Does anyone get food burnout?

[schuh]

I'm not talking about eating it, of course! I mean the shopping, the planning, the cooking, day after day.

I especially have a "crash" for a week after planning a big foodie event (it doesn't need to be big in the amount of food or people, just in the amount of energy I devote to planning it). I had my son's 4-year-old birthday party a week ago and my CL supper club tonight (which was great and I only had to make one dish). But at this point, I don't want to face planning a week's worth of food, shopping for it, etc. Unfortunately, this is the time when I start resorting to grilled cheese, calling out for expensive pizza, fast food, and horrible frozen stuff -- which isn't good for us nutritionally and packs the pounds on me.

Anyone else get the same way -- or am I asking the wrong crew? What do you do when this happens?

[This message has been edited by schuh (edited 06-03-2001).]

[This message has been edited by schuh (edited 06-03-2001).]

[kima]

I know exactly how you feel!! For me it is mainly a question of having cooked for a family for over 20 years!! When I got married 21 years ago I was so keen to learn how to cook. My mum was a single parent on a tight budget and she hated to cook!! Pretty well every thing we ate was processed, frozen or from a can. I was passionate about eating well and I still am. But in those days I made pretty well every thing from scratch- ketchup, dressings, bread, baby food- you name it. It was great. In the last 3-4 years I have periods of burnout- teenagers are very different from young kids (duh!!) We went from having a sit down family dinner every night to eating together 3-4 x aweek. As the girls became more independent I started to persue my own interests a bit more. I realized that a few convenience items and more grill cheese sandwiches didn't hurt anyone- in fact my cooking improved when I took "breaks".
I think its perfectly normally to feel the way you do and I am sure your urge to cook will soon return. I did have to stop apologizing and feeling guilty about less than great meals. I figure I have years to cook so I pace myself now. I have rambled on but just wanted you to know you are not alone!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SoCal]

Amen Kima, well said. Sounds just like me!!

[KimKelly]

I sure do get cooking burnout! I do pretty well for a couple of months, trying new recipes, making good tasting (hopefully!), nutritious meals. Then... the crash. I just do not feel like cooking or planning. This is when I usually resort to the freezer where hopefully I have some goodies frozen. A casserole or two, frozen spagetti sauce or lasagna. Or, the TraderJoes enchiladas... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif . Takes me a few days or a few weeks sometimes, but I always get that urge to get back into the kitchen again eventually.

Kim

[TamiK]

I crash and burn, too. We just had a couple of family things in a row where I had to make "my" twice-baked potato casserole and homemade, hand-cranked, butter pecan ice cream. It doesn't sound like much, but it involves most of a day shopping, cooking, and cleaning up. In other words, most of my free time on the weekend! Afterwards, we eat out for a few days. I do the same thing KimKelly does, too. I'll go great guns planning menus and cooking every night for several weeks--until parent-teacher conferences or some other school-related overload occurs. THAT can throw me off for a month! When I grow up, I want to be more consistent! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[beccathebaker]

I can completely relate to what you are all saying. Especially working all day in the bakery, I come home and the last thing that I want to do is think about cooking! It is always assumed that I will bring homemade bread to all of my friends parties etc.. I love to do it, it just becomes tiresome after a while and i have to shift my mindset.

I also just had gallbladder surgery and was dealing with an infection from that and during that time lost interest in cooking and food. All that I wanted to eat were comfort foods like pudding, oatmeal, and soup!
-Becca

[SusanL]

Becca Hope that you are feeling better!! Take care of yourself and don't overdo it.
Tami I am the same way when it comes to my teaching schedule and cooking. I overplan what I can cook for the week, sometimes-I think I set myself up for failure! The best intentions don't always turn out in my cooking during the busiest times of the school year.(Right now is one of them.) But summer vacation is four days away, then look out, a cooking frenzy awaits this household!!!!

[BlueMoose]

Total burnout here! My favorite easy thing right now is french toast and soy sausages! At least my 4 year old will eat it.

[kwormann]

My burnout consists of me not being able to decide what to cook...nothing sounds appealing when I am in this state!

[Alisa]

Great thread schuh!
Cooking burn-out is the reason I am addicted to this board - I find a lot of incentive from reading posts that rave about a certain recipe, or teach me a new skill or hint. I like to think I love to cook but really I only love it SOMETIMES. When I come home from work most days cooking just seems like a chore.

I think having homemade meals in the freezer is a great idea too, so I went out on Saturday and bought a huge deep freeze (Yay!)

[cchhbb]

I thought I was the only one. I will go through stretches where I cook everyday and usually with new recipes. Then I fall off the wagon and end up eating out or making comfort food for a few weeks.

