How do you plan your meals and food shop?

That way madness lies FP

These meal plans remind me of holidays in Scarborough we took as a family many years ago . I persuaded my childen on each holiday to keep a diary of the events of each day . Going back to the same hotel a second time the children found that the owners kept to the same meals on the same days as the year before so they could tell what was for the evening meal each days. These were the days before a choice of meals but I sure enjoyed the fact that I did not have to cook .

Galaxy

That way madness lies FP

Not quite sure what you mean here? I do not like routine, and love to seek out great bargains and use a bit of flair and imagination. The idea of planning for a week, never mind weeks- is just not for me. Madness? Ah well, why not.

I wake up in the morning and contemplate what I fancy eating for dinner. Sometimes there are bits and pieces to finish up and they may be incorporated into what I cook. But otherwise I walk into town and get what I need for the day.
The freezer is well stocked with fish and meat so I’m never stuck for ideas. I usually make an ottolenghi main course which takes an hour or more and is fun to cook and delicious to eat. This sometimes lasts for a couple of days.
Cooking and dining should be a pleasure not a chore.

You must have a lot of time on your hands FP!

I couldnt do it FP, it's too relaxed. It's my problem not yours!

Fleurpepper. Few weekly plans are immutable, mine constantly change and are adjusted to meet changing weekly plans, but they provide a basic framework.

I do not really enjoy shopping and have many other things to do, weekly plans are an efficient way of eating a wide range of foods with minimum shopping time.

I think 2 or 3 days ahead, according to what I’ve got and what needs using up. I hardly ever do a big shop though and don’t have deliveries - I have a couple of supermarkets a fairly easy walk away (and a bigger one a bus ride away) but will get the bus back, not least because it’s uphill.

Bus service here is v good, though, besides being free. Dh uses my car far more than I do!

When I’m out shopping for my meal plan I will often see a bargain, half price beef sirloin joint in Waitrose recently and last night in Booths I scooped up loads of post Xmas bargains!
They go in the freezer to be incorporated into future meal plans.

Germanshepherdsmum

You must have a lot of time on your hands FP!

To go shopping once every 10 days or so? And to make up easy quick meals? LOL. I spend most of my time gardening, walking in the woods, and cultural activities and friends. Thanks.

Galaxy

I couldnt do it FP, it's too relaxed. It's my problem not yours!

Oh, I see. Yes, thank goodness we are all different.

Very little fresh food lasts for ten days in my experience, especially if on offer. And shopping every ten days with no meal plans in mind must surely lead to waste?

Another here that doesn't plan meals, seeing as though I'm Billy no mates there is only myself to please.

For instance I bought ingredients on Tuesday to make a dish that night (mushrooms which don't keep very well) other bits n bobs, but I am not in a mushroom mood.

So I tend to buy on the day or next day and seeing as though I work in a Supermarket 3 days then it is quiet convenient.

I did try meal planning but it just did not work, I do always buy the basics , milk tea, bread etc.

" quite "

I moved in with DD and DSiL for several months while I was selling my house and relocating. I was happy to take over the cooking of the evening meals as a way to repay their generosity.

DSiL is a meticulous planner and would write down a list of meals for the week and the food delivery matched it.
I’d always planned my meals around what was already in stock and would shop accordingly, replacing what had run out. I still can’t get my head around planning in advance but then I only have myself to please and as I love cooking I like being inventive.

It was a learning curve! 😂

How do I decide?.

Mostly I don’t!. Husband does the main shop usually a roast, leftovers until mid week then a mix of fish, salads, etc. I add snacks, breakfast, baking stuff as I need it.
I don’t eat carbs so lots of other veg, it works fine, he’s a decent basic cook, to him it’s “food” not an art form, I can do fancy stuff when I feel like it

I check the fridge and freezer and write a list of what I need, roughly. I don't really have a meal plan, it depends on what I feel like eating which is sometimes not very much.
To sum up, I think I just make sure there is enough food for the week.

So are there some people on here who dont know what they are eating tonight .

The German Lidl website has a meal planning section which works really well for me. I like their recipes and you can plan for the week and generate a list from that. I adapt the recipes and leave gaps in the week's plan for meals out, leftovers, or ,what often happens, me not being hungry or CBA to cook.

Now I have got into the habit it is quite relaxing as I usually have a written recipe to cook by and don't have to think while I'm cooking, don't buy more than I need, and only need to shop once or twice a week.

The decision-making only takes place once a week and I can print out the week's plan with illustrations for everyone to see.

I realise that many would think this OTT or too much of a faff, but it suits me.

Yes, Galaxy. I have no idea at all what I will eat tonight. The cupboard is bare. I need to go shopping.

I am going to have to do you a spreadsheet henetha, or it will keep me up at night

I shop on Thursdays with quick visits to other shops for specific items if needed. I plane the meals for Thursday to Wednesday yhe next week and make a list of what's needed. Plans may include things in freezervofvourse. I find there is virtually no wastage this way

No idea what I will eat tonight the element of surprise lol. I will if I am hungry enough make the meal U had planned for last Tuesday, if not it could be two boiled eggs with solicited, or a Chinese, or the piece of steak who knows 🤔

I had!! Grr new phone predictive txt

Lol lol 😆 h my gosh must preview my txt now, I mean two boiled eggs with soldiers doohhhh