.

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Alternative-Loss-129@reddit

I still cook every day and healthy meals, but it’s simple put together stuff a protein, a veggie or a quick salad and I’ll throw a carb in there for my daughter whatever it may be. I’m good with a bowl of cereal, a frozen bag of veggies, some scrambled eggs. I’ve even rediscovered, healthy, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches ❤️ I don’t mind putting in some efforts for the holidays. One day a week usually a Sunday I’ll make a really good solid meal, but honestly, I’m over it.

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SignificantFee266@reddit

It's kinda like that Progressive Insurance commercial where she's addressing a college graduating class and advising about the things that will happen to them . . . she mentions "figuring out what's for dinner for the REST OF YOUR LIFE."

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Whole_Craft_1106@reddit

Why doesn’t your husband cook. This is such a big reason of why I don’t have a husband. I’m cooking for me, and only me if I want to. Ugh

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macklin_sob@reddit

I am usually cooking for my wife and my son who is 20 and working to save money to move out. I don't mind it. Not all men are lazy turds.

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Alonenomo2023@reddit

I’m not GenX, I’m a baby boomer and I can tell you I’m so over cooking. I’ve been doing it for 47 years. We end up throwing away so many leftovers.

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Ceight-bulldog@reddit

We solve this by cooking a couple of days a week and then having leftover night the rest. Our freezer is literally packed with stuff we smoked over the summer. I’m inventing ways to use smoked brisket and pork belly. 😂

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Alonenomo2023@reddit

I definitely don’t cook every day anymore. I like leftovers more than my husband and I’ll eat them for 2-3 days. I think I just need to cut the recipes in half.

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DarthDiggler501@reddit

I usually make brisket Chili with my leftovers. It goes faster than the brisket did!

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Ceight-bulldog@reddit

yep, we do that as well as lasagna, ravioli, dumplings.....

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eyeroll611@reddit

This is one of the many reasons I remain single. Why are women still doing the majority of the cooking??

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I wish I had the answer to this. I was thinking as I was writing this tonight what would the opposite would be like? I can’t imagine coming home and sitting and having a meal fixed for me every night. Nearly every night, anyway. I relax, have some time to myself and someone tells me when my dinner is ready. I can’t imagine what that must be like.

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WimpyZombie@reddit

My brother does almost all the cooking between him and his wife (they don’t have any kids)

He’s very good at it too. He has 3 sisters and none of us have any enthusiasm for cooking.

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MoaningLisaSimpson@reddit

If it didn't sound like human trafficking, I'd offer to lend you my 22 year old son. We treat dinner as a relay event. One of us will take out meat or other main ingredients. Mid morning we text and decide what to do with it. Who ever gets home first cooks or at least meal preps. We collaborate but are rarely both in the kitchen at the same time.

When he moves out Im going to make soup or chilli once a week and live on that and peanut butter toast. Side order of strawberry banana and spinach smoothies.

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eyeroll611@reddit

This is apparently what it’s like to have a wife. I’ve never experienced it either, but now I just have to make food for myself which is a relief. If I choose to have Doritos and Cherry Pepsi for dinner, I can.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I’m ready.

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eyeroll611@reddit

Do it. You will be happier. They will be fine.

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who-waht@reddit

Because I don't want my diet to switch between spaghetti with meat sauce, baked beans and eggs on toast, fish cakes with baked beans on the side, and rotisserie chicken on baguette (that about covers my husband's cooking repertoire). I don't even eat meat. The two kids still at home tend to make a lot of mac and cheese when left to their own devices (either box or from scratch).

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eyeroll611@reddit

Exactly. So make food for yourself and let everyone else do the same.

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Zoner79@reddit

We started getting those Healthy choice microwave meals

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cagirlinoh@reddit

Making dinner every day falls in certain categories: quick & crude (think smoked sausage plus beans & rice) a new dish w/ time to shop for what I don’t have on hand (Chicken Tikki Masala) the medium effort routine (roast chicken thighs and veggies) and, my favorite: “what’s for dinner tonight, babe?” 😏

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Tech-Mechanic@reddit

I'm tired of eating out. I'm cooking my meals almost exclusively these days.

Better food and way cheaper.

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The_Latverian@reddit

I learned early on that I prefer my own cooking to most takeout/delivery

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mysboss@reddit

Same!

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PizzaWhole9323@reddit

I was a house husband for a couple of decades and I was Chief cooking bottle washer and transportation captain of my family. I now that I am divorced and on my own in my fifties Love convenience food. If you can put it either in a bag that will heat up in the microwave in 9 minutes or a little plastic tray, I will most likely give it a try.

gif

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The_Latverian@reddit

I feel that, except I was also working full time on top of being the cook, chief groundskeeper, and transport captain 😂

My life since the divorce has honestly been pretty amazing, but yeah...part of that amazingness is just doing whatever I want food wise. Usually it's something a lot simpler than the family meals of old--Stir fries, Pastas, Fried Rice, or Curries--but yeah...I wont lie and tell you Michelina's is not on my radar 😉

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The_Latverian@reddit

Also Gen X, and I still enjoy cooking, but that said, I'm no longer preparing Three different things on the plate anymore. Lots of Stir Fries, Curries, Fried Rice, Pastas, and other things that can be done quickly in one or two pans.

I learned a *long* time ago that I prefer my own cooking to almost all takeout or delivery, so here we are 😂

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EnvironmentalCake531@reddit

At 65 I am over it!!! Sandwiches are good Salad and fresh veggies. Take-out Cold cereal Yogurt Chips, salsa and beer Popcorn In Winter I like Campbell's soup And about once a week I cook

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Crazy_sumbitch@reddit

Yes! My wife and I used to cook meals everyday when our son still lived with us. He moved out and got married and now it’s BLT’s or air fryer wings and couldn’t be happier

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CinnamonGirl123@reddit

Yes! It’s so time consuming and then you have to clean up. Most of the time I’d rather make a smoothie. 😩

Lately this is our house: Breakfast for dinner Pasta Pizza & salad Sandwiches & soup Go out for dinner Cook an actual dinner Leftovers Tacos Rotisserie chicken with easy sides

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Kimba26@reddit

I work 12 hour shifts so yes. On my work days cooking dinner feels like an episode of Chopped because I'm under the gun from the minute I get up and when I'm off I don't want to spend my time in the kitchen. If I was on my own I'd probably cook about twice a week and eat whatever I made for all the rest of the days.

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CommunicationHappy20@reddit

I’d turn in my two weeks notice. Since the kids are grown, it’s time for a career change.

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JediRebel79@reddit

Im 47 and got tired of it 10 years ago 🤣

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kuzism@reddit

Cooking is why your marriage has lasted 35 years, if you stop cooking your husband will burst into tears. When he is done crying, he will divorce you and you will grow old and eat ice cream alone.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Don’t threaten me with a good time.😂

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Winter-Macaroon-4296@reddit

I'm tired of coming up with ideas for fussy people. And I screwed myself in the beginning - everything from scratch, homemade bread, complete meals including breakfasts. So they know I can cook. I should have played dumb from the beginning. Gone easy and said "look at the yummy fish sticks I made you!"

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Snoo17519@reddit

It’s never too late to how not to cook!

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momhh434444@reddit

I feel this so much. Luckily my husband works evenings Monday through Thursday so I don’t have to cook then. But when he is home he likes a meal and I am just so sick of it. Sometimes he does the cooking which is fine with me. The other day he complained that we always have frozen pizza on Friday. Truth is I am exhausted from the work week by then. I need to have a honest conversation with him about this. Food is so important to him though. I really feel stuck.

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1questions@reddit

Tired of cooking, tired of laundry, tired of grocery shopping, tired of it all. Never been married and don’t gave money to pay people for any of these services so I’m pretty much exhausted all the time.

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Mail-Upset@reddit

Yessssssssssss, it’s the bane of my existence!!!

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pidgeon92@reddit

I’m done too. Most nights are leftovers.

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Genuine907@reddit

Where do the leftovers come from?

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paroxybob@reddit

The other nights that aren’t most.

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Chris_The-Wookie@reddit

My wife and I cook together most nights. Some nights I do it all, and some nights she does it all. With clean up, she will load the dishwasher,( I do it wrong lol), and I will unload it. I will clean the stove and microwave while she cleans the counters and island.

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anniecet@reddit

I am perfectly happy with chicken/tuna salad, frozen pizza, spaghetti, or eggs and toast. I door dash twice a week. I only have to feed myself, so it’s doable. Stupid, but kinda worth it.

I don’t have the energy for much else most of the time. I am a fantastic cook, too. Juice just isn’t worth the squeeze these days. Cooking requires cleaning and I don’t want to do any more of that that I have to.

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VNDecorCA@reddit

I went back to work after five years at home. Meal times suck: planning and making, cleaning up... We eat out way more often now. If I was more organized and had a weekly menu maybe it would be more bearable.

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oopsymeohboy@reddit

Yessssss!!! And I used to love cooking, baking, canning, preserving, making fortified wines, shrubs, etc., it was my main hobby! I blame my disinterested in part on finally treating my adhd after 45 years of just letting it cook, my meds really dampen my appetite so cooking just doesn’t hold the same interest. I still do my favorite canning/preserving every summer but it’s such a chore, I dislike doing it, whereas before I didn’t mind.

Add to that my partner has become more finicky than ever about food, and my main crew for dinner parties was obliterated by death, divorce & becoming socially lame AF.

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SeaCobbler4352@reddit

It’s as if I wrote this myself- same. I feel seen with this post and reply

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oopsymeohboy@reddit

Wow, it’s kind of specific so thats a bit surprising. You’ve made me feel seen too, so thanks for the word 😊

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SeaCobbler4352@reddit

It was specific which is what made me laugh & thought wow there are a few of us out there

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IHadTacosYesterday@reddit

becoming socially lame AF

lol

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sterlingsplendor@reddit

I feel the same. 76, retired. Husband same age, still working because he loves it. I feel obligated to give him a decent meal. But having to think of a dinner every day, never mind cooking it, I just don’t have it anymore.

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QueenScorp@reddit

Yep. I think I am just burned out on it. I've been struggling for at least a couple years if not longer and now that my daughter's moved out, I can't even remember the last time I turned the stove on. I'm at a point where I will literally eat cereal for dinner because I just cannot cook another damn meal after 40 years of doing it (I started cooking for my siblings when I was 10)

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21Andromeda12@reddit

I lost my husband. No one to cook for. I do frozen pizza and meals. Very occasionally do i cook.

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HEWTube8@reddit

No. I love to cook, and I'm always on the lookout for new recipes. I guess if you like cooking it isn't a chore, but I think it only gets boring if you cook the same things over and over.

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FrozenPizzaReviews@reddit

I’ll be fifty soon and just recently discovered the joys of cooking. For most of my adult life I’ve been the king of takeout or eating out. I actually kind of enjoy it.

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adenovir@reddit

Cooking is easy but deciding what to make is hard. I do all the cooking. It’s just my wife and I. We have a loose schedule that makes it a bit easier.

Veggie burgers on Monday

Mexican on Tuesday

Indian/Asian on Wednesday

Italian on Thursday

Go out/order in Friday.

Leftovers or breakfast for dinner Saturday

Family dinner Sunday with the kids.

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BTS_ARMYMOM@reddit

I made shabu shabu tonight and im so tired. I have 3 teens and a dad so unfortunately, when I cook it's from scratch. Ugh

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ChilledPelican@reddit

I just made burgers and the smoke set off the fire alarm so I got my cordless blower out to get the smoke out and while I was blowing smoke off my detectors SimpliSafe tried calling I didn’t hear so the Fire department showed. Good grief I hate cooking.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

😂😂😂

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coraleemonster@reddit

I make a snack plate for dinner. It's easy, I just toss some veggies, cheese, meat, some crackers maybe some fruit. Done. I'm only cooking if I want too.

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BradysNellyBelle@reddit

No-one tells you that becoming a woman means meal planning/preparing/cleaning 1-3x/day FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

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East-Garden-4557@reddit

Only if you allow yourself to be locked into that role because of your gender. Or you could make your partner and your family pull their damn weight and take part in the responsibility of meal planning and cooking.

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BradysNellyBelle@reddit

Ok, so you never bought a great dress only to find out later that the princess seams are wonky and the zipper breaks after you wear it twice and there are no returns?

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East-Garden-4557@reddit

What the heck does that have to do with cooking meals?
But no, I don't have that problem. I don't buy cheap shitty quality clothes, I take the time to look at the quality of the construction of clothes before I buy them. I also have the skills to draft my own sewing patterns and sew my own clothes.

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battlesong1972@reddit

Not in my house. I do all the grocery shopping/cooking/dishes and most of the laundry

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CeilingCatProphet@reddit

Just no. I cook but I don't clean. Women allow to be this way.

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MaximumRun2457@reddit

Yep, separated from my husband last October and first thing I did once I moved out was order a weekly meal delivery service. Game changer!

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MaiBoo18@reddit

I just throw things in the air fryer and hope for the best.

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Icy_Presence_2918@reddit

This is me! I’ve purchased an insane amount of gadgets in order to keep from using that stove. And guess what? I have a system going—I am eating much better and I don’t have to stand over a stove after working all day. I bought a cart from Amazon to put all my gadgets and accessories on.

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SueBeeAnthony@reddit

What’s your system? I have a small counter top rice cooker and toaster oven that i rely on almost daily.

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Icy_Presence_2918@reddit

I have a rice cooker, a steamer, a 2.4Qt crockpot, a 1.5qt crockpot, a bigger air fryer and its low-profile cousin and all the accessories. I’m always running one device or the other. And at the end of the night, everything gets washed and or cleaned up and my cart gets reset for the next day.

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SueBeeAnthony@reddit

Cool setup and thanks for sharing! You do a great job keeping everything in pristine condition.

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Icy_Presence_2918@reddit

Thank you!!

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JabbatheShlut@reddit

I'm more tired of deciding what to cook.

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missblissful70@reddit

It’s so difficult to come up with ideas for supper, and I hate it.

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Icy_Presence_2918@reddit

Use ChatGPT. I do. I’m all “dinner idea”-d out.

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Key_Asparagus_8522@reddit

When I was married and my son was younger living with us I had a menu I cook the same thing every week. Mondays was bolognese Tuesday was pork chops Wendesday was shrimp scampi Thursday lemon chicken or parmigiana Friday we had Chinese take out or Thai. Saturday we ate out. Sunday we got together with family or backyard grilled. We hardly never ate leftovers but I cooked dinner 4 times a week. And made my shopping easier. I knew exactly what to buy. When it was summer I grilled almost everyday outside. Even thought I brought back inside. Sometimes burgers sometimes steak.

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Key_Asparagus_8522@reddit

My son and husband hated leftovers but I Will have it for lunch sometimes.

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StandardSwordfish777@reddit

My family also hates leftovers. I would love to make something big and then have leftovers for two days. It’s so much easier

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Brownie-0109@reddit

I certainly feel this

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2_krazykats@reddit

Yep...I feel like I've made all the recipes there ever was at this point 😆

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LordBofKerry@reddit

Oh my god, yes!! How many ways can I mix up the same stuff, and hope it tastes different?

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We_DemBoys@reddit

Same boring meals... 😕

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2_krazykats@reddit

Right? Pasta is my go-to when I can't think of anything but boy does that get old.

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EagleLize@reddit

I'm sick of everything involving food. Spending outrageous $, shopping, making room for and putting groceries away, the planning, the cooking, the cleaning. Calorie counting. Micros, macros. I'm over it! Just give me a pill 3 times a day and some coffee and pastries.

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hottapvswr@reddit

I try to make a weekly menu. That way we get variety, and I know what I gotta do every night.

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Aggressive_Apple_913@reddit

Spend some time looking on Instagram there are a nearly infinite number of recipie videos.

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Moody_GenX@reddit

Before I met my partner I would use my huge Instant Pot to make 3 or 4 soups or stews. Each would be 6 to 8 meals. My freezer would be full of Tupperware of this stuff. I could cook 3 or 4 days in a row and have a month's worth of food. The rest of the month I'd barely have any clean up.

Now I'm about to be married to a woman that can't live like that so she takes care of everything.

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tallulahtaffy@reddit

have you tried whatthefuckshouldImakefordinner ?

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deluxeok@reddit

this is amazing, thank you!

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2_krazykats@reddit

Lol the site but that takes too much planning for me

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Majestic-Pilot3718@reddit

This is the absolute truth!

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

That too?! 😂

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hoseb4brose@reddit

I have always felt this way about cooking.

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LavenderSky70@reddit

Thankfully my husband LOVES leftovers, but he’s kind of a picky eater, so I make him enough food for at least 3-4 days and I will do the same thing for myself. I can control our portions that way since we’re both having to do that anyways. He’s happy and I don’t have to eat anything that I don’t want. I also have a quick options available that either one of us will eat if we want to, so I cook on average 2-3 days a week now.

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GradStudent_Helper@reddit

Ugh. My wife hates the idea of throwing out any leftovers... but she NEVER will eat any. I'm also tired of cooking and am determined this year to begin some sort of meal prepping so I have a few night off during the week. Started following this guy [https://www.youtube.com/@LifebyMikeG] for some great recipes and tips.

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LavenderSky70@reddit

When I buy vegetables or bulk meat, I prep them for the freezer so that I have to do is get out whatever I need whenever I’m cooking. I bulk buy beans and rice also because it’s one of the few things that my husband also likes. I personally hate beans!

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beansoupscratch@reddit

Been tired of it for years. Once I got divorced and my kids got older we all just fended for ourselves. If I never have anyone asking me what's for dinner, I will die a happy woman.

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elcad@reddit

I worked in restaurants in my 20s. Cooking for 2 now hardly seems like work.

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Flacuckold@reddit

It’s not the physical effort sometimes. It is the mental effort to think of something.

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elcad@reddit

That's easy. I just tell the girlfriend she'll have to pick or I'll make spaghetti. She doesn't like the noodles but I love them.

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Flacuckold@reddit

Totally fair if you’re cooking.

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ApprehensiveTable409@reddit

Yes!! I never really enjoyed it to begin with but managed and now I’m just tired of it. Cereal, sandwich, cheese and crackers, or whatever for dinner now.

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Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit

Yes !!! I was a cook from scratch person as are my parents and I hit my 40s and I just stopped cooking. I used to love cooking and I just didn’t want to do it anymore, I think menopause and feeling sick a lot and smells put me right off. I’m 54 and Iv went back to cooking again but it’s a fucking chore 😉🤣 It’s like housework , it’s just got to be done

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Beneficial_Water_647@reddit

I recently got tired of looking up recipes, making a menu, grocery list and then go to the grocery store. I think that was 5 hours of my Sundays. I joined Hungryroot for a few months and it helped me get back to basics and keeping meals simple. Sadly, their delivery schedule was unreliable for a few months,so I stopped. But it helped me reset to making a meat and a veggie side, or a salad. Now I have an air fryer that I use a couple times a week! I'm back to cooking healthy, light meals in 30 minutes on weeknights. Hopefully this helps! My hubby likes me to cook too 💕

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Simple-Bluebird3250@reddit

I’m 66. Momma is 92. And take it from me. My oldest is 50. My youngest is 40. It’s really hard to cook for 2. After cooking for an army, for many yrs. Today I’m making steaks on the grill. But I only cook if I want to. There’s always DoorDash!!

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djak@reddit

I'm thankful my husband is a better cook than me, and he enjoys it. That said, there's plenty of times we don't feel like cooking since its just the two of us. Then we eat leftovers, a sandwich, breakfast for dinner, and rarely, fast food. Sometimes I grab 3 or 4 string cheese and call it good. We don't have a set meal time anymore either, so if we wake up and don't feel like eating, it becomes breakfast for lunch, a snack later in the evening, and that's it. There's a real feeling of freedom in not being tied to the clock or a schedule when it comes to eating.

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WaterwingsDavid@reddit

I generally like cooking (and its cheaper than eating out), but i also have some days when im extremely apathetic. On evenings like that I'll eat a couple bowls of cereal! Usually I'll try to cook enough for a few days so I can just reheat dinner for a few nights.

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niff007@reddit

No. I love cooking and im always experimenting to keep it interesting

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Ill_Outcome4246@reddit

Yep.

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ChezQuis_@reddit

We’ve gotten real bad at going out more often or just making breakfast meals for dinner.

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Glittering_Sugar4829@reddit

I love breakfast for dinner

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Glittering_Sugar4829@reddit

I’m so over trying to figure out what to make

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goonie_lover@reddit

My husband and I just wish we didn't have to decide on 2 meals a day everyday. We spend 60% of our day deciding what or where to eat. It's exhausting.

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PleasantJenny@reddit

Have you tried any of those services that deliver the meal plan and ingredients right to your door?

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wif68@reddit

We went for the prepared meals. Tried Factor but switched to Yumba which is cheaper and we like it better. 2 1/2 minutes in the microwave and dinner is ready.

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PleasantJenny@reddit

I have really dived into using the crock pot lately. As I have gotten older I like to get "my chores" done in the morning while I have the energy. There are so many great recipes out there. And since it is relatively new to me it has brought some fun back into cooking.

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Intelligent_Salad_70@reddit

I used to be the kitchen Queen. After my husbend died I just don't care anymore

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Clear_Session8683@reddit

I hate it. Especially cooking for two. I was never A. A good cook or B. fond of it. I'd eat a boiled egg and a piece of toast for the rest of my life. (which in full disclosure would probably only amount to 10 yrs. )

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Ok-Rock2345@reddit

Cooking does not bother me half as much as cleaning up the mess afterwards. The thought of washing the pots and pans and plates after I cook kill any joy I would have of cooking.

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littlescreechyowl@reddit

Two years ago, my husband lived out of state for about a year. He found a new job and came back home. After about six weeks, he looked at me one day and said “ so do we not have dinner anymore? I’m not complaining and I’m not asking you to cook. I was just curious what do you people eat here?” It had been just me and our 20-year-old. So we’d eat cheese and apples and nuts or popcorn, pickles, olives, you know, whatever. Sometimes we’d to the Taco Truck. Honestly, most times we went to the Taco Truck.

So I started cooking again, which is cool cause I like cooking. But the first night we decided that we were going to get tacos together, the Taco Truck guy smiled and waved as I was getting out of the car. Like seeing an old friend back from war or something. Never a man to be concerned about cheating, he said “exactly how many times a week were you at the Taco Truck??

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goingloopy@reddit

When my parents got divorced, my brother and I lived with my mom. Our apartment was across the street from a Mexican restaurant. We ate there at least 3-4 times a week. They would mostly just bring us our food...we didn't even have to order (we'd tell them when we were seated if we were changing things up).

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littlescreechyowl@reddit

I miss being a “regular”.

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-CollabsWithKaia-@reddit

😂😂😂

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hottapvswr@reddit

We like to do that for lunch. Nothing planned just grab random items from the fridge, some crackers, and somethjing that sits on the counter like fruit or nuts or... It's called "random Lunch". No reason if can't be dinner too!

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ThePythiaofApollo@reddit

I enjoyed this little psychodrama.

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littlescreechyowl@reddit

It was just genuine on every level and so funny. He had just been making sandwiches.

We just moved to Minneapolis and they chased all our taco trucks away so I don’t even have a new one.

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mmfn0403@reddit

Absolutely, can’t do it every day. I batch cook from time to time, and fill my freezer up with boxed-up individual dinners. At the moment, I have 6 portions of lasagna, 5 of fish pie, and 3 of beef stew. That will keep me going for a while.

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mwvc@reddit

What is fish pie? My family likes fish and I might to try this out.

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mmfn0403@reddit

I base mine on this recipe. I don’t use spring onions (scallions) as in my experience, they end up tough in it. Last time I used shallots, and was happy with how it turned out. Fish pie mix - if that’s not a thing where you are - is just a mix of chunks of white fish, smoked fish, and salmon. I also add raw prawns (shrimp) to mine.

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colmatrix33@reddit

Yes. I've been cooking since the 1900s and I'm tired of it

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-CollabsWithKaia-@reddit

Same! 😂😂😂

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montbkr@reddit

🏆

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Eilseli@reddit

I’m going to start using this for anything I’m tired of. This is a terribly underrated comment.

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Renetia@reddit

🤣Thanks for the laugh

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freakinreviews@reddit

I still cook on occasion when I'm in the mood, but typically I'd rather just slap together a sandwich and call it good. When I was raising my kids, I used to say, "Dinner is that short break I get between cooking and doing dishes."

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Aamrie69@reddit

I live in a multi-generational household...too expensive to eat out but me and mom are so over cooking...🤨

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Financial_Phrase5959@reddit

When my youngest moved out, I gave him EVERYTHING. All my pots and pans and kitchen tools and plates and bowls and mugs and glasses and the microwave and the toaster…. You get the idea. I’m single and so done with cooking!

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worrymon@reddit

20 years ago. I'm single, I live alone. I also live in NYC where there's hundreds of places that will make food for me within a 15 minute walk. And the food will be ready in less than 10 minutes.

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knit2dye4@reddit

Waikiki, and same. And one restaurant meal will feed me that night and usually two more so it’s easier to justify it financially lol

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worrymon@reddit

I walked and ate really well when I was there.

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stellaflora@reddit

My youngest is going to college this fall and I am Done Cooking Dinner after that.

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Catcollector503@reddit

I tired of it yers ago. My husband does most of the cooking now, though I’ll make meals occasionally, and still do any baking that we need. I ussed to love cooking, but now, I would also eat a bowl of cereal for dinner every night until I got sick of it if I could. Or rely on prepared meals which is not very cost-effective in the long run.

