https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:21:50 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1415051 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 04:21:35 +0000 ManidipaM 1415051@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love cooking, but HIGH FIVE, ARIADNE! Cannot cook even eggs without stress with a toddler underfoot. Nowadays he refuses to be worn or carried... So I just want Santa to bring me Xmas dinner. i love Ariadne's idea, and may steal it, since Whole Foods is not near me.</p> <p>Totally agree eating is a great contribution. I hate cooking and then having no one to appreciate it. My partner and I have quite different tastes and sometimes... Things don't go swimmingly and it can cause regrets and hurt precisely because both of us are so invested in cooking.</p> <p>Plus, there's the toddler. Two-hourly snacks are so exhausting, with all the little rules they come up with for themselves. </p> <p>Aziraphale, I too had this vision of my son growing up standing on his chair and watching me blissfully chop and stir and bake... Here's the thing. He would rather dive into the stockpot and pour the batter on to the floor and pull all my shredded greens down into his pan and cook them with no fire and a big puddle of water! So he IS enjoying his childhood and eating his meals... Just not like in the vision. Hey-ho! Is okay, and we will all be fine. Let go... And set the table for that delicious no-cook dinner. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1414081 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:03:42 +0000 Janet 1414081@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have also come to truly appreciate the restaurants that open on holidays like this! We tip really well. I guess we can't all be joyful gourmet chefs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1413943 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:04:56 +0000 Jules 1413943@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know, there are so many women from previous generations who still feel totally obliged to make the whole dinner as their matriarchal duty, but are actually not that good at it, nor do they enjoy it! Our generation does have more pressure to be gourmet, no doubt about it, but we also have a lot more options for our convenience and enjoyment. Congratulations for availing yourself! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1413859 Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:17:32 +0000 Aziraphale 1413859@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ariadne -- Sounds like last Christmas did not go as planned! Oh well, we live and learn. :-)&nbsp; The cooking kind of ruined last Christmas for me, too, even though&nbsp;I had help from my father-in-law with making the dressing and tying up the turkey and all that. It was my first time being 'in charge' of&nbsp;Christmas dinner and I was amazed at how much work it was. I found that I was distracted all Christmas day, and it was a surprising amount of work getting all the side dishes ready at the same time. Luckily it turned out and no one had a tantrum (lol), but the process was no fun and actually put a damper on the whole day.&nbsp;</p> <p>Janet, oh no! Why are you not going to Belgium anymore? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1413813 Sat, 20 Dec 2014 18:06:42 +0000 Janet 1413813@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Now that it looks like Belgium is not happening :-(&nbsp;, I'm thinking the WF dinner is the way to go for us, too! So thank you for the idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner/page/2#post-1413649 Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:36:27 +0000 Ariadne 1413649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I seriously considered doing the Whole Foods turkey&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;thing this year. &nbsp;Last year I spent all of Christmas cooking, and it was awful. &nbsp;I was exhausted, stressed, I didn't get to spend time with my kids, and in the end they didn't eat the dinner and threw tantrums at mealtime. &nbsp;Such a failure.</p> <p>I do love to cook, but I've realizes this year that I DO NOT love to cook while parenting little kids. &nbsp;Cooking has become a stressful time-suck<span>&nbsp;that prevents me from doing the things I TRULY love and need to do (write, spend extra time on my kids, who have extra needs).<br /></span><br /><span>I've always cooked a ton of stuff from scratch, but this year I plan to do a lot of very simple and often premade meals, and as little cooking as possible. &nbsp;I just don't have time right now. &nbsp;It's hard, though, because I'm very aware of the pressure for mothers to cook super-healthy, super-creative food from scratch art all times.<br /></span><br />Our Christmas dinner this year will be&nbsp;grilled sandwiches with deli turkey, cranberry sauce, Stovetop stuffing, havarti, and spinach inside, with canned gravy to dip into. &nbsp;And potato chips!&nbsp; Easy peasy. &nbsp;Basically leftovers without making the original meal. ;)</p> <p>Please let us know how the WF dinner is! &nbsp;And I owe you a PM, I know. &nbsp;My brain is dead.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1413153 Fri, 19 Dec 2014 04:03:56 +0000 kellygirl 1413153@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gee, I didn't even know there were options like this. I'm looking into WF next year!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1413044 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 23:54:06 +0000 Janet 1413044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Don't feel bad! I'm not a bad cook at all, but I'm just not terribly interested in it either. If I throw a dinner party, I'd rather have it catered or a potluck than attempt to do it all myself. </p> <p>My mom didn't love to cook either, and she had rather bland taste (no tolerance for anything spicy, and she tended to cook everything to an almost extreme level of done-ness), so I guess I didn't exactly learn a love of fancy cooking from my family. ;-)</p> <p>We all do the best we can! