Meal Planning Idea ?

MadMonkey

Hi this has probably been covered millions of times before and if so please delete:o

I have been struggling with meal planning for ages because I write it out for 1-2 weeks and then things come up where I deviate and it all goes wrong.

So i will have for e.g "Lasagne" down for Mon but then don't fancy it or one of the kids has a friend for tea or something and then it all goes wrong.

So i made a list of all my freezer / frigdge contents and meal planned and am now choosing them on the day according to what we feel like that day.

It stops it being so regimented - i am a bit of a rebel so regimented does not work for me:o

I have split the list into "needs preparing" (i.e defrosting overnight) and "instant" so i know which meals need a bit of planning.

So far so good.:T

I have been stuck on the planning for ages and just wanted to shre this in case anyone else is the same.

Like i say if this has been done then please delete.

Ches

I can't get on with meal planning either. I have gone back to buying for the freezer and storecupboard (I have a list of staples I keep in store and don't buy other things I may never use). I have a list of favourite meals and keep in stock the items needed to make them. I then have the choice each day of what I fancy cooking/eating and can take the appropriate stuff from store. As there are only 2 of us to cook for, I usually make 4 portions of most things and freeze half so there are also plenty of HM ready meals in the freezer for days I can't be bothered to cook from scratch. I reckon this way saves me money and time.

thriftlady_2

I'm rubbish at meal-planning. I always change my mind or have leftovers that need using up. I work more on a 'pantry principle' -that is I buy for my storecupboard/freezer/fridge rather than for specific meals. If I were really strapped for cash though I'd meal-plan.

Have a read of this thread. I should add that my shopping bill is more than £50-£60 now-price increases being the way they are at the mo.

bluemoon_3

I do a combination of meal-planning and the same 'pantry principle' that thriftlady uses. My shopping list each week is made up of the 'weeklies' I need this week (from a list of things I buy most weeks), my 'replenish' list (which are the pantry items I've used), the special offers I want from one of the websites that list them, and then either anything extra I need for a prepared meal-plan if I fancy doing that, or I can just choose enough veg for the week and make it up as I go.

This 'system' evolved around my fickleness - sometimes I like to plan, sometimes I just fancy winging it. It also gives me the flexibility of changing midweek, if something needs to be used up.

bertiebots

Ooh I am so glad its not just me who cannot meal plan...:D I just hate the idea of planning what I am going to eat a week in advance..there are just too many things going on in our house and I am afraid I would fail at the first hurdle:rolleyes: ! I as others have said have several staples that I make on a regular basis and keep ingredients topped up. I check my cupboards and make a list. But if I dont stick rigidly to that it can go wrong as did last months g/c. This month I am determined to be super budgeter :rotfl: and after just checking my cupboard and writing down everything I am quite sure I can do it.....I just filled 3 pages of my note book with things I had "stocked up " on:eek: :eek: :eek: . I