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funwithllamas@reddit

r/lowspooncooking

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Adventurous-Brain-36@reddit

I’ve just started to really enjoy cooking over the last 5 years or so. But things have slowed down, kids are older so I’m not rushing home from work and to extracurriculars all the time.

I do find it tiresome and irksome when it’s been a busy day and I need to just get something on the table, but if I’m well rested and don’t have to rush, I quite like cooking.

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DiHard_ChistmasMovie@reddit

I absolutely hate it. I used to enjoy it, but now it's just a chore. I started when my wife decided to go back to school. I work full time, but she had a lot of homework/studying to do at night so I took over. When she was finished, I was more than willing to hand that duty back to her but she didn't want it and claimed I was a better anyway. I didn't buy it because thats the same line I fed her when she was cooking. But I kept doing it, hoping for an eventual trade-off or time-share later. Then she passed away during covid and I just kind of got stuck doing it permanently. My youngest is only 9 so I have several years to go still. When my kids are grown, im done. I will gladly cook holiday meals, or things of that nature, but every evening? Not doing it! I am so tired of the "what are we having tonight" fight.

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Putrid_Appearance509@reddit

I make the biggest batch of everything I make and portion and freeze whatever we don't eat. It helps a little.

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Cool_Addendum_1348@reddit

Thank goodness for trader Joe's ready made or easy meals. Nuke one of their frozen rices and add a fried egg is all I can muster several times a week.

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Think_Scientist9505@reddit

I love Trader Joe's frozen meals! So easy to open the bag into a pan and 10 minutes later hot and yummy meals.

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Think_Scientist9505@reddit

My parents have cereal or yogart alot for dinner...I get it now. After years of planned meal prep, having my husband pull 180s, and then having the proteins go bad, we started Hellofresh. My husband says "seeing the bag" helps him cook but there are still days that soup or oatmeal are just quicker and easier.

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Ed98208@reddit

Coming up with meal ideas, sourcing the ingredients and making the meals seems like 50 of what I do nowadays. I miss being single and just having bag salads or takeout or cheese and crackers for dinner.

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Wooden_Gift3489@reddit

My wife did a majority of cooking for the first 25 years we were together. Somehow in our 40's I changed from the sometime 'Grill Guy' to cooking pretty much everything. My wife pitches in once in a while, but I do the lions share and come up with the ideas. We also make a pretty good 'tag team' so one can make the main dish and someone else can make a salad or veggies etc.

If I just eat 'easy' like cereal and ice cream I would weigh 300#'s. I'd rather spend my money on 'fun stuff' and do my own cooking.

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Spiritual-Eggplant59@reddit

I am in complete agreement. I’ve spent my life working in a supermarket, in the meat department for the last 32 years, and I am so OVER cooking. For years when my kids were little and my husband expected dinner at six I felt rushed and pressured. I think it killed all the joy in cooking. Some times I still feel inspired, and I’ll try something new. But it’s just not fun anymore.

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NortonBurns@reddit

We organise our menu so that if one day is toiling in the kitchen for hours, then the next is either the other one cooking, or something you could make one-handed.
Tonight's one of those - fried halloumi with hummus, harissa & salad in a big wrap. That's going to take me a whole 10 minutes.

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Telecommie@reddit

Yup. Involved meals happen on non-busy days. Pizza night (frozen or takeout) or Mediterranean night (veggies, hummus, etc) are strategically placed for busy nights.

And one night is a fridge clean out - everything left over is fair game.

That leaves about 3-4 days of real cooking for me. And I typically ask the kids to lead one of those and they’ll make a favorite of theirs.

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Geester43@reddit

After working 60 hours a week, raising two children, cooking a real dinner, every night, with a husband that was physically there, but that's it. I am now divorced, living alone. I hardly ever cook; I am over it! I cook things that will have leftovers, if I cook at all. Usually it is some eggs, or a can of Progresso soup. For holidays at my daughter's, I love to bake something special and help with prep and cleanup. 👍👍😊

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Independent_Wrap_321@reddit

Taco Bell enters the chat

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

😂

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shawnymcclain@reddit

I feel this in my soul! After raising 4 kids neither me or the hubs can come up with dinner ideas let alone cook. We’re eating a shameful amount of take out as empty nesters

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Intelligent-Mine-868@reddit

I’m happy with just beans on toast for dinner at this point. Definitely over elaborate meals.

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ConsultantForLife@reddit

Your husband should be cooking 1/2 the time unless there's a reason for the workload to not be split.

Source: 52 year old dude who cooks about half the time and cleans up about half the time.

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sane-asylum@reddit

I’m tired and don’t feel so hot, I’m eating cereal for dinner tonight

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pookiepie9@reddit

I just had mine. It's easy and cheap too.

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sane-asylum@reddit

Change of plans. A buddy just dropped off swordfish dip and crackers. Now I have to decide which is a better pairing. Coco Puffs, Cheerios, 2 different kinds of Special K, Frosted Flakes, Frosted Crispies, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, or Fruity Pebbles. Yes, this is my current cereal lineup.

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micro_berts@reddit

My kids are grown and out of the house, so it's just the 2 of us. I've been planning and cooking meals for 40 years. My husband used to help but he's now disabled and lost a lot of hand function. I am so sick of the shopping, planning, cooking, and cleaning. If I could afford a private chef, I'd be all in!

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One-Sock7417@reddit

I prefer to cook. I don’t know what goes on in the kitchens of some places. I will brave it on occasion for a good steak and lobster, but I try to cook most things myself.

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Classic_Location_594@reddit

A salad and a tin of sardines has been my dinner for a decade.

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notadamnprincess@reddit

I’m on what I think of as the Frasier diet for dinner most nights: tossed salad and scrambled eggs. I’m pretty over cooking much else.

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Classic_Location_594@reddit

At least you know what to do with them

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LeMadChefsBack@reddit

First, why doesn’t your husband help? That’s frustrating.

Have you tried meal prepping? Not every meal for the week, but just make a few big batches of a few meals and then throw them in the fridge. The average time per meal is a lot less, and healthier and cheaper than carry out.

My Costco has prepared meals which are reasonably healthy. They usually have 6+ servings. Also healthier than carry-out.

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ClassicCityCupid@reddit

Exactly my thoughts!

And Happy Cake day 🥳

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ClassicCityCupid@reddit

Exactly my thoughts!

And Happy Cake day 🥳

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mycoffecup@reddit

Omg yes. I've even started moving towards OMAD just to reduce all related to planning, shopping cooking, cleaning.

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WasteOfTime-GetALife@reddit

MEEEE!! 👆

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JenniferJuniper6@reddit

I’m just really damn tired, in general.

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jadekitten@reddit

Me too. Just tired.

I have found some videos on instagram, Asian inspired, that have prompted me to make a few things that last the week.

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classicsat@reddit

Cooking isn't bad. It is planning meals ahead enough to shop for them.

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tk42967@reddit

I've got custody of my 17 year old twins. Once they are gone, I'll probably not cook anymore. Even now, the kids take turns cooking dinner afew nights a week.

Last night my son did skinless/boneless chicken thighs and sauteed Brussel sprouts.

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earthtobobby@reddit

I’m exhausted. Kids don’t care for what I cook. They barely pitch in to help clean. I don’t have the bandwidth anymore for it.

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BigLoudWorld74@reddit

I don't think I could ever give up cooking. I've always enjoyed cooking for the family. Plus my wife is a smart beautiful lady that I love with all my heart, but she can burn water. 😂

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Inevitable_Split7666@reddit

I’m tired of cooking for myself. My whole family has different dites,so my husband cooks for himself and the kids. I make my own meals. He works from home,so it’s easier for him to do it. It would be so nice if I had one meal cooked for me, it’s been years.

Just venting.

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jonwar5@reddit

No , I derive great pleasure from knowing all the ingredients I'm putting in all my cooking. And in serving my friends and family something better than food like substances made by mega corps!

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TheLurkerSpeaks@reddit

I'm exhausted.

It's a shame because I do love to cook, and love to eat. I have all the cooking utensils, all the ingredients. But by the time I get home nowadays I just don't have it in me.

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BreakerBoy6@reddit

You know what works great? The fucking pressure cooker.

I love that thing. You can buy a gigantic cut of pork or beef and do it all up at once, then have it on hand for reheats through the week.

Pasta, rice, etc., are the most difficult thing you'll need to cook on the fly if you have the meat ready to go, plus a shelf full of different kinds of jarred sauces and a freezer full of nuke-in-the-bag microwave vegetables.

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formercotsachick@reddit

I swear, if the only things I ever made in mine were risotto and hard boild eggs it would pay for itself.

But of course there's so much more! I made this the other night, and with a high quality jarred sauce like Rao's or Mezetta, it's super easy but tastes like you spent all day making it https://www.snixykitchen.com/weeknight-instant-pot-beef-ragu/

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Maja_Bean@reddit

My mom used a pressure cooker for years. That thing always scared the bejegiees out of me. I have a very nice one; tried to use it and couldn’t get over the thought of too much pressure building up and blowing a hole through my ceiling.

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montbkr@reddit

I love mine, too. My husband takes his lunch, so I make enough for that night and the next day.

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formercotsachick@reddit

I'll be the cheese that stands alone I guess, and say that I love cooking. I'm a huge foodie and I love coming up with menus, trying new recipes/ingredients, and trying to replicate dishes from fancy restaurants we've eaten at. It helps that it's just my husband and I, and both of us will honestly eat just about anything - no picky eaters or allergies/food sensitivities to work around.

Cooking and baking is 100% my happy place, and is the one time where I feel like I'm in control of everything around me. I won Best Sauce two years in a row at our city's local Italian festival and am gunning for third. I also volunteer for an organization (Lasagna Love) that provides home-cooked meals to people in need.

The only part I don't like is grocery shopping, but I solved that by outsourcing to Instacart. I tip very well and I've been very pleased with the shoppers I've gotten over the last 5 years with few exceptions.

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VincentVan_Dough@reddit

I’ll join you on the cheese bench. I loooove cooking and baking and started as a kid. I’m currently discussing with my kid on what to have for dinner 😂 I’m leaning towards a quiche with a homemade shortcrust with a salad and she’s picking a Parmesan garlic orzo with sausage from the butcher and spinach. Husband is trying to sway us towards a homemade sourdough pizza with burrata.

The biggest upside to my love of cooking is that healthy whole eating is easy and normal. I’ve never had to fight with my teenage to eat vegetables or stay away from ultraprocessed foods. She doesn’t like fast food, packaged foods, supermarket bread and last years halloween candy haul is still sitting in the drawer. We seem to be able to eat a lot, never feel hungry and maintain a normal weight.

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formercotsachick@reddit

Yes, I managed to raise a kid who will also eat just about anything! She had some dislikes when she was young (like would eat certain veggies cooked but not raw), but now she's just as adventurous as we are. Her fiancee won't eat fish or seafood - not allergic, just doesn't like it - so that's a challenge sometimes when they come over, but not too difficult to work around.

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VincentVan_Dough@reddit

Avoiding seafood isn’t so bad, definitely can be worked around. My kid also didn’t eat certain things when she was little like mushrooms but seemed to have warmed to them over time. But she’s still selective on what kind. She hates white/brown button mushrooms but loves shiitake, enoki, abalone, oysters and portobello. Won’t eat tomatoes raw but will eat them cooked any way 🤷‍♀️

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Commander-of-ducks@reddit

I do virtually all the cooking, and it gets tiresome. But eating out all the time gets very expensive and damn, portion sizes caused weight gain.

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pocketdare@reddit

portion sizes

Restaurants really are insane when it comes to this. I mean, at least it means I can take a doggie bag home but I always think, do most people actually eat this much and am I the outlier?

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Commander-of-ducks@reddit

I think people do. Then all the food waste is crazy.

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HippCelt@reddit

Nope I kinda enjoy it . The only time I got annoyed was when I lived with my ex . The woman had a very limited palate and would only eat chicken and vegatables.

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Curiously_Zestful@reddit

I get Chinese takeout WI extra meat, $20 an entree and that lasts 3 nights. I hear you on the cooking. I still cook, two nights a week because it is the only way to get my husband to eat vegetables. I swear to God I have negotiated with that man to eat one more bite of peas 😜😂

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iamnotbetterthanyou@reddit

I’m the cook in our home and am in easy mode these days. I can cook up a storm, but am sick of meal planning. Spouse can and does cook, but gets home around 7 most nights while I’m here by 4, so it’s mean spirited to wait for them to do it in my mind.

Rice, protein, veggie most nights at this point. Sub potatoes/pasta/quinoa/etc for rice as desired. Pesto and zhoug sauce (from Trader Joe’s) do a lot of heavy lifting in the flavor department.

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Jamory76@reddit

When I get burned out I just switch it up to super easy meals for a while. Grilled cheese, tomato soup, BLTs, even hotdogs. Eventually it puts me in the mood to cook again. Or I’ll do a full day of meal prepping so that I can take some time off cooking all together.

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foxinthegrove@reddit

Take a break from cooking. You deserve it. Plan an entire month of ready-made, frozen, takeout, whatever fits your budget and both of your dietary preferences, and just let it go. You deserve it.

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Wrong_Staff_6148@reddit

Yup. I used to LOVE to cook. It’s the clean up I dread. Ugh

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Flacuckold@reddit

My whole cooking style is to use as few dishes as possible. Of course one pot dishes are best, but I try to minimize and clean as I go.

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nocturneOG@reddit

No.

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nojam75@reddit

Phew. I'm glad I never learned to cook.

Fortunately my partner cooks for us. He grills or bakes a meat and microwaves vegetables, so nothing elaborate.

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-CollabsWithKaia-@reddit

I pretty much despise cooking. 😂

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peachesandsir@reddit

Same !

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Zestyclose_Narwhal15@reddit

I got burnt out and stopped doing it. I am happy to have an easy meal that can be heated up from a few basic ingredients. Or just a sandwich. The hubs picked up the slack since a bigger meal was more important to him. If he is not inspired it’s sandwiches or something easy. Every person for themselves.

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rfriendselectric@reddit

I’m tired of thinking

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WimpyZombie@reddit

Agreed....that's why I stopped about 30 years ago.

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rochvegas5@reddit

I'm not tired of cooking. I'm tired of thinking of something to cook

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WimpyZombie@reddit

Finding interesting new recipes is very easy with the internet. I see all kinds of stuff I would love to try. My problem is when I need odd ingredients I don't normally use - not only do I now need to make a special trip to the store for 1 or 2 things, but I usually need to buy more than I need for the recipe and then I end up throwing out the rest. That's the first thing I think of when I see these recipes....how much food am I going to end up throwing away?

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brickfrenzy@reddit

I intermittently subscribe to Hello Fresh for just this reason - it gives me 3 meals a week when I'm subscribed that I don't have to think about what I'm making.

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WimpyZombie@reddit

I did that for a while too. I enjoyed it, but can't afford it! They even tell you what you are paying per serving for each meal, and usually it's at least $10 a serving. Nice for a treat but can't afford to live on it.

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brickfrenzy@reddit

Yeah, the base rate is $10.99 per serving plus shipping. But I generally subscribe when they have one of those deals, go until the 8 weeks of discounts run out, then cancel and wait for them to send me another deal.

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WHowe1@reddit

This!

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starship7201u@reddit

Ugh. YES. I print off recipes all the time and still feel tired of cooking.

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DeepBlue210@reddit

I started subscribing to Cook Unity so I could have a prepared meal that I don’t have to cook but isn’t loaded with preservatives and crap. That worked for a few months before I got tired of it. And it’s not cheap, but less expensive than eating out all the time

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WarTurbulent2063@reddit

The only reason to do it was for that family bonding at the table time. Kids are grown, husband can fend for himself sometimes. Cut back as much as you'd like.

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GableCat@reddit

lol sounds like my single days… throw in a popcorn dinner!

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hereforthepopcorn39@reddit

I am too tired to think. Even taking a dish to a friend's house or planning a dessert is exhausting. I don't want to rely on prepackaged foods, but here we are.

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No-Reading-4384@reddit

You really need a reset

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MsMo999@reddit

When I stopped drinking 2020 I started cooking like 4 times a week. I’ve had such a busy year I’m down to 1 meal a week and here at home it’s still appreciated so I won’t stop yet.

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chriscorso@reddit

I've been cooking meals for my kids (now 18 and 20) and occasionally my wife for years. My wife is always dieting so what she has for dinner varies based on her mood.

My eldest is away at college but will be commuting to school her final two years and my youngest will be starting college in the fall and commuting from the start or at least his first two years. I'd expected them both to be away at school but that's not happening.

I hate cooking. It's demoralizing because my kids and wife all like different things and coming up with dinner ideas every day only to get comments or have them not eat it is hard.

I'm personally indifferent to food. If I was alone I'm not sure how I'd eat.

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Reader47b@reddit

"I hate cooking. It's demoralizing because my kids and wife all like different things and coming up with dinner ideas every day only to get comments or have them not eat it is hard." THIS, exactly. We got to a point where everyone was just preparing their own dinners, because I didn't want to do this anymore. The issue is, that's expensive, when you aren't collectively preparing meals.

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hattenwheeza@reddit

I hate to publicly admit how much I detest cooking for grandkids and broader family for this reason. So exhausting and so little emotional pay off when it's complained about or left uneaten. I loved my grandma's cooking, and had experienced hunger as a kid so I was raised to eat broadly and be grateful to go to school or to sleep with a full stomach. I feel like folks need to experience hunger for awhile to get over their pickiness & entitlement; then maybe it'd be rewarding to cook again.

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bamagurl06@reddit

I have never fallen into cooking multiple meals for 1 meal. Eat what I cook or I’m not cooking. Grown kids being picky they can fix it them selves. To spend my time cooking and cleaning after working all day for there to be comments or just not eating, I just wouldn’t. That’s me though. There has been times when somebody truly didn’t like a particular food so if we had that I would cook say an additional veggie or something but beyond that is a no.

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Kitty-Keek@reddit

My mom is gone now, but she did this. She made the meal and we ate it. We were informed when we were very little that we were not allowed to say we didn’t like something, we were not allowed to make a face, and we had to eat it without complaining, but my mother was really good about not making things that we didn’t like. But she never made special meals for any of us. And when she was 50 something she pretty much was cooking just for my dad and she kind of got into all kinds of interesting foods and stuff so she enjoyed doing that but… I never would make a comment about someone’s food, especially if they prepared it for me!

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Knitspin@reddit

I love cooking a big pot of something and freezing it in individual portions. That way I only cook once in awhile.

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Fun-Ingenuity-9089@reddit

This is what I do, too. I'll make 3 different large batch meals and freeze them. My kids are all struggling with low wage jobs even with college degrees, so I cook enough to feed us all. I usually make something in the crock pot, some type of soup, and something that takes a bit more effort. But in making 3 different things there's a variety and I only have to do dishes once a week.

I didn't really cook for the first 2 years after my husband passed away. I didn't care if I lived or not, quite honestly, but my adult kids still need me to be a functioning parent. So now I cook enough for me, my sons, and my daughter and her roommates.

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No-Reading-4384@reddit

Make them cook sometime

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BillsBells65@reddit

Yes

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MareOfDalmatia@reddit

I absolutely love cooking a nice meal. I cooked 2 to 3 times a week and try to make enough for leftovers. It’s my hobby.

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hattenwheeza@reddit

It's the managing of kitchen inventory along with planning and cleaning up that has me burned TF out. 43 yrs of cooking, 40 yrs of doing all shopping and planning and budgeting and actual cooking.

I need to be eating my main meal earlier and having just a dinner snack, but I develop food coma easily and doing that means I'm drowsing thru afternoon. Arrrgghh. So plump from eating late!

Also hubs loves his 5pm-6pm cocktail hour and doesn't want to eat till 7pm. I only cook to not waste money on eating out and to ensure we each eat healthy foods, get adequate veg & fiber. I do batch cook tho so I can minimize how often I have to do alll that planning

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Big_Midnight_6632@reddit

I cook twice a week. Husband cooks twice. The other three nights we call "fend for yourself." We try to make enough for leftovers. Been doing it about a year and we are both satisfied. And now I have the energy to bake every once in awhile.

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MakeupMama68@reddit

Yeah.. I don’t recall signing up for feeding these people 3 meals a day 😆😆. My eldest daughter is a culinary student so that’s been lovely!! I taught my kids to cook at a very young age, my husband knows how to cook, yet it’s always me they ask “what’s for dinner”? 🤨

Most of the time I just feel like eating a bowl of refried beans with some cheese 😆

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jmatias78@reddit

I could totally live on beans and cheese 😁

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MakeupMama68@reddit

It’s so my comfort meal 😆

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mitkase@reddit

Cooking and cleaning up afterwards is one of the few things that resembles meditation these days. Plus, I love to eat.

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LayerNo3634@reddit

When we were empty nesters, husband and I started eating out every evening on the way home from work. It was a great way to avoid heavy traffic. We worked near each other and car pooled since we had a 45 minute commute each way in no traffic. Traffic was heaviest at that time, so we ate near work to avoid a 1.5 hour drive home. We're now retired and eat out to get out of the house.

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Kitty-Keek@reddit

I stopped cooking during COVID when my elderly father was staying with us after surgery. I haven’t started again and I don’t care. My husband is an energetic person and he does all the cooking, pretty much.

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LawrenceSpiveyR@reddit

I cook for leftovers. By the time I cook and clean up, I don't have much of an appetite anymore. Then we eat leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. So I cook \~every other or third night anymore.

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75artina@reddit

yes, so tired. i cook every single night, because my husband has a very specific diet. I have basically become a short order cook.

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tyndyn@reddit

It's the clean up after cooking that's worse for me.

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djhyland@reddit

Especially when I've already done the cooking. Would it kill my wife or kids to put their used dishes in the dishwasher rather than adding to the increasingly-unstable mountain of dirty dishes by the sink? Probably.

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ProfessionalLab9068@reddit

Change up your cleaning tools, find new materials that smell amazing, reinspire!

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rem326@reddit

Hate it….maybe will cook once or twice a week.

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TheBarbarian88@reddit

Nah, tik-tok, reels, etc, have reignited my live of cooking. Although I do get tired of cooking after 5 straight nights, I’ll goad my wife into cooking.

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NotAnotherThing@reddit

Yes! I am bored of eating as well as cooking.

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SuckerEMC@reddit

My grandparents sat down every night in front of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy with a bowl of cottage cheese and peaches (canned, when out of season- bleh, but it worked for them) for probably 30 years once the kids were gone. They got their protein, some fiber and if the peaches didn’t satisfy the sweet tooth, there was ice cream in the house. I love that model. Some nights even a salad and a can of tuna or sardines feels like too much work… 😓 (and I’m a household of ONE!!)

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Glad-Arugula-8387@reddit

Yes! We have a teen so we obv have a duty to provide meals for him but seriously, when he is off to college I may eat cereal happily every night!

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Glam-Star-Revival@reddit

Same OP, same. I cooked dinner last night and when I was done I was like why did I bother to make this? Could of just ate a bowl of ice cream

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brockclan216@reddit

I stopped cooking on the regular about 2 years ago. I still cook a bit for myseflf but family meals are few and far between. The last time I cooked a family meal was this last Christmas. I am divorced with 2 young adults still atu home so we all just do our own thing.

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cattlekidvi@reddit

YES! Add in that my husband and I are both on Ozempic. No one has any interest in eating in this house.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

We are too. That definitely doesn’t help with wanting to cook.

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WimpyZombie@reddit

I will admit that it would be a hell of a lot easier to motivate myself to do it if I was not alone. But to come home at night after a long day at work and think about constructing something to eat for just me...is pointless.

I do try to cook something on the weekend that I can eat as leftovers later in the week, but sometimes even doing that takes a lot of motivation that I don't have.

What's really horrible is that the last two months I have spent WAY TOO MUCH money getting a lot of stuff from DoorDash. *sigh*

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CantaloupeFluffy165@reddit

I do the cooking in my family.Yes it's a pain in the ass.I try to make just enough to get at least 1 night of leftovers.That gives me a break for at least 1 day.And because my wife's a vegetarian I make sure she has non-meat things to eat.

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I-used2B-a-Valkyrie@reddit

No, I love it. But I’m 50 with a 5yo who also loves to help cook, so this is a big part of most of our evenings (except Wednesdays, we have late classes and hubby has late poker night).

But I understand how the burnout is real, especially without little ones to cook for every night.

We are still at this point in our lives where we are focusing on a sit-down family dinner 6 nights a week.

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unicornwantsweed@reddit

I made Rice Krispies for dinner for hubby and I last week. We didn’t feel like being adults that night.

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No-Chair-8068@reddit

He couldn’t make his own Rice Krispies? 😂

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unicornwantsweed@reddit

It was my idea so I made them. I don’t think he thought I was serious until I pulled out the cereal.

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lionbacker54@reddit

Nope

I like being frugal and eating healthy. I like food tasting the way I want it.

I dislike plastic packaging, and I dislike the food waste associated with restaurants

Taken together, I greatly prefer cooking to eating out

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oopsymeohboy@reddit

Okay but you must realize these things aren’t mutually exclusive, yes?

I can dislike or be bored of cooking and also dislike plastic packaging, food waste, and food tasting in a way I don’t want. I guarantee all of those apply to the vast majority of all people whether they cook or not or tire of cooking or not.