[chefbec]

Yes, I burn out as well from time to time. I think the key thing is to know your limitations. I try to have veggies and frozen prepared chicken in the house for a quick stir-fry, or make up some cheese quesadillas. My DH never cooks, so when I'm a total burnout, I just tell him to "make" dinner (i.e. take-out). I'm not very good at planning ahead. Sometimes I really get into cooking night after night, and other times I just don't get to the market.

[SueK]

Originally posted by kwormann:
My burnout consists of me not being able to decide what to cook...nothing sounds appealing when I am in this state!

That's exactly how I get. I won't be in the mood for anything, and I'll ask my family what they'd like (usually I don't give them a choice! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) They'll say "Whatever you feel like making", which only makes it worse.

When my husband travels, I don't cook big meals as much, since it's just me and my daughter, so when he gets into town, I have to get back into the groove of cooking. Lately I've been in such a rut, because he was gone most of the month of May.

[AvrilH]

ITA! I prepare monthly meal plans and post them on the fridge. I use my computer's calendar, which already has my work schedule and dh's travelling input. When he's away, or I am really busy it reads "french toast with peaches, grilled cheese, soup, MacDonald's". http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

And even when he's not travelling, I have burn out. IN fact, this past Saturday was the first time since April that I made a full meal (some for the freezer) and I even made a dessert (May's strawberry parfaits - I got raves!)

My burnout has been getting worse lately (read: Perkin's once a week) - but when I'm on mat leave and life with Baby #3 has calmed down, hopefully I will be cooking everyday, as I did with my last mat leave.

Now we should start a post with dinner ideas for burn-out nights!

[Julia1Pin]

Originally posted by SueK:
That's exactly how I get. I won't be in the mood for anything, and I'll ask my family what they'd like (usually I don't give them a choice! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif) They'll say "Whatever you feel like making", which only makes it worse.


My DH doesn't cook anymore (works alot of hours from home) so when it's time for dinner, I get "anything is fine" or "How about [insert fast food restaurant here]"

There are at least 2 nights a week, when I pop into El Polo Loco or sudway for dinner.

And to repeat what almost everyone else has said, I thought that I was the only one.

[Chefmom]

I think this is something everyone goes through eventually! Some days, I have my head into several projects, or recipe adjustments. Or my kitchen is turned into a big photo studio, so hubbie comes home and asks the inevitable question, "...What's for dinner" and I have to admit that I have been thinking about recipes sooooo much that I FORGOT dinner!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

For me, since my life's work is food, designing, making, writing, eating, it's like the fact that the auto mechanic's car is the one that is never fixed. Sometimes it's take out or pizza because I have been cooking soooo much, and I just forgot about dinner, or by the end of the day I'm just not in the mood. Hey, it happens, but that's why I keep the freezer so full!

Tami

[Tina_B]

I suffer from food prep and grocery shopping burnout. I love the cooking part, but don't always quite get there. My four month old takes up so much of my time, I can't dedicate the time to cooking like I used to. AvrilH, I can't imagine where I would find time to cook with 3 kids.

[funnybone]

I think I am suffering from it now. I think it has to do with the "end of the school year" and "awful weather" syndrome. We ususally BBQ this time of year, but haven't because of the weather.

Also, I am trying to use up a lot of my pantry stash now. With the exception of fruit and vegetables, and other fresh ingredients, I don't linger in the grocery store these day. Plus, DH never knows when he will be home, and the kids are never wanting to eat. It really doesn't put you in the mood to cook.

[schuh]

Thanks, all -- I don't feel like such a slouch. I'm home with two kids -- 6 and 4 -- not fussy eaters for their ages but both having kid tastes. I also have a husband with a limited diet due to both a health condition and preferences. As a result, my choices of what to make are quite limited and I get tired of that as well.

As for my husband, if I ask him what he wants for dinner -- or ask him to cook -- I can expect:
- Fried bologna
- Tacos (love them but sometimes too much prep work for me)
- Roast beef (ask your mother, I respond)
- Hot dogs/hamburgers
- Pizza

You get the idea -- so you know why I don't ask him to plan/cook very often.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. Glad I'm not alone.

[hka]

I most definitely get cooking burnout! I do the same thing as everyone else. We'll usually get pizza or maybe go out and split something since restaurants give you way more than a serving. Like everyone else, I'll do good for a while and then I just don't feel like it anymore. It's so weird how that happens. Plus, I do get tired of always having to be the one to go to the grocery store. For the most part, I don't mind grocery shopping, but some days it feels like a real chore. I need to do what a lot of you do already and that is make a lot of something and freeze the portions. That would make it much easier and healthier on those nights I don't feel like cooking. Great topic Schuh. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif