Do you plan meals for the week?

Bretrick

Bretrick

Well-known Member
Location
Perth Western Australia
Plan for next week's meals
My fridge is nearly empty. Need to decide what I want to eat for this week, for shopping purposes.
Salmon Fillet with Plum Sauce
Rump Steak with Baby Potatoes and Garlic Butter
Curry Sausages
Chilli Meatballs and Spaghetti
Lasagne with Tomato/Basil Salad

Tub of Ice Cream with a Cheesecake for sweet Hit
 

Nope never plan meals ahead of time. I buy food that I like and then just decided the day before what I need to get out of the freezer for the next day...

My ex M-I-L was a professional cook.. yet every single day of the week was marked out for the same food...

ie..Monday leftovers from Sunday roast...
Tuesday - Meatloaf
Wednesday, .. pork chops and veggies.. and so on..

Always on Friday night it was fish and chips from the chip shop....... always on Sundays' it was some kind of roast for lunch.. and always for supper on a Sunday it was a big Salad, usually with some kind of oily fish...

I could never do that.. it would be excruciatingly boring for me..
 
I usually plan meals based on the grocery store's weekly specials. Shop and cook 3 or 4 meals - left overs until time to cook again.

This week's specials: wild salmon filets; frozen Argentina prawns (stir fry); extra lean ground beef, Black Forest ham.

I buy fresh vegetables and fruit from an independent grocer as the produce seem to be fresher and better quality than the grocery chains plus I like to help the mom & pop (independent) stores.
 
CallMeKate said:
I do make a meal plan every week... but I don't always stick to it. I just plan what the meals are going to be, and never which night it will be served. Your meals sound wonderful, @Bretrick ... if you need help finishing up any leftovers, let me know... especially that cheesecake! 😋
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I mostly buy Cheesecake Shop one though every now and then I will bake a Pumpkin Cheesecake. 😋
 
Bretrick said:
Plan for next week's meals
My fridge is nearly empty. Need to decide what I want to eat for this week, for shopping purposes.
Salmon Fillet with Plum Sauce
Rump Steak with Baby Potatoes and Garlic Butter
Curry Sausages
Chilli Meatballs and Spaghetti
Lasagne with Tomato/Basil Salad

Tub of Ice Cream with a Cheesecake for sweet Hit
Click to expand...
All that sounds pretty elaborate. I am a creature of habit and cook very simple meals. No recipes involved. I spend very little time in the kitchen (cooking & cleanup). Furthermore, I eat all meals at home (breakfast, lunch & dinner).
 
I like to plan ahead but am flexible. The weather is a factor. I make salads a lot when it's hot and soups, stews and other things when it's cooler. It also depends on what I find at the grocery store. If there's a sale on something I like, I'm going to be eating a lot of that thing. :giggle:
 
I always keep a full pantry and freezer so I have many choices. I like to cook ahead and have something for the next few days. There always choices in the fridge for the week. I have no one to please but myself. Makes things a lot easier. I still have problems with cooking too much now that I live alone. I think that is the case for many of us. I have learned to cook things that freeze well.
 
I plan around what's coming out of the garden these days, with some type of protein, and carb.
Lettuce is done so salads are tomato, cuke, onion, and avocado.
I'm sauteing Swiss chard to have with eggs and sausage for breakfast.
I just plan to use what needs using up.
I used to meal prep for work. It made life easier. Now we eat when and what we want.
 
Bretrick said:
Plan for next week's meals
My fridge is nearly empty. Need to decide what I want to eat for this week, for shopping purposes.
Salmon Fillet with Plum Sauce
Rump Steak with Baby Potatoes and Garlic Butter
Curry Sausages
Chilli Meatballs and Spaghetti
Lasagne with Tomato/Basil Salad

Tub of Ice Cream with a Cheesecake for sweet Hit
Click to expand...
Yes and No. Lately, daughter and I kind of plan as we're using our Android Grocery App. Then, other occasions are when we get to shops and see what's on special. Yesterday was such situation. We found a double pack of rump steaks, that four Sunday dinners.

Got family sized lasgna readymade, that's two meals, got extra cold cuts (deli meats) for grilled ham and cheese for lunch. A bunch of canned soups on special. Forgot lettuce and baked potatoes... No worries, next fortnight for August lot lol!

Didn't find brownie mix, so I'll be making a batch from scratch tonight as I've got spare dark chocolate bar to chop up in mix.
 
My late wife used to do that. She would plan a weekly menu and then make up a grocery list. After she passed away, I used the menus to plan my meals. Unfortunately, it meant a lot of leftovers, which I took to work for lunch.
 
DebraMae said:
I have been trying to make something new requiring a recipe every week.
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Good idea. Forces someone to get out of a rut. Usually I try out a new recipe on guests. Not always the best plan.

When I plan ahead for several days, it really makes everything easier. I hate having to plan a meal the day off. I was doing this for quite a while. Not sure why I quit.
 
Yes, I try to plan for two weeks at a time. Since we live some distance from large stores, we just can't "nip to the shop" for something, so we try to get everything we need in our fortnightly shopping spree. Having developed the skill of spotting a reduced sticker at 50 paces, we often buy unplanned items and alter the meal plan accordingly.
 
I am retired from work, but my wife is still a full-time teacher. So, on weekends she is cooking a bunch of meals for the whole week. But occasionally, I am cooking something on my own. Something from my bachelor days, like a can of Campbell's tomato soup with an egg, some Hamburger meat, onions, and a shot of lemon juice. Incredibly delicious but my wife refuses to taste it, LOL
 
I shop about twice a month with little trips in between for certain things I run out of. I like to cook but I make simple meals. I don't actually plan menus (just me here). I take something out of the freezer the day before I want to cook it.
 

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