Being tired of cooking does not equal plastic & food you don’t like/want or unhealthy food.

It’s not wholly unlikely that someday you tire of cooking or are unable to cook for physical or cognitive limitations and you should know that all things food & diet don’t have to go to shit just because of that.

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lionbacker54@reddit

Sure. You can always find specifics that are exceptions to the rule.

But generally, restaurant food is more wasteful

And generally, restaurant food is less healthy

And generally, restaurant food, particularly with take out, uses more single use plastic

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oopsymeohboy@reddit

You are confusing being tired of cooking with eating restaurant food. One does not equal the other nor does one automatically follow the other, that’s a jump that you are making and it was not premised anywhere in the OP.

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BBennett40@reddit

Saw a meme that said "No one told me that being adult meant deciding what to make for dinner every day for the rest of your life." I felt that.

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Gracie1two3@reddit

I stopped cooking on a schedule. We're retired and if I feel like cooking, it's usually a nice lunch and not dinner. Most days we just fend for ourselves. We eat out a few times a month.

I cook chili, soup, spaghetti sauce, fried rice, meatballs, etc occasionally. I freeze it in single servings so we can pop it in the microwave. Works for us.

When I told my husband I was tired of cooking every day he said, "so don't cook." I now find cooking enjoyable only when I cook for fun.

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beckybooboo1978@reddit

I so feel this!! There are no children in the house anymore. I’ve been creating dinner menus for 27 years. I’m done with it. But every day around 4:00, my husband asks, “what’s for dinner?”. I don’t freakin know! Cereal, can of soup, yogurt….?

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ChasingUnicornsDaily@reddit

I don't know, ask your mom.

I hear ya. 30 years of marriage. I've raised and homeschooled two boys who are now on their own. I've been the married single woman. I went back to work two years ago after being home 20. He works from home two days a week. I'm sorry, he's gonna have to step up because I've completed that project and the activities coordinator resigned. Oh, my employer provides breakfast and lunch everyday. That's enough for me to survive without cooking dinner.

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Reader47b@reddit

"Whatever you choose to cook, dear."

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DonegalBrooklyn@reddit

Thank God for Shoprite's rotisserie chicken. My son is still a teen and I'm already so tired of this. I don't even want dinner to happen at all, nevermind facilitating the process!

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Norfolkinchanceinh__@reddit

YES!!!!!

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ConsuelaShlepkiss@reddit

I'm also in my 50s, my eldest child is just about to move out, and last night I said "You're about to be on your own, how about you fix dinner?" only to be met with a stare of incomprehension. "Oh, let ME do it...again!" I said. I'm tired of meal planning, tired of being the one to prepare meals...I've had enough. Eat a pb&j for all I care.

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Admirable-Wafer1104@reddit

Stop cooking. If this child is about to move out, they should be able to cook. Let them get hungry while they figure it out.

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tiltedsun@reddit

My parents would default to breakfast for dinner whenever they ran out of ideas.

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milleratlanta@reddit

We would have “eat what you find” dinners. 😄

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ConsuelaShlepkiss@reddit

I do that too. We'll be doing that tonight, in fact.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yep.

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deuelpm@reddit

There really is something to the idea of Bachelor Chow - my wife says she’d go looking for it if I didn’t cook…

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Strong_Medium_6646@reddit

Nope, it’s one of the things that I really enjoy.

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MMDE-S@reddit

I feel the same way after cooking more more than 30 years. Even murderers can get paroled after that much time served, why am I still in the kitchen?!?!

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tired-middle-ager@reddit

I do cook and so does spouse. Spouse does most of grocery shopping. He must have a good dinner every night or gets mangry/hangry...

We usually have:

-steak/chicken/fish and a side

-curry or korma dish of some sort

-stew or chili in crock pot w/baked potato

-omelettes/dinner breakfast

-Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

-rice/gravy and chicken with side

Typically cook one night and then have the leftovers for next night or two after. We are usually too tired to eat out and find it easier to just cook at home.

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Nearby_Quality_5672@reddit

We have been having rice bowls recently. They are quick, easy and tasty.

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michelepixels@reddit

I do all my cooking on weekends, then just reheat if necessary during the week.

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BillDaPony101@reddit

Trader Joe’s.

Combine a premade base with something fresh. Halves the dishes, doesn’t feel too sad, and the cost isn’t bad.

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battlesong1972@reddit

I’ve never seen a Trader Joe’s

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BillDaPony101@reddit

Bummer. I’ve only adopted it as my main grocery in the past year or so.

The hype is real, and the prices are relatively excellent these days. Lots of really good imported private label stuff too.

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Advanced-Method3325@reddit

I'd be going to cooking classes with my hubby.

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largos7289@reddit

We did that too it was fun, but then it got hell of expensive.

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largos7289@reddit

My wife the other day said, i don't know why i even bother doing this no one eats it anymore. I looked at her like she was crazy and said, "so i don't count?" If the kids don't want too that's on them, you can certainly do it for me! I'm more short order stuff while she is more proper meal. The few times i've done it she was like so where's the vegetable? i was like we need that? LOL

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Perfectly_i@reddit

I stopped cooking once my son was grown and out of the house. There was a time (when I was much younger) that I kind of enjoyed it. But now? It’s fend for yourself.

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LordsOfWestminster@reddit

I work in a school kitchen (nice slide into retirement BTW) and cook and clean up from two full meals for thousands of kids. To come home and do it a third time is tough.

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donotpass25@reddit

I stopped cooking a few years ago. And, I mean stopped. I raised 4 kids and have been married 47 years. I just started telling folks, when appropriate, that I don’t cook. I handle my own food, hubby handles his, my children and grandchildren know mom/nana is not cooking, and I go out to eat with all my wonderful family often. We’re ALL happy.

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krneki534@reddit

Because a meal is a pleasure, if it is not good, what pleasure it is?

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milleratlanta@reddit

Often it’s just fuel.

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krneki534@reddit

for most yes, for the educated is a joy to share that not only makes you feel good, but leads to a long, healthy and joyful life.

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milleratlanta@reddit

The most joy is when someone else makes it.

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krneki534@reddit

yeah, just sit there while the world does all the work, I'm sure it will work great for you

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milleratlanta@reddit

You went from pompous jackass to just jackass real fast. 🤣 Go away.

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vomputer@reddit

I love cooking, but I certainly don’t make an organized meal every day, especially when my kids aren’t here. Your man needs to learn to cook and not be a crybaby.

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2workigo@reddit

I’ll cook if something is specifically requested but otherwise, I’m done coming up with ideas. And going to the grocery store. Fortunately my husband doesn’t mind doing the shopping and I’ve learned to appreciate that and not complain if he gets something wrong. ;)

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HorseyDung@reddit

We cook together, maybe a glass of wine or a beer, now it's more of a social event.

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krneki534@reddit

You don't prefer getting drunk or doom scrolling instead? weird

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HorseyDung@reddit

I don't doom scroll before dinner.

Or get drunk..

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krneki534@reddit

just trash talking and I do agree with you

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ksgar77@reddit

We started using hello fresh and it’s made me realize I didn’t hate the cooking…I hated the planning. It’s been a nice change.

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Shortyl@reddit

Wish it was a little more affordable! I loved it.

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ksgar77@reddit

It keeps us from eating out a couple times a week, so it’s actually saving us money.

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StandardSwordfish777@reddit

Both of us are tired of cooking. Some weeks we eat out too often due to this. I would love to just have a smoothie for dinner sometimes

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Guilty of that here too.

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Kimba01yo@reddit

My favorite reel is the husband asking what’s for dinner and she replied, “nothing”. He looked shocked and whined, “what? That’s what we had last night!” She said, “right, I made enough for two nights.” 🤣 I literally laughed until I cried!

Considering there is at least one post a week stating this, it’s common! I’m bored of food!

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

😂😂 I haven’t seen this, but I love it.

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ChateauLaFeet@reddit

😹😹😹

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chloe38@reddit

Yeah LOL. When I got divorced a few years ago after 21yrs. I realized I don't love cooking at home. I now cook about 2-3 times a week, and make enough for left overs on the off days LOL.

Your hub will be fine. He will prob just eat cereal LOL

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isuamadog@reddit

Cooking isn’t my problem, it’s the clean up after. I’ll cook (and clean as I go) but the goddamned after dinner clean up is the worst.

Divorced with a teen who has a very busy life and should be bothered to do dishes but is inconsistent and a mom who is 80’s and blind and senile. So it isn’t much but it adds up fast.

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Silent-Basis7870@reddit

Yes gone are the full course meals. I love to cook but I am sick of making dinner, yes they are 2 different things.

We equally share cooking and kitchen cleaning. When i cook, I'll let him know what I'm cooking and if he wants more sides he needs to prepare them and visa versa.

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Alovingcynic@reddit

Exactly!

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Immediate_Mud_2858@reddit

Son (26) and his gf (25) own their own home.

We (61M/60F) batch cook a lot - slow cooker bolognaise, lasagne, curry, chilli - when we do a roast chicken or pork we use the leftovers in fried rice.

But there are times that we have beans or scrambled eggs on toast for dinner. Sometimes we’re not arsed to cook 🤣

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Cak3Wa1k@reddit

I eat the same thing everyday. Streamlines things. Really tough when I have to decide on a meal then gather ingredients then prep them, then eat then clean up. It's so much. And I don't have the hormones that make me wanna try to be amicable about it.

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Fritzo2162@reddit

I was a professional chef years ago, and I still enjoy cooking when I get home. My job is stressful, and that 20-30 minutes I take cooking a meal for my wife when I get home allows me to reset. I have a grocery store on my way home, so I typically stop in, buy fresh ingredients, and that way I don’t have to deal with defrosting food. Most meals are single-pan dinners with a protein, then a vegetable with an occasional starch. A side-effect of this is keeping healthy- we’re both in our 50s and managed to avoid weight gain, medications, and we’re both still very active.

I love food, and I view cooking as treating myself with something delicious at the end of the day.

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tiltedsun@reddit

I try to make soup or stew while doing laundry. Meal prep for the lazy nights.

Most evenings everything becomes a burrito 🌯

Make extra peppers and onions and that can carry over a few days as well.

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k8freed@reddit

Same. LOTS of soup over here. This week, it was lentil. Turkey and swiss cheese sandwiches for lunch. Hummus and raw veggies for snacks, fruit for late night snacks. I use my oven for storage.

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MhojoRisin@reddit

My main problem is coming up with a variety of meals so my wife doesn’t get too bored of what I cook.

Left to my own devices, it would be grilled meat + potato or dinner roll + vegetable or salad. Every night. Because it’s easy and what I like best.

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rick43402@reddit

I make a slow cooker meal every few days and what we don't eat we freeze, this way we can take out the leftovers and have for dinner or lunch. I'm getting a bread maker for my 72nd birthday and I see a lot of sandwiches in our future.

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tiltedsun@reddit

I love my bread machine. I found it at the curb during Covid. “Wel-built”

I mostly use it for the dough and bake in oven on a pizza stone. Otherwise, every loaf has a dough hook hole.

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hermitnpjs@reddit

Definitely tired of cooking. Thankfully, the husband has picked up the cooking. He cooks us lunch for the bigger meal for the day and at night we're on our own, like a sandwich or leftovers. I'd prefer just cooking a big pot of something and eating on that for days if it were left to me.

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spark58510@reddit

I feel this way about working lol

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eaglenestwatcher@reddit

We eat a lot of frozen meals

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FlippingPossum@reddit

When I don't feel like cooking dinner, I hand it over to my husband. Perimenopause is a freaking energy drain on some days. I like to make soups and freeze the leftovers in single servings. Meal prep salads and currys.

Nobody is going to starve if I eat a pb&j.

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MistressPaine666@reddit

After 35 years, I’ll bet you’re a damn good cook, but that’s a double edge sword. Most things that are easy or pre-prepared don’t taste good anymore. No more throwing a frozen lasagna in the oven because I know mine would be so much better. There are worse problems to have, but it still sucks.

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szdragon@reddit

This is my "problem". I tell my husband I hate cooking, but he asks why I spend So much time in the kitchen, then. Well. It's because I'm good at it, and I prefer what I make...

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

That’s my husband’s excuse. He CAN cook, “but you’re so good at it”. Completely unfair.

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szdragon@reddit

Every man's excuse for every chore in the house. Unfortunately, with food, I CARE how good it is 😁

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Tiger_Striped_Queen@reddit

I gave up cooking. I was doing it three or four nights a week and they’d usually be too many leftovers that we go to waste. Don’t get me wrong, the food was good, but either people were dieting or there was too much (used to making a lot of food for a lot of people, I can’t get myself to minimize now). Plus I got sick of the cleanup as well as the cooking and the putting the additional food away. It’s so annoying.

And you know what, nobody’s gonna starve to death. None of them were lacking for food, they’re all adults. They can find their own food.

I’ve fully embraced girl dinner. Tonight I had a bag of grapes, a protein drink and Italian bread with butter. And I’m good with that. Stop doing things that don’t bring you enjoyment.

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stickybond009@reddit

Is everything in life to be decided around enjoyment?

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Tiger_Striped_Queen@reddit

When you’ve dedicated 35 years to making everyone else happy yes, yes it should.

It’s obvious that it’s a chore for OP, one they’ve had to bear the responsibility for and that they do not want to do.

And honestly why not? Cooking meals isn’t a survival need anymore, you have ready made meals available nearly everywhere. Even healthy ones.

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crackersucker2@reddit

YOLO. Why not?

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MasterClown@reddit

My wife and I have very different palettes, mainly because we grew up in different countries. So we will generally prepare our own dishes, but still sit together to munch.

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Cinderella_Boots@reddit

In my 50’s and single now for 3 years and I feel so blessed to not hear those the words anymore “what’s for dinner?”. I think it’s time you told your husband you are retiring 😏

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affectionateanarchy8@reddit

I told my gf (both F) she cant ask me that because if i have to spend the rest of my life answering 'whats for dinner' every night i will burn the house down so now we have 'no questions without suggestions' rule which i actually got from reddit lol

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Cinderella_Boots@reddit

Ps. Lost a house to fire. Don’t recommend.

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Cinderella_Boots@reddit

Oh I like that! I’ll have to use that strategy on myself 😆

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AmharachEadgyth@reddit

Oh yes! And what makes it less interesting is I’ve changed my diet (less dairy and meat, more veg and grains) but my partner says they want to eat healthier but doesn’t. I did cooing for one when I was single but now, not AT ALL interested in doing so.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

This is me. Suggestions, if I get any, are cheesesteaks, fried this or that…or steaks. I’m tired of eating like that. It’s like dragging an anvil around to try to get healthier.

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TheM3lk0r@reddit

"Couldn't care less".

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AngstyAF5020@reddit

I quit for the most part. I will do it occasionally when I need video for a vintage knife I have restored (hobby that turned into a side hustle), or when I want to have leftovers for lunches. It's been several years and we mostly scrounge for dinner.

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Futurecrew9@reddit

I (53) got bored and annoyed with cooking and the amount of faff involved around 6 months ago, I now make one pot wonders or frozen batches I make now and then. My main logic now is path of least resistance and more time for fun stuff or chilling.

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Vile_Vava@reddit

I want more time to cook. I’m tired… well that’s it. I was going to say what I’m tired of but it’s an exhaustive list. I wish I could shop every day for fresh ingredients and spend a couple hours preparing meals for my wife and I that are healthy and we both enjoy. Instead I have a freezer full of compromises.

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DeadZooDude@reddit

I enjoy cooking when I have the time. So I batch cook at weekends and we eat from the freezer during the week - it definitely takes the tedium out of cooking every night, it's cheaper than takeout and it's healthier than eating over-processed junk.

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RedHarleyQuinn@reddit

This! I say “I love to cook. I hate making dinner”. If it’s my choice and I have time I love making food and love making food people enjoy but after almost 45 years of making dinners I’m just over it.

My folks taught me to cook and expected me to help get dinner ready or clear the table starting at 10yo, which was reasonable and not like in a bad way mind you. I was also a single / divorced mom for 17 years and did the same with my boys.

We try to limit take out to once a week and my hubs is making more of an effort in learning to cook but some nights I’d just as soon skip it than cook.

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Ambitious_Unit1310@reddit

I hear you, to me it’s less about being tired cooking and more about bored with food.

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Comeoneileen1971@reddit

Toast or cereal is fine with me. I do love to cook but man I am tired.

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Grobbekee@reddit

I make a few standard dishes I learned over the years so I don't have to think about it. You can also cook big batches and freeze them.

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Expensive-Vanilla-16@reddit

Only thing we hate is choosing what to eat.

Sadly cooking is the only way to know mostly what's in your food.

Everything packaged is so full of fillers and preservatives it's ridiculous. No wonder there's so many cancers and other gut health related issues.

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InnerWolf8337@reddit

I’m so sick of it. I work FT plus often OT, come home, and the first thing I hear from the husband when I walk in the door is “What’s for dinner?” Uh, whatever can be scrounged up because I’m tired, man.

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neece_pancake@reddit

If he was home first, why couldn’t he start the dinner?

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InnerWolf8337@reddit

He could have. I 100 percent agree. Or scrounge up some leftovers or a sandwich. I’m happy with just a bowl of cereal or oatmeal at that point.

I wouldn’t call him old, but we’re in our early 60s and he grew up in a culture where it was traditional for the mom to be at home all day cooking three full meals. I never did do three full meals daily but when I was home with the kids I did cook a nice dinner. But I’ve been back at work for years now and I’m done with trying to do it all.

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DerpsV@reddit

I definitely feel like when I have to cook I should not also have the mental load of deciding what to cook. That's more exhausting to me than cooking... almost. Especially when I'm the last one home and they're starving and I'm not. You've had the time to figure out the meal, just tell me what to cook! Or I'll tell you what's for dinner but you have to cook it. Pick one, idc

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MrMucs@reddit

I've worked in the industry for approximately 35 years before becoming a health inspector. I still enjoy cooking too much. Some late or stressful days I order take out and know already which restaurants to order from.

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cholaw@reddit

I cook for the week on Sunday. You don't like it.... Starve

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Babymik9@reddit

So give us some examples of what you can make that is still good 3-4 days later?

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cholaw@reddit

Lasagna, ziti, Mac and cheese, tuna casserole, beans, jambalaya, chicken pot pie...

There's a lot and they freeze well

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interspeciesMama@reddit

Still love cooking, but probably only because, though I'm focused on nutritive value and taste, an organized brunch/dinner table, or servings to meet all & anyone's desire/appetite, has never been the focus, not to say that I don't make munchies to be dipped into in pantry & fridge/freezer, but those are made more for the fun of it. Brunch/dinner always seems to be all eaten, so c'est la vie I guess. However absolutely understand how the appeal of wanting to satiate expectations, fades with all of those distractions. It is as though it is never truly appreciated & rather more of a demand that the -Giver- in all of this, eventually finds no reward in.

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Substantial-Spare501@reddit

I live alone most of the year now (kids off at school). I usually make a pot of something at the beginning of the week (soup) and have that and maybe salad for 3 or 4 nights. Then I might do something frozen or go out for one meal but generally can split it into two.

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wetwater@reddit

I've always hated cooking. I do the bare minimum to keep me alive. I'd happily hook up to a feeding tube or an IV or something for an hour if it meant never having to prep meals or cook again.

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GenkiElite@reddit

I didn't cook for a while and ate like trash. Now I'm slowly clawing my way back to health. Generally I enjoy what I make more than when I eat out.

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Underbelly@reddit

So you care somewhat?

I hate cooking too. Thankfully my wife loves it and is an excellent cook.

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Thisisjuno@reddit

I’ve been sick of it for a long time lol and I went to culinary school.. it’s just me and my teenage daughter who never comes out of her room or is busy doing homework and everything I cook lately is in the rice cooker, which I makes some amazing meals in there though

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Stardust_Crunch@reddit

I have a financially unsound addiction to ordering delivery. It's too easy.

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hazysummersky@reddit

Your husband needs to learn to cook! Look, I'm a bloke and I fricken LOVE cooking! There's no excuse in this day and age to be incapable of being able to cater for oneself and one's loved ones!

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Traditional_Fan_2655@reddit

I still cook,but my sister has swapped to premade or ready to eat meals from the store. Some days, it is rough.

On those days, I either eat heated up queso on celery as a chip substitute, with salsa and tzatziki or ramen. I'm trying to reduce the chip salt, so I don't keep them in the house.

The ramen I eat is without the heavily laden salt packet and add a can of spicy tuna from the asian grocery store. If I'm less lackadaisacle, I might add chopped broccoli to the ramen, but that's pushing it.

I've also just eaten a PB&J or a grilled cheese before on these days.

I cook most days just as a mental dump, but being creative can be tiring. I've made it a game as to what is in the pantry or freezer. It's how I keep it varied.

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missusfictitious@reddit

I made the mistake early in our relationship. I took on all the domestic chores, shopping and cooking. I raised the children, he went to work. It felt fair, and it felt like my duty. Listen. Had I realized what a helpless man I was raising I would have stopped immediately. This guy is in his fifties and I can’t send him to the grocery store for anything without receiving at least one phone call and three photos. He does not know how to operate the dishwasher OR the washer and dryer. He can’t boil water. If I don’t feed him a meal, he raids the fridge like an unsupervised teenaged boy. He does a lot for our family, and he supports us 100%, but god damn do I wish he could make himself a sandwich once in awhile.

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4LeggedKC@reddit

I’d bet you $100 he knows way more than you think he does. If you stopped with the cooking and he didn’t go out to grab food he would be just fine, trust me. If he had you thinking he’s helpless he knows you’ll jump up and do it for him. Just drop and breathe, he’ll live.

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missusfictitious@reddit

I bet you $200 he doesn’t. Trust me.

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migopod@reddit

This is wild to me. I'm a man a bit over 50 and I love cooking. I do almost all the kitchen stuff, even learning new skills all the time. Like all I asked for for my last birthday was a nice end-grain cutting board.

I get that some people just don't like cooking all the time, but I just can't get my head around being so helpless.

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Rob_Zander@reddit

My partner always cooked in previous relationships. Now they basically make breakfast once every 2 weeks while I cook as the man of the house lol.

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migopod@reddit

I've never had a partner who did the bulk of the cooking I guess. I learned the basics in home economics in high school, then when I was out on my own there wasn't anybody to cook for me, so I just learned to do it. before too long I just got actually good at it, and love doing it.

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Ok-Shift-908@reddit

My hubby would be upset if I stop. It’s still cheaper than ordering out. I did stop cooking weekends (Fri- Sun). When one of us kick that bucket first, my cooking will stop.

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TheSpitalian@reddit

Especially if you kick it first

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1blueShoe@reddit

I’m just tired in general, tired of cooking, laundry, eating, socialising. Sometimes even taking my dog for a walk just feels like I’m being dragged about, knees in agony, carrying a bag of dog poop…. And I usually enjoy the dog walks.. feel as flat as the ironed woman 🫤

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NinjaGrandma6@reddit

I live with my daughter, my SIL, and my teen grandson. The three adults each have two nights a week when we decide what we are having for dinner, make the grocery list for it, and cook it. My grandson does dinner every other Friday, and we have YOYO (You're On Your Own) nights on the other Fridays. It works for us because no one has full responsibility for dinner every night. Also, if it's your night to cook, you don't do dishes, although those nights aren't "assigned".

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YamAlone2882@reddit

Yep I remember that feeling. It’s just me now, so I don’t cook as often. I’ll cook a nice meal for myself on the weekend, otherwise it’s takeout, cereal, a piece of cake or a liquid dinner. When my son comes to visit I’ll cook his favorite meal, but I also pick up some microwave meals for him ‘cause mama’s not cooking every night.

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BabaYagaOnBoard@reddit

Girl, wtf are you doing?! Use the microwave, and anyone who has a problem with it can climb all the way up to the top of fck off mountain and jump off. Cuz God for fckn bid they make something for themselves.

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PreviousEgg77@reddit

So tired of it! I often threaten to go on strike but same as you, my husband would probably cry. Lol

We go out to eat once a week. It’s not the perfect solution but it does take “the load off”. Also my husband does cook every now and then but it really isn’t often.

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noirreddit@reddit

The crockpot, air fryer, and canned soups have become my friends.

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PennyLand1@reddit

I'm so damn tired of deciding what to cook and then having to cook it. One day I'm gonna go on strike and be done with it.

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DoubleDrummer@reddit

I live purely from a diet of raw fruits consumed via intero-retrogestion.

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Ceased2Be@reddit

I loved to cook, when I bought my current house 8 years ago I was so happy it had a large kitchen and fancy appliances and a large oven. 6 years ago we found out I had Cushing's and had a golf ball sized tumor near my pituitary gland. After the operation my pituitary gland was destroyed and I need to supplement 5 hormones to basically function. Most of the times I don't have the energy to cook so it'll be some microwave meal and other times it will be something simple that'll take 15 minutes to make. And that sucks.

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HistoryGreat1745@reddit

Ugh, my 12yo daughter has congenital panhypopituitarism. She tends to not care for food much at all other than when she's low on sugar, low on salt, or both, in which case she steals our bottle of tomato sauce!! I suspect it's hard to see other benefits of foods when you're constantly trying to balance hormones.

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EmployerUpstairs8044@reddit

Yeah... But that air fryer, tho. 🙃😁

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goingloopy@reddit

I like cooking, sometimes, but I live alone and I’m lazy. I had Pop Tarts for dinner. I go on food streaks and eat the same thing every day for a while (sometimes a week, sometimes a month, my mom does the same thing but she actually hates cooking. My brother cooks more, I think, but he still knows Totinos pizzas are square now). My single friends mostly don’t cook, either. Married friends do, but the ones without kids at home do more eating out.

