Why You Should Never Ask “What’s For Dinner?” Again
Have you ever had the “What’s for dinner?” conversation with your spouse? You know what I’m talking about. The one that goes a little something like this:
What do you want for dinner?
I don’t care. What are you in the mood for?
Um. How about Mexican?
No, I had Mexican for lunch.
OK. What about chicken?
I’m tired of chicken.
Well, we don’t really have much in the fridge. What if I just stop by our favorite restaurant and grab a “to go” order?
Often these conversations can cause unnecessary conflict in a marriage. Perhaps the husband begins to hold a grudge against his wife because she never cooks. The wife complains to herself that her husband never makes a decision.
So, what’s the solution? A plan. Planning is vital for every marriage. But more specifically, planning your meals weekly or monthly can completely eliminate this conflict.
Mark and I began planning meals after our son was born and I began staying at home. It’s not only saved us from the “what’s for dinner?” conversation, but it’s also helped us eat healthier, saved us a great deal of time, and saved us even more money. We just wish we implemented meal planning earlier in our marriage! Although we’re certainly not experts, we’ve learned a few tips along the way and want to pass them along.
1. Both husband and wife need to be involved in the process. This will look different for each couple. Some couples may want to sit down together and discuss their meal options. Others may prefer that one spouse drafts the menu while the other looks over it and suggests changes. Either way, it’s vital for both spouses to review the menu and agree to the plan.
2. Write it down. This may seem like an obvious step but there are plenty of people (including me!) who prefer to keep mental plans. While this may work sometimes, it’s been proven that those who write down their goals and plans are more likely to achieve their objectives and follow through. If you want additional accountability, try blogging about your meal plans. Check out Once a Month Mom’s Menu Planning Monday for inspiration.
3. Schedule time on your calendar to meal plan and grocery shop. I used to make a big trip to the grocery store every week or two. But after the “what’s for dinner?” discussions we would decide to eat something other than what we had at home. I would inevitability have to make several “quick” trips throughout the week to the more expensive store on the way home. That meant more time away from family, more money out of our pockets, and wasted food at home. Taking time once a week to plan meals, shop the pantry, and then making one trip to the store eliminates the extra trips. If planning monthly works better for your family, I know this really great website that pretty much does all of the groundwork for you!
4. Use a variety of cookbooks and websites for culinary inspiration. Instead of eating the same old foods, give your taste buds a treat with some new cuisine. There’s a list of my favorite recipe websites (including once a month mom!) on my blog that I reference often.
5. Enjoy your food as a family by eating at the table. Do a quick google search and you’ll find a ton of research about how families who eat together are healthier, kids get better grades, and parents have more vibrant marriages. Mealtime is less stressful when the menu is already mapped out. And we all know that less stress = better conversation!
Will you eliminate the “what’s for dinner?” conversation? If you’ve never embarked on the menu planning journey, try it for a week and share your thoughts. If you are a meal planning veteran, how has it helped your marriage and family life and what other tips do you have?
About Christine
Christine Satterfield recently left the corporate world to stay home with her new son. She and her husband, Mark, have a passion for marriage ministry and desire help couples reach their full potential for God’s glory. She blogs about marriage, cooking, and life in general at markandchristinesatterfield.blogspot.com.
So excited to see you here, Christine! Great post!
Thanks, Jessie!
Great post Christine!! I like your point about how having a schedule eliminates all those ‘extra trips’. I know if we ask that question we’ll end up needing something (or everything aka take-out) and then we waste food already bought & we spend more to get that “something”.
So true! I always feel soooo bad when we waste food. Knowing that there are people who don’t have food on their plate helps me when I’m wanting to eat something other than what we have at home.
Great post. Enjoyed it. We also do monthly menu planning and love it. Although we don’t do it as a couple, I know exactly what my husband will or will not eat so I plan accordingly. I will ask him about new recipes and get his opinion before trying them.
Nice! You bring up a good point. I guess the longer to plan, the better you get at knowing what your husband and other family members like. So, you can just take the reigns and run with it!
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