How many of you actually plan your meals?

Question

You decide what you're going to have on what day of the week and stick with it. Where do you get your meal ideas?

Answer 1

I use 2 websites but there are tons for free recipes. I like
http://www.allrecipes.com
http://www.kaboose.com

I usually go thru the recipe base & try to keep ingredients in the house we use for most meals. And if all that fails my honey gets a phone call to pick up Smokey Bones ribs.

Answer 2

I'm one of those people who plans everything out a week in advance. I would start thinking about what I might like to make a few nights ahead of time, but I wouldn't actually *plan* anything until that day--that meant I was running to the store almost every night and wasting money on random ingredients.

When my boyfriend and I started working out a budget, we began putting together our shopping and meal lists at the same time. We go through all of the coupons & store specials, work out what we need to buy, and I plan meals from there. Not only have we cut our food budget in half, but it's cut down on a lot of my daily stress!

For meal ideas, I'll pick an ingredient ("I feel like making eggplant...") or a general concept, then either go through my cookbook collection or Google for ideas ("eggplant AND side dishes"). Whenever I come across an interesting recipe, I immediately save it and file it away for future reference. You never know when you'll be in the mood for quinoa-stuffed eggplant.

Answer 3

I make sure my fridge, freezer, and pantry are well stocked because I cook by what sounds good at the time. I love to cook and hubby goes quite awhile before he gets a repeat. If I can't think of anything that sounds good, I look through my cookbooks for inspiration (have over 1,200 of them), or start with a side that sounds good and work from there. I have defrosting things in the microwave down to a fine art so I don't cook anything when I just want it defrosted. I'm one of those people who can look in the fridge and when others say there's nothing there to make a meal with, I can come up with a good meal.

Answer 4

I am trying to plan meals ahead time more that I used, too. I am planning my daughter's lunches more so that I know she is getting what she needs. We don't eat out as much as we used to since it is just us two. I have been on a special diet so I plan my meals according to that; I don't always stick with it but it gives me a guideline. It is so easy to buy fast food not realizing how many calories are being consumed. But I feel more organized if I plan our meals ahead of time.

Answer 5

I do write out menus as I compose my shopping list,planning about 7 meals but I decide each day what I will make from my menu list. I get my meal ideas from magazines ,cookbooks,the Internet,our favorites. We love trying new things.

Answer 6

I plan only my main meals,eg when I have guests or the kids will be there, which is only 3 or 4 nites a week. For the nites its just me and my wife, I just throw something together from planned meals which fell thru

Answer 7

I have my old tried and true meals in my head and when I shop I keep that in mind...also, I keep certain things on hand in the pantry...I have been cooking meals since I was 10 so that is 43 years of cooking...I try to incorporate a new meal occasionally, so we don't all die of boredom...I collect cookbooks and love to read recipes and watch the Food Network...for me cooking is therapy and creativity...

Answer 8

My meals are always planned ahead,when you get to my age no matter what you throw together,it always comes out edible.