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nevermeansoul@reddit

I live alone and my son who turned 18 moved out for college last year so I am pleased to say that my grocery list no longer requires tacos, frozen french fries or chicken nuggets. I think having staples in your freezer like pizza bagels and Taquitos are necessary.

I was shocked at how easy it was to elevate a meal. Living alone allows me the luxury to focus on pleasing my own tastebuds. It so easy to microwave packaged mac and cheese and then when you add freshly grated parm with chives it instantly turns it into something special.

Finding time to cook one or two homemade meals a week with fresh ingredients may help you enjoy cooking for yourself. I started out by choosing one day a week to make myself a meal with herbs and whole ingredients like a chicken breast or fresh fish.

Slowly over the year I now keep cilantro, parsley, garlic bulbs and shallots in my refrigerator all the time. I even forced myself how learn how to properly store them better so that I wouldn't waste them.

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kizkatzs@reddit

My mom was in her 70s and said the same thing. 50 years of cooking and trying to do something different. It's been years now since she cooked as she has Alzheimers and now my Dad is the one complaining about cooking. I envy people who like cooking. I think maybe you could discuss a compromise. Unless someone has cooked for decades, they wouldn't understand. Cheers to cereal nights! 😁

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FallAspenLeaves@reddit

Yep! Husband mostly took over once he retired.

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lktn62@reddit

My husband kept telling me how he was going to start doing some cooking again when he retired.

When the kids were still at home and we both worked, he was pretty good about doing at least some of the cooking. But once they grew up and out, and I became a stay at home caregiver for the grandchildren (to help the kids out with daycare costs), his cooking pretty much stopped.

He retired the middle of February. I'm still waiting for the first meal, lol. 🙄😂

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vectorology@reddit

Yeah, if OP’s husband wants home cooked food, he can step in. It’s not magic, just a lot repetition.

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7thWardMadeMe@reddit

Ngl Facebook and YouTube including Shorts have been surprisingly helpful in regards of what to cook

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Rare_Mistake_6617@reddit

Kids are in college, just me and husband. I used to cook full dinners for all of us, now he and I eat simpler meals. I cook a chicken on Sunday and that goes into quesadillas, salads, wraps with veggies, soups. He cooks a couple of times per week as well. Any leftovers are frozen for quick "I don't feel like cooking" meals. Works for us!

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GalacticDoc@reddit

I simply don't have time to cook every day but like nice food.

I have 3 large slow cookers and so every couple of months I spend a whole weekend cooking. Usually stew/ casserole, chilli or ragu and a curry. That makes enough for 40 to 50 meals,

I will have other stuff instance to break things up but it works for me.

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mummakush@reddit

I feel this in my soul!! I’m lucky in that my husband went out of town to work for 20 days and I can make whatever I want. Tonight for dinner I had fresh cut pineapple with dark chocolate sauce, pistachios and some blackberries. Honestly it’s heavenly. My hubby likes big heavy meat & potatoes type meals, now that he’s gone I feel like I’m on vacation lol

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nevermeansoul@reddit

This is why I am single

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1967punisher@reddit

May you keep your bikini body ever present.

I'm actually salivating on a bus going to work at the thought of the pineapple.

Meat n veg are good ol' traditional Anglo Saxon meals. As was throwing it all into one pot and boiling it to make pottage or stews.

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Mammoth-Variation-76@reddit

Costco lasagna.

I'll get 6ish meals out of one. I only complaint is I didn't find them sooner.

I mean you can mix it up with one of their chicken pot pies or alfredo or Shepards pies. It's meal prep for the extremely lazy. And hungry.

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nevermeansoul@reddit

Costco lasagna is good, but the real goodness is in the frozen section at Trader Joe's. They have a lasagna not quite as mammoth as Costco that will make your heart sing. Give it try and let me know if you agree.

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Daforde@reddit

I love to eat, and I love to cook. Pinterest is my best friend because I can always find something different to make. I also love to make my own version of Chopped, which is when I take leftovers or something in the fridge or pantry and turn it into something delicious. If I'm not feeling it, I make "brinner," usually eggs and waffles or chocolate Cream of Wheat if I'm depressed.

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nevermeansoul@reddit

Ditto. Most of the time I enjoy cooking myself the perfect meal from some recipe on America's Test Kitchen. Friends ask me all the time, do you ever cook just plain? Like what is that???

But occasionally I am just too tired to plan my grocery list for the week and buy a bag of frozen chicken chunks, bottle of chick-fil-a sauce, bag of salad, turkey deli meat, sourdough bread and some fudgesicles and eat without the fuss for a week.

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ravenval@reddit

For the most part, I stopped cooking about ten years ago for my husband and me (couple around 60, no kids). I have a pretty limited diet. Basically, I can't eat much fat at all anymore, thanks to losing my gallbladder and my body just not sorting it out even ten years later. It took all of the fun out of cooking for me and I can never eat fast food burgers, tacos, pizza, etc. No oil, no baking with butter, no full dairy cheese or other dairy, no red meats. It is boring, eating the same things over and over, but I don't really have a choice unless I want serious stomach pain for hours after I eat. I hate fish. I hate prepping raw veggies. We eat a lot of wheat pasta, canned veggies, no red meat for me, mostly veggie dogs and chicken breast to replace that, mostly prepared rotisserie chicken. Lots of prepared stuff like those little potatoes that are already cleaned and washed, you just microwave them and put seasoning on. Instant noodle bowls of a very low-fat variety with frozen broccoli thrown in, canned soup, salads that are quickly thrown together with prewashed lettuce and tomatoes... No major time spent in the kitchen anymore. The only time I actually cook from mostly scratch is when I make my own pizza with fat free cheese and no oils or meats about once a month, since I can't eat takeout with all that oil and cheese. It's worth the effort of making the pizza dough for that meal, since I crave pizza sometimes, but no other foods matter much to me anymore. Is all this processed food healthy? No. I truly do not care anymore. I'm tired and fed up with trying to make anything from scratch and won't stand at the stove for more than 10 minutes at a time. I feel extremely lucky though, since hubby will eat just about anything for dinner. He is not picky at all and even makes a surprisingly good grilled cheese with fat free cheese slices and spritzes of spray "butter" and tomato soup for me when I don't feel like being the one making anything.

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Charming-Pack-5979@reddit

Yes, and I just eat charcuterie, salads and other premade stuff from the grocery, sandwiches, cereal, etc. This frees me up to stew in menopausal rage!

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jmatias78@reddit

LoL @ that last part. So true!

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7thWardMadeMe@reddit

I'm in the experimental and hmm stage of cooking. Heck I'm about to try the boiled in water wings fixing this week...

Recently I've gotten pretty impressive at air frying them...

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Itchy-Mind7724@reddit

The boiling method is surprisingly awesome.

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Swimming-Oil-9803@reddit

I could never live with a man that expected me to do ALL the cooking! I did most of the cooking while married with kids. However, even my ex husband did dome of the cooking. Now I'm retired and let my "boy"friend/life partner do most of the cooking. Since I pay for all the groceries (and more), I figure it's the least he can do. It's a nice switch

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Prettykitty12345@reddit

"I'm retired" "Since I pay for all the groceries, I figure it's the least he can do". I hope he enjoys cooking and it's not a chore for him. Do you say, "I let him do all the laundry and cleaning because I pay the bills"... Kind of sounds like you have a servant

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peer-reverb-evacuee@reddit

My mom’s older sister moved into an “old folks home” and this is one of her favorite things about it! Hearing about it changed my perspective. Not like I felt sorry for her, but that life was kinda fun. To me it sounds like how living in the dorms in college was. Bunch of people to meet, chat, hang out with. Go back to your room if you aren’t feeling that, and on top of everything else: food is ready and available to eat in the cafeteria. Just head downstairs. No cooking and no cleanup after.

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jmatias78@reddit

Honestly sounds amazing

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Chewlies-gum@reddit

At this point in your life, you should be thinking about food as if your life depended on it. I long ago quit cooking, and prepare very simple meals with little to no cooking at all. Doesn't mean there isn't food prep involved with primarily lots of fresh produce bought most every day fresh with very little meat, and a modest amount of whole grains. That's a me thing. The food thing just is a daily task. It should be very simple fare at this point which is a different type of effort.

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wakattawakaranai@reddit

It's not the cooking, it's the deciding what to cook. And now added to the whole decision process is the cost of meat and some vegetables, and the "well hmm I feel really sick after eating that, is that another thing we have to cut out?" It's only two of us, but we're bored with our regular rotation, too poor to afford beef unless I can get to the one asian market that has cheap ground beef (and they aren't sold out), and finding ourselves with gut problems after onions and sometimes potatoes. I'm so tired of having to spend hours planning now, before I even get anywhere near the kitchen.

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SilentRaindrops@reddit

Oh my gosh. You are so right about trying to attribute every new physical issue to something you may or not have eaten. Legs cramping at night, maybe it's because I didn't eat any bananas for a few days; stomach hurts and acidy, could be that new pizza sauce, it goes on and on.

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pythongee@reddit

Nope. Cooking keeps me alive. Cooking for other folks that enjoy what I create gives me life.

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Luna_Mistwalker@reddit

Same. I love cooking, but I hate cleaning. I constantly clean as I go but the household will do as they please and make a mess anyway. Really burns the passion out of it when you're mostly cleaning other peoples messes before you can even start

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vdonna@reddit

I think it takes one lesson to learn how to use a washer. One lesson to learn how to boil pasta. One lesson to learn how to fry a basic hamburger. Not years, or days even. He's got you fooled.

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Old-Flight8617@reddit

Maybe OP should stop and see what happens.

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GeoHog713@reddit

No. I love cooking!

I'm tired of it not being appreciated.

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MakeupMama68@reddit

Same!! I love cooking, it just sucks when it’s expected. I cook these elaborate, gourmet meals and they scarf it down and leave the table. No “thank you” 🤨. When I cook for my friends? SO much gratitude

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This-Shape2193@reddit

You enable what you accept.

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MakeupMama68@reddit

Absolutely. It’s been burned into my existence.

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MissMushroomBerry@reddit

I had cooking burnout for about 2-3 months, then I had to drastically change my diet because I got sick so my food options are very limited and my life just got a lot less delicious :(

Now I wish I could go back to making elaborate meals for me and my family.

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Bibliophile1998@reddit

I vascillate btw “fun - time to cook!” and “nooooo!!!” My bigger issue is burnout with meal planning. We’re 50 with a high schooler and one college kid at home (another away at school), so I’m cooking 2 solid meals a day for four of us. Still.

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FunRoll5396@reddit

I’m about to send my youngest off to college. As sad as I am, I look forward to having popcorn or eggs or whatever I can find for dinner. After 25 years of putting dinner on the table night after night I’m ready to just cook for fun when I feel like it!

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Bibliophile1998@reddit

Or…and hear me out…just a bowl of ice cream. With marshmallow sauce. And Nutella.

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montbkr@reddit

If you’re stoned, add a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter. Don’t ask me how I know.

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Bibliophile1998@reddit

I wouldn’t need to be stoned to get into that 😂

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montbkr@reddit

My friends and I were like Shaggy and Scooby Doo back in the day. We used to come up with some of the most ungodly concoctions that were sooooo good that night, but the next day just thinking about them made us want to barf.

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FunRoll5396@reddit

Definitely!

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Bibliophile1998@reddit

I have found my people. And I’ll even share 🤣

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

YES. ❤️

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kinglucent@reddit

Meal prep is a game changer, especially if you can do it together.

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RealCrazySwordGirl@reddit

They say perimenopausal women lose the desire to nurture. Like cooking, cleaning, folding laundry. Seems to track, in my experience 😆👍🏼

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MoaningLisaSimpson@reddit

Word.

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RealCrazySwordGirl@reddit

Although now that i think about it, there was only a very brief period of my life, when i lived alone, that i actually enjoyed things like cooking and cleaning 🧐

Folding laundry though? Never once 😆

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Successful-Hippo-777@reddit

I got married at 19 years old to escape my stepfather who would beat my mom and dad. I was never taught how to cook but for 25 years I cooked what I thought was decent food for my husband and my two daughters and come to find out he does not like my cooking. Said I don’t use enough seasoning or something along those lines. Everything I cooked he only ate because it was there. Decision fatigue is absolutely a thing happen to come up with a different meal every single day for 25 years was exhausting. All I ever got was I don’t care. So I decided to quit cooking. If he wants something to eat now before he goes to work, he gets up and cooks it himself. My girls are gone off to college so it’s just him and I at home.

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RippingLegos__@reddit

Yeah I was a line cook for a decade, I hate cooking and I'm on glp1 now so eating is a chore and unenjoyable.

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sdesnos@reddit

I love cooking. It’s how I decompress after a long day.

But I also have some quick and easy meals in my back pocket for times when I don’t want to cook.

Bean & cheese burritos. Marcella Hazan’s canned tomatoes and butter over pasta.

Charcuterie boards: Coldcuts, cheese, some nuts, dried fruit, crackers, bread, and some pickled veggies & olives.

I also like the Costco roast chicken paired with whatever deli salads I can get from my grocery store.

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adams361@reddit

As soon as my kids left, we pretty much stopped regular dinners. We jointly cook about once or twice a week, eat out a few times a week, and do easy meals or skip dinner the other nights.

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Razrgrrl@reddit

I’m married to a woman. We trade off or fend for ourselves. Most weeknights it’s leftovers or girl dinner. I will often do a big batch of something on the weekends, and she’ll whip up something midweek. But yeah, decision fatigue is real.

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TigerLilly_Tink43@reddit

I love cooking. But it sounds like you need a break. Have your husband cook a few nights a week. Or cook together. Also meal prep so the of cooking is reduced.

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Yikesish@reddit

Eat big salads. Make a batch on the weekend and reheat. Your husband should be receptive that he needs to start helping with it as you are burned out.

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MuricanPoxyCliff@reddit

I'm male 59 yrs. I cook for my family because I want them to eat healthy delicious food. Tired of it? They thank me every night just for that.

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Novel-Truant@reddit

I had the house to myself for a couple months and dinner was mostly always frozen pizzas or I'd just take a piece of cheese or whatever was in the fridge and ate it.

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This-Shape2193@reddit

Yes. My kids cook now.

Sounds like after 35 years, it's your husband's turn. He can get up and do it if he really wants it.

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TwistedMemories@reddit

My stove is broke and I need to buy a new one and replace it. It's been about a year since it broke. I have a compact combo microwave, air fryer and convection oven that I use daily. The burners on the stove work so I can use it, but I miss having a full size oven.

I still love cooking and make myself meals. I do eat out often, but I really prefer to cook for myself.

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ProfessionalLab9068@reddit

Is it broke broke or have you tried You Tube university yet? There's some pretty good handyman out there.

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Angel-Rae@reddit

Best part of being newly divorced in my 50s is cereal and yoghurt for dinner! I was so very sick of cooking.

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ProfessionalLab9068@reddit

I was feeling similar until I pressed in and healed the emotional charge that had developed, primarily over the unseen labor of providing meals, but also the dinner table was where arguments developed so i had to cleanse that vibe

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ProfessionalLab9068@reddit

Cooking good meals is literally how we fuel our cells and keep our body in optimal running condition. Without good nutrition you'll hit a wall. perhaps attend a cooking class or destination cooking seminar to re-inspire your creativity, learn to cook new dishes and maintain your health!

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This-Shape2193@reddit

Or husband could get off his ass and learn. After 35 years, sounds like it's his turn. He can take the class.

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ReachParticular5409@reddit

I do meal prep Sundays, and mainly reheat and eat the rest of the week.

Works for me as I only need to worry about what to cook for one day.

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PrivilegeCheckmate@reddit

My wife is a chef. We have to eat at home, because her standards are too high.

This is not a complaint.

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ProfessionalLab9068@reddit

Lucky duck

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mcchillz@reddit

I became a vegetarian in 2019. Husband is a definite carnivore. We became empty nesters in 2022. That’s when i told my husband that I’m not cooking anymore. It is too much work & waste to make 2 separate dinners. He definitely grumbled about it but I stayed firm. Freedom is delicious.

[-]

Duran518@reddit

Yes!!!

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ReeCardy@reddit

WTF? He's a grown ass man, why are you doing it for him if it isn't something you want to eat? Just stop.

My husband and I are both in our 50s, we both enjoy cooking. We make a meal plan every week and each cook a night or two. We have leftovers one or two. We have a regular date night every week and go out. There's the whole week and I only cook a couple of times and it's the things I want to eat. The days you cook, the other person does the dishes.

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leswill315@reddit

Yep. Plus having to think of what to cook every.single.night. It's exhausting and I'm out of ideas. Fortunately I can call it a YOYO (You're on your own) night and we just graze.

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Stressedmama58@reddit

I hate thinking of what to make for dinner more than actually cooking. I'm so tired of it.

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quicksilver477@reddit

Same! I am so sick of coming up with the dinners we will have each week and I’m out of ideas too. Family just always says “I don’t care, whatever you want” when I ask. What I want is for you to tell me what YOU want!

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leswill315@reddit

Right? It's so freaking annoying. Wonder how they'd do if you said, "I want peanut butter crackers and a soda". That's it, kids. Enjoy.

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Shortyl@reddit

Fend for yourself night at my house

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9inez@reddit

Change the way you cook. Does your husband ever cook?

We exercise 3 weekday evenings a week. Dinner is quick. We make stuff that’s versatile and can be morphed into various flavor profiles easily.

Quick dinner. Tastes good. Reasonably healthy and doesn’t burn through cash like dining out, take out, delivery or fast food.

And, share the freaking duties.

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Aggravating_Jelly_25@reddit

I don’t. I can. But I don’t want to.

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Colorblind2027@reddit

I hate it too. I pick up food too much and cant really afford it

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Greenedeyedgem17@reddit

I’m tired of cooking too. I feel like I cook the same dinner over and over. When I do cook, I have to make 5 different meals because no one likes the same thing. 🤷‍♀️

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Fair_Classic_3@reddit

I make breakfast (eggs,sausage) around 9am and then a late lunch salad around 2pm. My salad is generally a decent size so that's the last meal of the day. I don't snack unless it's a piece of fruit.

[-]

Bl1nk9@reddit

With the wife, we cook a meal. When I am home alone, I accumulate sufficient calories.

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Pretend_Emu_1691@reddit

Omg im right there with you! Eff cooking anymore! I loathe it. And the "what's for ??" Ughhh!

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Entire_Parfait2703@reddit

Im burnt out period I shop for the food drag it to the car then into the house put it away and plan all meals and cook them and most times clean up so yes I'm about done ✔️

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winstonluvsjulia@reddit

Same!

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mcfreiz@reddit

I recently started cooking more because I’m trying to be healthy (eat Whole Foods and avoid processed ones). It feels like every couple years my doctor wants me to take a new med

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Rainbow_in_the_sky@reddit

Soooooo tired of cooking! Sadly, I do eat out more than I should but fortunately, now that I’m older, I can afford it. Nothing crazy fancy, just food I don’t want to cook.

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triphawk07@reddit

If I could trade my job for cooking all every day, I would do it in a heartbeat.

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ColoradoAfa@reddit

My kids are still in the house, but because my wife and I have different dietary restrictions, we often end up making four different main dishes for a meal. For me, I make a couple of large dishes that last multiple days.

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Additional-Alps-253@reddit

I usually cook a meal that I can eat in 3 days. My husband doesn’t care what I cook as long as there is something around for him to eat. He thanked me 3 times for making Chicken Salad out of a rotisserie chicken. I saved him the dark meat so he could snack on that too.

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Haunting-Range5812@reddit

I just make a big pot of soup, a large casserole, or a big lasagna and portion it out. That way, I only cook once and can get a few dinners out of it, all I have to do is reheat the leftovers. Saves a lot of time and effort.

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Sufficient_Bed335@reddit

When my kids were gone, I retired.

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sad_girl_77@reddit

Yes. So tired of it.

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keja1978@reddit

I had a piece of toast tonight. I will make dinner once or twice a week maybe. Mostly I can't be bothered.

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croissant_and_cafe@reddit

I enjoy cooking but not every single night. We do a meal delivery service called Locale that brings balanced, organic, high protein meals in mason jars. They are super good and it’s actually very affordable - it works out to $22 for a meal for two. Tonight was hot honey chicken with quinoa, broccoli and Cole slaw. Took 5 minutes to prepare and no clean up.

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easyPandthenutsackrs@reddit

Whaaaa....just looked it up for our area, not available. Damn. We do green chef, and while it takes 20-30 min to prepare the meals, 90% of them have been better than restaurant meals. Can't praise them enough.

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croissant_and_cafe@reddit

Yes there’s other versions too, thistle, hungryroot.

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Schmeesa@reddit

God, yes! I’ve always loved cooking, but lately I’d rather just skip dinner and have a snack. I still make meals several times a week because my husband is so appreciative and he does all the cleanup, but ugh.

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ValleyJones@reddit

I would seriously accept some Soylent green right now.

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crackersucker2@reddit

I am so not upvoting this but wanted you to know I see you. 😝

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MoaningLisaSimpson@reddit

My mantra is "I like cooking" but I don't like "making supper". I absolutely LOVE cooking Thanksgiving dinner but wow after 35 years figuring out what to make for a nightly meal is annoying. Fortunately I've been good at teaching my son(22) to be a responsible adult. He is a good cook. He even made the Christmas turkey.

Some nights he cooks, some nights I do. If he's not home I usually eat peanut butter toast or a bowl of cereal. He's worried I won't cook when he moves out after he graduates college in June.

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crackersucker2@reddit

You’ll survive! And you will cook when you want something you want to make. He should not worry.

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Rough_Condition75@reddit

I’ve gotten very tired of it as well. We’ve had Friday take out for years and I’ve added fend for yourself night just this week. My son has started cooking a lot more in the last year but it’s not regular. Maybe I’ll add a night a week expectation to him

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Regular-Ad1930@reddit

I agree. I just gave up. My husband has to cook or he doesn't eat 🍳 I did eat cereal 🥣 for dinner yesterday lol. (Heavy sigh) I'm just tired of it. Too much effort.

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stickybond009@reddit

Poor guy

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crackersucker2@reddit

He can cook.

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JD_tubeguy@reddit

The tyranny of dinner is a real thing. I live alone and try to make things I can eat several nights so I have some nights off.

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VioletSmiles88@reddit

Kids are still at home, so we’ll keep going for now. When they’ve gone it will just be grazing plates forever unless I want something specific.

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Cinisajoy2@reddit

Yes.

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shortmon_OG@reddit

Yes and no, I cook everything, have for almost 30 years. I love cooking, I rarely ask what anyone wants, and just cook.what I'm hungry for, and you can eat it or not. My wife has a demanding job, So I just make those decisions. I don't get no complaints...

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crackersucker2@reddit

You are amazing.

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moonbeam127@reddit

I have teenagers and younger. They know how to cook and are pretty damn good cooks. I dont mind cooking a couple nights a week but life skills are being taught in this house. Go get the supplies, make the food, and clean the fuck up. Mom is exhausted.

Fried pickles are amazing FYI!

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crackersucker2@reddit

I love cooking when it’s something I’m excited about eating for 2 days. But there is nothing wrong with snack dinner now that we are in our 50’s.

Don’t feel obligated to make/eat a full meal after 5pm if a bowl of cereal or cheese & crackers will do the trick. Finally my husband sees the light for girl dinners (he doesn’t know thats what we’re doing!).

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Jestsaying@reddit

I needed a break from cooking and spoke to someone that reasonably priced me for 5 dinners a week. The first meals were good but a little too spicy.The dinners varied but I could never finish them and I’m not a leftovers person. Some of the things I got picky about, which I considered myself as a non picky eater, was bread freshness or if I saw something like the same type of pasta used different in the same week. If I couldn’t identify a sauce, I pondered. I ended up cooking my own dinners myself because If I had more control with serving size and what I was in the mood for. I don’t think I could find an ideal situation where it was all or nothing for cooking. I preferred picking up specific restaurant food if I was craving something different. I still let produce spoil but I accept it now instead of trying to eat it when I don’t want to

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Emotional_Mess261@reddit

Sometimes I cry because I can’t decide what to eat, and I don’t want to cook or prep a damn thing. I live alone but even if my ex and I were together I would still feel like this. Tonight I picked up a Turkey Hungry Man dinner while I was out. It’s so gross. Lol. Not like the Swanson dinners of the 70s

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JAFO-@reddit

Cooking is my wind down for the day I usually cook enough for two nights. I prefer to cook my wife does not.

I cook in a whatever is around and spices type of cooking not recipes.

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NoAbbreviations290@reddit

Me too. My wife doesn’t cook. But it still requires going to the store.

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battlesong1972@reddit

I’m not sure what that second part means? I cook a lot, but wouldn’t make lasagna on a weeknight since it’s way too involved and takes too long

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chamrockblarneystone@reddit

59 male. I cook for my wife and my 26 year old son all the time. A lot of stews, chilis, and soups, but many other things as well. I like watching my son eat my food so I’m still okay.

The problem is my wife is really starting to hate meat and were both on Zepbound. Whatever I cook I can only eat a small amount anyway.

Recently she asked me “Why don’t you cook more Mediterranean style?” Yea that did not go well.