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412753 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 12:28:02 +0000 Anonymous 1412753@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have very traditional in laws and I have ordered in Christmas dinner probably 6 times?. It tastes great, I add a few of my own dishes and thoroughly enjoy the day. Yes I have some guilt but I tell myself it's no ones business and I have other talents....it takes the pressure off...I love the thoughts that it has no bearing on my value as a person ( and not to start any gender bashing but if a man ordered his family Xmas dinner in, i bet no one would say a word!!)</p> <p>For the record, my in laws ignore the boxes and don't talk about the cost and my parents think it's brilliant. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412672 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 03:06:45 +0000 Echo 1412672@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My mum hated (and still hates) to cook. My "comfort foods" when I was a young adult were boxed mac &amp; cheese, tuna casserole (made from all pre-packaged or canned ingredients) and mashed potatoes from a box. Indeed, as a child it never even occurred to me that people mashed REAL potatoes. And my mum was the BEST. MUM. EVER. No cooking skill required.</p> <p>I do enjoy cooking, and I've taught myself a lot. But whether one cooks or enjoys cooking has no bearing on their value as a human being. We all have different interests, and that's what makes the world go 'round. And to be honest, all this talk about a Whole Foods meal is intriguing. I want to try it just because it sounds yummy!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412581 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:30:17 +0000 Aziraphale 1412581@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie -- oooh, chocolate desserts. How wonderful.&nbsp;My motto is, if it's not chocolate, it's not dessert. ;-)</p> <p>Laurie -- I am in awe of your ability to host a party for 60-80 people! And I have to agree: it's very hard for the host/hostess/whoever's doing the cooking to sit and enjoy time with the guests. When we first moved into our house, we hosted a New Year's&nbsp;open house (probably 60 or so guests, but not all at the same time)&nbsp;and I didn't get to enjoy much of it. &nbsp;I will never do that again.</p> <p>DonnaF -- my husband is many wonderful things, but a chef he is not! He doesn't have the time, for one thing. He has an enviable career but works loads of overtime.&nbsp;Mercifully he is not a foodie. (I think his favourite thing to eat is beans on toast). He appreciates wholesome food, but&nbsp;it's not like he expects me to do anything fancy.</p> <p>N-Marie: Awesome! It makes me happy to&nbsp;hear the pre-prepared dinners work for you. :-)</p> <p>Kerry: thanks for the kind words. You are right that motherhood is loaded with expectations of perfection, and I'm trying to escape it too. I try hard not to be a 'helicopter parent' (something new to this generation of parents), but we also all want to do what is best for our kids. It's a balance.&nbsp;It doesn't help that I had a&nbsp;perfectionistic streak to begin with -- before becoming a mother -- which I fight. I don't think perfectionism leads to happiness. Also, I don't want my kids to be neurotic. ;-)</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412574 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 22:01:54 +0000 kerry 1412574@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you for this thread, Aziraphale. I love the courage and vulnerability you demonstrate to admit this. I'm really trying to rid myself of the myth and torture of perfection. Motherhood, especially, is loaded with it!</p> <p>What Laurie writes about "getting better at sorting out the things she does out of obligation vs the things she likes to do" really resonates with me. I need to be more mindful of this. </p> <p>What I do because it feeds some ideal I've conjured up vs what I truly like to do is still not completely clear. But your thread has given me some pause to consider this more as we head into obligation-central, aka the holidays! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412520 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:45:13 +0000 N-Marie 1412520@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have done the Whole Food full Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner EVERY YEAR&nbsp;since my kids were born and I don't have any regrets. I'd much rather spend the time with my husband,&nbsp;the kids and visiting family than stuck in the kitchen. &nbsp;And I am extremely uninterested in cooking so they do a much better job&nbsp;- its just not my forte and I've made my peace with that! Also, you will be in good company- tons of people are in line to pick up the full dinner every time I've gone around the holidays.</p> <p>There are lots of ways to be a great mom/wife and everyone has their strength- enjoy the parts of the holiday pageantry that you like and outsource the rest ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412507 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:25:03 +0000 DonnaF 1412507@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My solution:&nbsp; Have the right partner!&nbsp; My DH's dad was the chef for admirals in the Navy, so he had a role model.&nbsp; I threatened to cook vegetarian, so meat eating DH (then BF) became the family cook, and he actually enjoys it.&nbsp; I usually cook when it's my turn several times a year for my women's group, but I find it very stressful.