Bored with food

Money_saving_maniac

Like many people I tend to stick to a repertoire. But now I'm
a) bored with it
b) want us to eat less meat

My OH would eat nothing but meat and rice, meat and pasta or meat and potatoes. He is not keen on anything veg at all except raw carrots and raw peppers. He isn't keen on fish either except for smoked mackerel. He doesn't even like baked potatoes.

We eat a lot of meat 6 days a week and I'm not even that super keen on much meat. I certainly don't think we should be eating much of it either. I can slip beans in for a chili and peppers in for a spag bol or a curry but everything centres round heavy meat use. It really cannot be good for either of us and I'm so bored of the kind of meals I have to make in order to get some veg in. Plus it all gets expensive.

Does anyone have any ideas, or any anecdotes about how they've weaned a spoilt meat eater off it?

VfM4meplse

Money_saving_maniac wrote: »

Does anyone have any ideas, or any anecdotes about how they've weaned a spoilt meat eater off it?

D-I-V-O-R-C-E.

moneyistooshorttomention

Could you just start making what you want for yourself? He could carry on eating as he does - but you get your variety.

I presume he works full-time? Well - if you work full-time too = he gets to make his own food then and it's his choice whether to have you continue to cook for him too (ie eat what you eat) - because you obviously don't have time to cook two lots of food on top of doing a full-time job.

He's obviously entitled to eat the way he wants to. You obviously are entitled to eat the way you want to. If you have a full-time job too - then he's not entitled to have you cook a 2nd lot of meals for him (hence he cooks his own). If you don't have a full-time job and he does = then things are different (ie you'd continue to cook meals for him - as well as make "your" meals for yourself).

Spendless

When you go out for a meal; to a pub, restaurant or cafe, what are the sort of things he orders there? Is there anything that you can take inspiration from?

Obviously if you reply, usually a mixed grill, we may struggle with suggestions.

Prinzessilein

I would talk to OH about the issue. Tell him that you'd like to eat more healthily and maybe he would too? And point out that changing one or two days a week could save a nice bit of cash towards a holiday (or a new sofa...or whatever it is that you both would like to have but can't afford'.)

If he remains adamant that he is a meat and one veg guy, then all you can do is alter your own meals...veggie chilli for you when he has meat, for example (batch cook and freeze veggie meals so they are quick and ready for you)

If he is open to minor changes then keep them minor! Maybe do a meat-free Monday...with a Sunday Roast the day before and a meaty meal on Tuesday (so he knows he is never more than one day away from meat!)....offer meat-like products to ease him in...veggie sausages with chips?...Quorn Chili/Bolognaise.

And perhaps one day a week he would agree to a Meat and TWO veg night...he still gets his meat-feast but with an extra portion of veg....add some green beans to a Thai Curry with Chicken.

And how about offering a salad starter to a meal...a small bowl of salad with a little drizzle of dressing. (Salads don't HAVE to include lettuce if he doesn't like it!)...this way he gets to have one portion of veg before his dinner...and it may have the benefit of filling him up enough that he accepts a smaller helping of meat!

PasturesNew

So, you've spent years eating food you don't like - and have had enough - and now want HIM to change?

Just cook what you want to eat - if/when he doesn't like it then tell him he's free to cook his own meals and/or cook meat to go with that.

Why were you eating what he likes in the first place? I'd have never done that.

krlyr

Why not plan meals that can be adapted to suit both of you, rather than one of you compromising?

For example, if you like a chilli, make a meat one and a 5 bean or lentil one. Freeze the extra portions if you still want to use a big pack of mince for economy.

If he likes cottage pie, don't pre-assemble - cook a batch of mince and a pan of mash, and then you can have an alternative with your mashed potato. Or again, make a big cottage pie and freeze the excess for him. Or try just mixing yours up, maybe have it with normal beef mince but top half with mashed potato and half with, say, mashed sweet potato, carrot & swede for a more veggie-fied version.

Curry - chicken/beef/lamb one for him, chickpea & sweet potato for you. Steak & chips for him, a smaller steak (or maybe a chicken breast or fillet of fish if you want to cut back on red meat) & a salad for you.

It may seem more faff but if you plan well then it doesn't have to be that much more work - two pans on the hob full of curry needing stirring vs one. You might be able to do some of the prep combined - e.g. fry your onions, spices, etc. before splitting into two pans and adding your chicken or your chickpeas.


You might find that with the option there, he fancies trying a bit of your chickpea curry and likes it, or he might ask for less chips and a bit of a side salad with his steak, etc. but you can't really force him to change his eating habits if he doesn't want to. Yes, you could refuse to cook those sorts of meals for him - but in my opinion, cooking was always "my" job when I was with my ex and just because I fancied a change in diet, didn't mean I would make him, just like I wouldn't be happy if he decided he only wanted to do the laundry once a fortnight and so wouldn't do my clothes in between - that was his 'chore' and he'd do it in a way to suit us both.

carriebradshaw

I never used to eat fish myself until I met my hubby, my limits were grannie's fish pie,kedgeree, fish fingers,tinned salmon or tuna or battered cod from the chippy. My hubby coaxed into being a fish eater very slowly by giving me wee bites from his plate,when we ate out or if it was his turn to cook. I started off loving fresh salmon, then trout then haddock etc etc... Now I prefer fish to meat !

It was the bones that used to really put me off,I had such a hang up about them if I found one while eating, I'd be so put off, but now I check very carefully and remove any I can before cooking, sometimes I still find them but don't get upset anymore.

Try cooking him his usual smoked mackerel and you have a different fish,but coax him gently into trying a bite of what you're having. I would suggest trout first,it's got quite a meaty flavour when pan fried so he might like that and be prepared to try more maybe.

Ilona

I used to have a boyfriend who got annoyed because I wouldn't eat meat. He wanted us both to have a steak, so we could enjoy it together and discuss how nice it was. I said he could have what he likes, he did most of the cooking anyway. I told him I didn't like the way he picks his nose with his fingers, he wouldn't change, so that was the end of that relationship. :rotfl:

Ilona

lessonlearned

Life is far too short to eat food you don't like.

And, realistically, he's not going to change much now......so you need to find a way forward.

You have had some great advice re cooking and freezing things like veg curries, cottage pies, chillies.

Other quick ones - he can have his meat and potatoes, whilst you rustleup a quick stir fry, risotto, or veg pasta bake, frittata, omelettes etc.

Yes it's a bit more work but with a bit of pre planning it should be doable. And if you are freezing extra portions, using up left overs properly then it shouldn't be expensive.

YORKSHIRELASS

My DH was brought up on meat and two veg every day and has changed his eating habits since I first met him but he still likes (a) lots of meat and (b) unhealthy food. There is absolutely no way he would eat what I like which is lots of vegetables and healthy eating. It is a pain but I wouldnt dream of trying to get him to change now.

I eat a lot of fish so tomorrow DH will have cottage pie and I will have fish pie, made at the same time. I will make plenty and freeze the rest. Just takes a bit of organising.