After my son leaves I’m thinking we’ll just do one of those deals like WONDER and stop hassling with dinner.

I don’t think she likes vegetarian food as much as she thinks she does. I’m interested to find out.

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Amidormi@reddit

We meal plan but yeah some weeks it's the laziest group of dinners ever because I'm tired of it. I work full time too.

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Reynardine1976@reddit

Yes! Imagine being a chef on top of that. I love cooking, but I do it all day long at work.

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Working_Estate_3695@reddit

We’re Seniors and stopped when COVID hit. My stomach is so much happier at night. Still cook dinners occasionally but not every night. Too time consuming and we both still work.

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battlesong1972@reddit

Most of the time I love to cook; it’s the nights I work overtime and don’t get out until 7:30 or 8 that I really wish my wife had the ability to cook something half decent

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Mooseguncle1@reddit

Naw- food is good but you gotta make it.

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baloney_dog@reddit

As someone who just ate a bowl of cereal for dinner, I can confirm that it was not just fine, but quite delightful.

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montbkr@reddit

I have cooked a full meal (meat, taters, two vegetables, bread, and some kind of dessert) every night for the last 30 years, but now our children are grown and out, so I don’t regularly cook like that anymore.

I really like “girl dinner:” cubes of cheese, pepperoni slices, black or green olives, raw almonds, pretzels, maybe some slices of deli ham or a boiled egg, with strawberries or a scoop of vanilla for dessert. Just a few of some of those things and I’m good.

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baloney_dog@reddit

That sounds delightful too!

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blur410@reddit

Cooking is fun until clean up

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HappyAsianCat@reddit

Right

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Skindigga@reddit

Fuck that. Every meal is an occasion if I can make it one.

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phillymjs@reddit

For the most part, I have fallen back to the diet of an unsupervised third grader.

Bologna & cheese, PB&J, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, the occasional can of soup or chili, and frozen stuff I can just toss in the oven like French bread pizza or taquitos. Sometimes I'll get really fancy and make a box of Stove Top to go with the chicken nuggets, and every once in a while I'll really pull out all the stops and make a roast or a turkey breast, but that's as crazy as I get when it comes to cooking anymore.

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upsidedown-funnel@reddit

Get an air fryer. The possibilities are endless!

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GamerDadofAntiquity@reddit

I often have a cold cut sandwich for dinner, or something else as quick and easy. I only actually cook dinner 2-3 days a week, and only when I feel like cooking or want something in particular.

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Icewater-907@reddit

Yesss…. So over it, I’m sick of cooking

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Tr33Bl00d@reddit

Oh no 😟 you been doing too much for too long. This is a great reason for me to keep up making sure I cook half the meals for my family

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artsy7fartsy@reddit

I’m with you. I hate it. I work all day I grocery shop I cook and I do dishes. I don’t even eat half the time

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Individual-Trick3310@reddit

I wish the people I cook for would eat more things I feel like cooking.

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WorriedCress7965@reddit

This! I like to cook from scratch but my girlfriend and daughter seem to prefer heat and eat nonsense. At least my son (10) has good taste and is getting curious about how to cook.

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Key_Asparagus_8522@reddit

That’s one good thing about living alone. I cook and eat when I want what I want or go out to eat with friends if I want. The other is nobody farting in my bed and i take up the whole king size bed or least I try lol

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BokChoyJr@reddit

I do 90% of the cooking for my wife and I. We rarely dine out. Never had kids. Cooking is a labor of love for me. Love my wife and we love good food.

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pdxgreengrrl@reddit

LOL, this is why we have girl dinner now. Not too late for the husband to learn to cook.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GirlDinner/comments/1ra4a3u/what_is_girl_dinner/

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Shortyl@reddit

Introduced girl dinner to my husband, he still doesn’t enjoy me giving up cooking.

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bebenee27@reddit

My in-laws came over last weekend for dinner and as I was setting up I was thinking, “I’m literally just going full girl dinner here, and you know what, I’m never going back to cooking!’

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jackssweetheart@reddit

I’m a salad person. It’s easy. I occasionally make homemade pizza because it’s cheap and easy too.

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omfgwhatever@reddit

I eat a lot of salads. My husband makes what he wants. I have always hated to cook.

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Elegant_Source900@reddit

So tired of cooking.

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Txidpeony@reddit

Our retirement plan is to go back to college. We’ll take turns getting degrees in things like photography. Live in married student house and eat in the cafeteria. I am beyond sick of cooking.

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ROGUE_butterfly2024@reddit

This is honestly a great plan 😄

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Txidpeony@reddit

We are only half joking. We’ve been talking about doing this for the last twenty years.

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ROGUE_butterfly2024@reddit

Hey Ive seen some retirees become House Moms/Dads to frats and sororities.

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Beginning_End777@reddit

Love my Tovala meals for this very reason! I plan out our garden and grow the food here, I don't want to cook it too- lol. I also have a very busy full time job, then come home and take care of my mom with dementia- I don't have the time.

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TpyoOhNo@reddit

One pan meals for the win. Pick a meat. A few other things. Cut it all up. Put it in a pan. Cook it til it's done. Boom food. Food is fuel, that's it. Stop overcomplicating it.

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eman_on_1@reddit

Yes. But I’m also tired of pretty much everything else in life, so my answer probably isn’t much help!

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slr0031@reddit

Yes I am so sick of it

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Expert-Hyena6226@reddit

I'm tired of doing dishes!

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geebzor@reddit

Prepping in advance and cooking larger batches helps with the daily grind.

For example,

I will always make extra rice, which can be kept in the fridge for some fried rice.

Larger batches of bolognaise go into the fridge, fillings for lasagna, arancini balls, etc..

Frozen veg which you can microwave for a quick side.

Large batches of beef stew, leftovers can be used as pie fillings, ragu for a pasta, etc.

Pre-made salads from the supermarkets.

I make large batches of sausage rolls that freeze well and reheat easy.

There is a lot you can do, but yes it gets hard doing it every day.

But it’s cheaper, and almost always healthier. Which at our age is most likely the most important thing you can do, eat well.

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Doc-Milsap@reddit

Never! I love making food!

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Ill-Lou-Malnati@reddit

I’m sick of fucking food in general. Why don’t they have pills for that by now?

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OkAdhesiveness5025@reddit

Watch "Soylent Green"..... Coming to a democratic state near you! Lol /s

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Consistent-Tie-4394@reddit

I dunno, I love cooking. I love everything about it, and love it more and more as I get older. I make my kids breakfast every morning, and look forward to getting back at it for dinner after a long day of work... but I 100% get people who hate it and get tired of doing it.

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Impossible-Corgi742@reddit

Just make a big salad from store-bought bags of mixed greens, mixed shredded cabbages, romaine, etc. You can cook your protein any time of day and then when dinner time comes, just toss it all together with a yummy dressing. Don’t forget the Southwest tortilla strips and a little avocado on top. So delish and easy.

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RaccoonHaunting9638@reddit

Yes! Or Quinoa

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WankelsRevenge@reddit

Oddly. This is exactly what I'm doing tonight.

Yay aldi!

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Maleficent-Guess-581@reddit

I had to go on strike. Now at least 3 days a week, I don't have to plan. My husband cleans a lot and so much around the house, but I plan and cook. I'm sick of it.

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misterwheelson@reddit

I just do 1 skillet meals.
Cast Iron skillet, oven to 350. throw the chicken in, cook about 30 min, flip chicken, throw in frozen veggies. Cook 30 min. Take it out, throw it all on some lettuce.
It's about the least amount of work for a decently healthy meal. I just set a timer so I can go wander off and do other things, come back, flip it, wander off again.

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BBQorBust@reddit

No, because I can do it better than most restaurants.

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rslashpalm@reddit

My son cooks and cooks well. He makes dinner a few times a week.

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eyeap@reddit

Yes. There's a 55 and up place with a cafeteria nearby....

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CommunityEast4651@reddit

I take care of an older relative or else I wouldn't cook much. They are so picky I can't cook meals I really like and my preference would be making up a batch of pasta or chilli and eating it all week then making something else for the next week

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hottapvswr@reddit

Do that, Tell the relative this is how it is now. See if the result is something you can live with. It's your life after all

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CommunityEast4651@reddit

Oh, if only. I would never hear the end of it and they'd end up being removed for not eating. They won't even eat leftovers unless its lasagne or a ham

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hottapvswr@reddit

Well that does sound like NOT somthing you can live with. Removal is not a pleasant sounding outcome.

And it is your life. but I would guess the fantasy of seving a sausage stuffed bell pepper might still be worth the mental excursion. Even if it won't happen.

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Pads4Life@reddit

I live alone, 59. Almost every weekend I make enough to have at least lunch every day for a week, and if it’s something I really like, I can get 3-4 dinners, too. I’m easy that way. Luckily it usually doesn’t bother me to have the same meal 8 times in a week. lol. But, I can always be tempted to vary by a good taco or burrito. Haha

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RaccoonHaunting9638@reddit

I loath cooking. I like quick , simple, easy no fuss, or stick it on the grill. Now I realize when my grandmother stopped cooking and why, she had 5 kids, she was done!! I so get it now

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Fine-University-8044@reddit

Yup. Only I still have “kids” at home. Young adults old enough to make their own damn dinner.

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gogogadgets1997@reddit

When I don’t want to cook I call it “fend for yourself nights” my son in particular hates these nights. He is 12 and tells me it’s abuse. Lol

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CeilingCatProphet@reddit

When my young adult lived with us, he made dinners regularly.

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Claque-2@reddit

You need a cruise, an all inclusive, or a great greasy spoon not too far away from where you live.

Are there any cooking schools nearby? That's not to say take classes. That's to say have lunches there.

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Tall-Nectarine202@reddit

Yes, I’m over it, but I still have 2 kids at home, so not really a choice for me

[-]

LisaMiaSisu@reddit

The dreaded phrase every day from my husband, “What do you wanna do about dinner?” 😩

[-]

According2Sunny4440@reddit

Sooooo over it. I’m more of a throw it together type of cook these days and live on leftovers

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infinite_awkward@reddit

I love cooking. What I am tired of is doing all the work to plan, shop and cook and everyone drops their plates in the sink like they would perish if they had to contribute anything to the process.

[-]

Starshine2977@reddit

Yep!

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Princess_Parabellum@reddit

I'm at a point in my life where I wish I could photosynthesize. Sit out in the sun for few minutes, calorie needs are taken care of. If my pants are getting tight I'll slap on an extra coat of sunblock before I go out.

[-]

zinga_zing_@reddit

I’m more tired of restaurants to be honest!!!

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CeilingCatProphet@reddit

Why can't he cook?

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We_DemBoys@reddit

I get so tired of having to even think about having to put food in my mouth, AGAIN ! It never ends..every effing day I have to think about it....Seriously though. The process gets old. 😆

I threw some chicken drumsticks in the oven to get this over with 🍖 😋.

[-]

Rimailkall@reddit

The worst is when you cook a good meal that everyone said they like and then you're the only one hungry and have leftovers for days.

[-]

ohfrackthis@reddit

Oh yes. 30 years of cooking here and it will be Neverending.

gif

[-]

Randeth@reddit

I've always hated cooking. It's the curse of adulthood they never warn you about.

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displacedreindeer@reddit

Not only am I sick of cooking, I’m mostly sick of eating. Kinda wish I were the cat and just get some food dumped in my bowl every day.

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Aggressive_Apple_913@reddit

I can't even relate. I have so many loves of different things to eat. It doesn't matter if I am cooking, like an awesome Angus steak or a homemade sourdough turkey or roast beef sandwich. Or if we go out for Thai or fish or outback.

I don't know if maybe it's because I am Italian I love to eat.

[-]

NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yes!

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theinspireddesigner@reddit

I cook almost every night from scratch and im getting to the point where im sick of thinking about food.

[-]

rgk0925@reddit

I cook about four nights a week. We go out a couple nights or have sandwiches or frozen pizza. Some nights it’s cereal lol

[-]

jenorama_CA@reddit

Same. I cook with an eye for leftovers so the big cook isn’t as frequent. I’ve discovered that I enjoy the all day holiday cooking too and before the pandemic I wasn’t 100% sure how to boil an egg!

[-]

Ctheret@reddit

Girl dinners are the best

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TripMaster478@reddit

Our kids are still at home we had them pretty late due to infertility issues. But still, the lack of gratitude gets on my nerves.

PS - and a bowl of cereal for dinner sounds pretty damned good. Maybe say hello to my old friend the Cap'n.

[-]

Finding_Way_@reddit

PREACH!

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jojowasher@reddit

Ubereats is my cooking now

[-]

cmatbmed@reddit

I tried to explain to a coworker the struggle of figuring out dinner every night. His wife has dinner ready for him when he gets home. He just didn't understand.

[-]

vannyfann@reddit

One time my mom (divorced, raising two teenage girls) came home after work and asked us what we wanted for dinner. We replied "I don't know" or "I don't care." and my mom flew into a repectable rage. 15 yr old me did not understand. 55 yr old me does.

[-]

Familiar_Sink7506@reddit

Woof .. you tried

[-]

willow6566@reddit

I’m in my 60’s, and I think this is why I like cruises so much - food everywhere everyday!! And I don’t have to cook for a week!! However, I have found a new favorite way of cooking - crockpots! I have found hundreds of recipes online that are easy! Instead of cooking up a breast of chicken, I just throw it in the crock with chicken stock, add veggies and wala, easy chicken soup! I can eat it with noodles or rice. It lasts a few meals too! If you don’t have a breast of chicken you can use the canned meat instead.

[-]

vannyfann@reddit

Yes and this is why costco is my friend.

[-]

bookkinkster@reddit

I almost never cook. Part of the joy of living in NYC. But I also save no money. I'd love to find a man to cook for me, though. I can provide other benefits. Cooking and domestic skills are not my strengths.

[-]

Busby5150@reddit

Nope. I just pick out a tovala dinner and put it in the smart oven. 20 minutes later I’m ready to sit down to dinner.

I’m not into cooking for one.

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ElCaminoLady@reddit

Does your husband like to grill or bbq? When my husband does it’s a nice break away from the stove and there’s next to no dishes :)

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ukelele_pancakes@reddit

While I don’t want to cook every night, I don’t feel great eating restaurant food or snacks all the time. So I will make something big every 4-5 days and then eat that for a while.

Some would do well with freezing half of a big meal, and rotating things in and out of the freezer. But I tend to ignore what’s in the freezer, and I’m fine with eating leftovers for days, so this works for me.

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Wicket2024@reddit

I love cooking. My husband travels and I still cook meals for just myself. Tonight I had sliced tuna steaks over a tomato and mozzarella salad. I will have the leftovers in a few days.

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freerangeXkid@reddit

If I get tired of cooking I will order carry out or actually go sit in a restaurant. That experience usually cures me of being tired of cooking for 3-4 months.

Food quality from restaurants has dropped dramatically over the last 10 years. I can cook exponentially better and healthier than most of the places near me (I've worked in kitchens before). Thankfully I'm only cooking for two so it's not a big deal and I enjoy putting tunes on while I prep/cook

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eels-eels-eels@reddit

Yes, but like, your husband can take on some culinary responsibilities too, right?

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SardinePicnic@reddit

Can I Offer You a Nice Egg In This Trying Time?

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jdgwife@reddit

I’ve been dealing with this more and more. Spent some time on the couch today googling, ‘dinners for people who don’t like to cook’. I used to cook wonderful meals for the fam but since perimenopause, I get overwhelmed, overstimulated and ruin things I try to cook that I once cooked with ease.

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72vintage@reddit

I never have been much of a cook. Give me a burger on the Foreman grill, and some tater tots from the air fryer, and I'm good. I do like to grill, and I've gotten into doing fresh fish in the air fryer. But I'm a single empty nester and I ain't going through all the bullshit of cooking for myself...

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theotherdude@reddit

I used to experiment and tried various recipes that I'd find interesting from the internet when I was in my 30s+. Now in my 50s I just choose the easiest. I just prepared all veggies, mushrooms, etc, throw them in a pot of chicken and seaweed broth and eat them when they cook. A simple hotpot / Nabe for at least once a month. Bought hotpot ingredients on payday that will last me for at least 4 days.

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Aggressive_Apple_913@reddit

Since my double lung transplant recovery I have been disabled so I don't work. I started baking sourdough and then making dinner at least half the time. I really like finding new recipes on social media like Instagram. We have done plant based after my wife's breast cancer diagnosis. Then some easy Italian pasta dishes. Including some trending eggplant recipes. Now I am thinking about doing some dumplings. We also do ready to cook dishes including Costco salmon. I love the variety of different dishes especially when I have the energy to cook.

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gringamiami@reddit

I would Jesus, where you come up with the ideas. Here I am bitching in you’re cooking brilliantly: tell me more about the eggplant dishes

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Aggressive_Apple_913@reddit

There is this new thing where you slice eggplant really thin across from the bottom. Then lay it out on a sheet pan like 3 by 4 slices on parchment paper and coat it with a little olive oil. Then put shredded cheese on top and bake it until the cheese starts to brown. Then you can put pesto and arugula and maybe some sliced grilled chicken and roll up the eggplant like it was a tortilla. You can put anything you want in it. Check Instagram it is a big trend.

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DimSumGweilo@reddit

I go through phases where I like to cook and experiment with new recipes and then it’s “make a bunch of crap in bulk and just reheat and eat”.I’m currently in one of my dgaf phases. My meals have looked dystopian these last few months

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SumGoodMtnJuju@reddit

I usually have it in me to cook 3x a week. My husband will take 2X, left overs ans take out the rest of the week. I did veggie Thai green curry last night and spaghetti and meatballs + salad tonight. Potato and leek soup and salad tomorrow.

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mimi_whitehair@reddit

I used yo enjoy cooking. Now we're retired and I'm tired of finding ideas for 14 to 21 each week!

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kevinator_1981@reddit

Yes. I had a phase I went through for a few years where I was very much into cooking. Watching YouTube videos, trying tons of new recipes, etc. I bought a smoker and learned how to make great bbq.

In the end I realized I just didn’t care that much. Honestly I could eat a sandwich just about every night. Maybe with some soup. My “cooking” nowadays is pretty basic. A burger….a steak….burrito….maybe fettuccine Alfredo every now and again.

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Revolutionary_Bee700@reddit

Same! Do I know how to cook? Yep. Do I want to? Nope.

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ROGUE_butterfly2024@reddit

Had same thought today. Like I want to be a snake and only eat ever so often. Perimenapause has effected my appetite, Im barely hungry or have appetite for anything yet I still have to come up with meals and feed myself or get sick.

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GordCampbell@reddit

The Daily torture of "What's for supper?" Shudder.

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damageddude@reddit

I'm an empty nester widower. I "cook" as I please for myself. A lot is simple foods for later meals. Sometimes I turn them into more. I eat a lot of evil salads now. Yum.

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Not_HavingAGoodTime@reddit

Perimenopause was the nail in the coffin. I get so much rage working 8 hours and then I'm expected to cook. I used to cook dinner every day, now not so much.

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Emotional-Place9446@reddit

My daughter says “pursue your own adventure” when we don’t feel like cooking. I call it Poke and grits night (poke your head in the fridge and grit your teeth).

Would your husband be up for helping you cook and clean up after?

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

He says he would, but he would cause more problems than help.

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Emotional-Place9446@reddit

Believe me, I get it. I usually make an easy casserole or stew w bagged salad, and I always have frozen meals for days I don’t want to cook.

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Prize_Ad6430@reddit

I've been with my wife 29 years, always 50/50. I' ve cooked, cleaned, laundry, and child care. Only thing I have dumped on her is our finances because she is educated and smarter than me. I've kinda just been throwing my paychecks at her for the last thirty years 🤗. If he's gonna fall apart because she doesn't cook then he is that type of guy.

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jigum777@reddit

I love cooking. It's like mediation for me.

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MasterChiefette@reddit

I increased my cooking. Love to cook. Cook food recipes from all over the world. My kitchen is my personal restaurant and bakery. :)

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Donkey-Hodey@reddit

Same. I’ve discovered a love of cooking over the last few years and I ain’t going back to processed meals and fast food.

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Available-Degree5162@reddit

Just ordered pizza delivery.

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Kauffman67@reddit

I love cooking. It gets more complicated every year and I love it

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EnjoyingTheRide-0606@reddit

I picked up a slice of leftover quiche from the office today. All set for tonight! I have bagged Caesar salad on the side.

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K_Wolfenstien@reddit

I love cooking. I hate deciding what to cook. Anytime I ask my family what they want they "Don't care" I absolutely love it when someone actually will say that they want something specific.

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luthien310@reddit

I know! My husband never requests anything, but when he does I feel like I won the lottery.

I've got days where i just don't cook anymore if he can't give me some direction. I'm so tired of being the one to figure it out every single day.

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PilotDragon214@reddit

I decided a long while ago to be a benevolent dictator when it comes to supper.. I'm open to suggestions but nobody wants to contribute ideas so they get what they get 🤷‍♀️ it's been much less annoying and overwhelming than trying to get the rest of the family involved in meal planning.

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tc_cad@reddit

I don’t mind cooking, most of the time, but I still want a day off now and again.

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mbbuffum@reddit

I told my husband several years ago if he wanted to eat he’d have to shop for groceries and start cooking.

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schmearcampain@reddit

So… what do you eat? And when he cooks, does he cook for you too?

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mbbuffum@reddit

If we cook, we cook for both of us. I finally got him to make meals that weren’t all one color 😅

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DianaPrince2020@reddit

Yep. I’m really tired of deciding what, buying the what, unloading the what, then cooking the what, and clean up after the what cooking. As I once, a wealthy woman is one who doesn’t feel the need to do anything when someone in the room says that they are hungry.

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xjeanie@reddit

Full meals are a pita. I’m over it unless it’s a holiday. My husband has become pickier the last few years too. If he contributed to cooking and cleaning up afterwards it wouldn’t seem like such a chore everyday. If I don’t cook it, he won’t eat. It’s worse now than ever. Fortunately my daughter in law and sons all help for holidays. So those I don’t mind. But the daily grind is old. Like I feel after cooking. Then cleaning it up.

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Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit

At first I thought you were going to say you just threw ingredients in a pita bread thing.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

With you 100%.

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FriendRaven1@reddit

There's one burger joint in this small town, with McDonald's and Tim's 3 hours away.

I. Am. Sick. Of. Cooking.

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theinspireddesigner@reddit

What is tims?

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FriendRaven1@reddit

Sorry. Tim Hortons. Absolutely Huge in Canada, despite their terrible coffee and bullshit frozen donuts.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I live in a similar small town. We do have a DQ though!

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montbkr@reddit

Chocolate dipped vanilla cone for supper!

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Icy_Hippo@reddit

I used to like to cook, now I hate having to come up with ideas, feed everyone, can we just have cheese and crackers? Can we just fend for ourselves? sadly my child is only 8 so im stuck in the slog!!

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One-girl-circus@reddit

Oh, eight is the perfect age to recruit for helping in the kitchen! If you can get that kid even a little bit, excited about meal time then the enthusiasm can begin to be contagious.

What worked for us is watching cooking videos on YouTube and just trying whatever looked good.

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Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit

I remember having a children's cookbook when I was a kid. Some recipes may have required some adult oversight. It was eons ago though.

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Icy_Hippo@reddit

Love the YouTube idea as this would appeal to her for sure.

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One-girl-circus@reddit

I'm telling you the YouTube cooking creator videos really really helped me up my cooking game. So much so, that even though my husband would always prefer that someone else do the dishes so he likes to go out to eat, that the kids have always told me they'd rather eat at home because our food is better than restaurant food.

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BulldMc@reddit

Yeah, I actually enjoy cooking. Sure, I am tired of it at times, doing it every single night when there's other stuff I have to do. But it's planning that I hate. I practically beg my wife and kids for suggestions and rarely get even one suggestion for the week.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Oh no. ☹️ Im sorry.

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Medusaink3@reddit

Raised five kids and used cooking as a creative outlet so I've done a lot of experimenting and would call myself a good cook. Kids are grown, divorced the husband, remarried my wife who has now gone 13 hours away to work until July. I just ate a bowl of cereal for dinner and it was FABULOUS. No regrets.

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RoguePlanet2@reddit

Divorced the husband/remarried the wife? Cereal for dinner is completely valid.

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Medusaink3@reddit

LMFAO Let me edit that. Yikes.

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Winter_Ratio_4831@reddit

Oh yes, I was tired a long time ago. I'm not a foodie.

Luckily, we're at empty nest stage & my husband and I have much smaller appetites because, you know, we're of a certain age. So we usually share meals.

There's fantastic prepared food now everywhere, in every grocery & cafe. So we cook about 2- 3 nights a week, the rest is whatever we feel like. 😁

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TheWorldofScience@reddit

I quit going to Whole Foods because Trader Joe’s has a much better selection of frozen food and the produce is better. I don’t cook anymore.

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willfullyinert@reddit

Yeah just cereal or a sandwich a lot of times. I cook occasionally.

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MrRetrdO@reddit

Since I live alone, I make everything for the week on Sunday. I don't cook everything the whole way thru. Steaks, etc, I'll cook till 'almost' done. Then come home, heat it up in the Microwave to finish cooking.

You just gotta be fine with eating the same thing all week, which doesn't bother me. I only eat because I have to.

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bendingoutward@reddit

I combined butter chicken, bucatini, and pepper jack cubes last night and called it dinner.

So I'm either ahead of the game or I'm just committing culinary war crimes.

