Working couples and dinner.

@dpk262006 (58675)
Delhi, India
May 12, 2017 2:23am CST
Working couples often face a problem regarding cooking food at home, specially when they have long working hours. Many resort to short cuts and do not prepare either lunch or dinner at home. They eat outside or order it to be delivered at their home. One of my relatives (working couple) told me that they face the problem of cooking and now they have arranged a tiffin service on regular basis from Monday to Friday (i.e. for working days). Home cooked food is delivered to them in containers on the designated time every day at a very reasonable price. He was of the view that they are feeling happy with the arrangement, as now they do not have to worry about cooking dinner, even if they reach late at home. Now they are almost free in the evening and spent their time accordingly. The arrangement appears fine on the surface. However, do you feel that outside food could match home cooked food? Is it alright to make such arrangements when a working couple has a busy schedule and they cannot cook their dinner? Image courtesy - Google
16 people like this
18 responses
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
15 May 17
Home cooked food cannot match food bought from outside. When you prepare something at home you will try to make it as healthy as possible whereas those caterers providing the ''so called home made foods'' they have a profit motive and they will always hesitate concerning the use of the ''healthy ingredients'' as they might be more costly
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
Yes, you are absolutely on the dot. Home cooked food has no match for outside food. Those, who claim to serve ''home cooked food'' actually cannot prepare food, the way it is prepared by a mother/sister/daughter/wife at home. There are no ways to check the hygiene factor, when it is outside food. You are correct that their ultimate motive is profit and they prepare the food keeping the profit motive in mind.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
@Nawsheen Yesterday it touched high of last four years and it was 45.3 degree C and today also it is 44 degree C.
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@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
15 May 17
@dpk262006 yes that's true. Anyway how hot is it out there today?
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@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
12 May 17
Well no, I don't think that outside Food can really be compared to the home cooked food but one thing I realise that people in the old days were more active than nowadays.. my mother worked for whole life and that also being in medical line, how busy is that and also with night duties...but she never let us feel that.. she always cooked food for us, did our laundry, cleaning house, getting our uniform ready .. wow. Today I realised that how wonderful mom i have got.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
You are very right that nothing could beat home cooked food. In the olden days every working women used to be very active, they not only used to work in their respective offices, but used to cook for the family too. Your mother is really great. She is in the medical line but she takes care of her family in a befitting manner.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
@ShifaLk Hats off to your mother. She deserves appreciation.
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@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
15 May 17
@dpk262006 yeah that's o very true.. And thank you for your kind words :)
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@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 May 17
Outside food never matches what we can make at home @dpk262006 We make extra food on the weekend that will last all week and also eat many items that are raw (salads, etc) so these are merely prepped, no cooking needed!
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
19 May 17
Yes, you are so right that outside food cannot match home cooked food. It is wiser on your part that you cook such kind of food during weekends which could be used over the next few days and taking raw vegetables is the best bet.
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@ptrikha_2 (45501)
• India
31 May 17
@PatZAnthony it is better to cook more and use that food rather than trying to bring something from outside.
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@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 May 17
I would definitely like to be able to have meals delivered to me, with life being so busy, but it is not as affordable here. @dpk262006 they could always try for home cooked when they are on vacation, because sometimes home cooked is healthier.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
Yes, Catherine affordability is prime aspect. He told me that they get sufficient food for their family of five by paying Rs.100 (approximately US $1.4). I can understand that no such affordable option may be available at your place. They cook their food on weekends. They have made the arrangements for working days only.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
@bluesa Yes, during weekend they could have food of their choice.
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@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 May 17
@dpk262006 that is a good balance then.
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@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 May 17
I think this would mostly be acceptable depending a little on what the meals consisted of. Quite possibly it's better than a hurriedly cooked meal lacking in all the food groups or with no vegetables or whatever.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
Yes, if a couple does not have sufficient time, then these kind of arrangement could work. You have rightly pointed out that it is better to consume properly cooked food, rather than half cooked food.
1 person likes this
@shaynas (5488)
• India
15 May 17
I think it is alright. Now a days many ladies provide this home cooked food service(i have few such ladies in my society). The food is good and home made. It's way much better than eating junk or fighting over who will cook dinner.
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
If the woman of the house is also working and both husband and wife do not have time to cook dinner, there is nothing wrong for opting for tiffin service, specially for working days. You said it right that this arrangement is better than fighting and arguing with each other that who will cook the dinner.
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
@shaynas Yes, the person who is cooking the food should be at peace. Whatever her state of mind is, the same gets transferred in food. Every working woman desires that there should be someone at home, who should keep the dinner ready for her, when she reaches at her home late in the evening. If a working couple does not have a time, employing a cook is not a bad option. (one of my very near relatives has employed a female cook for preparing dinner and other things, she is a teacher herself).
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@shaynas (5488)
• India
15 May 17
@dpk262006 yeah, exactly. Food should be a peaceful affair i feel than treating it as a chore! And after long work hours, if you get the food ready, it's bliss. Even hiring a cook is a good option.
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
18 May 17
The food we are preparing at our home can't be replaced with any. Since they are depending the home cooked food services there won't be much harm, I suppose. Still it is better to depend them once in a while rather than sticking with them in all days. Once we addicted to get the habit of depending others, then we wish to stick with it for ever.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
18 May 17
Yes, you have a very valid point to make. Once we start accepting their food, we forget about our habit of cooking dinner and we become lazy, gradually we become addicted to outside food and we stick to it, even if we think of withdrawing from this kind of facility.
