The problem with Food Porn

I often end up in quite a quandry as to what I want to cook. In my world there are 4 factors I have to consider..

1. Are the kids likely to eat it or am I just cooking it for grown ups?
2. Is it going to be expensive?
3. Is it really bad for you?
4. Is it worth cooking something fabulous, just because??

There are so many lovely things to cook, but often they don't fit in with trying to be healthy, or they will cost a fortune, or there's no way the kids will eat it, but we ought to be eating as a family as we haven't all week. I also struggle to buy expensive bits to make an amazing dish when there's no occasion, or no visitors.
But I love to cook. And I want to try new recipes.. But then I have to stop because of one of the above factors getting in the way.

I meal plan religiously, partly to be organised, but often because it means if I see something brilliant I want to make, I can plan it in, no matter how far ahead, so that I don't forget about it. Often things get bumped when I get nearer the time for one reason and another, but I try to stick to my best intentions so that I make sure I can make new things. I'm finding more and more though that I don't even get opportunity to cook the special stuff when we do have visitors. Either because it does mean the kids are eating with us and they won't try something new or because I get told off by both my other half and my visitors for spending the whole time in the kitchen. Fancy cooking seems to become a distant memory the older and more entrenched in family life and finances I get. I look forward to the day I can really love to cook again.