The Meal Plan Challenge

Sarah-Jean

I'd like to join up for September too. I used to meal plan and fell out of it due to illness/laziness... We're a large family (there are 2 adults, 7 kids and another on the way as well as 3 cats and a dog) so without planning meals we end up getting take-aways or easy to cook ready meals a lot as everyone decides they want different things. The joy of meal planning is that nobody gets a choice or can complain and I know what we're eating in advance! LOL

So yeah. I'm in, but it'll be from September 2nd probably...

Flat_Eric

I've set up a google calendar for my menu choices. The great thing is that you can repeat stuff automatically so lots of breakfast choices sorted but not much else at the moment!

I wondered if anyone can recommend a money app that I can use to keep track of grocery spends?

kirstydriver

I would really like to do this too, need some inspiration with my menu if anyone can post their weekly menu?

rockm87

kirstydriver wrote: »

I would really like to do this too, need some inspiration with my menu if anyone can post their weekly menu?

yes please! :money:

I seem to get stuck in a rut, need good inspiration!

MissOrganised1972

I think I have been the only one to post a meal plan! May just stick with the Grocery Challenge, posting my meals there!

EverTheOptimist

Unfortunately I haven't been very organised this week and need to do a shop.

But so far
Mon - cereal/ tomato and cheese on toast/ sausage casserole and rice.
Tues - cereal/ jacket potato and tuna/ sausage casserole and rice.
Weds - cereal/ lunch at work / omelette
Thurs - cereal / out for lunch / roasted veg pasta
Fri - cereal/ scrambled egg on toast / cottage pie
Sat - cereal / mackerel salad / chilli and saag paneer (HM)
Sun - cereal / roast chicken dinner/ omelette

Not the most exciting week but using up what's in and doing a shop on Friday.

Flat_Eric

Due to computer issues and being on holiday, I've not had much chance to meal plan.... but from Monday all back to normal so scratching head and planning this weekend

Nintud

I started recording my grocery spending last month but work it from the 18th-17th of each month based on when I started doing it and pay day.
I'm including every penny spent on food this month (including school lunches and snack money) and trying to stay within £500. I currently include toiletries and cleaning products in that figure.

We're a family of 8 (1 currently away at uni so I can discount him this month!), 5 adult appetites(over 15 years old!) and 2 child sized portions to provide for this month.

I'll join you to meal plan if that's OK

I'm about to start a mammoth veg peel for a big batch of cooking later today. I'll return this evening to let you know my plans for the week.

Nintud

Better late than never!

Meals this week:

Monday; Chicken Tikka or Chilli con carne with rice for biggies and ravioli for littlies (they eat breakfast and lunch at school and have a snack at after school club so eat very little in the evening and dinner is more of a social even than a refuelling for them).

Tuesday; Veg soup plus chilli con carne and/or cheese on jacket spud. Fish fingers & beans for littlies (plus token soup!)

Wednesday; roast pork dinner (my day off so time to peel!)

Thursday; Somerset pork and cabbage hotpot (slow cooker)

Friday; speedy carbonara with mushrooms

Saturday; cottage pie and veg


Pork was yellow stickered, as was minced beef, tomato pur!e and tinned toms. Some of the meals were batch cooked previously and are currently frozen.

Question: I have mushrooms heading for their sell by date. Can I wash, chop and freeze them?

nat21luv

Oooh please can I join?

My grocery spending has gone waaaay of course as Im having a flump and eating lots of junk. Its stupid becuase I cook from scratch really healthy meals(Kids are veggies, Im vegan) but then I ruin it by gorging on chocolate, yogurts, crisps and sweets (all dairyfree of course!) It doing the wallet no favours as dairy free is so expensive and I've put on so much weight.

I've been getting myself in a tizz as I havent had time to cook meals in the evening so it's been slap dash and I've felt really guilty. But it dawned on me, both children get free school meals (DD is in reception so government pays and DS's father pays for his- £70 a term!!) so why am I giving them dinner at night? Why dont I give them a lunchtime equivilent like soup, sandwiches, omlette ect?

Does that sound reasonable? If it does, then it'll save me a fortune and I can cook to my hearts content on the weekend.