&nbsp; And I generally make a few dishes on holidays.&nbsp; Now DD expects to find a partner/husband who cooks as she has very little interest in cooking.&nbsp; We all love food and love to eat, however, as we are Bay Area foodies at heart.&nbsp; Maybe not DD; DH and I cringe when she wants to order American Chinese food.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412500 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:13:01 +0000 Laurie 1412500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congratulations on making this important realization! &nbsp;Over the years I have gotten better at sorting out things I do out of obligation vs things I like to do. &nbsp;Sometimes they are one and the same - I do like to cook (not love to) and I am a very good cook. &nbsp;But, it is so hugely time consuming! &nbsp;We used to throw a party around Valentines Day every year for 60-80 people, and I did every bit of preparation. This usually involved at least 1 night/morning of preparations till the wee hours.&nbsp;&nbsp; The day of the party was frantic and&nbsp;I was just getting in the shower when the first guest arrived. &nbsp;I was exhausted at the end,&nbsp;and I still had hours of clean up. &nbsp;We have fun parties with great food so&nbsp;guests stay late, and that meant 3 a.m. or later bedtime. <i>Again</i>.&nbsp; &nbsp;I also travel a lot for work, meaning I might have been on the road for 3 days in the week before that party!&nbsp;&nbsp;So, I experimented with catering. &nbsp;My best parties have been partially or fully catered because I am able to enjoy every minute with the PEOPLE. &nbsp;<br />So, whether it is daily, for a holiday or for a big party, if enjoyment of preparation costs us the enjoyment of the people we are preparing for, it is so not worth it. &nbsp;Yes, catering costs somewhat more than preparing yourself - so I have a few less parties now, but enjoy them immensely more. &nbsp; &nbsp;Do what is right, don't be guilty for one second. &nbsp; it is hard work to be the hostess, you are giving your guests the gift of your home and your company. &nbsp;Happy holidays!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412491 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:49:58 +0000 Angie 1412491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It takes <b>all of us</b> to make the&nbsp;ecosystem of cooking a success. Your contributions of eating and washing up are HIGHLY valued steps in the circle of food, Elisabeth. And setting a pretty table is the creative cherry on top. One of the reasons I love to cook is because Greg really appreciates my cooking, the best ingredients,&nbsp;and is an excellent eater. That's his valuable contribution in the Cox Castle.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>(YES. We catered Japanese, Indian and Indonesian food, and chocolate desserts).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412476 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:25:09 +0000 Aziraphale 1412476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You ran a catering business, Angie? Awesome. I didn't know that!&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm fully on board with eating the food, I have to say. I even like looking at a beautifully set table (as a little girl, that used to be my job when my parents were entertaining -- to set the table!) Now if only I had married a man who would cook for me, I'd be all set. I'm happy to do the dishes. ;-)</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412427 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:47:27 +0000 Angie 1412427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elisabeth, I have plenty of friends who are excellent mothers but cooking is not their thing. PARENTING is SO MUCH MORE than making great food. And if hubs likes to cook - bonus.&nbsp;Thank heavens we live in an age where we can get SO much brilliant and healthy prepared food. Thank you Whole Foods and Trader Joes.&nbsp;</p> <p>Yes, I'm a big foodie and had a little catering business when we lived in&nbsp;France. Food and cooking&nbsp;is a great passion in my life.&nbsp;Love everything to do with food. Cooking it, shopping for it, learning about it,&nbsp;looking at it, and eating it. But I wouldn't be the best Mum for a multitude of reasons. Case in point. xo&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412409 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:26:51 +0000 Aziraphale 1412409@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>THANK YOU for your kind words! I'm feeling very happy about Christmas dinner now. ;-)</p> <p>Thanks, abc! Good to hear I'm not the only one. :-)</p> <p>Mochi, Whole Foods has at least three locations in Vancouver now! I don't know if they are elsewhere in Canada, but we're the closest province&nbsp;to California, and things travel quickly from California to BC.</p> <p>kkards, it's funny how we all dislike different domestic chores. I don't mind ironing, although it's not my favourite thing, but I don't have an overwhelming load of it. If I needed pressed shirts on a daily basis, I would probably let the professionals do it, too.</p> <p>Crutcher -- yes, I'm very happy there is a Whole Foods we can go to (even if it is hipster/yuppie central!)</p> <p>Torontogirl, thanks for the kind words. I hope your turkey dinner goes off without a hitch this year! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412374 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 14:35:24 +0000 Helena 1412374@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just weighing in to say, what Carter said! I am so not a cook, or rather I'm a fine cook but not an entertainer so crowds are a no-go for me,&nbsp;and if the local Sobeys' turkey dinner was large enough, that's precisely what I would have ordered. I tried to by the cook from frozen pre-stuffed turkey and <i>bought the wrong turkey.