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Ok-Till-5285@reddit

butter chicken sauce, frozen meatballs and penne. delicious! call it a crime if you like - I am calling it fusion!

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bendingoutward@reddit

After much consideration last night, I decided that I'd do penne next time. It's basically a vodka sauce with less booze and different spices and all.

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Ok-Till-5285@reddit

I agree totally!

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ascii122@reddit

Make his ass do it. I look forward each day to figure out what to make for dinner .. taking care of my boomer mom basically doing in house health care but it can be a pain in the ass.. but I'm pretty good at it and along with my kind of shitty job and other stresses I like being in the kitchen. ALONE in the kitchen that is key.. don't fuck with me or ask me to help with a PDF file when i'm cooking or I'm fucking going to the shed to hang out with my kick ass dog

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IDontNeedAnotherNqme@reddit

No, but I am tired of trying to figure out what to eat. That was one thing my mom never taught me; the planning on what to eat is going to take longer than it takes you to eat the meal and even more time than it takes to make it.

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HangingSnowflake@reddit

Yeah, it's the planning that's the killer for me. I don't really mind the cooking and I actually like to clean but uggghhh working all day and then having to make more decisions related to dinner - I just want to be done. Family isn't picky but sometimes I wish they were so they'd just decide what they want and tell me and take that step away!

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TheWorldofScience@reddit

Yeah I don’t do that anymore - I buy frozen dinners and salad stuff for meals plus fresh fruit, popcorn and nuts for snacks.

Oh and steel cut oats to dump in my rice cooker with water at night. Good rice cookers you just set with the time you want your oatmeal done in the morning.

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TheRealMemonty@reddit

I am here for a bowl of cereal. I am so GD sick of cooking!

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Madame-ovary1713@reddit

I was a single mom for years and I always said that if I didn't have kids I'd turn the stove into a shelf for plants. After the last one moved out I didn't do it-- but I do have to dust off the stove at times!!

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StupidNewAccount2@reddit

Divorced, grown kids, oatmeal is my favorite dinner now. Four minutes in the microwave, throw some fruit/sugar, and call it a day. Would I eat a nice meal if someone else cooked it? Absolutely! Do I want to cook it? Most days no, so I don't. Some days I feel like it so I do. Then I look at all the dishes and effort and don't feel like it again for a couple weeks.

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Sensitive_Note1139@reddit

I enjoy cooking most of the time. Same with baking. When I am not up to it, I grab some precooked, frozen or easy made food. I keep frozen pizza and frozen needle dishes in the deep freeze. We live near stores that make fried chicken and other food most of the day. Husband totally understand. I'm disabled so I do most of the cooking and cleaning.

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Friendly_Nobody_8264@reddit

Oh yeah, stopped when my son moved out. Told the now ex husband my cooking days were over—it had been over 20 years at that point. Think it helped spur on the much needed divorce 👏👏👏

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k2j2@reddit

Yup- I just ate fruity pebbles for dinner

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Sidehussle@reddit

I feel like this. But none of the humans I created have left yet. 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

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NaturalSpecialist5@reddit

It is time !!! 😆

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Sidehussle@reddit

I know! I couldn’t wait to move out! I don’t understand.

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DantesGame@reddit

Never. I find myself cooking more, and better than at any point in my life. I love cooking for and with others as well. I wish I had more time for it. Guess I'll have to wait til retirement.

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Talking80s@reddit

Yeah. But that’s only because I’m so f’n tired after working all day at my job.

Retirement can’t come soon enough.

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Great-Tical-Returns@reddit

I like to try new foods but don't have the budget to eat out, so I cook for my wife and kids several times a week. But there are definitely several nights a week for sandwiches and leftovers.

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SeismicFrog@reddit

Exhausted by the thought of cooking for one. That said, I am personally funding next year’s UberEats Superbowl ad.

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raeoflyte-460@reddit

My kids have been hearing for at least 5 years that I'm never making dinner again once theyre launched.

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Ok-Carob1715@reddit

I like to cook, but I want more recipes for two. I get burnt out in two to three nights of leftovers.

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TheWorldofScience@reddit

Go to the grocery store with your husband and each of you pick 7 frozen dinners. Trader Joe’s has a lot of excellent frozen food. Buy salad stuff, fresh fruit, nuts and microwave popcorn. Take turns each night making the salad. Fruit, popcorn and nuts are for snacks. No more meal planning - that’s half the hassle right there.

If you don’t have a rice cooker buy a good one that can be programmed with the time in the morning you want steel cut oats to be ready so you just dump the oats, water, salt and cinnamon in the night before.

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RogersMrB@reddit

I don't mind cooking. It's the affording the ingredients I want to cook & eat.

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Upper-Room5267@reddit

I am little younger than you as a 1982 person, but with Gen X sibs. One of THEIR connections is a Boomer in a retirement home and they SERVE YOU FOOD and cook and refill your drinks and do the dishes. Of course - it’s like that as a Gen Z college student, too.

Not having to do meals would just be awesome.

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Brownie-0109@reddit

I cook for myself and my wife only, now that kids are out of the house. Probably 5-6meals in a vague rotation. No problem. Healthier (and cheaper) than store-bought prepared meals.

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Comfortable-Ad-8324@reddit

We both work full time and some days cereal is a meal plan.

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ThrustingBoner@reddit

Are you cooking the same old stuff? Subscribe to NY Times cooking and find some new stuff to try.

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LibertyMike@reddit

Personally, I like cooking. I do it most of the time and my wife does the dishes, which I do not like doing.

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zardozLateFee@reddit

I'm having a beer and bowl of roasted chickpeas and thinking the exact same thing (husband is away and kids do their own thing)

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GuyPierced@reddit

Depression?

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hippymom77@reddit

I love to cook. The problem is my husband refuses to eat anything healthy, especially vegetables. He's had cancer twice and his doctors tell him no sugar and no processed meats, which is all he eats. I literally eat more vegetables every day than he has eaten in a decade. I have to take care of myself. I cook every day and he is welcome to share my meal. I fully expect to be an active, healthy widow.

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schmearcampain@reddit

Yep, you can only lead a horse to water. My dad was the same way. Died about a decade before his own parents.

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Chuck-Finley69@reddit

While I understand your frustration with your husband, I can understand his thought process

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1544756405@reddit

My wife and I split the cooking. It's a lot more manageable.

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Appropriate_Oven_292@reddit

No

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schmearcampain@reddit

Me neither. It’s the only chore I actually enjoy.

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Mers2000@reddit

Yes!! I gave up. After cooking for the family for over 27yrs, waking up at 4am to fix dinner just so i can come home after work and reheat the dinner so my family could eat at a decent time… then at 6am cooking breakfast before the kids went to school😔, and hearing all these years how much better my husbands cooking was than mine!!! Hell yea i stopped.

I had that opportunity during Covid, since my husband was not working, he was cooking for us (i still worked) and it was soo delicious… not going to lie, he is a much better cook than me!

I heard everyday how better his food was, so i said ok, im done.

After he went back to work, i announced to them that i would not cook anymore! And today, i still do not cook😉

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Mudrad@reddit

Have your husband cook 50% of the time. Or have your bowl of cereal when you feel like it, and let him figure out what he wants to eat.

Organized meals for two people is too much work. Don’t be hard on yourself.

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Genny415@reddit

I estimate 1000 suppers per 4 years. That's making dinner 5 nights a week, for 50 weeks a year, which seems like a reasonable estimate.

OP, you're closing in on 9000 suppers.

I passed the 5k mark a while back and I'm over it too. It's little wonder that you're tired of cooking!

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depressed_momo@reddit

I have been trying to learn new ways to cook like Asian food. But told the family if they don’t like it I am not the actual Chef Jet Tila so fix your own food! I am over being a diner now. I am doing what I like and getting creative!!

gif

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benantiben@reddit

Literally having cereal for dinner and probably ice cream later. This is the way.

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Dramatic-Elk4181@reddit

So. Sick. Of. Cooking.

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HLLAuntClaire@reddit

As an only child latch key kid who never met her sperm donor.. I can honestly say I only have organized dinners somewhere that is not my house since forever😭🤗

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alex_korr@reddit

Cooking once a week and meal prep. It's not hard and way easier to eat healthy this way.

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Mirror-Lake@reddit

So much YES!! I’m making several different version of meals to meet everyone’s dietary needs!

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Ribbitygirl@reddit

My husband and I did Lite n Easy for a bit, when we were in a cooking rut and didn’t have foster kids to feed. We just did our five weekdays for work and cooked on the weekends, which made us more motivated to cook more interesting meals. It was a good change for about 6 months. Now we have to cook for picky kids again, but I’m glad we took the break when we did.

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Sensitive_Ad_5169@reddit

My typical dinner is yogurt, banana or apple, chips & salsa, handful of almonds, and a strip bacon (if there’s any left from the weekend). No prep, easy peasy

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Deep-Bookkeeper-9037@reddit

Yes!

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saw71@reddit

My meals once I moved out have always been whatever. Never much of a cook per se and the whole prep and clean up process is such a deterrent lol! So still in my 50’s they could be a full healthy meal, which I will eat all week or freeze, or could be chips & dip, or a protein shake or a 1 item meal like just chicken. I’m all over the board. Economically I do eat at home much more than anything else.

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RedditSkippy@reddit

I cook large a couple times a week and then coast off leftovers.

Funny story: I had been trying to get us to meal plan for years. Lots of “Well, whatever you want to cook is fine.”

About four years ago, I took a sabbatical from work and went back to graduate school for a year. It was a lot more work than I had bargained for during that year.

My husband, to his credit, observed that I was struggling with dealing with, well, everything and volunteer to step in for meals. Guess what he started to be way more interested in doing??

But I’ll take the win. We take about 30 minutes every Saturday and we plan dinners for the week. Basically my husband is responsible for weekend meals. I do weeknights because I’m usually home earlier.

I will say that we both like to cook. We just don’t have the time to cook a lot during the week. Meals during the week have to be quick so we’re either doing a quick meal (I’m really into sheet pan meals lately.) or we’re heating up leftovers.

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reddity-mcredditface@reddit

Cereal is delicious any time of day.

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SnarkCatsTech@reddit

Hard agree.

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gcawad@reddit

Maybe 1-2 time week. otherwise it’s snacks, some cheese, popcorn, whatever you find or make. Don’t eat out eithe.

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GiaStonks@reddit

I still need to cook a few meals a week because I like my cooking! I made chopped pork bbq today that beat anything I could have ordered in town. I usually cook at least one meal a day, more on the weekends. I'd like to hire someone to cook my meals for me with my recipes!

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Aggravating_Ear_1586@reddit

The only reason I even try to cook is my grandkids live with us. If it were just me and my husband he'd be happy with a sandwich and I'd be fine with a bowl of cereal.

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Turtle2k@reddit

I love to cook

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More_Programmer5053@reddit

I wish every neighborhood had a cafeteria and you could sign up for a cooking or cleaning shift or two a week. Then I wouldn’t have to make a whole ass meal in my house next to someone else doing the same thing every night of the week.

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Unusual_Memory3133@reddit

I would sign up for this

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Pavementaled@reddit

JFC, didn’t your parents tell you about the children starving in Africa? But really, complaining about having food is kind of ridiculous. Try not having any…

Signed: Your Mom

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Metroknight@reddit

If you are only cooking for yourself or maybe your husband also then think about premade meals. Do a couple a week to reduce the chore of actually making the meal. Start making simpler meals. Buy some ground beef, if you eat red meat, or skinless boneless chicken tenders or breast and just bake them with a potatoe. Buy some premade salad and have a simple meal.

I've been cooking for over 50 years and for about half that time it has included my family. My son is an adult so it is now mostly just my wife and I eating dinner so after working 8 hours I tend to come home and toss something simple on. I do chicken, a couple veggies, or a burger and veggies. My son has been getting into cooking now so he is learning how to read recipes and follow them so sometimes dinner time can be slightly experimental.

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dzeltenmaize@reddit

I’m sick of even eating never mind thinking about what to make. If it was just me I’d have girl dinner all the time but I still have some kids at home and my husband cooks so it’s only fair I do too.

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tvish@reddit

The kids have left our house. Dinner sometimes is a bowl of cereal, scrambled eggs, a can of Progresso soup with crackers, or even Nachos. Tonight, I picked up a Del Taco burrito for my wife and me. Since both my wife and I are latchkey kids, this is where old skills kick in.

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whatamidoinginohio@reddit

Nachos is the best dinner ever.

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ave427@reddit

An apple and a peanut butter sandwich tonight.

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0ddball00n@reddit

Gen Jones (or late boomer) it’s a love hate thing for me as well. Top it off with Ozempic and I’m just not hungry most days. Also I come from a long list of chefs/cooks in the family. I cook better food than most restaurants we eat at. So there’s that…at least on days I feel like cooking.

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Ok-Till-5285@reddit

are you me? I could easily have written this!

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CanadianExiled@reddit

I was just looking at buying a case of 200 MREs online. I'm not a great cook, my ex did all the cooking as she was all about the gender roles. So I started learning to cook actual food in my 40's and yet I'm already over it.

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MrsAdjanti@reddit

Yes! Over the last 1-2 years I’ve started cooking less and less. Just me and the hubs at home so why go through the hassle? We pretty much order out or “girl dinner” almost every night.

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LeggyBlueEyes@reddit

I rage quit a few years ago and told my husband he was on his own. I cook like once a week now he has to ask if I am sharing, because sometimes I am not - since he still does not cook for us ever, at all.

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Cupcake541@reddit

Stache is glorious!

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Unhappy-Ad2460@reddit

I just kind of phased it out and said nothing. Now I make dinner maybe once a week and the rest of the time they fend for themselves.

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aja_303@reddit

Naww. I’m just mixing it up when bored and perfecting the things I really like. We are so over dropping $100+ for meh just to have a night out.

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rclite@reddit

We have "On Your Own" nights. Everyone makes their own food. We do it at least two nights a week.

We also eat out or supplement our meal with take-out around twice a week.

That leaves three nights of making a meal from scratch.

This is only for dinner. I am not in charge of your breakfast nor lunch.

We are a three person household. This is doable for me.

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One-girl-circus@reddit

That's how it works around here when we're all home.

My husband's favorite hobby seems to be going out to eat, so he had a really rough few years of it for a while there! Now that we're back out in restaurants for the last couple years, we try just about every new one that opens. I'm really lucky to live near quite a few breweries and even though I don't drink, myself, they always have a rotation of food trucks. Whenever there's one with good vegetarian food, we walk the dog over and sit outside to eat together.

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Sunny_eloise@reddit

I stopped when last kid went to college. We’re on our own for meals.

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Ok-Till-5285@reddit

I am very early GenX, my love language is cooking, but working full time and cooking meals all the time is exhausting!!

I swear I am stuck in that period of Enjolie perfume ad - I bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, And never ever let you forget your a man, 'cause I am a woman, Enjolie!

And I am tired. I don't want it all. I never did.

Popcorn for dinner anyone?

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Few_Medium_1165@reddit

I told my husband and adult son I was done cooking, two years ago. My husband has learned how to cook pretty well. We do have easy meals or leftovers a couple night a week. I cooked for 34 years.

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Lightningstruckagain@reddit

I love to cook but as a recently single guy, i’ve gone back to college days a few times a week: Ain’t no rule against a peanut butter sandwich for dinner.

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One-girl-circus@reddit

Thanks for the reminder! I love pb&j but never buy bread when I'm home alone!

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Worth-Silver-484@reddit

Same. I also have breakfast at least one night a week.

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Loud_Ad_4515@reddit

I am so done. I still have kids at home (older teens), and I am over it. We buy HEB Meal Simples for us parents, and everyone else gets ramen, fast food, or quick things.

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One-girl-circus@reddit

I love cooking, but with my kids away at school or being adults and living in their own homes and my husband away for work for a little while, and my own workday even though it's flexible, pushing into my cooking time, I've started to feel this way a little bit myself.

I do enjoy going to the grocery store so in order to keep myself excited about making food that's nutritious, I like to try new things when I see them. I'm way more likely to purchase an already clean and separated box full of romaine lettuce leaves rather than getting a bunch that needs cleaning if it's just for me. I find when I have a little help on the prep end by purchasing veggies that are a little further along on the prep scale I find myself enjoying cooking a little bit more.

Since one of my daughters lives nearby, if I make something new that I know she'll like I invite her to come over and pick up a couple servings for herself. I also enjoy trying new recipes so that I can share them with the family when we are all home - like I'm the scout team.

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Stigger32@reddit

I work in mining Western Australia: That means I get my meals cooked for me while I am there. Currently that is week on. Week off.

On my week off I get four freshly made vacuum sealed dinners. That leaves two or three nights I need to do anything. Which is usually air fryer time!

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BusyInvestigator5924@reddit

Started to rant but will not. I love to cook and after retirement I love experimentimg more. I'm having a blast. Cavet. My wife has a simple palette. How did I do curbing my rant impulse? Perhaps some of our weariness is a lack of appreciation for a regular mundane task.

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theBADinfluence2015@reddit

My wife and I cook together every night. Its our reconnection time after a long day. We look forward to it. She finds recipes off Facebook.

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RocketmanZed@reddit

There are way too many good and easy recipes to not cook.

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Ancient-Chipmunk4342@reddit

Cooking, no.

I’m tired of having to shower every goddamn day for the rest of my life.

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omfg37@reddit

Lol do you have to shower every day? Dermatologists recommend 2 to 3 times a week

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Ancient-Chipmunk4342@reddit

gif

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omfg37@reddit

😂😂😂

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Maja_Bean@reddit

😂😂🙂🙂🙂

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HowsYaMamaNDem@reddit

No. I can’t wait to retire so I can so end my days grocery shopping and my afternoons and evenings cooking and listening to music.

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Charming_Laugh_9472@reddit

It is time you tried Dinner Ladies

Their food is delicious, arrives frozen, you just Follow the instructions - usually straight from freezer to oven, and 50 minutes later you have an excellent meal.

I am 82 and can no longer cook, not that I want to.

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Prize_Ad6430@reddit

My mother passed at 80 last year. 15 years ago I finally convinced her to move into senior apartments within 5 minutes from me, I her 40+ year old son became her doordash boy lol. I would bring her food all the time. Most of the time me and my wife and son would cook and bring it to her place or bring her to our place and all eat together.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I’m gonna have to look this up. Thank you!

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0_IceQueen_0@reddit

Tired to the max. I have my food delivered twice a week by a restaurant owned by my son's friend. I eat one meal meal once a day. Breakfast and dinner is just cold brew coffee and toast.

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Fudloe@reddit

I dig cooking. It's the same to me as fixing a screen door or setting up a guitar or whatever.

Gather intel, start the process, big payoff at the end.

Goddam rewarding and creative sez I!

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Round-Ride2042@reddit

No. I’m tired of all the corporate bullshit that keeps me away from the simple joys of cooking.

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AnneChovie264@reddit

I've always cooked, but now more than ever. Trying to get us into retirement as healthy as we can be. Don't want to be a burden to our kids, and medicare doesn't pay for nursing homes.

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RandomCoffeeThoughts@reddit

Meal prepping is what gets me there. The idea of cooking 7 days a week between the two of us drives me crazy.

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SaltySnail22@reddit

Your husband should cook for the next 35 years

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I’ll tell him!

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mis_1022@reddit

Once my dad retired my mom started teaching him about 10 basic meals they eat often. That’s been about 15 years and still at it.

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Missmbb@reddit

Once my kids were gone, I told my husband we needed to split cooking duties more equitably because I was sick of cooking. He looked so confused and said “I usually cook on my day off.” I said “Ok, I’ll only cook on my days off then.” 🤷🏽‍♀️

After I said that I think it occurred to him that I was cooking every night after I got home from work (duh). 😂

Between making large meals with leftovers, him cooking once or twice a week and eating out, I got down to cooking about twice a week. After 30+ years of cooking, that’s plenty.

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prisongranny@reddit

Glad he saw the light.

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Missmbb@reddit

Me too! Lol

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ave427@reddit

I stopped about five years ago. Everyone was capable of cooking and I was tired of doing it.

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greydog2008@reddit

The worst part about growing up is figuring out what's for dinner every fucking day! I just don't care any longer. I dread having to have this conversation with my wife every afternoon. Especially since she never has anything constructive to add to the conversation.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yep. I’m so tired of, “ Whatever you want babe”. It’s such a cop out.

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batboy-lives@reddit

I had to check the username to see if you were my husband, lol. As a similar wife, I have nothing to add because I'm just not as creative as he is when it comes to meals.

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GoinMinoan@reddit

Husband can learn to cook. You've done it for long enough.
I just make nachos for myself, pretty much every night.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

He knew how to cook before we got married. Isn’t that weird?? 😂

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montbkr@reddit

No, that’s good parenting on his mother’s part. My mother made sure that my older brother (born 1962) knew how to cook, too.

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Evas_Mom@reddit

I've been known to eat popcorn for dinner.

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Frankthabunny@reddit

I did this last week. I accidentally burnt it but ate it anyway

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

😂

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Street-Quail5755@reddit

We often make a smoothie and keep it super simple and easy.

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OddSignificance9742@reddit

I’ve been cooking solo forever. Gets tough keeping it fresh.

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SlartiHarleyBartFast@reddit

I’m the man cook in my family of four. I get in routines that are hard to break from. I find the NYTimes cooking app really helps me. They have a ton of easy weeknights dinner that aren’t just processed foods. And most of the ingredients are pretty common.

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OddSignificance9742@reddit

Thanks, I’ll check it out

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Wacko_Banana_Pants@reddit

I usually meal prep on Sundays. This covers my breakfast and lunch for work. At night the wife and I make whatever protein and vegetable we want. Usually a chicken breast and simply heating up frozen vegetables or something just as easy. We have no use for a full meal and dont eat bread/pasta at all

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Plenty-Run-9575@reddit

How did my fellow GenXers fall into these ridiculous gender role patterns? My partner and I both share cooking and dish/kitchen duties. Sometimes we just eat cheese/crackers or toast for dinner. Our generation was the one that was supposed to challenge everything. Buy your Big Gulp and stick it to societal expectations.

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Antifreak1999@reddit

I cooked dinner every night for over 25 years to feed a family of 6, then cooking was tedious and a chore. Now I cook for myself, not having to satisfy everyone's different tastes. Cooking is starting to become almost a fun hobby, many foods from around the world use the same spices and ingredients, just in different amounts. One pan/pot dinners help me with cleanup, usually 15 min of prep, followed by quick wash of prep dishes, then food goes in to cook while I do nothing. I still cooked the same amount so I freeze multiple servings, when freezer is full, I dont have to cook for a week if I dont want to.

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IAmDaBadMan@reddit

I enjoy cooking. I like trying to make different meals whenever possible. My latest concoction is a butternut squash and carrot puree.

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abrnmissy@reddit

I just told the fam (adults) last night. It’s fend for yourself night. No one complained.

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Puzzleheaded_Low_619@reddit

I can't wait to retire and cook every day

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Unspicy_Tuna@reddit

I batch cook and my husband eats it for lunch all week so I still have to cook dinner every night! For reasons not relevant here, I can’t eat lunch, so I don’t even have the option to eat the food I cooked! And no, my husband isn’t a jerk, he shops, I cook, that’s our deal, and I loathe shopping even more than cooking!

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Sensitive-Issue84@reddit

Yea I never minded doing dishes, but I hate to cook, so it's always worked out that way. Plus, we would all starve if they were waiting for me to cook.

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Unspicy_Tuna@reddit

I love doing dishes! I find it relaxing!

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drtyhppi@reddit

It took 20yrs, but I finally starting learning how to cook back during Covid because I could see it was truly wearing my wife down. Last year I surprised her and I planned all the dinners for two weeks and gave her some time off. It took me fixing one Sunday dinner on a Thursday night for me to realize what an asshole I'd been. I did it, though. I cooked every meal for two weeks straight. And now we share the duties. I help plan dinners by picking out meals that will cover about a week and she plans the other half. Then we decide who's cooking on which nights and whoever doesn't cook has to do the dishes. And I've toned down my meal choices.

She fondly calls me Beeker. I'm still learning and I'm highly inefficient in the kitchen most nights. For example, tonight I learned you don't broil veggies on parchment paper 🤣 I'm a mess y'all. I just tell her she's the luckiest wife in the world.

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deluxeok@reddit

I wish more men would wake up like you did. Well done!

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drtyhppi@reddit

Well, there's still plenty of areas I fall short. I didn't grow up with parents that really cooked. Nothing special anyway. And they didn't teach me how to cook. I lived off burger King and whatever restaurant food I worked at in college until I met my wife. The other night I was making tacos and I just looked at her and was like, "I had no idea cooking could be this simple. Brown some meat, empty a packet of taco spices in it and boom. Tacos!"

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deluxeok@reddit

That's awesome! I don't cook much - i escaped gender role expectations but really wish I could muster the energy to make real food.

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TemperReformanda@reddit

No. I cook more now and more gleefully than ever. Now that I actually know how to cook lol

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montbkr@reddit

Having decent cookware is a major factor, too.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Congrats!

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Pootie-Pants@reddit

I’m eating Fruity Pebbles for dinner. I get it!

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onemorebutfaster_74@reddit

Don't mind cooking, but I get bored of the usual rotation of dishes and also cleaning up. We still have a 14 year old at home and we live in a place where most going-out or takeout options either suck or are too $$ (and still suck). So there's still an expectation of a meal being somewhat ready when wife gets home from work and he gets home from practice. And they get sick of the same things too. I've become the default dinner chef since I've been wfh for the past year. I def need some new ideas.

