Meals

Meals are a challenge. If we were wealthy we would hire a jolly housekeeper to cook and do laundry. I  often fantasize about having a housekeeper.  I could spend all my energy doing fun things with the kids. Or doing hobbies- like knitting, sewing and gardening. She would bring us cool drinks and snacks on the patio. Sigh.

I actually love to cook and will often ignore the laundry to cook- so I can have enough energy to cook. ( I've given up wearing underwear anyway).

My philosophy of food is: it needs to be good. Without good food the emotional climate of our home can rapidly crumble. There are weeks where I am doing a lot of couch parenting. And we eat frozen pizzas, kraft dinner and peanut butter and jam sandwiches. And sometimes my partner has to cook. But generally I'm pretty picky in what we eat and how I like it made. So if my husband cooks I have to leave the kitchen. Otherwise an argument happens. Or  He tells (yells at) me to leave.

It's hard giving up control. Sometimes. Other times you're so tired- there is no energy to care or protest. ( "that's too much oil!")

I try to keep it simple. Pininterest has been a big help finding recipes.
Crockpots are a miracle. And our rice cooker.
Often I will make dinner  the night before. Especially if it's a little complicated. I have trouble concentrating when the kids interupt me during the day. With fights, melt downs, creative projects, whining about how hungry they are after school.

I really believe that plastic is evil. I really wish I had more energy to find local foods that I can can and freeze. I hate the amount of packaging on our food. When I go grocery shopping I try to opt for glass containers. I don't put my veggies in those little plastic bags.

When I have the energy I make our own yogurt. Cutting down on more plastic.

Plastic is evil. It never goes away. It's filling our oceans. Read about it.

I often wish I had more energy to bake our own bread, can stuff, grow a garden.

But I do my best

We used to grocery shop once a week. But it took a lot of mental energy coming up with meals for a week. Now we go every couple of days. There is less waste- and I can gear meal making to my energy levels.  Since my body is so unpredictable.

Our diswasher broke a year ago. Not only are my hands raw from my eczema acting up from the hot/chlorine/soapy water, but it's taking too much energy. I think our next purchase will be a new dishwasher.

I think meals are a big source of comfort and stability when so many things in our home feel chaotic and unpredictable. I will neglect a lot of things- just to make sure a good meal is on the table.