&nbsp;</i>Seriously. Non-cooks? Hell ya!!!! :)</p> <p>PS - Every other family event I have hosted has been catered in ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412335 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 12:03:57 +0000 crutcher 1412335@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>There is so much to enjoy and reflect upon during this special time&nbsp;that feeling guilty is just a crazy waste...You enjoy your dinner and be happy you can go to Whole Foods..I am sure you cook enough to survive and that what it is all about...<br />Bon Appetit, Whole Foods!!!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412330 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:43:29 +0000 kkards 1412330@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>GOOD FOR YOU! i'm of the opinion that its the hosting that counts, not the who made the food.&nbsp;<br />BTW, i can iron, but not well, and i loath it. so years ago i decided it was worth it to me to pay to have everything that needs to be ironed done by the dry cleaner (and yes, you can bring in washed items and just have the dry cleaner press them).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412326 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:34:07 +0000 Mochi 1412326@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha. I am very selective in my love of cooking. I enjoy doing flashy recipes for entertaining. I really abhor the daily grind of preparing meals. You do it and then six hours later you have to do it again!? Blah.&nbsp;</p> <p>(I had no idea WF was in Canada! They'll be taking over the planet soon.)&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412291 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:57:46 +0000 abc 1412291@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just checking in to say I love your attitude!! I don't cook either, for the record, and yes, as a mother I feel badly about it. From now on I'm adopting Ms Mary's saying as my own!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412284 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:26:29 +0000 Aziraphale 1412284@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>MsMary -- 'Take that, gendered stuff' -- hahahaaaa awesome. Great advice, too.&nbsp;</p> <p>Amen, Carter!</p> <p>Laura -- but I <i>like</i> the dressing soggy! &nbsp;I agree with you that being able to do basic cooking is pretty much a necessity. I've got that covered, and I'm not actually what you'd call a <i>bad</i> cook. I go carefully and I don't burn things. I can follow recipes and make decent versions of things like lasagna and meatloaf.&nbsp;It's just that I find cooking a weird combination of boring and stressful, and thus I don't like to try new things. (Glad to hear your dad turned out OK despite your grandma's bad cooking!)</p> <p>Suz, sorry to hear about your Christmas cookies. That's another thing I find troublesome about the whole endeavour: sometimes it's a flop, you've wasted all this effort and time, and you don't necessarily know what went wrong!</p> <p>Deb, excellent, glad to hear you are happy to purchase your food too! &nbsp;(And yes, we&nbsp;will certainly be having some wine with the turkey).</p> <p>Debbie -- excellent advice.</p> <p>Sveta -- my kids are not going to talk about my cooking when they grow up either! It's nice to hear that you think your mom was a great mom anyway. :-)<br />&nbsp;</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412268 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:42:32 +0000 MsMary 1412268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BTW, I always say "this food is on the table because of me, so I will be happy to take the credit!"&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412265 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:32:57 +0000 Sveta 1412265@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My childhood memories of my mother is that she made beautiful clothes for myself and my sister which nobody else had. I don't have any childhood memories of her cooking because she did not like cooking so her cooking was nothing special. And you know what? She was (and is) the best Mom in the world for me, cooking or no cooking!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412261 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:24:31 +0000 Debbie 1412261@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good call. Sometimes we try and do too much . I love to cook but this year I am not as into it.<br /> Angie's right you draw wonderfully. We all have our talents. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412251 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:03:39 +0000 deb 1412251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Breath in, breath out, accept. This is what I did and it feels so good. I hate cooking and just purchase. After all, what am I working for, except to make my life more comfortable. Enjoy your turkey and have a glass of wine! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/i-caved-to-the-whole-foods-turkey-dinner#post-1412248 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 02:58:30 +0000 Suz 1412248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Elisabeth, this was a smart decision. It's okay not to love cooking! And the Whole Foods dinners are really good. You've had way too much on your plate (so to speak) to fight with yourself and try to talk yourself into doing something you don't enjoy. This may become a new family tradition! :)</p> <p>Said by one who just ruined her famous Christmas cookies. Don't ask. I have no idea what went wrong.&nbsp;</p> <p>Even those of us who enjoy cooking mess up and feel mightily annoyed sometimes.&nbsp; </p>