How do you plan your family's meals?

by **Kel** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:07 pm

I recently came up with fourteen meals we all like, and a list of what I need to have on hand to make them. I don't plan a certain meal for a certain day but, since I shop every other week, I know I will always be able to make each of those meals once between shopping days. That way, I'm "planning", but leaving room for days with activities that I hadn't counted on, or days I'm ill or too tired to cook the scheduled steak-wrapped-in-bacon (yeah, that's one of the

), or when we're just not in the mood for a certain meal.

How do you do it?

by **Ruth** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:41 pm

I plan like Kelly, but it not 14 meals. I do use the sales flyers and the coupons I have on hand and determine what meals I could possibly make with those items. Similarly to Kelly I don't decide what day I'm going to fix things, I just have a list of possibilities for the week.

And...spaghetti is always an option but I have spaghetti privileges that must not misuse.

by **TamieJP** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:09 pm

I chose the option that I look to see what I have available to decide what to cook.

I shop once a month, trying to only buy foods that we need to keep the shelves full. I might also buy something for a new recipe or two.

I keep a list of meals handy. If I cannot think of anything when I look in the fridge, freezer &/or cupboard, I check the list. It almost always works since I keep items on the shelf to make all of our common meals.

by **CherylE** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:46 pm

Like Kelly with sales (not many coupons here - more sale items with the store loyalty card in Canada vs coupons) - but also using what we are out of. I do a 1-2x amonth big shopping trip and a few smaller ones for a few things. I make a basic list of what we will eat - monthly or bi-weekly for meals but not exactly what is for what day. Takes into account what we have/what we are out of/what I csan get on sale.

by **Carol** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:40 am

At this stage, I keep basics - and I cook whatever comes to mind for that day. A lot depends on what I have going that day and how things fit into my diet. Ronnie had a dinner meeting last night we had forgotten, so I went to a back-up plan. Today will be something in the crockpot. Not sure what, but I will decide once I go into the kitchen.
When the girls were young, I kept a menu rotation with choices based on activities or orthodontist appointments.

by **teachermom** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 2:42 pm

uummmm.. i's kinda "what needs to be used up?" For example, last night we ate roasted cauliflower, carrots and green beans. the kids also had soma tuna and crackers, and we had apple/pear crisp for dessert. The fruits and veggies all needed to be eaten.

Our eating is often guided by the CSA or co-op veggies that we have.

by **mom2g2b** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:21 am

I would like to be more organized with meal planning. Sometimes, I go through the sale ads and go to several stores buying the sale items. Sometimes I shop for a month from a master grocery list and then decide each morning based on the days activities. Sunday is alway a crockpot meal of some sort.

by **Stacy** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:58 am

I will watch the flyers and buy meat when it is on sale. Once we get toward the end of the month, I will do a freezer inventory of what meats I have. Once I get my work schedule, I write my shifts on a calendar. Next, I grab my freezer inventory list and start writing on the calendar what we are going to have for our evening meals. As I am writing that down, I have my recipe books handy, as well as paper so that I can write out a grocery list of items needed to complete each meal.

Now, I allow flexibility with my menu plan. If we don't eat a certain meal for the day it is marked, I will circle that meal on the calendar, which lets me know to plug that meal in on the next month's calendar.

It works very well for us because
#1 -- It greatly lessens my stress level because the meals are planned for the entire month.
#2 -- I am not constantly running to the store to pick up items, so it saves me a lot of time.
#3 -- It saves LOTS of money because the meat we use is that which is on sale and since everything is planned out, I'm also not tempted to stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home.

by **Cyndy** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:37 am

I plan and shop for two weeks~ just because that is how often Ray gets a paycheck. I use a little 5x7 spiral notebook. On the back of one page I list my menu and jot down the ingredients that I need on the opposite page~that becomes my shopping list. I work 2 days a week, so I always plan 4 crock pot meals. Most of my recipes are online so I sit down with my laptop and little notebook to plan. I can look up the grocery store sale flyers online, too. I paperclip any coupons that I plan to use to the notebook cover. In between shopping trips I can jot down stuff that I need to get on the next grocery store trip.