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@ptrikha_2 (45501)
• India
31 May 17
Well, I think having such an arrangement, even if not a very good one, cannot be avoided in certain cases. So, one has to bear with such arrangements and just carry on.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
2 Jun 17
It is a matter of convenience for couples, whether they want home cooked food or want to order.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
17 May 17
That is really a very practical way, since they are already tired and cooking is tiring too. when there's only the two of you , this is practical.. But when there are kids, there has to be a helper. We always had a helper when our daughter is born. When the helper goes home, our dsughter is left with my father-inlaw who takes care of her. and during those times, we just buy foods.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
17 May 17
Yes, you are right that working couple feel tired when they return in the evening, therefore, if there is an arrangement for getting the food (dinner) from outside, nothing wrong in it. Their child is a teenager by the way. I can understand that you used to have a helper when your daughter was a kid and you both were a working couple.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
19 May 17
@SIMPLYD It is good that you used to hire helpers who were known to you and this way you had no problem bringing up your daughter, when you used to be away in office.
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@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
18 May 17
@dpk262006 Here in the Philippines, we have hire a live-in helper. But we only hire those from our place where we know their families. Our daughter had 3 nannies/helper, she grew up with, while we are at the office. I prayed for them , so they were all good. They just have to go because one have to work with her mother at another province, while the two will study in college.
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• United States
12 May 17
I have heard of these services here also dpk. I do not know anyone personally that gets it though. I think it is a fine arrangement for working couples to do so. It relieves them of stress of trying to make time to cook while also providing some comfort in the food, rather than spending time going out for not very good food. Excellent idea.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
@TiarasOceanView Yes, they could plan to go to a movie or could visit any relative or just could go for a evening walk or could go to a gym.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
For some working couples who are too busy in their jobs, it is good arrangement in my view, rather than sleeping hungry. Of course this kind of arrangement make the lady of the house feel de-stressed from the chores of cooking dinner and available time could be spent in other activities.
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• United States
12 May 17
@dpk262006 Indeed more interesting activities for them lol
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@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
12 May 17
Me and husband is in working class too. Our style is, we will cook the food that we will have for the next day. Less stress.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
Welcome back to board. Nice to see you here I understand that you and your husband both are working therefore, you do not always find time to cook food, therefore, you cook food in such a manner which could be used for the next one or two days.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
@wiLLmaH It is a great pleasure to see you here. Yes, nothing could beat home cooked food, even if we had cooked out food on the previous day and we are going to eat it the next day. I am also of the opinion that outdoor food or takeaways cannot match home cooked food.
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@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
12 May 17
@dpk262006 Haha! Thanks for welcoming me back... again! haha! We need to find ways how to cook our own food. We do not want to settle on takeways or restaurants.
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@Kandae11 (53679)
13 May 17
When I lived in the city with my son. I would prepare three different kinds of dinner to last five days and store them in the refrigerator. All I would need to do then - is reheat when needed. I saved on time and cooking gas.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 May 17
You used to cool meal in bulk as a mother for your son. Mothers are always caring and nature and so are you.
@Bodyandbrain (13797)
• Gurgaon, India
13 May 17
In my locality mostly working couples live and they enjoy these types of facilities easily available here. There are many home cooked food, tiffin services available here who claim to provide food like home. Working couples find it helpful.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 May 17
You mean to say that working couples staying around you prefer to get their food delivered from an outside agency/tiffin service, rather than making an effort to cook food at home.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
13 May 17
@Bodyandbrain Engaging a cook for cooking one's meals is same as arranging food from outside. A cook won't cook the way (even if s/he is an expert) as a family member would cook. Yes, you are right that a working couple could have ego problem with regard to carrying out kitchen activities, so those kinds of couple go for tiffin service etc.
1 person likes this
• Gurgaon, India
13 May 17
@dpk262006 yes mostly. There are few families who have elders or children, they prefer to have cook who are easily available here. You know when both are working they tend to have a thinking that why should I do at home too, there is ego problem too.
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@vin12345 (567)
• Kerala, India
12 May 17
Sometimes due to busy schedules it can happen. But I should say nothing match like cooked food at our home.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
Of course nothing could match home cooked food but sometimes there may be some compulsions to get food from outside. Are you married?
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
15 May 17
@vin12345 In that case who cooks food for you?
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@vin12345 (567)
• Kerala, India
14 May 17
@dpk262006 You are right, Nope I'm a student.
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@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
12 May 17
As long as the food is well coked it seems a very sensible idea.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
It seems sensible idea to order food if it is well cooked but on the other hand home cooked food is always unbeatable.
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@jstory07 (134465)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 May 17
I used to cook meals for several days and freeze them. That way you can put it in the microwave and have a good meal.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
Yes, to cook food in bulk and then put it in freezer is one of the options to avoid repetitive cooking. Freezed food could be re-heated and consumed.
@LadyDuck (458233)
• Switzerland
12 May 17
Even when we both were busy and worked all the day, I have always prepared the food at home. When the time was tight very simple food, I did better during the week ends. Home made food is the best.
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
12 May 17
Sometimes if the couple can understand each I think it doesn't matter if they are working together. But if this destroy their relationship, they should work out to solve the problem.
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@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
12 May 17
The discussion is not about dispute between couples and how to sort it out.