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Food boredom or Food Fatigue - Some observations
These observations are posted especially for those who have prepared for possible quarantine or are considering preparing and storing food for the possibility of home a quarantine. If forced by economics, lack of preparation or limited food choice for a quarantine or other emergency situations it is easy to foresee that problems could quickly arise. Variety could become very important.
Right now I am facing this problem with several members of my family and surprisingly (at least to me) my dog. It did not take long to develope, a few weeks at most. The inflated food prices are having a definite effect on the diet in our house hold. While no one is going hungry fatigue has become a problem. I have been depending heavily on chicken and what is produced on the property and other foods locally available in season (fresh and cheap). Right now being spring the homestead is supplying eggs some early spring greens and asparagus. The hens tend to be more generous with their eggs in the spring. As food fatigue has set in it has become more and more difficult to hide the fact that I have been depending on these sources of cheap protein. Beans are not an option as I am dealing with a family of carnivores that will consume vegetation only under duress (like mother threatening to take away their laptops). Nuts likewise are out as anything other than a special treat because of their high price.
Omelets, hard boiled, scrambled eggs, fried egg, French toast (poor knights), egg salads and quiche are now too blatantly eggish. Custards are no longer tempting. Pan cakes (some might be surprised how many eggs I use to fortify pancakes!), Spanish rice, stuffing (savory bread pudding), fried rice and stir fry are still working for now. Strong camouflaging flavors help. Bacon, bacon grease and ham are used more for their flavor than as a protein source. Some cardiologists probably just cringed but it is the truth. Bread puddings and egg noodles are planned additions to the menu.
Chicken has been fried, roasted, steamed, marinated, ground into burgers, turned into and added to salad, drenched in gravy and different sauces, hidden under salsa and relish, turned into meat loafed, curried, breaded, barbequed, pulled and stir fired. Attempts to hide it in the macaroni and cheese or spaghetti sauce have met with resistance. Soup is still ok I am trying to save that for flu and when all else fails. Soup has long been one of the last resorts of budget beleaguered cooks. I'm cleaning old meat out of the freezer and despite a week or two of ham, turkey and fish the aversions to eggs and chicken remain. By second and third world standards are they spoiled? Yes terribly. However with rising food prices more and more families either are or have been facing similar decisions. Unfortunately with fewer people knowing how to cook from scratch, dependency on prepared foods and eating out, some families today may have less options.
Even the dog!
I did not realize our dog would or could develop food fatigue. He could and he did. I'd been feeding him rice with leftover meat and vegetables (no onions). This seemed to be working well. His coats now shines, he has lost most of his overweight pudginess and has more energy. He like other family members has recently started turning his nose up to plain fried eggs. If I add pan drippings, a little bacon grease or broth to his dog food he will eat it.
Right now I am facing this problem with several members of my family and surprisingly (at least to me) my dog. It did not take long to develope, a few weeks at most. The inflated food prices are having a definite effect on the diet in our house hold. While no one is going hungry fatigue has become a problem. I have been depending heavily on chicken and what is produced on the property and other foods locally available in season (fresh and cheap). Right now being spring the homestead is supplying eggs some early spring greens and asparagus. The hens tend to be more generous with their eggs in the spring. As food fatigue has set in it has become more and more difficult to hide the fact that I have been depending on these sources of cheap protein. Beans are not an option as I am dealing with a family of carnivores that will consume vegetation only under duress (like mother threatening to take away their laptops). Nuts likewise are out as anything other than a special treat because of their high price.
Omelets, hard boiled, scrambled eggs, fried egg, French toast (poor knights), egg salads and quiche are now too blatantly eggish. Custards are no longer tempting. Pan cakes (some might be surprised how many eggs I use to fortify pancakes!), Spanish rice, stuffing (savory bread pudding), fried rice and stir fry are still working for now. Strong camouflaging flavors help. Bacon, bacon grease and ham are used more for their flavor than as a protein source. Some cardiologists probably just cringed but it is the truth. Bread puddings and egg noodles are planned additions to the menu.
Chicken has been fried, roasted, steamed, marinated, ground into burgers, turned into and added to salad, drenched in gravy and different sauces, hidden under salsa and relish, turned into meat loafed, curried, breaded, barbequed, pulled and stir fired. Attempts to hide it in the macaroni and cheese or spaghetti sauce have met with resistance. Soup is still ok I am trying to save that for flu and when all else fails. Soup has long been one of the last resorts of budget beleaguered cooks. I'm cleaning old meat out of the freezer and despite a week or two of ham, turkey and fish the aversions to eggs and chicken remain. By second and third world standards are they spoiled? Yes terribly. However with rising food prices more and more families either are or have been facing similar decisions. Unfortunately with fewer people knowing how to cook from scratch, dependency on prepared foods and eating out, some families today may have less options.
Even the dog!
I did not realize our dog would or could develop food fatigue. He could and he did. I'd been feeding him rice with leftover meat and vegetables (no onions). This seemed to be working well. His coats now shines, he has lost most of his overweight pudginess and has more energy. He like other family members has recently started turning his nose up to plain fried eggs. If I add pan drippings, a little bacon grease or broth to his dog food he will eat it.