Filling the evenings
In the early weeks and months I struggled after 5pm. Work was done, family was doing their own family stuff, and the hours between then and a very short night’s sleep stretched ahead with just my over-thinking for company. It was the worst part of my day. Horrible.
What helped massively was trying Gousto meal boxes. Recommended by my busy work-life daughter who used them (and had also tried all the other alternatives). What a revelation!
Firstly choosing the subscription - once a fortnight for me, and 5 different meals (but two portions per meal), which meant 10 meals each 14 days. Why 2 portions per meal? So that if a friend or our adult son came for a meal, we could eat the same meal. And if just me, then the second plate went into the fridge for the following evening.
Pluses? Choosing the meals! Getting this box of “bits” with cards of instructions! Exotic ingredients each in its own sachet or packet! And step-by-step instructions with pictures! Cost is about £5 per plate of food. And they almost always look like the picture on the instructions. And they taste fantastic. Wonderful plate of food! But … the best bit …
All of this engages my brain. Fills it with focus on something fun and fulfilling (and then “filling”). Prep, then cook, then eat, then tidy away … it all filled a big chunk of my empty evenings. Filled my brain so there was no space for gloomy painful over-thinking. Filled my head with fun and curiosity. Also made me feel like I was taking control. Also had a healthy tasty interesting and filling meal - no more “microwave meals” - no “batch cooking” the same thing. And when I had someone to eat with - it was a sociable way of of sharing the cooking and then eating.
Now that Christmas and post-Christmas is out of the way, I have started them again. This time a weekly box of 3 meals (still 2 portions per meal). The fresh veg was looking a little tired by the end of the second week - so I’m trying weekly boxes to see how that works. This time not because I “have to”, but because I want to.
First box arrives today! Wahoo!! 😎🥳🤪
