Battling Food Fatigue

So, how's it going at *your* table?

We've all been eating at home a lot more. Lately, I've been getting a little squirrelly when it comes time to think of yet ANOTHER tasty, reasonably healthy and fun to prepare meal. And I LOVE to cook. What if you don't share my particular enthusiasm for the kitchen?

Pandemic meal fatigue is REAL. Every day, we're planning, cooking, and cleaning up after almost every meal, and we've been doing this since the early spring with little respite. I think it's also fair to say that we thought we would be doing this for just a few months, but now it doesn't look like we'll be seeing an end anytime soon. This can be a little taxing on the body, mind, will, and menu. Consumer research also backs this up: according to the 2020 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends May report, 23% of shoppers said their priority when cooking is to spend as little time as possible doing it.

So with that in mind, here's some ideas to zhuzh up meal times. I hope they bring the easy and fun back to dinner, and maybe even cut down on prep and cleanup.

Make the meal an occasion

1. Al fresco Happy Hour: Make a charcuterie board – sausages, cheeses, fresh fruit, olives – and set it up outside, with favorite drinks (fruit juice cocktails – spiked or not).

2. Dress up for dinner at home: Put on your dress clothes as if you’re headed out for a fancy dinner to make it a memorable evening. Don't forget flowers for the table!

3. Zoo Night: Set up a zoo with all the stuffed or statue animals you have – or print pictures of your favorites. Learn about what they eat and how they live (and whether they get along with each other). Choose foods that they would eat or foods from the places they call home and have a progressive dinner around the living room or the dining room table.

Change up the table

1. Have a topping bar. It makes any meal fun and feels like less work for the cook. Try a baked potato that you topped with cooked ground meat or cooked beans, or broccoli and cheese. Or a taco bar, pasta bar, or fajita bar. Each family member can customize their own meal.

2. Skewers: Using skewers can make meals more fun and feel like summer! Pick up pre-cut fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs and cheeses that you enjoy. Try melon pieces, feta cubes, mint and a honey drizzle. Or try grape tomatoes, mozzarella balls, basil and balsamic vinegar glaze. Easy and fun.

3. Cook a theme dinner: Try South Asian night, Mexican or Italian. It can be fun to try foods or a whole meal centered around a new culture. Visit the international aisle at the store or an international grocery to help with ingredients. You can add a beverage and themed music to match. Look up fun facts about the place/culture. Get everyone involved - I know some of you have already tried this one!

Outsource!

1. Find delicious pre-prepped options in the produce department and beyond. Karen shared some of her favorites in her recent YouTube presentation, but here's some more ideas:

1. Ready-to-eat vegetables and fruits (pre-cooked and peeled beets, pre-chopped and washed greens, spiralized vegetables, crumbled cauliflower, pre-cut fruit).

2. Canned beans (black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas), fish (tuna, salmon, sardines), and vegetables and fruits (corn, beets, green beans, peaches, pineapple)

3. Microwaveable brown rice and quinoa, prepared polenta and whole wheat gnocchi

4. Frozen fruits/vegetables (berries, mango, okra, spinach, kale, squash, carrots, onion)

5. Yogurt, kefir, cheese, and milk

6. Nuts, seeds, and nut butters

7. Stir-fry strips, rotisserie chicken, baked seasoned tofu

2. Missing your favorite seafood place? Get the grocery store seafood department to season your your seafood or fish, pair it with a salad kit from produce and/or a veggie side from the deli department. Easy cooking and quick clean up.

3. Picnic: Set up your picnic blanket inside (no bugs) or outside with fresh-cut veggies and dips, deli meats and cheeses for sandwiches, and fresh-cut fruit for dessert.

Give leftovers some love

1. Chopped Challenge: Split into teams, and give each team a selection of leftover ingredients. Add a "mystery ingredient" (just like the show!) if you want to. Create a simple scoring system, judge the meals once they’re complete, and pick a Chopped winner at the end! Don’t forget social media bragging rights and/or a small prize.

2. Refresh: Look at what you have in the way of leftovers and see them as ingredients. Use an app for some extra help. You’ll need only a few ingredients to make it new. Leftover pot roast? Shred some potatoes as a base, shred the meat and chop the veggies, then crack eggs on top. Breakfast pot roast hash.

3. Re-purpose: Use leftover chicken (or other meats) in sandwiches, tacos, or salads. Try a salad with pre-washed arugula, pre-cooked beets, and crumbled goat cheese – drizzle with olive oil and seasonings of choice. Add a sweet touch with pomegranate seeds or dried fruit. Or add leftover vegetables to omelets or scrambled eggs. Sprinkle some shredded cheese and serve with toast or in a whole grain tortilla! Add avocado and hot peppers for creaminess and heat.

. Whether or not you're experiencing a little pandemic fatigue, I hope you try some of the above ideas. I'll be over here - perfecting a recipe for badenjan-burani!