I am going to stop cooking and eat sandwiches all the time

[kevinr]

Well I won't be cooking anymore as I am stressed out again I was looking forward to having Spag Bol done in the slow cooker oh it was cooked but because I wasn't watching what I was doing I did put Tomato Puree in it but I couldn't remember if I had so I then for some stupid reason I also squirted in Vindaloo Curry Paste I couldn't smell the curry paste due to me brewing my filter coffee. So the spag bol as finished up in the bin I am utterly useless in the kitchen even the cat looked up at me with that look of you've cocked it up again.

 

[Leadinglights]

Did you taste it because the dish Keema has much the same ingredients as spag bol. So it may not have been a disaster.

 

[kevinr]

Hi leadinglights yes I did taste it and it was yucky even the cat refused it.

 

[Sharron1]

Well I won't be cooking anymore as I am stressed out again I was looking forward to having Spag Bol done in the slow cooker oh it was cooked but because I wasn't watching what I was doing I did put Tomato Puree in it but I couldn't remember if I had so I then for some stupid reason I also squirted in Vindaloo Curry Paste I couldn't smell the curry paste due to me brewing my filter coffee. So the spag bol as finished up in the bin I am utterly useless in the kitchen even the cat looked up at me with that look of you've cocked it up again.

You have my sympathy. I can't stand cooking or the kitchen. Never have, never will. Diabetes has meant that I have had to learn. It is all very basic and won't win me any rewards. In fact I have a cupboard full of lids, pots all burnt .A sort of lid cemetary I am always in awe when I read the meals that others on this forum put together. However, I am good at eating...

 

[Poppypat]

Well I won't be cooking anymore as I am stressed out again I was looking forward to having Spag Bol done in the slow cooker oh it was cooked but because I wasn't watching what I was doing I did put Tomato Puree in it but I couldn't remember if I had so I then for some stupid reason I also squirted in Vindaloo Curry Paste I couldn't smell the curry paste due to me brewing my filter coffee. So the spag bol as finished up in the bin I am utterly useless in the kitchen even the cat looked up at me with that look of you've cocked it up again.

I[m not a great cook either as I don't like cooking and prefer to just put something easy in the oven. The only thing I'm any good at cooking is casseroles - but only with a packet mix. None of the diabetic books or sites I've looked at help in anyway with that, So today I made a Moroccan lamb casserole which we had with mashed potatoes. I have tried so hard to find alternatives but found I wasn't eating as well as I should; having mostly soup for lunch and ryvitas and cottage cheese for my main meal of the day just didn't seem right. So I have decided to eat normally again but sensibly and without the continued snacking which I used to do until about eight weeks ago. I don't want to make myself ill by not eating properly.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I then for some stupid reason I also squirted in Vindaloo Curry Paste

I can imagine that not working out. But in general I think I'd argue that most things will end up at least marginally edible, so cooking for yourself is worthwhile at least some of the time. Obviously make sure to cook things safely, but once you've done that then mistakes are only occasionally inedible.

 

[Grldtnr]

Horse hockey! A man who says he can't cook , go's hungry! I say, it isn't rocket science ,just needs a little bit of attention to detail ,edible meals will come your way.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Tbh, keeping things as simple as possible is a great way to maintain control of what you're eating and your blood sugar numbers.

I know when I'm busy or not feeling like cooking, I stick to a hearty salad and quiche. As boring as that may seem, I know my numbers will be ok and it requires minimal effort.

Have a look at a few easy go to meals and rotate them for a while then add something different every now and then.

 

[Drummer]

I suggest that you try simply not adding anything before the food is cooked and only then try seasoning it.
I cook whole packs of chicken thighs in my Tefal Actifry - open lid, put in chicken, close lid, set for 40 minutes cooking, press start. Nothing can go wrong. Add nothing. When done, remove the chicken, put in stirfry, cook for 10 minutes keeping the chicken warm - you can use the slow cooker if you get it warm beforehand.
Or you might like a halogen oven - one with a flip up lid rather than detachable. You can put veges in the bottom - pack of frozen veges - nothing can go wrong there. Put a chicken or joint of meat on a rack over the top of the veges and cook it for half the time it needs, lift it out, stir the veges, replace the meat, cook for the other half of the time. You do need to set the temperature to the right number but it comes with an instruction book.
These devices both have timers, the Actifry peeps and the oven rings a bell. No need to risk malnutrition.
Maybe leave the more complicated processes until later?

