I got up this morning, and I stood in front of the fridge longer than I’d like to admit. Leftovers from the weekend. Half-used ingredients. A couple things I wasn’t even sure I could turn into a meal. Nothing looked like dinner — just pieces of it.
I was tired, the kind of tired where even thinking about cooking feels like too much. And for a minute, I almost just closed the door and gave up on it. Instead, I started pulling things out. A little of this. A little of that. Not because I had a plan, but because I didn’t have the energy to overthink it anymore.
Twenty minutes later, there was dinner. Simple. Not pretty. But real. And it cost maybe $12 total because it was already here waiting on me. That is when I sat down and realized something — sometimes the win isn’t a perfect meal. It’s just not giving up on feeding yourself when the day feels heavy.
Sometimes the best meals aren’t planned. They’re just what you manage to put together when you’re tired and still trying. Or they might be a fend for yourself day or everyone has Cereal tonight and yes, that is okay.
If you’re in that space today, keep it simple. Open the fridge. Start somewhere. No rules. No stress.
Tonight, doesn’t have to be perfect to still be enough. Remember its Monday and the beginning of a busy week so even a fend for yourself dinner is fine today.
Instead, when David got home from work, he got out whatever protein he could find which happened to be Weenies, Hot Links and a Hamburger Patty. The Pickled Beets Lisa Marie Bird gave me. We threw some Rice into the microwave with Cheese, and everyone made their own plate and no, one died. Nothing measured. Nothing perfect. Just used what was there.
Do you ever do this with your family?
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
