Be warned, this is my personal twist on the Hunger Games. The post is not about Katniss and it does not take place in Panem. In fact, I still haven't even read the books on my Kindle (the first trimester tired-ness hasn't let me stay awake to do much reading lately). Instead this post is about the McGee Hunger Games that take place on a nightly basis when Denny or I bravely ask the question of "What do you want for dinner?" My Grandma always likes to remind me that marriage is not all about champagne and roses, and I'm rudely reminded of it every night at about 5:50 when I'm NOT zipping around the kitchen in a cute apron sauteing, marinating and offering my husband "try this" samples on a fancy wooden spoon.
Instead of "June Cleavering" we embark on what I like to call "Hunger Games Circuit Training." We both sulk around the kitchen and stare blankly into the fridge, then we move to the pantry and stare blankly into it, and the we pause at the counter to pretend to be think of a fabulous recipe. This continues for about 5-7 minutes, and then we start a game of Hunger Games Ping-Pong
"Hm, what do you want for dinner?"
"Dinner? Hmm" (as if this is a surprise)
"Yeah, dinner"
"Uhhh, what do you want?"
"Not sure, that is why I'm asking you."
"Umm, how about chicken?"
"Nope had that last night... burgers?"
"Nope, no buns."
and back and forth and back and forth.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy cooking... I enjoy eating... and I enjoy shopping (I excel at it), but I seem to fail about 80% of the time in getting all three of these together before the first whistle signals the start of the hunger games.
Every weekend I try to get a meal plan together and then shop accordingly. Sometimes it is a success.
Every Sunday I try to figure out what need thawed/what needs to stay frozen/what needs prepped. Sometimes it is a success.
So as a result, we occasionally eat healthy, balanced, pre-planned meals (and my cute apron gets used). When that happens, we are both happy and I feel one step closer to a Katniss and Peeta eternal love!
When that doesn't happen, we get stuck in the Hunger Games Circuit Training session. Luckily Denny is a very good husband and a good cook and he often saves the day. But more often than I like to admit, we end up supporting the Velveeta Mac & Cheese stock price or worse we end up jumping in the car to Eat Fresh or get a Hot & Ready.
Fortunately this is not the biggest problem in the world, and clearly neither of us are close to starving, but I'm always looking for ways to win the Hunger Games. If anyone else has walked away a Hunger Games champ, please tell your secrets!! I'm in training and could use a little help!
same thing here, cereal tends to win somedays and there is the old reliable turkey sandwitch, but we never are fully prepped. even immediately following a grocery trip! my friend Susannah uses howdoesshedotit.com havent even clicked on the link yet!
ReplyDeleteSame here! I have the best of intentions to cook healthy meals for us - meal plan calendar gets created, I've grocery shopped accordingly, and then we wind up having cereal or a frozen pizza some nights because I don't feel like cooking and it throws the whole calendar off! Usually I try to see this as a positive rather than a lazy negative, because I can usually freeze the meat and store whatever I didn't cook, and then next week I don't have as much to buy at the grocery store because it's already in my freezer/fridge/pantry! Plus think of all the calories you're saving by eating cereal instead of an elaborate pasta dish :)
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