Help my husband feed our family

[keyslover]

Will you be able to do grocery ordering online for delivery?
That can help with meal planning/prep.

You mentioned a neurodivergent child, what limitations do they have? I have one that can basically just do Mac and cheese or grilled cheese and the other that is full on Gordon Ramsay (although leaves a ginormous mess)

Any food issues or sensitives? We have some texture things we have to deal with and food sensitives 🤦‍♀️

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2024 16:42:06 GMT -5 keyslover said:

Will you be able to do grocery ordering online for delivery?
That can help with meal planning/prep.

You mentioned a neurodivergent child, what limitations do they have? I have one that can basically just do Mac and cheese or grilled cheese and the other that is full on Gordon Ramsay (although leaves a ginormous mess)

Any food issues or sensitives? We have some texture things we have to deal with and food sensitives 🤦‍♀️

We already do curbside pickup that I order from the grocery store app. That grocery store is 5 minutes from the house, so very easy to swing by on the weekend. They don’t have a huge selection of prepared food, just standard stuff. They do have a hot bar and probably rotisserie chickens that could be picked up on H’s way home from work.

C has ADHD and a very limited palate. He eats Mac and cheese, quesadillas, burgers, pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta, plain tacos. H can make everything that C eats. C can’t really make much for himself because he’s terrified of knives and the gas stove, and he’s not tall enough yet to be able to reach to put things in our wall-mounted microwave (I’m barely tall enough…it’s a horrible design with the door that opens from the top down). He is interested in learning how to help, so this might be a good way to get him stirring or chopping.

[coltsfan85]

I think you have a lot of great ideas that could work so I won’t add too much to that boat. I just wanted to reiterate that it’s okay to order a prepared meal from the grocery store or food delivery once or twice a week if it makes your cognitive load easier too.

I’m pretty far out from my husbands brain injury and we’ve learned a lot of ways to help him pick up new skills, but sometimes he hits the wrong instant pot button and the slow cooked food sits there all day without actually getting cooked. That’s okay as long as we get food at the end of the night.

Good luck with surgery and the recovery! I’m rooting for all of you!

[sonrisa]

One thought: you will be least able to field questions the first days/ week post surgery. it might be worth doing a dry run of a few meals together before you go in, That way you can anticipate challenges and either write down unexpected instructions, or rethink or skip any plans that don’t fit his skills at this time.

You can layer in more variety during later weeks when you can’t bear weight but can handle conversations/questions.

[starlily]

So we've been in somewhat of a similar situation while I've been recovering from a hysterectomy the past 5 weeks. My husband doesn't cook much beyond a few dishes and we don't have an extra freezer.

The day before my surgery I cooked some things from our usual rotation that I knew would keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days. That way all anyone had to do was put something in the microwave.

Do you have a Costco nearby? Their items have come in clutch, specifically the taco kit, gyro kit, teriyaki stirfry, stuffed peppers, beef bulgogi, beef tri-tip, shrimp cocktail, wrap sandwiches, and rotisserie chicken salad from the refrigerated section. They also have a decent mac n' cheese and chicken pot pie. We also picked up bagged salads and frozen chicken nuggets most trips.

Trader Joe's also has a lot of prepared meals, salads, and sides that are easy for novice cooks to handle. Sprouts also has a selection of individual and family meals that are easy to either heat through or cook.

We've also been doing pizza or other takeout once a week. Sandwiches, ramen/canned soup, charcuterie boards, and breakfast for dinner have all been perfectly fine meals too.

ETA: Having precut fresh fruit & veggies, flavored Greek yogurt, and other nutritious snack options on hand helped with the eating healthy aspect that you mentioned as a concern, even if a particular meal might've been lacking.

[keyslover]

Sept 21, 2024 18:00:39 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Sept 21, 2024 16:42:06 GMT -5 keyslover said:

Will you be able to do grocery ordering online for delivery?
That can help with meal planning/prep.

You mentioned a neurodivergent child, what limitations do they have? I have one that can basically just do Mac and cheese or grilled cheese and the other that is full on Gordon Ramsay (although leaves a ginormous mess)

Any food issues or sensitives? We have some texture things we have to deal with and food sensitives 🤦‍♀️

We already do curbside pickup that I order from the grocery store app. That grocery store is 5 minutes from the house, so very easy to swing by on the weekend. They don’t have a huge selection of prepared food, just standard stuff. They do have a hot bar and probably rotisserie chickens that could be picked up on H’s way home from work.

C has ADHD and a very limited palate. He eats Mac and cheese, quesadillas, burgers, pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta, plain tacos. H can make everything that C eats. C can’t really make much for himself because he’s terrified of knives and the gas stove, and he’s not tall enough yet to be able to reach to put things in our wall-mounted microwave (I’m barely tall enough…it’s a horrible design with the door that opens from the top down). He is interested in learning how to help, so this might be a good way to get him stirring or chopping.

I totally understand the fear of knives and stove.  

What about kid style charcuterie board/lunchables?   Often for dinner we will do meats, cheeses, fruit, nuts, veggies, crackers.   I buy the pre cut cheese squares. 

For the meat, deli slices work well and if you want to introduce cutting you can easily cut them in smaller pieces with a butter knife or kid knife.  Fruit- start with berries and grapes.  Bananas for easy "slicing' with a butter knife again.  Veggies are tougher because they are more challenging to cut, unless you just buy pre cut.

Not having a reachable microwave is hard!  Might be easier to buy a new one for the counter during this time period!   

I am sorry, it will be a new way of doing things for a while and that is always hard.  Especially with neurodivergent kids!  I'll keep thinking of easy non heatable/chopped food.    Or at least ones your child can help make and your husband puts in the oven or cooks.

[JayhawkGirl]

I was also going to suggest a countertop microwave. Maybe a local buy nothing someone might have one or have one to loan?