Lost the will to cook.

Triker · 26 June 2006 at 11:15AM

For many years I have really enjoyed cooking and getting creative with recipes for my family.......however somethings happened which I thought was just temporary but I have to admit has been going on for a year or so now with no sign of changing.

I have really lost my way, cannot for the life of me decide what we're having for tea from one day to the next. I kind of just wait until a stray thought just bounces into my head and then I try and run with it.

Conversely I love cookery books and have been collecting them but my 'cooking gene' has dried up so much so that when I received 3 new books on my birthday I could hardly raise a smile. They have now stood unopened in my cupboard for 6 weeks now.

Weekends are the same and I dread friends coming over as I'd rather get a takeaway, which we cannot afford, than attempt to get cooking again.
This is so unlike me, I did used to be known for my big dinners especially sunday roasts/curry nights but my inclination seems to have gone. Anyone else experienced this and if so any advice? I am really fed up.

black-saturn · 26 June 2006 at 11:18AM

Sorry you are feeling so bad. Don't beat yourself up about it. We all have hobbies that we go on and off. Don't try too hard to impress. If you feel like just opening a box of fish fingers for tea one night don't worry about it. Perhaps you could go back to basics and start cooking simple meals again.

twink · 26 June 2006 at 11:27AM

i find the bbc easy cook magazine good for quick and easy recipes, its out every two months i think and i get mine in asda or tesco

liz545 · 26 June 2006 at 11:37AM

Triker wrote:

I have really lost my way, cannot for the life of me decide what we're having for tea from one day to the next. I kind of just wait until a stray thought just bounces into my head and then I try and run with it.

I went through this for a while, when I was on a diet. It's as if my appetite for food had gone, and with it my usual habit of thinking about it a lot. What I'd suggest is make sure your fridge is full of lots of nice salad or sandwich type ingredients. If you've got good lettuce, tomatoes, cold sliced meats & cheeses then you can just plonk them on the table with bread and relishes and let people assemble their own meals!
Are there any adult education centres near you? They often run summer schools, and you could go along for a 1-day or short course in a completely different style of cookery (e.g. thai food) which might inspire you. Try https://www.hotcourses.com if you're not sure.
Failing that, why not just pick some recipes for meals which can be frozen from your cookery books, grit your teeth and dedicate a day to making a bunch of soups/stews/pasta bakes. You can then just bung them in the oven on the days when you can't bear cooking!
Hope this helps, and hang in there - it's tough to lose interest in something you used to love doing!

moggins · 26 June 2006 at 11:39AM

I went throught a spell like this a couple of years ago, don't worry about it too much, relax and just buy in something easy to cook. We have one day a week where I treat myself to a break and just open a can of ready made chili or somthing so I don't end up burning out again.

Essex-girl_2 · 26 June 2006 at 12:03PM

Hello Triker,

I go like that sometimes though not for as long admittedly. Pre MSE sometimes we would have a takeaway 5 nights a week, because I couldnt think of anything I wanted to cook or be bothered - then I used to get so sick of takeaways so I would crave a lovely hm roast dinner.

I also get out of the 'habit' of cooking when I come back from holiday, it always takes me a couple of days to get back into it.

As per other posters I would say dont put pressure on yourself. We regularly have buffet tea nights or j pots/omlettes etc.

I assume from your post that this just relates to food coz if you feel the same about other areas of your life also it may be that you have mild depression and a visit to your docs would be worthwhile.

Good Luck

apprentice_tycoon · 26 June 2006 at 12:04PM

I know exactly what you mean, I am a trained chef, I used to teach dinner party cookery at evening classes (this was a demonstration and taste class, I used to cook 4 items from a menu each class) I have over 120 cookery books but I tend to view them as interesting art books rather than things to actually cook - I still make a homecooked meal each evening, plus HM yogurt, all our bread and preserves, I make all these with pride but I just don't get that buzz any more from food....maybe next year.....

Rikki · 26 June 2006 at 12:21PM

I feel like that today Triker. So I've just thrown everything into the Slow Cooker and its got two chances. It either tastes great or just [STRIKE]like crap[/STRIKE] about edible.:)

Triker · 26 June 2006 at 12:28PM

Hi all, thanks for taking the trouble to give suggestions, I'm finding them very helpful. Although I've had periods before where I've lost interest in cooking for a bit it's never lasted this long. It does'nt sound much but its a really big thing for me as I associate food with nuturing my family and when a few years ago when money was really tight I could conjure up varied meals from nowhere. This was a source of pride for me that despite how little money there was I could always provide for my children. If you saw my kitchen you'd never guess that I am feeling like this, I have many exotic ingredients, love the chinese and ethnic supermarkets and try to buy varied ingredients/tins of stuff/pastes etc. It's just that when it actually comes down to making a decision, I'm stumped.I'm going to have a try at Black Saturns meal planner thread. Thanks for this, maybe I do need to go back to basics. Will keep you posted, made a decision for tonight though.......jacket potatoes and.....erm well I dunno yet but something will waft in my head.

elona · 26 June 2006 at 1:09PM

Try writing down six ideas - give them each a number and throw a dice!

Thriftylady · 26 June 2006 at 1:30PM

I don't know if this makes sense, but I'll give it a go. I love cooking, baking, pottering about the kitchen, it brings me a lot of pleasure. BUT when its a necessity, (e.g. midweek, he's on his way home from work, tired, hungry, would love to just have dinner waiting for him) then it takes the pleasure out of it. So, quite often I don't particularly enjoy making tonights dinner, but could easily spend the afternoon making soups and casseroles to have some other time. Told you it might not make sense !!

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Lost the will to cook.

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