OH sabotage of batch cooking!

serious_saver

scubaangel wrote: »

My mum struggles with her oh and mother for that too, her OH is a nightmare for picking a lumps of meat, not interested in the veg or potatoes just the meat, while her mother always wants 'just a little bit' of something sweet, trouble is her idea of 'little bit' is vastly different to most peoples, last time she came to visit me I'd bought a cake, portioned it up for everyone with a couple of bits left for my oh and I to take to work the next day, wandered off after we'd eaten and came back to find my nana tucking in to the last piece because "that bit I had earlier was miniscule and I wanted a bit of something sweet with my tea" apparently the cookies I put out next to her tea pot were invisible (and for a lady who can't walk without a pair of sticks, and doesn't have the manual dexterity to open a screw top container it was amazing how well she got in to the airtight container I struggle to open!).

Wow! My mother is just like this; I despair of her sometimes because she's diabetic and knows she should eat any of it but she can always manage to find the food that has been hidden

When growing up my sister was really bad for emptying the fridge and it has carried on now that we're older. She is always visiting and the worst problem is when I buy smoked salmon. As far as ingredients go it's pretty expensive but I use a small amount as one ingredient to make a nice fish pie or pasta or to put in sandwiches with cream cheese etc. Enough to easily feed a whole family. My sister will sit down with some crackers and eat the whole packet (and so would my dad if he had the chance).

bexta

Totally agree with you all about frail old ladies and hidden sweeties! OH mum is exactly like that. My OH definately inherited her sweet tooth, so I hide my chocolate stash in my library bag or the baby changing bag

dazzle21

OH used to be a pain at this, but stopped when i refused to replace the next days meal...i had planned leftovers and that is what he got..but it was a really strnage concoction of what was left in the fridge and freezer..rather than the chicken pie he had been expecting! Needless to say, he (touchwood) is now more disciplined than me and will have extra veggies (with gravy to mask the flavour?!) instead of seconds of the meat to ensure he gets a decent meal the next night! He still is a terrible snacker though..crisps, potato wedges, bread!

funkymonkey849

OH used to do this until I got VERY mad a few times

Now I make sure there is some OH friendly alternatives in the friedge/cupboard that he knows he's allowed to eat if he fancies a snack, so he will normally have a bowl of cereal or something

If there's leftovers that I want to use for another meal I will also say to him that this is for tomorrows tea eat on pain of death!!

Honestly it's like training a puppy

thriftmonster

I also went down the route of serving a veggie meal the next day - usually plain pasta with tomato sauce - and pointing out someone had eaten the planned leftovers. They all tend to ask now before they touch anything meaty although they know there is usually some cheddar and basics salami that can be eaten. If there is something that I particularly want kept, I will warn them off it.

patchwork_cat

Without meaning to be blunt on this thread all those whose OH's eat leftovers are acting like the OH is a child. They are not. You are a partnership. In our house my Dh and I make the weekly menu together. If this wouldn't work in your house then stick the menu on the fridge and tell him. Although I am very against this 'tell them' attitude as I believe that we are a team, but if you have your seperate domains - they are also not children. Now teens finishing all but a sip of orange juice and putting the carton back in the fridge or the lea and perrins!! I can empathise with that!

LE3

Have you TOLD your husband/children that the meat is for another meal? Have you tried posting the menu for the week - and clearly marking what's "leftovers" on it? That way when they eat the leftover chicken & there isn't any for the chicken pie, they'll understand why the pie is veg & gravy!
Sometimes it doesn't occur to the person opening the fridge for a snack that somebody may have plans for the food.
If they aren't used to stretching one piece of meat for 2 meals for instance, they may simply have no idea that's how chicken pie starts ... Many people who have never done the shopping/run a household simply don't understand - they aren't being malicious ....

Joseph_Bloggs_2

Some wonderful explanations for obesity here!

Allegra

Another vote for the freezer. Paired with baking cheap snacks for them to fill up on, works a treat. I usually do scones or biscuits from Weezl's website - when there is a tinful of tasty treats to go through, no one cares that the fridge is bare (while the freezer's groaning). www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk for the recipes.

the_cat

I find my lot will steer clear of anything I label as off limits.......... buy some post-it notes:rotfl:

That way they have no excuse for eating it. If they do, don't get other stuff out instead. Serve what is left of the meal you planned. perhaps with some bread and butter and when they complain, which they doubless will, you get to explain that their greed yesterday cost them a proper meal today.

They'll soon catch on!!;)