How do you plan your meals and food shop?

I'm with Fleurpepper on this one. I don't do meal plans. I do go shopping with a rough idea of what we'll be eating for the next few days, but if I spot a bargain or something I particularly, then that can change on the spot. I keep a well-stocked freezer and cupboards, so I can always whip up something, but I enjoy cooking, so it's not a chore for me.

I do a meat batch cook every six to eight weeks. The freezer will be full of various casseroles, curries, bol sauce, and savoury mince which form my menu basics. I also have some raw frozen mince and chicken to cook recipes that can't be frozen. Then I buy meat pies and fish which also go in the freezer. The rest of the time I simply shop for bread, dairy, fruit and veg etc. as required. If I want a lot of heavy stuff I get a delivery.

I hate cooking so batch cooking not only saves me money but also means I spend less time in the kitchen. Tea gets nuked whilst the veg are cooking.

Galaxy

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

Yes.

And happily eat only very well cooked food, no prepared ingredients because they keep a full larder, freezer, and are inventive!

Germanshepherdsmum

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?

No it doesn’t, because you either eat it near the beginning of the week, freeze it from fresh to eat later, or put it into a batch cooking dish and freeze in portions.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way with this, we all do it differently, and have found ways that work for us.

I'm glad we're so different. Wouldn't we be boring if we all did the same thing.

Galaxy

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

Well, you may need to do one for me as well 😄 I am in the not sure what we will be eating tonight brigade too.
It’s no biggie.
Depends on time of work shifts and how we both feel, am relaxed about it.

I have just bought a meal planner after realising how much we spend going to shops 2/3 times weekly. Will go back to doing online shop once a week and see how it goes.

The only meal we plan in this house is Sunday lunch. It’s a bit hit-and -miss.

My late husband was a creature of routine and we only had two or three days of the week when we had “options”, so now I don’t stick so rigidly to routine, but a routine or a plan does save having to decide when I don’t feel like making decisions.

I did not know what to eat today. I have always got fish and meat in the freezer but ideally the meat ought to be taken out and defrosted slowly in the fridge and I don’t always think ahead. I usually have leftovers from batch cooking but I have used them up this week.
I shop from a list when I have run out of something crucial eg veg, milk. I have Aldi two minutes walk away which is very convenient. We used to get a monthly delivery of store cupboard items. I haven’t been to a big supermarket for years. I find the choice overwhelming. Today I popped in to Sainsbury’s Local but didn’t see anything I fancied that I haven’t already got.
I am what my mother called a “ plain cook” , though more adventurous than she was, but I prefer the taste of the actual meat not overwhelmed with sauces, actual veg not honeyed carrots, for example. And it is healthier, when being pre- diabetic. I do enjoy something different if I eat out, but that is rare. I also don’t want to choose something I might not like.
I am not what I call a fussy eater, but am quite hard to cater for.

I’m afraid what we have for dinner each evening mainly depends on how tired I am by that time! Absolutely exhausted and in pain- Beans on toast! Enough energy to spare and a few aches and pains- could be Spaghetti Bolognaise! Stir fry’s quite quick and I can sit down to prepare all the veg.

Casdon

Germanshepherdsmum

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?

No it doesn’t, because you either eat it near the beginning of the week, freeze it from fresh to eat later, or put it into a batch cooking dish and freeze in portions.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way with this, we all do it differently, and have found ways that work for us.

Exactly eat same day or next, cook and keep in fridge, oe freeze, cooked or uncooked.

I go with OH often, and we go out for simple meal and take the dog out to nice place on way back.

Ah, often going out for a meal - that makes a big difference. Not catering 7 days a week then.

Yes but I am not relaxed about it Oreo and that's what counts.
I spend a lot of time talking about the importance of tolerating differences of opinions but this is a step too far.

Germanshepherdsmum

Ah, often going out for a meal - that makes a big difference. Not catering 7 days a week then.

About once a month ... sometimes twice- that leaves quite a few days to cater! Do you never have take-away, ready meal or out? No take-aways or ready meals round here- but very reasonable simple Menu of the day- fair enough no?

Once a month I cater for 40 people - I do plan THAT very carefully ;)

I wouldn’t call once or twice a month ‘often’. No, we very rarely (perhaps 2 or 3 times a year) have a takeaway and no ready meals.

Some ‘meal planning’ of mine last night, involved making rather more colcannon than dh and I would eat, so I could have some to fry for my typically late breakfast this morning - with mushrooms and scrambled egg. 😋

Sounds delicious!

I eat what I fancy when I fancy and seldom do much 'real' cooking (unless something heady like scrambled egg counts!). I do a daily riverside walk and end up in the local supermarkets where I have a look at the bargains. Regularly lucky there. First meal is late morning and is super healthy whereas teatime indulgence is totally whimsical. Works wonderfully for me.

WOW! All you planners! Well in comparison I’m a mess. I have IBS and tho in a sense I plan what to eat for a few days ahead..my body often tells me “nope don’t fancy that today… “ and occasionally revolts…so I do end up wasting some foods, as I have to only eat a light ‘something’ after a bout ( I have the D version ( diarrhoea) …then all my plans go out of the window!
Luckily I live alone, but ‘planning’rarely works!
Also tho I do often cook a ‘batch’ of something and eat it a few days on the trot …I do like eating what I fancy, when I fancy it.!
So basically that is what I do. I have ‘staples’ in the fridge/freezer and buy ‘add ones’ most weeks. My main shop is ordered and delivered…which is wonderful - no lugging heavy bottles, etc, back from shops any longer. I don’t drive, so no weekly shop…I buy what I need when I need it to top up - if the weather is too bad to go out I make do with putting together bits from basics here. Or nowadays a trip up the road for fish and chips or a call to Uber eats. No more ( ex) husband saying “ it’s too hot, it’s too cold, too spicy, too bland, I don’t eat cooked cheese…” etc etc
I please myself ad hoc, and it’s great!

I live alone and don't do meal plans. It's great . I eat what I like when I like. Monthly delivery from Tesco. Anything in between I get from nearby Sainsbury or Morrisons.

I have a pantry list which includes dry and canned goods, fridge and freezer. Each time I finish or come near finishing something I put it on the shopping list. I plan the meals as I shop usually in Aldi of Lidle. It depends what fish, meat etc they have in.

Fleurpepper

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.

Exactly Fleurpepper.. I’m with you! Probably worse even …actually live in ‘ organised chaos’ …works for me!

I always have plenty of back up bread, butter, eggs etc. I share a house with my daughter and family but I wouldn’t want to put her to the trouble of shopping for me were I unwell. I think I must be a bit anal as I go into a panic if I don’t have a spare of everything. Oat milk is delivered from Amazon and works out much cheaper than Tesco. Other than that I like to slope around the shops being tempted!!

Kim19

I eat what I fancy when I fancy and seldom do much 'real' cooking (unless something heady like scrambled egg counts!). I do a daily riverside walk and end up in the local supermarkets where I have a look at the bargains. Regularly lucky there. First meal is late morning and is super healthy whereas teatime indulgence is totally whimsical. Works wonderfully for me.

I’m the same, never want anything but tea/coffee first thing, so first meal is more of a brunch.

BlueBelle

I don’t ever plan, meals Why would I ? I might not fancy a, b or c on a particular day
I buy in stuff in a weekly or sometimes fortnightly shop that I eat and like, and then chose at the time of hunger what I fancy.

Me too!