grocery shopping

something I really don't like to do even while I like to do it....

This year has been such a disruption in the grocery shopping process!

I have, indeed, learned that if I don't have a meal plan for the week I go to the store and come home with several half meals, nothing goes together and I have no idea what I am making for dinner!

So I make a weekly meal plan and then I can actually get groceries in that work, I save money by sticking to my plan and list (unless the husband is with me and in a "hey, let's get this" mood, but that is a whole other story) and I know what we are having for dinner!

The problem earlier (as in during chemo) was that I hardly cared what I ate since I couldn't taste it anyway, most things bothered my stomach, and I still needed to put something on the table that Ruben would eat.

Now, so saying, let me say that Ruben will actually eat almost anything you put before him. He may smother it with Tabasco sauce, he may request that it never appear again, but generally he is willing to try anything - once.

The problem is - and I know that surely every wife in the world must face this problem - when asked what he might like to eat this week the answer is usually "Oh, I don't care, dear. Whatever you feel like making."

I hate to tell you this people but they NEVER have that at the store. Had you noticed? Every grocery store I have ever been to is ALWAYS out of "whatever" and "I don't care" -- isn't that your experience too?

I am a fairly good cook and I mostly enjoy the cooking process. I just seem to get in a rut and become able to only think of a few things, a limited and redundant few things to cook. Then when a suggestion is actually made I will get this aversion to it. At least, momentarily. When I do solicit requests, though, they at least will help me springboard to other ideas.

So I signed up for "Food on the Table" for a 3 month period to see if that will help. I know it WILL help plan meals. I just have to direct the contrary streak within me so I can utilize the meal planning service effectively!

I must say that during chemo when so many sweet friends brought meals to us - (some of which I was even able to fully taste!) it was such a blessing! I didn't have to think about what to cook, what to eat, what to buy and I know some really good cooks!!!

Every meal brought to us was an offering of love and kindness and wishes for improved health and I value them more than I can say. Sweet RJ brought paper goods. Genius!!! I would not have thought of that but one does need paper towels and napkins and storage bags and disposable plates and cutlery and such.

I am SO happy to be having this problem!! I cannot begin to properly communicate the absolute JOY of having to figure out what to eat, what to buy, what to cook after having had the chemo induced mindset of "Eat? Really?" I am delighted to no longer be existing on cottage cheese and flour tortillas. I LOVE to taste food again!!

So bring on the menu planning problems!! I can use a service for that and I will let you know how that goes!!