Help to get cooking skills back on track....

mrs_sparrow

Hi everyone, I am a newbie to these boards but wanted some help please - new start, new me and all that.

I've had a really hard time personally lately, just feeling down and something else going on and it's started taking over my life a little and I feel like I am living on edge a lot of the time. It means I chuck some toast in for breakfast - which has crept up to being 10.30/11am ish, and lunch time arrives and I am not hungry so I'll grab crisps at 2pm - and of course, dinner times comes and I'll either not be hungry so have nothing ready or I'll whip up the kids a decent meal and hubby and I end up eating rubbish late at night. I recognise it, I know I am doing it, I just wanted to have a push forward in the right direction to stop and get organised.

I am part the way to get my personal problem sorted and I think the worry has mainly been that certain people were going to screw me over, but this cannot happen now but I still have to get things sorted, however I have gotten myself into this huge rut and I am struggling to get out of it as I have spent so much time thinking of nothing else and it's kind of engulfing me. I know it;s irrational but I am having trouble shaking it off and when I think about it I end up on edge.

Everything seems to be a chore these days but maybe that is the weather too now it is getting colder and darker.

I am sitting here doing my shopping list and I want to get our meals sorted so I wanted a shove to have some food to make healthy meals (on slimming world preferably as I've been living on junk) - it's like I have even forgotten what I used to cook - which I realise just sounds ridiculous and is pretty damn embarassing. I've not actually cooked mashed potato (my favourite) for 3 weeks now which is just shocking as it;s such a basic food. I cannot even seem to remember what we have eaten or I have cooked, it just seems the last few weeks have merged into one horrible blur and I've just been struggling through each day with 'stuff'.

Well, sorry for being a self pitying whinger, I just want to get some good recipes going. We do not eat spicy foods or curries, we have bolognese a few times a week and the kids now go to various activies where I need to eat at 8pm time and swinging by the chip shop is going tof be too easy so I want to avoid getting into bad habits - the kids have school dinners some days and so have 'packed lunch' meals in the evening (their choice) and so this is why I just get out of the habit of having food ready.

I want to start using the stock pot some more for these days. Do I cook it on high and turn it down to low. Can I put dumplins in for 3 hours or will they go to mush? I've only cooked stews in it but I want to be more adventurous.

I hope no-one minds me asking, I know I just need a kick up the backside but I do not really have anyone to ask as everyone seems to eat high calories laden foods or hot stuffs and my family do not eat things like that, if anyone can help with recipes and cooking advice that would be most appreciated. Thank you.

suzybloo

Hi Mrs Sparrow - sorry to hear that you are having a hard time. Definately recommend checking out the slow cooker thread, and making soups, stews etc that can be left on and at hand - I tend to put things on high if I need it in a hurry, but low if its to be on over a long period of time.
Where possible when you do cook try and double up - then throw one meal in the freezer, for days you dont feel like cooking or are rushing around.
Possibly if you ate more substantial meals you might feel a wee bit better? - if you are missing out on important vitamins and minerals that can lead to you feeling low and struggling too.
Possibly make a plan to do something everyday, even tomorrow doing a pot of mash - but do enough for another day too, and keep it in the fridge.
It will take time again, and I am sure there will be others along to help you out!

mrs_sparrow

Thanks for replying suzy, I did think the same that I feel so down because I am not eating properly and I know I need a kick. I hate cooking at the best of times but it should be easy chucking it all in the slow cooker. I am just looking for the thread now on here.

Got me thinking about butter beans though, yum.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

I second the slow cooker. I worked full time night ss fot 12 years when my kids were small. The SC was a great help. I often say that if it had not been for the SC my family would have starved.

I know that when I went through a tough time I also stopped cooking, but the pleasure came back as I got stronger.

scaredy_cat

mrs sparrow, i know the feeling, i've been suffering with depression for about 2years now and i was in exactly the same place. i've put on weight though eating carp and processed food. i'm gradually getting better, had 5 proper evening meals this week, though it was pizza tonight!.

i had good intentions, made meal plans and bought the food, but when it can to actually cooking it, it seemed an enormous effort!!

Try with easy things, like jacket potatoes, some meat you can bake in the oven with them like sausages, chicken or chops, and then tinned peas. it's a proper meal but not much effort needed. Then you feel better for having the proper meal and the next one isn't as difficult.

Also, there isn't much to clear up after, as that can seem so great too!