 

[kevinr]

Hi all. I will one day crack this cooking and learn by my mistakes my cat keeps looking at with a puzzled look on her face. She is a lovely cat she eats better meals than I do my neighbour is for ever bringing the cat salmon and tuna.

 

[trophywench]

Don't chuck burnt pans away. You know Biological washing powder you'd use in your washing machine? Put some of that in your pan, fill up with water and stick it wherever you have space - eg on the floor in the garage, or wherever. Ignore for a day or so - then wash it out.

 

[kevinr]

Oh sound advice trophywench I will dig my slow cooker out of the bin it is wrapped in a carrier bag so it should be OK. Thanks for the tip

 

[Sharron1]

Don't chuck burnt pans away. You know Biological washing powder you'd use in your washing machine? Put some of that in your pan, fill up with water and stick it wherever you have space - eg on the floor in the garage, or wherever. Ignore for a day or so - then wash it out.

Thanks. No doubt I will have plenty of opportunity to give it a try.

 

[zuludog]

Well Sharon, Kevin, and others, as you've probably noticed, Life Ain't Fair!

No one chooses to have diabetes, but it it is not the terrifying disaster that you might think, and you can live well with diabetes
However, there is good news and not so good news --

You can live well, and for a long time with none of the complications like foot amputations, blindness, and other disasters. I have seen the comment along the lines that I feel better now I have diabetes than I ever did before

The not so good news is that you must take more responsibility for yourself on things like a proper diet and eating, and whether you like it or not, you must take more interest and initiative in your diet and cooking, as well as other boring and sensible stuff

Play around with the Search Box on YouTube for things like diabetic meals & recipes, salads, diabetic salads, and so on, and follow the links & prompts, there are loads of videos, you must surely be able to find some things you fancy, and can do
Also look at the Food Section on here, and Living with Diabetes on the Home Page

I must admit that I have always enjoyed cooking & eating, but diabetes has made me change too --
No more cakes, puddings, biscuits, giant curries with fatty mince, and so on
I have stopped eating a lot of meat, certainly cheap stuff, sweet & stodgy stuff, and processed food in general
Now I've changed to salads, more veg, fish, olive oil, and all the healthy stuff you hear about

A stir fry is easy; you can do it in a large frying pan, but a proper stir fry pan, aka a wok, is easier, as are frozen ingredients --
Frozen fish pie mix, stir fry veg, a splash of oil, and that's about it. I usually do the fish first till it's almost cooked through, then add the veg, and continue till it's done

Have a good look round a frozen food section, or Iceland, and besides all the chips, pizzas & processed food you can find a fair amount of simpler, less processed veg & other items

Best of Luck, let us know how you go on!

 

[kevinr]

Thank you for that information zuludog. I use Iceland a lot but I do my shopping on line but just a lately they have changed my shopping list I wouldn't mind if it was just 2-3 weeks that my list is changed as items not in stock but it's been going on now for 39 weeks I am fed up with them so I now shop online with asda but even they are getting expensive. When I was with Iceland it was spend £35 or more and free delivery but at asda it's £4 to book delivery then if you don't get a full shopping list they charge you a extra £3. My shopping cost me last week £58 from asda and £48 from Iceland the week before and I live on my own.

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi KevinR
I think you can cook, you're just not concentrating! Don't give up! Best wishesX

 

[Lilian]

You could always write a list of ingredients to put in and then as you put them in just tick them off. During a couple of weeks I was laid up my husband took over the 'cooking'. As his cooking goes no further than hard boiling an egg, all we had was sandwiches. I must admit I love sandwiches. Even if there was food I did not like, once put between two slices of bread and butter, it becomes edible. However, as one would have predicted, my weight went up and my blood glucose went haywire. Without cooking there are still things like salads. Putting a chicken in the oven can only go wrong if you over cook it - but you can use a timer. However, I have a feeling your post was a bit tongue in cheek.

 

[Pine Marten]

I must admit I'm not much of a cook either, though I can make a good roast. I just don't find cooking (and especially baking) interesting, although I know many people do. In the first lockdown Mr Marten and I did do a few bakes like the fathead pizza, various almond or coconut flour things and so on, but the interest has largely faded out now.

There are several decent recipe books suitable for diabetics which we've used on and off, and low carb meals are pretty tasty. So don't give up, @kevinr, you can do it!