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montbkr@reddit

Maybe we should make a post of easy to make recipes and all contribute something to that? I’m game.

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Fluffy-Structure-368@reddit

I like cooking but I hate cleaning. My wife likes to cook but we have an agreement whoever cooks the other cleans. For the most part we just use the air fryer because neither of us will agree to clean up after dinner.

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Soxogram@reddit

My wife cooks and I clean. It’s a great system. She’s a great cook. There are times I’ll cook if she doesn’t feel like it

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happinesstoyou@reddit

So tired!!

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General_Road_7952@reddit

I still have kids at home (16 and 23), but I often don’t make dinner. We order delivery pizza once a week, and get takeout one of the other days, and other days I often just buy a frozen pizza or something.

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ZettaiGeek@reddit

Been cooking since I was 10 as a typical latchkey kid. 48 years of cooking and I still love it. As a Hafu, my Mom taught me how to cook most Japanese foods, and her Filipina and Korean friends taught me their cultural dishes as well. Been expanding my repertoire to include Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese foods too. Don't think I will ever grow tired of it.

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Dusty_Sequins@reddit

Anymore I have a bagel with peanut butter or cream cheese for dinner 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Adventurous-Egg-8818@reddit

I just had a cup of Ramen!

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Prize_Ad6430@reddit

I'm eating Ramen right now. Maruchan blazing hot chicken. Wasn't blazing but I will probably pay for it later.

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Appropriate_Ruin3771@reddit

Luckily, my 16 year old daughter has started taking a few meals a week.

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NaturalSpecialist5@reddit

I hate cooking and I'm really not that good at it. I don't care for recipes because they bore me and I tend to miss a step/measurement which I didn't know until about age 45 was probably due to undiagnosed ADHD. I rather cook chicken breasts, throw them on some rice or potatoes, buy a box/bag mix of something, canned/fresh veggies or frozen, fruit and call it good. I didn't have kids but I took care of my mother for several years while married and no one cared really what we ate. Plus my then husband did make dinner some of the time.

I commend anyone who had children and had the gruelling task of making dinner every night of the week. I don't know how you did it. You are amazing, truly.

Once in awhile I'll make something special but with chronic pain now, I don't always have the energy. I do make sure my fiance and I now have something a few days a week, but if not, he's content with frozen meals or pizza. I always force veggies and fruit on him though lol

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vanelin@reddit

Try a food delivery service like CookUnity or Factor. My wife and I do this and we eat when we want and pick out our own meals for the week, it’s much easier than having to plan meals every week.

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bibdrums@reddit

I love cooking. Mostly because when I cook it’s good and I make it exactly how I like it.

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Sensitive-Issue84@reddit

Yes, even though I refused to cook. I will not. It's just not my thing. I can and do every once in a while. Also, for the past 15 years, I've had a very strict diet, so no one wants to eat what I do anyway, so I'm happy just making food for myself. But I would prefer to eat out every night. Lol!!

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Mountain_Crab0813@reddit

I save a podcast or audible book for my cooking time. Granted I do love cooking, but it makes it even more exciting to pick back up on something to listen to.

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montbkr@reddit

I do that, too, and I also have a Spotify playlist called “Making Supper” that I dance around the kitchen to while I am cooking.

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littlebunnydoot@reddit

I use the meal sized freezer cubes called souper cubes. And I cook 8 servings at a time then freeze what doesn’t get eaten. Then overtime depending on the amount you cook, you just add more different meals to the freezer stash. I haven’t cooked in months. My husband cooked the last large batch and he keeps cooking the rice and the pasta and freezing them and now I don’t even have to maintain the system I made and it’s a miracle.

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BroadAnimator9785@reddit

I love to cook. Glad I do because once you learn how much crap is in any food even remotely processed or packaged you cant unsee it. I make so much from scratch now. Bread, ice cream, pasta, rice dishes. Focus as much as possible on proteins with good carbs and whole foods. Hubby cooks too but I do more of it. It's my main strategy for making sure we avoid disease as we get older. Or do our best to avoid it.

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EFDan@reddit

💯 % agree. I only have to cook for myself though, so I get to decide what and when, which makes it a lot easier.

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qpv@reddit

Yeah i feel like garbage if I eat out to much or buy pre made stuff

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Old-Set78@reddit

I have narcolepsy and I'm so exhausted all the time it's hard to have the energy to eat, much less cook.

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taylorevansvintage@reddit

💯but I’m more sick of meal planning than actual cooking. I started getting a meal kit for three nights a week to remove this mental load. All the ingredients show up on Monday and I just pick one each night - then I only do other things as needed with our social calendar etc

Planning and cooking EVERY SINGLE DAY for years is totally exhausting

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ExtantAuctioneer@reddit

My late wife was both an amazing cook and actually loved being in the kitchen.

I am not, and I do not. If my youngest two didn’t still live with me it’d be sandwiches every night.

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montbkr@reddit

I’m sorry about the loss of your wife, and I hope that you’re doing OK.

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Individual-Army811@reddit

I love to cook, BUT, there's no point in making meals for two every damn day. I cook one or twice a week, the rest of the time, we figure it out.

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para_diddle@reddit

Ditto. It works.

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Cmonkeygofly@reddit

Same!!

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AmbassadorProper1045@reddit

Maybe learn to make simpler meals for 2 or start using a food delivery service such as Hungry Root, Blue Apron etc..... to simplify food preparation. You start eating cereal and junk for dinner your health will take a nose dive.

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No_Can2570@reddit

I love cooking. Really came to enjoy it when going through a divorce.

The problem I have is trying not to repeat meals and coming up with new ideas.

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montbkr@reddit

I like to try to re-create dishes that I had at a restaurant. It’s hit or miss + trial and error, but sometimes it works out.

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Responsible_Trash_40@reddit

This is me as well, I love cooking but I hate deciding what to cook.

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No_Can2570@reddit

Or maybe it's cause I tend to drink when I cook.

I cook a lot of Mexican, Central America and Cajun seasoning food.

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197willow@reddit

He needs to learn how to feed himself. I quit cooking once my kids were 18 and on their own. I am not responsible for any adult eating. My husband and I just do our own thing usually. If he wants to cook, go at it. I'm happy making a sandwich. We shop together and just get what we both want and eat what we want. Easy! 😊

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Patient-Brief-9713@reddit

Sounds like my house, only I cook for myself, and my husband eats the sandwiches! And we shop together too, same thing.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I love this.

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stanley_leverlock@reddit

If it's a chore to you I totally understand it must be exhausting to have to cook every meal. So I say this as someone who loves to cook: make your husband cook some meals. My girlfriend and I have a shared google doc where we plan the meals for the next week and we decide who cooks them. We've been doing this for over a decade and it just plain works. It's extremely rare for us to not know what to have for dinner and who is going to make it. Occasionally we'll each have a bad day and we have no problem saying "I just can't tonight" and the other steps up. If you cook a lot of meals it really makes it a luxury to have someone cook for you.

You don't have to shoulder this burden alone. Broach the subject. Buy the ingredients, tell him what to do, and let him cook for you.

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punkwalrus@reddit

I re-started cooking after a long hiatus. My mother taught me gourmet cooking, my first wife taught me "diner cooking," since she came from two generations of diner owners. The styles contrast a bit because my mother was all about the art of doing it right, and my wife was the art of making do with basics on the fly. My mother considered a casserole "lazy Americana by the unskilled," and my wife said, "what do we have? Let's put anything matching in a dish and make it all mixed up if we have to." They never met, as my mother died about two years before I got married.

But because both of us worked, and half our marriage at different times, cooking became a hassle and so we did a lot of frozen dinners.

My first wife died about 12 years ago, and when I remarried, my second wife is more "traditional," but she spent 20 years in the military, so her "trad wife cooking" dates back to German Appalachia with a HUGE gap in the middle of mess hall grub.

Sadly, in her later years my second wife has trouble standing. So I took over the cooking until she gets her knees replaced. I think i kind of surprised her that I *can* cook, and cook *well*. I know how to plan meals and get ingredients out at the same time. One main protein, and a side dish consisting of a starch and/or greens (I really need to get more greens going, my only issue). Nothing fancy. Delicious food.

"... I think you cook better than me..." she admitted after a few meals. That felt good. I kind of felt like my past was purely by word, and little to no proof. Now she knows I wasn't just making shit up, even though she never said that. I think her traditional upbringing didn't really expect a man to cook something besides grilling (which, actually, I don't like to do all that much), and she's grateful that I stepped in while she gets her knees redone.

bowl of cereal or ice cream or nothing at all would be just fine more often than not.

And that's REALLY okay! We do the same thing. Premade pot pies, frozen pizzas, Chinese takeout, or literally a bowl of ice cream or cereal and milk like you. I mean, it can't all be one thing, like too much ice cream drives up my sugar numbers, which makes my blood pressure increase and my kidneys work too hard to push all that excess out. But with everything, moderation, including moderation.

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ZealousidealAd681@reddit

You write beautifully. I enjoyed that and you sound really cool, Thanks

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copperfrog42@reddit

Every person in my house is capable of cooking. I’m willing to do a lot of it, but tonight is Whatever night. There are both resources and leftovers available for hungry people. And occasionally everyone feeds themselves at different times, so I don’t have to.

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Mustbe7@reddit

YES YES YES

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Jaded-Fan-4978@reddit

The meal itself is a pain. You have to decide what to have, then get the ingredients and cook. After that it’s the dishes. I’m honestly tired of the whole thing and my husband does the cooking. Just stop asking me what I want because I honestly don’t care and I’d be happy just grazing if I get hungry.

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Brilliant_Source5206@reddit

Elder millennial here, so I hope my comment counts. I have found the freezer to be my best friend. Forget it, frozen pizza, frozen chicken fingers, frozen fruit, all the things. I even freeze loaves of bread and just peel off 2 at a time for a sandwich.

I’ve been burnt out for years. Having a stocked freezer is a godsend.

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montbkr@reddit

I love the idea about the bread. Our bread is always going bad because we don’t eat all of it. How do you warm up two slices when you get ready for a sandwich? I want to try it.

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MaximumJones@reddit

Elder millennial here, so I hope my comment counts.

Do you give a fuck what we think? If not then you are actually GenX. 😁🤘

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HarmonicShepherd@reddit

Yes. My aunt, who is 85 just moved to an independent living place and the first thing she said was Woot! Woot! I never have to cook again! lol!😂

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Dalearev@reddit

Me and my girlfriends complain about this all the time, but I lucked out and my partner cooks a lot lol

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MagScaoil@reddit

The problem I have with cooking is I have to do it again tomorrow. This constant bodily maintenance is ridiculous.

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Ok_Concentrate4461@reddit

I rolled way back when my son went to college. It had already been becoming tedious, and he was the one who was was always so eager to eat my food. My husband and daughter couldn’t care less if they eat an amazing meal I cooked from scratch or a peanut butter sandwich lol

So I cook when I feel like it.

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Routine_Breath_7137@reddit

I'm tired of the cost to actually cook a decent healthy meal. I miss steak and beef in general.

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Sky-of-Blue@reddit

Yes! My gourmet from scratch cooking has been severely affected because I can no longer justify the cost of beef or most seafood, cheese, cream, bell peppers, fruit etc.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I get it. The husband wanted steaks for his birthday a few weeks ago. That didn’t happen. They’re outrageous now.

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pchandler45@reddit

I've been alone pretty much as long as I can remember and never loved cooking to begin with. I "can" cook, but unless I'm cooking FOR someone else, I have very little desire unless it's something special that I can't get easily anywhere else

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Prairie_Crab@reddit

I only feel like cooking every few weeks. 🫤 I still work full time. My husband is retired, so he does most of it. But man, we have different tastes! He doesn’t like casseroles or anything similar, doesn’t like soup, doesn’t like anything with breading (unless he’s making it) despite the fact that he eats bread with every meal, doesn’t like white meat chicken, nothing “foreign” except Mexican or plain spaghetti with marinara sauce, and DAMN is it hard for me to come up with something! Everything must be a plain grilled piece of meat with broccoli. Healthy, yes, but boooooring.

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Cmonkeygofly@reddit

At least yours eats broccoli. Mine is meat + starch only which limits what I can make so he doesn’t have to pick out parts of his dinner every night

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Adjustingithink@reddit

I only like cooking on the weekends..but then there’s other stuff to do 🤷🏻‍♀️ So it’s mainly salads & easy stuff these days.

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Salt_Anywhere_6604@reddit

Me

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regdunlop08@reddit

Cooking is like my Zen place. I don't like doing it every night but many nights it's an escape from life's stresses and the horrible world around us. It's just me, a sharp chef's knife, a hot cast iron pan or similar, and ideally some fresh, quality ingredients. The creation of something greater than the sum of its parts, and particularly the gratitude of my family when it comes out well, feeds my soul more than the food itself.

Of course tonight I just got take out sushi for everyone. So yeah, some nights I guess I am just too tired, lol.

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Readingknitter@reddit

Tired of planning dinners even more.

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Spirited-Resident889@reddit

I cycle, I get "decisioned out" from work and I just can't summon the focus/energy to engage the executive functions needed to plan/organize/prioritize. Other times I relish it. But mostly my planning circuits are burnt to a crisp from working acute healthcare.

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Two_DogNight@reddit

Same. I don't mind the cooking so much as deciding what to cook.

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Snugrilla@reddit

I hate it so much, especially cuz I gotta make all the food-related decisions too.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yep.

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OrangeMustangGal@reddit

I don't mind the cooking, but I hate being the one who always has to decide. Especially, because I got mad at my husband and told him I would never ask again...

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Needmoreinfo100@reddit

I've never liked to cook but I like a good meal and so does my husband. I like summers where I can just do a salad and grill something real quick.

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Jenshark86@reddit

Tell your husband to share in the cooking. He can cook and give you a break.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

He could.

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Pink_silv@reddit

The people who like cooking are a blessing! I hope to find a partner that likes to cook. I’ll clean and take out trash instead of cooking!

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Professional-Ad2849@reddit

I find it tiresome to cook for one. There are always leftovers and sometimes I don’t want to even look at that meal again let alone eat leftovers for three days. I tend to amp myself up to cook something proper and new/interesting (usually some recipe from Instagram) but by the time I’ve shopped, prepped and cooked the meal, I hardly want to eat it at that point. I love a good meal, and I like to cook for others but I can’t eat meals I’ve prepared anymore. Just give me a stiff drink and a hunk or old cheddar and I’m good.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I am not good at eating leftovers either.

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Beautiful-Ear6964@reddit

I have that problem too. I started only cooking 2 servings of everything because realistically I won’t eat it more than twice unless I loved it. It’s not always easy to do with some recipes but I buy things like dried beans instead of canned so that I can portion what I will actually eat. Or I plan my menus so I can use the leftover ingredients in another recipe. A lot of times I do kind of themed weeks, like Mexican or Middle Eastern week, so a lot of the stuff for that week is interchangeable and can be combined in different ways (e.g. hummus, pita, cucumber, feta, lemon, chicken Schwarma, falafel, chickpea lunch salad for Middle Eastern week). And I freeze things that make multiple servings like chili and lasagna (I rarely make these things anyway).

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Apprehensive-Bag-900@reddit

If I got really rich, I would pay someone to manage my fridge and shop for me. Figuring out a grocery list/ingredients for the dish you wanna make is a chore. Shopping is a chore. Cooking is a chore. Cleaning up is the worst chore. Its 8pm and all I've done is chores! My mom told me when I was in elementary school that food tastes better when someone else makes it.

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blkwidow76@reddit

I absolutely hate cooking. I've been living off Costco rotisserie chicken and steamed veggies lately.

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judashpeters@reddit

Raising 3 picky eaters so yes God damn I am so fucking tired of cooking

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Impressive-Yak-7449@reddit

YES!!! Single. Live alone. Mostly Cook all my meals. I dont do meal prep because I like variety and make what I'm in the mood for. On the rare occasions I do get take out, I find myself reworking the food to my tastes.

Last month I signed up for cook unity for my lunches. I find most of their meals decent, but I don't like spending that kind of money for something I can easily make myself.

I also have two specific needs dogs that take extra time every day, so there's that.

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Conscious-Leg8404@reddit

I am footloose and fancy free. I thoroughly enjoy throwing rice and beans and cheese together, or shrimp and chicken and whatever with pasta lots of veggies and if the kids come over, I’ll make whatever they want. No demands, it’s the best.

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SnowflakeSWorker@reddit

I’m so over it. I’m 49, my oldest will be 32 this year. Lots of lean years, then got married and had more kids. I feel like I’ve been cooking forever. I also did all of the family gatherings/holidays from age 23 on, and I’m still doing them! Youngest is 15. One day, I will eat gummies and cereal for dinner 😂

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FuzzyArgument4636@reddit

I can definitely get into cooking, it depends on my mood. Both Husband and I though have commented that if there was pill that would substitute and satiate for most dinners, we would be all about that.

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Odd_Geologist_9065@reddit

I made egg salad sandwiches cause I didn’t want to do a big cook, I’m tired of it too 😂, hubby wouldn’t be happy if I stopped ❤️

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CitizenChatt@reddit

I like dinner party cooking. And baking! Lots of baking

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Healthy-Brilliant549@reddit

Nope. Can’t stand dishes

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tired_but_trying42@reddit

I’m a teacher, and I find I love being a stay at home wife instead. I love cooking on my breaks. I enjoy keeping my house tidy.

When school is in session? It’s all I have in me not to make frozen pizza and sandwiches every night. I’m so tired of thinking about food, planing meals, buying groceries , cooking them all…I’m so done.

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qpv@reddit

Ha. Just made a post that I cook dinner 10 months a year as my wife is a teacher (I like doing it)

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Patient-Brief-9713@reddit

I hate cooking, but I cook simple things for myself fairly regularly. A few times per month, I will cook something big enough for both me and my husband, and he can choose to eat it or not. I think he survives off sandwiches, pudding cups and apples. LOL. I have zero guilt associated with not cooking.

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PM_Me_Ur_Nevermind@reddit

I cook more now than in the past. I’ve eliminated fast food and I like my cooking since I can make whatever I want how I want it. It’s just so it probably helps I don’t have to worry about other palates or tastes.

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Crafty-Farm-8470@reddit

I do all the cooking for my partner and me and an a big fan of cooking enough for multiple meals at once, and cooking stuff at the same time. For instance did Okinawan style bowls so I made brown rice yesterday while the Japanese sweet potatoes were baking and the soy ginger salmon went in with the potatoes and the broccoli steamed next to the rice. It sounds like a lot, but it's low prep time and good for several meals for us both. Neither of us care about variety too much, fortunately.

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qpv@reddit

I'm kinda the opposite. I used to hate it, but every year I get a bit better at it. Its my unwind time after work. Watch some Netflix or whatever and make me and my wife dinner 10 months of the year (she's a teacher, so she basically works 1 hour at home for every hour in the classroom)

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ImmediateBug2@reddit

Thankfully, I have never cooked. I was always very upfront with that in all of my relationships, so they knew they wouldn’t be getting meals from me. I usually have cereal or little snackies for an after-work meal. My husband does the same.

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earinsound@reddit

i like cooking more than ever, but i’ve never had to cook for kids, just myself and my wife. my mom (80) rarely cooks anymore. burned out.

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snarpy@reddit

Not at all, I've actually been more inspired to cook of late than ever. Have probably tried more new ingredients in the last year than ever.

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BigMommaSnikle@reddit

That's inspiring!

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HeavyTea@reddit

I get down. But I flip through recipe books u til something hits me and I say "we cooking that!"

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Away-Ad3792@reddit

This is when Trader Joes's 3 ingredient meals come in clutch. I like their teriyaki tofu (but any cooked protein will work), get the frozen cooked brown rice and steam some broccoli. It you want to be fancy, get that chili crunch oil stuff and some cashews. Tada! Even better, a salad kit and some already cooked chicken. Also sheet pan dinners are easy peasy. Lastly I keep my freezer stocked with some lightly breaded chicken nuggets and French fries. Just throw it all in the air fryer. Quite frankly I'm a fan of anything I can just throw in the air fryer.

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Strict-Square456@reddit

Agreed on TJs. I like those pastas you just throw in a skillet with a teaspoon of water. Tasty!

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allbsallthetime@reddit

We had some very dear freinds, when they retired the wife said she never wanted to cook again.

She didn't or at least it was very rare, they ate out the rest of their life.

Whenever we visited we went out to eat, every meal.

We miss both of them.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

❤️

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chlorculo@reddit

I was raised in a household where you were expected to be happy with your three squares and a cot. Food was basic. I thought tacos were the most exotic meal I'd ever seen when a neighbor made some. I wish I were exaggerating.

I've been on a kick of trying new recipes from the NY Times cooking site. My wife is an amazing cook but she commutes so I try to bring it up a notch and give her a break.

I enjoy it when people like what I've prepared for them. Weird.

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k_m_worker@reddit

Single Gen Xer here and I LOATH cooking. I just can’t wrap my head around cooking for one and I have been doing it for decades! It’s my daily nemesis ,

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Slotter-that-Kid@reddit

32 years in kitchens as a cook or the Chef. Yes I am fucking tired of cooking.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Amen

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migraine24-7@reddit

Thankfully my husband helps me with dinner, and leftovers are a perfectly acceptable dinner. We would go out to eat more often but I have many dietary restrictions so it's easier to just make things at home. Sometimes neither of us feel like cooking or aren't really hungry so maybe a bowl of frozen cherries, ice cream or even a cheese stick.

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Old-Chocolate-5830@reddit

Crock pot does wonders, set the pot while making coffee, turn it on and let it do it's thing, main dish ready after work, box, can bag salad for a 15 minute 4 course meal and left overs for tomorrow evening.

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t53deletion@reddit

Pasta and meatballs are a staple. Tacos appear on Tuesdays. Stir-fry and chicken with sauces arw very common. A rice cooker saves the day. And cheap Mexican when I'm tired.

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TimeProfessional7120@reddit

We make omelets on I'm-too-tired-to-cook days. Somebody else mentioned salad kits, and that's also a good option. Recently, I have been buying Taylor Farms Spice Apple Chopped Salad kits and fancying them up with leftover shredded chicken, chopped apple, dried cranberries, and topping everything off with extra cheese (there's never enough in those salad kits). Toss half a frozen baguette in the oven for ten minutes, and it's a great, quick lunch or dinner.

Note: We almost always have leftover chicken in the fridge because I spatchcock and roast a small fryer most weekends. Takes like 45 minutes and feeds us for days.

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EntertainerNo4509@reddit

I just eat peanut butter out the jar or a small block of cheese and I’m good. /s.

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Apprehensive-Bag-900@reddit

My boyfriend and I work different schedules so more than half the week I'm on my own for meals. I hate it. I don't mind cooking, I cook about 1/3 of the time for us (he's a chef). But cooking just for me? Ugh it feels like another job. I'll throw a sad frozen patty in the air fryer or make a frozen pizza most of the time. Or just eat carrots and hummus. My mother's 78 and she cooks once a week, she's been over cooking for 15 years.

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Mulezzz@reddit

While I don’t always like figuring out what to cook, I do enjoy doing it more now than when I was working.

Then I would cook large meals 2-3 times a week to eat off of the other days. Now I cook smaller meals and more often, almost every night. I do find myself simplifying things - cook a one pan meal like stir fry, so clean up is fast and easy. I also wash dishes as I go along, so they aren’t all piled up at the end. When we don’t feel like cooking, we eat salads or go out.

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Betsy_Draper@reddit

I mostly assemble food. I’ll do fish on the sheet pan or chicken in the slow cooker and I’ll roast frozen vegetables with a flavored olive oil and seasoning. The variety of flavored olive oils and seasonings make it fun. Pretty much the same blueprint, but different flavors.

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Beautiful-Ear6964@reddit

When I get tired of cooking I do Hungryroot for a while. Nothing takes more than 10 minutes, it’s tasty and reasonably healthy. I also have a local meal service that I used after my surgery that does delicious fresh pre-made meals that last up to 14 days in the fridge (they pump some sort of special gas into preserve them). It’s a little extra money but sometimes you need a break.

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chdude3@reddit

I'm just... tired.

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montbkr@reddit

Yup. Physically, mentally, socially, in my soul and all the way to my toes TIRED.

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TheVioletEmpire@reddit

I grill a shit ton of chicken breasts, or a pork loin or something, every Sunday. And then we eat that the rest of the week. Chicken sandwiches, chicken salad, chicken wraps, etc. Not so bad.

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Suspicious-Loss-7314@reddit

YES YES YES

BUT I still have two teens at home, so for now, I continue cooking dinner.

Once they are out of the house, tho, all bets are off. My husband can find food!

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TomorrowAble979@reddit

Nope. I enjoy cooking and have been trying new things. It can be a good way to unwind after work. There are nights that I don’t feel it, but still cook a dinner at least 4 nights a week. My wife will do one or two other nights, and we eat out once or twice. Not everything is a huge effort. Like tonight we had leftover lamb with roasted Brussels sprouts and roasted cubed sweet potatoes. Pretty low effort but great to eat.

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Narrow-Accident-1136@reddit

It’s my only remaining hobby. I do enjoy it. However my work circumstances keep me from home for several months at a time so it’s only a daily thing for about 5 months of the year. My tune might change if my circumstances were different

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Ambitious-Scallion36@reddit

Husband and I have always cooked but we both upped our skills during the pandemic.

