Meal Planning

For those of you that meal plan, do you have a set list of recipes and shop for what you need or just grocery shop and cook as you go along? Also, along the same lines, does anyone cook in bulk so they can have multiple meals during the week, and if so, what do you make?

I would like to start meal planning, but I'm not sure how to best approach it. I'm not a good enough cook to just wing it but I would like to cook more and become better at it. One of my things for New Year's was to cook more and eat out less. So far, not too good with that.

I'd appreciate any feedback and thanks to those of you that post your weekly menus. It's very helpful.

Re: Meal Planning

Hi There!

My approach to meal planning is this. Yes, I have my favorite recipes, and I plan the recipes first (sometimes) and then put the ingredients on my shopping list for that week. However, to budget, I also use the circular. So I read my stores newspaper ads and see what is on sale. I write down all of the sale items that I am interested in. I may stock up on something I know I might need or use in the future, or I may base which recipes I choose according to that. If eggplant is on sale and cans of tomatoes and cheese, all in the same week, I will probably make sure eggplant parm is on the list, or I would just stock up on some tomatoes in case I make it in the future.

I am not sure what else you want to know but feel free to ask more questions and I can try to elaborate on those things.

It is something you just have to try to start doing and then you see how it works best for you and it might fall into place easier.

ETA: I don't necessarily cook in bulk, but sometimes, or we always have at least lunch leftovers. Casseroles and Chilis and Homemade Soups usually are what are easiest to double and/or freeze for extra meals, so that is what I stick with for those types of dishes.

Message edited 1/8/2012 8:51:31 PM.

Re: Meal Planning

I usually start by checking what proteins we have in the freezer and checking the circulars to see what proteins are on sale for the week.

For 7 days, I typically do 3-4 days chicken, 1-2 days meat, 1 day fish, 1 day "other" (meatless)


So I start with that as my outline like:

sat- steak
sun- chicken thighs
mon- pasta
tues- chicken drumsticks
wed- ground beef
thurs- chicken breast
fri- other

Other is something meatless, like pizza (various topping combinations) or risotto or something like that.

Then I will ask my DH if there's anything specific he wants. If so, I'll pick a recipe based on that otherwise, I use this board, food blogs, pinterest, food magazines, cookng shows to get ideas.

I usually use chicken thighs and drumsticks because they go on sale a lot and are always cheaper than breasts. I also use whole chickens a lot... one night we will have roast chicken and another night we'll use the chicken for something else - paninis, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, over salad, etc. Lately we don't always have fish because it's been kind of expensive to get!

Fridays we've been doing a lot of pizza. I'm on bed rest now, so we typically just buy premade dough from Trader Joe's and DH can make a quick sauce, top with mozzarella and pepperoni and it's an easy meal! When I was cooking, I sometimes would do veggie pizza, with fig jam and arugula, etc.

Re: Meal Planning

Very helpful, thank you both for posting. You're giving me a lot of good ideas.

DH and I eat out entirely way too much, and that includes both restaurants and take out. So it's sort of threefold - eat out less, save $, learn to cook more and be healthier. I'm also trying to avoid having food go bad and throwing it out. I'm embarrassed to say how much we do this and it's so wasteful.

How often do you grocery shop? I'm thinking weekly meal planning but would like to avoid weekly grocery shopping since it's just DH and I (for the time being).

Re: Meal Planning

I shop once a week. You can get away with going once every other week if you freeze your meats and buy produce that is not too delicate and keep it fresh in the fridge or also freezer. But since I look for sales and I like a lot of fruit, vegetables and prefer cooking with meat that has not been frozen, I go once a week.

Re: Meal Planning

Re: Meal Planning

these are some great ideas! thanks girls!!

Re: Meal Planning

I like browsing recipes online when I have free time. Most of my favorites menu on the computer consists of recipes. I organize them into folders like ground beef, chicken, ground turkey, pork, sides, etc. Some are favorite recipes I've made many times and others are things that look interesting that I'd like to try in the future.

When I plan, I start with the circular and mainly check to see what proteins are on sale (I also vary stores based on which has the best deals on proteins I'm interested in). Between that and meats I already have in the freezer, I check my recipes and plan what I'd like to make for the week.

I shop weekly but if I plan really well, I've been able to swing every other week at times. I do freeze leftovers, separated into two servings per package for DH and I. This way we don't waste leftovers or have to eat the same thing day after day. I factor in my weekly plan if I have a late night and plan to pull out one of these meals the night before to defrost and then just reheat.

Re: Meal Planning

let me preface this by saying, I am an accountant!

I have an excel spreadsheet... one tab has all our choices... meats, fish, pork, steak, etc... in every preparation I know how to make... it also has every veggie side, carb side, etc. Then there is tab for the week where we fill in the blanks for each day... with a meat, carb and veggie. Underneath that is a section for the shopping list that goes with it.

Re: Meal Planning

Posted by caps612

let me preface this by saying, I am an accountant!

I have an excel spreadsheet... one tab has all our choices... meats, fish, pork, steak, etc... in every preparation I know how to make... it also has every veggie side, carb side, etc. Then there is tab for the week where we fill in the blanks for each day... with a meat, carb and veggie. Underneath that is a section for the shopping list that goes with it.