In-laws in town? Sick kids? Too many extra-curriculars? Those are all reasons NOT to cook! Here are a few more.
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10 Excuses to NOT Cook

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In-laws in town? Sick kids? Too many extra-curriculars? Those are all reasons NOT to cook! Here are a few more.

By Molly England of Bluebonnet Babies

Sometimes — okay, a lot of the time — parents don’t feel like cooking. A long haul flight with twin toddlers has more appeal than purposefully making a mess in the kitchen, knowing full well you’ll also have to clean it up. However, more often than not, we have to cook. Those growing kids, with their truck driver appetites, aren’t leaving the house for at least another 12 to 15 years. But here are 10 legitimate reasons to avoid the kitchen.

1. You just had a baby. Congratulations; your new bundle of joy is the ultimate excuse not to cook. Accept meals from friends, family, your neighbors, the delivery driver – anyone (seriously, anyone).

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2. Severe weather. A pervasive blizzard or imminent hurricane are the perfect opportunities to heat up the pre-made meals filling your freezer. On a good day, think ahead. Make extra of your favorite soup and store it in the freezer for those inevitable days when cooking is a no go.

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3. The in-laws are in town. This is cause for celebration. Eat out to commemorate the visit and evade feeding the extra mouths.

4. Extracurricular activities. Late evening softball practice or piano lessons are the perfect dinner-plan diversion. The perils of fast-food are negated by feeding your child’s love of their extracurricular activity.

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5. Sleepless night. Sleep deprived parents, be careful not to get carried away with this excuse. But for those extra tough nights filled with tears and an inconsolable baby, cut yourself some slack and keep dinner simple or order takeout.

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6. Any celebration day. Whether it’s Mother’s Day or a birthday, choose a festive restaurant to celebrate. Not cooking is the perfect gift!

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7. Everyone’s sick. There’s nothing worse than an illness indiscriminately making its way through each family member. Capitalize on uneasy appetites by serving up ready-made chicken soup and saltine crackers.

8. Moving day. When the kitchen appliances and dishes are all boxed up—it’s pizza delivery time! Unless you’re a magician, making dinner appear out of nothing is highly unlikely.

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9. Appliance malfunction. When your fridge is on the fritz or your oven is out of commission, this is the ideal scenario for ordering in.

10. Luscious locks. The day you get your hair done certainly calls for a night out on the town. Don’t let that gorgeous hair wilt over a hot stove. Dial up the babysitter and throw some heels on for a fun dinner date.

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 A version of this post was originally published on Bluebonnet Babies.

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About the Author

Molly England earned her master’s degree in social work at The University of Edinburgh. She currently lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and their three children. She is a devoted blogger, freelance writer and a passionate Certified Bradley Method® Natural Childbirth Educator. In 2015 Molly founded Bluebonnet Babies, a virtual hub providing products and resources based on evidence, research, experience and love to parents making healthy and informed choices. Writing enables Molly to achieve her goal of empowering families across the globe as they navigate pregnancy to parenthood. Molly contributes to On Parenting of The Washington Post, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Mamalode, The Mother Magazine, Green Child Magazine, Pathways to Family Wellness, Holistic Parenting Magazine and more. Visit Bluebonnet Babies, and follow Molly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.