Now it's the only thing we can still afford to do in this chaotic world, so it's our only remaining hobby as well. We both love slicing and dicing and creating new things.

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UberCanuck@reddit

I love to cook. It’s my escape. And I was brought up that food is love.

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Front-Cartoonist-974@reddit

Same I love to cook.

BUT

I hate figuring out what to make.

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luckyxina@reddit

Once my younger son moved out, I declared to my husband and older son that I was no longer responsible for ensuring there was a meal cooked every night. I cook when I want, and they have to feed themselves every other night. Completely freed myself of that responsibility and never looked back!

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AbsolutesDealer@reddit

Cooking is a great joy for me overall, but there are definitely some days where I just want to order a preposterous amount of sushi.

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Alive_Refusetogiveup@reddit

I slowed down my cooking. Now I only do it when I have to, being I still have a 16 yr old (who is luckily not picky at all). Like you, a bowl of cereal is fine. I hit the lotto tho, my boyfriend does 90% of the cooking and I’m the cleanup crew.

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KurtStation68@reddit

Cooking is becoming less important, when I get the itch it's all in, otherwise it's just basic starch, proteins and vegetables.

Tired of shopping mostly.

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EducatorAdditional89@reddit

I’ve finally broke free of cooking and the guilt I felt. I’ve cooked since I was 12, I’m now 71 and free!

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monkey_butt_powder@reddit

Sorry to ask, but do you consider yourself Gen X?

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EducatorAdditional89@reddit

I’ve never aligned myself to any labels. I’ve always been part of the human experience and learning about others.

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Maja_Bean@reddit

😂😂😂😂😂

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Chiccheshirechick@reddit

My daughter moved out last November and the utter RELIEF of not thinking about dinner is a literal dream. I hear you !

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insufficent_data@reddit

I follow the r/GirlDinner subreddits and dream...

At least my husband is willing to order out a couple times a week. AND he cleans up when I cook. AND he packs our breakfasts and lunches on work days. But DANG do I hate the question, "What's for dinner?"

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TravelerMSY@reddit

Time versus money. Up to you to decide which one you’d rather have more of.

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whats1more7@reddit

I stopped cooking dinner for the family a few years ago. It was nothing but complaints and absolutely nobody (4 adults besides me) was volunteering to help. So I stopped. I like to eat healthy so I make my own meals every night but I keep it really simple - half the plate is veg, usually raw, 1/4 is protein and 1/4 is grain, usually rice. I also have cereal probably a few times a week.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I could get behind that. My husband is a super unhealthy eater, and I would prefer grilled healthier options.

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Bug_Calm@reddit

We subscribe to a delivery service so we don't get stumped trying to figure out what to cook. That was always the problem with us.

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mrsredfast@reddit

Husband and I just shared a turkey sandwich for dinner. We’re both the same - tired of cooking and planning meals. And don’t like heavy evening meals anyway.

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International-Ant174@reddit

I'm down to coffee in the morning a "something" at dinner. "Something" for the last 3 days has been to throw together a side salad with some deli turkey chopped on top.

I don't get "hungry" (not like when I was a kid), just get a low level headache in the base of my neck to tell me to eat something. Don't feel "full" after, the headache just goes away.

Don't see a point in spending an hour "making a meal".

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Bladrak01@reddit

It's not so much the cooking as having to figure out what to eat every day. I've been a chef for over 30 years, and I'm really starting to get curious about meal kits.

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FuggaDucker@reddit

NOPE! I love to cook! GOOD THING because wifey hates to cook and loves my cooking.

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who-waht@reddit

I only keep cooking because it's so much cheaper and better than take out. There are still 2 "kids" at home. Plus the husband. Personally, Id be pretty happy making pots of soup and freezing them in meal sized portions, choosing a different one each night. Rotating through different salads in summer.

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ednamillion99@reddit

I used to love to cook and now I have very little interest in it. It was never a chore until recently, I truly enjoyed it and was good at it! But somehow in the last few years I lost mu mojo and it just started to feel like a burden. Luckily my husband has started to take an interest in cooking, so he makes dinner a few nights a week, I cook maybe once or twice, and the other nights are leftovers or takeout.

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AssignmentRelevant72@reddit

I make a big batch and freeze it in portions. Makes life simpler and I don't have to eat the same thing several days in row .

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mjh8212@reddit

I used to love to cook but chronic pain got bad and I made simpler meals using the crockpot more. Now I have pots. We survive on frozen food and soup. My husband makes some things. He just cleaned and organized the kitchen and made two meals. We had that a few days. I can’t eat big portions so those healthy choice frozen meals are my go to.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I’m not a big eater either. That’s probably part of it.

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TimeProfessional7120@reddit

Some days, sure, but I still generally like cooking, even the clean up part. What I REALLY like now that the kids are grown and flown, though, is the reduction in our grocery bills! Even with inflation, our grocery money goes a lot further than when they still lived at home.

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Ginger630@reddit

Your husband should be cooking too.

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likeittight_@reddit

🙄

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PutPuzzleheaded5337@reddit

58/male/never married or created children … (this I’d for reference) I make something original every second day (gives me one extra day with leftovers). I’m a big fan of the Insta Pot and stainless steel cookware. My mother (deceased) was a chef and I helped her in the kitchen. I’m incredibly impressed with free range/organic chicken these days but it’s sooo expensive. Oh, I’m not tired of cooking yet😊

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yarnhooksbooks@reddit

I’m divorced and split custody. The weeks my kids aren’t here I eat yogurt, fruit, cereal, sandwiches, peanut butter toast, snack plates… if I “cook” it’s maybe some scrambled eggs or a grilled cheese. On a really, really rare occasion I might throw together a pasta or rice dish. I do a little more when my kids are here, but still tend to keep it really simple and quick - tacos, burgers, frozen pizza…. I used to love to cook, but between the time, energy, and prices for nicer ingredients it’s more stress than anything now so I’ve mostly opted out.

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dm21120@reddit

I take about 20 pounds Costco chicken and instant pot it, shred it, and vacuum pack it in 5 ounce (3.7 cooked) portion and put in my mini chest freezer…

gif

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Nuclear-poweredTaxi@reddit

So you consider yourself a cold hearted person?

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gjohill@reddit

1 whole cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, chopped garlic, soy sauce, olive oil, pound of ground beef. Pot of rice. My wife and I get 2 dinners and 2 lunches, or 3 and 1. I hate cooking lately too.

I've been obsessed with cereal this year too, after about 20 years of not eating it.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I used to not be a fan of cereal either.

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Sintered_Monkey@reddit

I am the opposite. I'm about to retire, and one of the things I look forward to is having more time to cook.

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IfYrNot_@reddit

Same, also looking forward to having the larger meal earlier in the day with a light salad in the evening 🥗👩🏼‍🍳

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sas317@reddit

Everything gets boring from repetition, including cooking. Thinking of what to cook is harder than actually cooking it. It's a major chore.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Agreed.

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jujioux@reddit

Right here. I loathe it. My grown kids still live at home, and they all like different things. My youngest is 17, still picky af and bitches no matter what I make. He complains I make the same thing all the time (because he barely likes anything) but when I try something new, he complains about that too. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

I’m over it. I’d just as soon have a bowl of cereal or a pb&j, myself.

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Suspicious_Story_464@reddit

Same. I am not the only asshole living here, so why is it all my responsibility to make dinner every single night? I finally told myself that it's not. Nothing wrong with them making a sandwich or soup for themselves, or God forbid, the meal for everyone else. Sooner or later they will have to be able to do it for themselves, so we are on a learning journey. I just dont have the patience anymore for willful helplessness, especially from my own gremlins.

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positivepinetree@reddit

My spouse does the cooking. I wash the dishes and feed our three dogs. Works well.

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LindeeHilltop@reddit

We have the same setup & it works for us too.

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Adrift715@reddit

Having raised a football player…..I still make big portions. So retired hubs and I can easily eat leftovers for several days.

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fenderbender1971@reddit

OMG, so tired of it! I used to enjoy cooking, but now it's such a chore!

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renegade7717@reddit

i do the cooking - just me and my bride w all kids gone - but what’s worked lately is I make the same things - all different- but on same day of the week - so can plan the meals/store needs/ and still some variety not same thing every night. Do mix it up some on the weekends but during the week it can be a beating if u don’t have a plan.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Planning definitely not my strong suit.

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BrettNoe@reddit

My wife loves to cook, and I’m willing to clean up, so it usually works out.

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spiderfighter1@reddit

And then the cleanup

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eeniemeeniemineemo@reddit

I’m to the point and kids are old enough now where I say 2-3 days a week that I don’t want to cook, and they can fend for themselves. My Husband never complains about it and the kids for the most part don’t and are used to it now 😄 It is SO tiring trying to figure out dinner every day, so each week I try to get a dinner idea from each of them.

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Traditional_Cat8120@reddit

A lot of times, I starve bc I don't wanna cook. And ordering take out gets super boring.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Right there with ya.

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SarahJaneB17@reddit

I hated it for a long time. Now I'm getting into it again. A while ago life threw me some curve balls, and it was the last thing I wanted to deal with. I also worked in food service for a long time. I don't have a lot of income, so I need to make something good on a budget. I don't make anything fancy. Tonight it was a patty melt with grape tomatoes I roasted. I'm really big on the crockpot and anything I can throw on a sheet pan and come back to later. I've found a bunch of my mom's old recipes and gone the comfort food route with those. She was big on casseroles. It's another thing that you can throw in a dish and pop in the oven. I'm all about keep it simple.

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spidermans_mom@reddit

If I could get away without ever eating or cooking again I’d totally do it.

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sebastianrileyt2@reddit

I don't mind the actual cooking part. It is the coming up with what to make part that I am tired of.

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SundaeSpecial3151@reddit

I’m mostly tired of cleaning up, not so much of cooking.

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Elegant-Error-8010@reddit

That's what has lowered the amount I cook anymore.....lol

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Cold-Body-2867@reddit

Yep. I used to love to cook, my wife and I used to enjoy cooking together. For a while I was working a little later schedule, so my wife did most of the cooking during the week. Now it's shifted the other way, she's working later and I'm cooking more. I've forgotten how to do some things, skills are rusty. Can't find the old joy. Just happy to get something on the table most nights. Daily "argument" - what do you want for dinner? 😉

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

The schedules might’ve been part of it for me too. For a long time my husband worked different hours too so cooking and scheduling was difficult.

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Junior_Ad_3301@reddit

We still cook most nights and i make a breakfast for 1 most mornings because my lady doesn't really eat that early. But i totally get the sentiment. We've had to adjust from our bottomless pit of a son who's in college now and our youngest is in her 'i don't like anything' phase. Now that i write this, no, we cook a whole lot less often because leftovers

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thisquietreverie@reddit

Not really, it's how I show love. Since I work from home I put importance on handling the dinners so my wife can come home and not have to stand any more, make decisions or do even more crap. I figure she did it for her kids for years before I met her and while she makes terrific meals, it's just a thing I handle.

Most of my youtube searches revolve around learning recipes and stuff from others so I also view the learning and processes as ways to break up any monotony from basically sitting in front a computer all day.

I'm not picky about what I eat, but I'm weirdly aware that I only get so many meals on this earth and eating poorly bothers me for some reason. It's like the only "advancing clock" I am dimly aware of and I don't know why.

Last night I smoked center-cut salmon seasoned with cowboy butter, topped with buttered scallions and a peach bourbon glaze and lemon pepper asparagus. It sounds like it but I don't do Asshole Fancy but I frequently skirt it just to keep things interesting.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Your wife is lucky. Hopefully she knows that. 😂

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thisquietreverie@reddit

I think I'm the lucky one because like you, she would be totally fine with cereal or ice cream but she graciously puts up with my explorations.

I think she knows if left to my own devices I would vacillate between making something nice for myself or eating a hotdog over the sink like a human rat. At least this way I have an outlet.

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Desperate_Tax8711@reddit

Mix it up: Frozen food, ready made salad kits and Uber Eats are your friend. I think you might get a spark for cooking again if you didn't have to do it every single day. Cooking should NOT be only on one person.

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dixiech1ck@reddit

Other than the husband and kids part, I swear I wrote this.

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Crazyforlou@reddit

Cooking I’m fine with, it’s the cleaning up after that annoys me.

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madogvelkor@reddit

I cook because my wife never felt like it and I like to eat good food rather than frozen stuff. And I can't afford to order out all the time.

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Away_Bit_3382@reddit

Couldn't care less. But l feel ya. Tonight the husband had a quesadilla (we call them roll ups) with leftover steak from 2 nights ago that he prepared himself & I had cheese & crackers. We usually do a crockpot or big pot of something on Sundays to have leftovers for the week ahead.

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clamb9@reddit

I have introduced a "make your own fucking dinner" night to my family and it works out great. Only once a week currently, but will be increasing soon.

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kermitsfrogbog@reddit

Definitely a chore. Made worse by the fact that literally no one else will do it if I don’t. I can’t even get someone else to call for takeout. At best I can get them to pick it up. I don’t door dash. F that.

On a good day, my husband tells me what he wants. Sometimes deciding what to make is worse than actually making it. He thinks he’s doing me a favor by telling me he’ll eat anything I make.

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Far_Designer_7704@reddit

I like cooking when I want to. What I am tired of is the assumption that I cook dinner still.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Yep.

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trashthegoondocks@reddit

When I hit the next big Powerball jackpot, I’m getting a personal chef.

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Jellybeans74@reddit

Yes and I’m also tired of the cleanup involved after cooking.

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iluvtupperware@reddit

It isn’t just the cooking, it’s trying to meal plan when all you get is “I don’t know” when you ask what they want and never being sure who is going to show up.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

THIS.

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Actual_One_9225@reddit

Cooking is one of my favorite things. I cook most nights and make pizza from scratch every Saturday.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

It used to be one of my favorites too. I’m not sure what happened.

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BeautifulBunny_209@reddit

Oh bless this thread. I thought it was just me and my husband who felt this way. We’re getting so tired of it. It use to be our ‘thing’. Now we’d just rather spend a few hours together out of the kitchen without clean up.

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ziggy029@reddit

I enjoy cooking. It’s the cleanup I strongly dislike. That tends to stifle my creativity in the kitchen, as I tend to steer my culinary creations toward things that don’t dirty a lot of cookware.

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Kindly-Might-1879@reddit

Yes. I told my husband shortly after the kids moved out (2 years ago) I’m tired of cooking.

I’ll still cook occasionally but we now do a lot of takeout or grocery store prepped meals that we only need to heat. He also cooks sometimes, esp if we want steak or fish. I know it’s throwing money at it but at the moment, I’m enjoying this!

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used2B3chordguitar@reddit

I love to cook but I’m going for convenience more now than ever, so I only cook 3 or 4 days a week now and the meals are simpler. Take out is not the worst.

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AstroStrat89@reddit

I love cooking. One of my zen activities. I enjoy learning a new dish and perfecting it over time. I've gotten good enough at it where my wife and I rarely like to go out to eat because I can always just make it better. And cheaper.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

I definitely can, I just don’t want to anymore. 😂😂

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xxMalVeauXxx@reddit

I do most of the cooking in my house. I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to try things. When my family likes a particular meal, I'm super satisfied. Food, like sleep, is one of those essential things that is worth putting time and effort into, to see as a daily luxury and something to look forward to. It's one of those things that you do your whole life and if you found it pleasing and fun, cooking, it brings you small wins, joy, etc, during any times of your life.

One day, it's your last meal. Or theirs.

How disappointing it would be to eat because you were hungry and not because it was such a pleasing thing to do, to cook and to enjoy it, even if you're alone, or better yet with someone who is enjoying it too and you care share that enjoyment together. I *never* regret a good meal.

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Late_Homework_2705@reddit

As an empty-nester I only cook when I want to. 🎉 Last night I had hummus and pita for dinner.

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GozerDestructor@reddit

I prefer bagged salads, I eat one almost every day. They cost $4 and have plenty of fiber (and all of us have reached the age where we should care about fiber).

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StandByTheJAMs@reddit

Yes. My wife works harder and longer hours than I do, so I do the cooking and cleanup. (The kitchen and yard are mine, and the rest of the house is hers, but we also have a housecleaner every other week.)

I do Salmon Caesar salad every Monday, Taco Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday vary, and eat out or order in Friday and Saturday, and usually go to her parents' house on Sunday, but sometimes Sunday meals also fall to me. Tonight I'm doing a dish that is basically just chicken meatballs with pasta and a caprese salad in one bowl.

It does seem exhausting sometimes.

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sewpuzzled@reddit

I stopped truly cooking a little over a year ago. Now I just cobble together some bagged salad and Trader Joe’s frozen food combo and call it dinner. I’m over it. We’re childfree so there’s minimal guilt involved.

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Trader joe’s frozen food is a life saver.

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abstractraj@reddit

No way. I keep trying new things like Japanese curry or beef Bourguignon

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butterflygardyn@reddit

The worst part of adulting is choosing and making dinner every night until you die.

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RedLily08@reddit

I've always hated cooking. I hate the mess. I hate the time it takes. And I only have to cook for me

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ECNV1978@reddit

I’m making dinner RIGHT NOW and thought to myself, “It’s just death, taxes, and trying to figure out what to make for dinner every dang night from here on out.” 😆

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

100% 😂

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Phobos1982@reddit

Cooking is fun! Especially when using stuff from my garden.

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Thick_Quiet629@reddit

We had to switch it up bc hubby was the cook (I HATE cooking) and was burned out. I try to do half. Fridays are pizza night so 3 and 3. Occasionally I con my kids into cooking on my nights. But you can tell your spouse to up their game and make it fair. Or you can waste money and plastic waste on take out. Or just eat cereal sometimes. Hubby is usually fine if we both realize everyone has snacked their appetite away.

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Coffee_24-7@reddit

Nope. I love cooking. I ask my girlfriend to surprise me with requests and I love hunting for ingredients and making her go 😋

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No_Profile_3343@reddit

Over it. Mom, what’s for dinner?? Ugh. Someone else please decide and make it.

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OkConsideration8964@reddit

YES! And I ordered dinner tonight as a result lol. My daughter is 24 but has special needs so she will always live at home with us. She does help cook, meal plan, etc but I'm just not into it like I was.

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Oldjamesdean@reddit

I'm in the same boat. My youngest is 18, special needs and will require life care. I'm making us BLT sandwiches this evening. I need to be really tired to not make dinner, so like once or twice a week we order something. My wife provides more personal care for him than me and I do most of the support work like cooking, home maintenance, car stuff etc.

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slade797@reddit

Two things that I hate

Havin’ to cook and tryin’ to date

Bustin’ our ass all day to play hurry up and wait

Those are two things that I hate

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leeayn@reddit

My man loves to cook and he’s much better at it than I am. However, he works long hours and I don’t work so I’m expected to make dinner on the days he works. I don’t hate cooking but I hate deciding what to cook

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newwriter365@reddit

Wednesday night and the local pizza place has a $10 plain pie. Buy one and freeze whatever I don’t eat tonight.

Meal prep for the other nights, or just make a salad. I work in an office so the most important thing for me is to not overeat and to make sure I get my steps every day. My metabolism has always been awful, so big dinners are the enemy. I avoid at all costs.

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CityCabCat@reddit

Let him cook

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Feeling-Lavishness85@reddit

We're empty nesters and live on soups and sandwiches or salads mostly. We'll make a few different pots on the weekend and eat them throughout the week. We also do stews, pot roast & chili in the winter.

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threelittlebards@reddit

I still get a kick out of trying to make a new recipe. This week for example I decided to make refried beans from scratch including soaking the beans overnight. It takes something I’ve made a thousand times like fajitas and adds a new element to it. This is not a daily thing, mind you, but I try to do something new usually once a week.

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zombuca@reddit

I’m a single empty nester and a bowl of cereal or a sandwich more than qualifies for a solid dinner nowadays.

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bohica1937@reddit

My wife and I do Hello Fresh (or whatever we're using this month) 2-3 times a week and will throw something together or eat out the rest of the time. It's worked out well for us and we keep the recipes and will pull one of the ones we like out when we are stumped. They're easy enough that I can usually knock em out without messing them up too much.

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chicagoliz@reddit

We've been doing Hello Fresh for several years now and we love it. It pretty much eliminates meal planning, which was always our biggest problem.

But, if you really do not enjoy cooking and it is a chore, then don't do it. My mom always cooked because back in the 60s and 70s, that was like, required, and she stayed home for many years. But she never loved food, and never liked cooking. (So it is not surprising that most of what she made was not good.). Now that my dad is retired, he cooks every meal. He plans them, goes to the store every day, makes all their dinners. He likes doing that, so now my mother never cooks. I think the only thing she makes in the kitchen is coffee in her keurig.

If neither of you like it, come up with a plan. Maybe you can have cereal, at least some nights. Maybe you could work together to make some batches of stuff. If you can afford it, get some takeout or go out.

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Ike_In_Rochester@reddit

You might want to change “how” you cook. You might be doing the same old recipes and meals. I strongly suggest mixing up your dinner prep for a few weeks. START WITH SOME SLOW COOKER RECIPES. Nothing is better than dumping a bunch of stuff in a slow cooker in the morning and then coming home to a cooked dinner.

Also, do breakfast for dinner occasionally.

Home cooked pizza isn’t that hard to do and you can make pizza dough in a bread maker if you have one. If you don’t, you can find them at a Goodwill pretty regularly.

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auralesque@reddit

Even though I generally enjoy cooking, every few months I just get super burned out from the whole thing - meal planning, shopping, cooking. I realized the thing I loathe the most is the meal planning part – endlessly figuring out what to make. So to switch it up and make it easier, we're getting a meal kit service (using Hello Fresh right now). It still involves the labor of cooking, but somehow not having to think each week about what to make and put on the shopping list has been huge contributor to me feeling better about the whole chore.

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2_krazykats@reddit

Only me and the hubby left and we barely eat at home. I've seriously considered never grocery shopping again and just get take out every night. Our jobs provide lunch and we dont eat breakfast (nor snack much) so it's just dinner. and after work, sometimes I dont have the mental capacity to think and cook. if I didn't already plan on having something, it's gonna be refrigerator roulette!

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Basic_Scale_5882@reddit

For real.

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Throw8976m@reddit

I'm a stay at home mom. I hate cooking. I don't even really like eating (recovered anorexic). My husband took over cooking a long time ago. He enjoys it. I lucked out.

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NoRestForTheWitty@reddit

My husband does too. In exchange, I do all the laundry.

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Blackstrider@reddit

Not at all. Cooking is a happy place and I'm a "zero boxed food" type. However, I also expect all hands on deck in the kitchen - music, wine, people, laughs.

A living, breathing Big Chill LOL

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Sudden_Idea9384@reddit

I live a cab of black beans, maybe a dollop of sour cream if I’m feeling fancy.

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Automatic_Gas9019@reddit

I love to cook.

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No_Fudge1228@reddit

Amy’s veggie lasagna and other frozen meals have been a good alternative to GrubHub for us. My husband lives on their soup and refried beans

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Aromatic-Ganache-902@reddit

OMG yes! I hate going to the grocery store, too. Planning and deciding what we are going to eat is a pain the fuckin' butt. When my husband and I got married, my rule was I don't cook on the weekends. He can cook or we can do takeout but I'm taking 2 days a week off from cooking. We still have 2 teens at home and I get up at 5am and make breakfast for everybody too so by the time the day is over and the kitchen is closed I am tired.

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Rude_Parsnip306@reddit

I hate dinner

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Julian_Thorne@reddit

I don't cook much. Most of my diet is meal replacement shakes. Much more efficient. Of course, that would be harder if I had to maintain group food rituals. Since it's just me, I dont have to worry about social food dynamics

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

Shakes sound like a good option too!

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Techchick_Somewhere@reddit

One billion percent and I still have a teen at home. We do too much takeout because I LOATHE cooking. I want to eat a lot of vegan stuff and he wants steak or chicken. I’m soooooo done.

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Adorable-Radish577@reddit

Most nights I'm tired of eating too. Nothing appeals to me lately.

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44_Sunflower_44@reddit

I saw a meme the other day that I could not have related to more. It was a mom looking at their child and it said something like “I’d die for you but I don’t want to make you dinner every night” and I felt so seen 🤣 They’re an adult and partly moved out so I’m still cooking because I choose to (I know I’ll miss this one day). I agree with the other comment about being sick of trying to figure out what to cook more than I hate cooking.

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Hobobo2024@reddit

it's time to switch chores with the husband if you're that tired of something. maybe start switching little by little.

I've always been tired of cooking since I was young. it's so repetitive. I unfortunately don't have a wife to swap with.

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makorancheros@reddit

Make him cook. I do all the cooking, and after 30 years I still love it (thankfully for my wife).

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emclean782@reddit

Darn right mak him cook. I made dinner for me and the wife tonight, Monday, Sunday. Probably have to again Friday

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NoH8Kate@reddit (OP)

😂 That’s not happening.

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Equivalent-Shine5742@reddit

One of my favorite things now that I'm on my own again is making a big pot/dish/container of something and having leftovers for several days.

I'm happy with the food and there's no big prep or cleaning most days

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TeenYearsKillingMe@reddit

Kind of. I'm too tired but cereal definitely wouldn't suffice unless I desire to be 300 pounds.

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whistlepig4life@reddit

Yes. I do most of the cooking. And my spouse can always tell when I’m tired because we order out multiple nights in a row.