I cook because if I didn’t it would be take out or canned/frozen food every day/night. I feel responsible for my kids’ health as well as my own, so I cook. Interestingly, breakfast and lunch don’t bother me. It’s supper (dinner to some) that I don’t enjoy.
If it were up to me I could honestly live with the same six dishes I’ve found that are quick and easy (and taste good to me). I do have one offspring who complains about that, so from time to time I attempt to branch out.
I’m also one of those people who stresses out when I have to make a meal for company or – even worse! – take a meal to someone who is sick or just had a baby (getting meals delivered after delivering babies was one of the highlights of having children, so I definitely pay it back; unfortunately I have two things I can make and deliver, so don’t have multiple babies if you know and live near me).
I am one of those people who cooks what I have in the house. I cook basic, non-fancy meals: protein, vegetable, starch. I never make “combo” foods (casseroles or “hot dishes” for any mid-westerners reading this) because it’s impossible to know what you’re getting in terms of carb. Plus I tend to avoid cream-based anything. (I’m actually not a picky eater – if someone else prepares it I’ll eat just about anything!!)
I recently discovered the recipes that are often included in the diaTribe newsletter (Making Sense of Diabetes). Catherine Newman contributes these (mostly lower-carb) recipes and I’ve actually made some of them. They’ve been delicious and relatively simple. No obscure ingredients! What I love most is Catherine’s sense of humor. I’m laughing to myself (or out loud) the whole time I’m preparing supper. How refreshing for someone who finds it a chore to cook!
Another opportunity for 2020: make even more new dishes.