I menu planned on Saturday. Clearly this was not a plan but list of suggestions for me. I've changed everything up, including not cooking Tuesday at all really, making myself an egg wrap and cutting up a cantaloupe. I'm not sure what DH ate when he got home, but DD2 made a quesadilla with black bean and corn salsa (from jar) and some of the melon. Last night was supposed to be spaghetti but after a grueling commute home as road construction season is upon us, I wanted to just crash. DH made a frozen pizza, of which I had two slices, and I steamed a load of frozen stir fry veggies. A dash of soy sauce and they were delicious.
Despite setting my meal plan aside, it is a smart exercise to know what food I have and at least a game plan to start the week. Tomorrow may still be fish or maybe Wednesday's spaghetti. Maybe I'll make a meatloaf with the hamburger that was going to be in the sauce. If it helps me not buy take out and fast food or go out to eat excessively, I'll keep giving meal planning a go.
This meant I haven't had the leftovers for lunches that I had intended. DH ate all the bread as he came home for sandwiches. I've been bringing a yogurt, fruit, hard boiled eggs, and cottage cheese. I even stuck a frozen entree in my lunch bag Tuesday, not great for my improved eating plan, but at $. 88, not bad for my budget. I'm going to scramble a couple eggs to bring for lunch today with an apple. I find with not eating as many starchy carbs, I need a bit more protein or I'm dragging mid afternoon. If you meal plan, are you strict with your planning or do you use more as a guide? If you deviate, what are the reasons why?
I'm a "one day at a time" kind of gal - but then I'm retired and don't mind the 5 minute walk to the neighbourhood grocery store. When I get up I decide what we're having and if I'm low on spinach or something I'll go buy a bag. I never know when Kazi will be eating with me so I was wasting food planning too far ahead.
ReplyDeleteWe're close the the store as well, so easy to switch up if we do not have something to round out a meal.Yep, I should walk there instead of drive.
DeleteHa. I meal plan either the night before, as I am clearing up after dinner, or that day, as events unfold. This, actually, prevents me from running to the store to pick up a specific ingredient. Often, (too often, lately, it seems) a kid will gripe about the meal--last night was dd with the pot roast, so that kid gets the pleasure of planning the next day's dinner. She chose steak, so it was her responsibility to see if we had any, take them out of the freezer, and set them to defrost, and now she gets to marinate them before she leaves for school. She has to figure out sides as well, and prepare those, but DH will grill the steaks.
ReplyDeleteGriping about the menu is forbidden here. I try to take into account everybody's preferences, but that means there are times they need to take into account somebody else's preferences. I certainly don't mind post dinner suggestions on cooking method, etc.,and I never have, nor will forced a kid to eat anything he dislikes. They can eat what they want, leave what they don't, as long as they eat what they take, but they MUST sit at the table politely until I excuse them. I am hoping that this will teach them how to manage their own kitchens. They have friends, and friends' parents, for that matter, who have no idea how to maneuver through a supermarket and kitchen, let alone how to set a table properly, or exhibit the most rudimentary table manners.
I'm the griper in my family, even when the cook. The others will say, "it's not my favorite" but rarely will actually complain. I just get sick of past and chicken, and when DH cooks, that's it.
DeleteI really should menu plan, but never knowing who is going to be home is a trick. Because it might not be me!
ReplyDeleteI mainly just buy the usuals and the meals happen when they happen... SOMEDAY I'll get organized.
I try to think of easy to reheat items, so at least the various schedules are accommodated. You are so organized.
DeleteMy menu is more of a guide than something set in stone.
ReplyDeleteReasons to deviate are A-We have more leftovers to use up, B-I get a good deal on some meat w/instant discount stickers, C-I don't feel like eating/making what's on the plan that night or D-I forget to defrost something.
See? a definite guide so I know I have something to serve but it's just part of my diabolical plot. lolz
I love your meal plan and your approach. You do not let stuff waste, plus have a lot of variety.
DeleteI always know what I have on hand and I do a very generic plan like 1 vegetarian dinner 2 chicken meals, 1 pork, 1 ground beef, 1 gathering the remnants but that is as close to a plan as I come. I never know until I actually start cooking what I feel like eating so our meals are generally spontaneous.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to cut the waste, so making sure I use up what is on hand is my driving goal. Still, I will make extra stops, like for buns and more salad fixings, but DD2 is here and she needs her salad.
DeleteWe typically eat what I've slotted for that day (mostly because my brain is too exhausted to deal with any changes), but this week has been a little crazy, because M has had to step in. He never makes what's on the menu plan. Instead, he has a few consistent choices (spaghetti & meatballs, etc). He also cooks a ton, which generates leftovers, which need to be incorporated into the menu. ;-) It's a good problem to have, so I just freeze the other items. This weekend, he'll be out of town, so I'll eat some of my frozen stuff & not prep bigger meals.
ReplyDeleteMen-pasta cooks, and love to be grocery shoppers, it seems. I'd be fine with freezable items-easy for lunch.
DeleteI write a menu plan most months but I always deviate from it. Sometimes plans change, sometimes I just fancy something different, either way as long as there's no waste it doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteThe plan provides the structure I need to either follow or react to, without a plan I would stand each evening staring into the pantry with no idea what to eat.
The no waste is goals is my driver, so having the guide helps cut the waste, but I'm not tied to it.
DeleteNo plans for us, we buy whatever fruit and veg is cheap and in season that week and work around it - I've tried menu planning but we agreed that it took the enjoyment and spontaneity out of eating for us. xxx
ReplyDeleteI get in moods to cook, and cook a wide variety, but often I am just not feeling anything, so would be tempted to pick up crap food on route. I don't mind switching up, but some times, having an idea helps me not blow my good intentions.
DeleteI stick to a menu plan roughly as it means I'm more likely to cook proper food that way. However, I often swap days around or postpone meals to the following week if I've got other stuff to use up. Arilx
ReplyDeleteSimilar approach to me, though I'm not so disciplined at meal planning, but trying.
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