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11/16/09

Apparently we are too 'busy' to make more than 1 weeks worth of meals... all year long!

I was reading the UK news tonight and saw an article that stated a recent study found that mother's there rotate just 9 meals to feed their families.

Researchers found that hectic lifestyles, fussy children and partners who work long hours mean mothers are stuck in a rut when it comes to experimenting in the kitchen.

Nine in ten mothers polled admitted cooking the same meals over and over again while one in four make the same meals on the same day of the week.

The research found that the average mother has eight cookery books in their house, but has attempted just five recipes. Two thirds have at least four books that have never seen the light of day.


Their nine most relied-upon meals are....

1. Spaghetti Bolognese

2. Roast dinner

3. Shepherds Pie/Cottage Pie

4. Pasta dish

5. Meat and two veg

6. Pizza

7. Casserole/stew

8. Sausages and chips/mash

9. Indian/Curry


Ahhh... so painful for me to read!

American parents aren't much different - although our list of top foods have a few American substitutions such as cheeseburgers. Still, as a Mom who knows how easy it is to improvise, to stir up homemade in the same amount of time that store-bought takes, and who knows the taste of home made verses most store bought, canned or frozen meals can out beat it in a heartbeat... I also lament the loss of the 'skills' our children are being raised with.

Learning to cook was a mandatory class when I was in junior high in the 80's. "Home Ec" was for both boys and girls. I know my own children's Middle School requires the kids to take a semester of cooking and of sewing in 8th grade. For that I'm thankful! Just a few basics can not only set them on the path of self-sufficiency later in life, but it might just spur the imagination and help the kids to discover a life-long love of cooking!


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