How do you plan your meals and food shop?

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.

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 ;)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

I had!! Grr new phone predictive txt

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 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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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