Meal Planning Meltdown

YORKSHIRELASS

Is anyone else getting stressed because all meal planning has gone out of the window?

Thanks to the wonderful advice from you OS people I have meal planning down to a fine art. Usually every food item in the fridge, freezer and cupboards is allocated to a meal which will be cooked at some time over a 2 week period.

However, this has all gone out of the window with everyone at home over Christmas. I feel a bit strange and out of kilter, dont know what food we have got in and when I need to shop again. Didnt realised I had become so obsessed with this.

Is there a meal-planning addicts helpline? Have I just taken the whole thing too far and become a control freak? Someone tell me I am not on my own - please.

Rummer

No you are not alone! Mind you my problem at the moment is that I have meals planned but my family keep consuming the ingredients!

Penelope_Penguin

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

However, this has all gone out of the window with everyone at home over Christmas. I feel a bit strange and out of kilter, dont know what food we have got in and when I need to shop again. Didnt realised I had become so obsessed with this.

I've been making the most of having all my family at home for extended periods (with the bad weaqther and the holidays). I'm taking the opportunity to use up bits from the freezer in "pot luck lunches" :T

Ther freezer now has lots of room in it, ready for a thorough defrost and clean out before being restocked

bluebag

Yes, I am a bit strung out too, I feel I can't get anything organised or stick to my usual routines, very disconcerting.

I find my routines and plans keep me happy and sane, when they are all out of kilter I feel all off..ish. I shall be more relaxed when they have all gone back to work/college and whatever and order will return.

I am a control freak, I know it. It's me.

Mumof2_2

Bluebag if you're a control freak then I am too. I like to do my routines and know what's going to be happening but that isn't the case with DH and both kids home so just going with the flow and knowing from next Wednesday I'll be back to normal again!

JenniO

Can you just start an inventory today and start from Jan 1st? That's what I did and I have a whole month of food in the house! :eek:

Kitchenbunny

I completely agree and know where you're coming from. My mealplans have gone out of the window (not for want of trying) and I'm finding it difficult to get back into the swing of things. I also agree that starting from Jan 1st is probably a good idea, as it gives you something to look forward to and a date to plan from. I don't have too much food left over from Christmas now, but I do need to do an inventory to see what I've got in and what I need to buy. Argh! I'm normally really organised - in spite of having a sketchy outline of a mealplan I'm not sticking to it.

I shall set my mealplanning clock for Jan 1st and see if I can't do better.

KB xx

mummyroysof3

i try to be organised and have a meal plan but i find it difficult to stick to, as i dont always fancy what ive planned(or hubby doesnt) so ive started making a list of meals but not allocating a day for them today ive planned cottage pie as i have mash and veg from yesterday to use up, tomorrow is hubbys choice and sat is a chicken dinner, i find this works better for us.

i have a tesco delivery today then im aiming to use up whats in and not shop apart from milk and bread till next thursday when the kids are back to school and i can go and do a big farm foods shop

oohh i must be more organized than i thought lol

rosieben

I've lost the meal-planning plot since christmas too; I end up grabbing something quick and not eating properly and I've had to throw food out which I hate doing, so my priority today is to draw up a meal plan to the end of January

funkymonkey849

Yep mine has gone totally out the window, especially as I was away over xmas for a few days.

I always shop on a Friday so I'm making what I have last until tomorrow and then it will be back to the meal plan!

Jan needs to be a frugal month so its gonna be tough

Linda32

My meal plans have gone to pot as well, but if you used to do it before last weeks madness then you will again.

I'm just starting a fresh from today, see what I've got and write the plans down.