Do you meal plan for your family?

[WW1]

I sometimes do this but the hardest bit is thinking of different meals each week apart from Spag bol, Lasagne and pasta type dishes. can anyone inspire me please ? x

I know exactly what you mean so I sit down with our recipe books and make sure I choose one new recipe each big shop. That keeps it more interesting!

 

[jenny82]

I do:

Home-made pizzas (store bought base and my own tomato sauces and toppings)
Soups
Lasagne
Pasta dishes - inc, spag bol, pesto pasta, veggie-tomato sauces
Indian/Thai currys - actually really easy to make - with prawns or chicken, potatoes, broccoli, carrots etc
Moroccan-style dishes with chicken, chick peas, sweet potato etc
Home-made burgers (beef or turkey)
Sausage and mash
Cottage pie/shepherds pie
Salmon stuffed with pesto, pine nuts and brocolli (my fave!) with sweet potato mash & broccoli
Chicken wrapped in bacon with veg

Every week is basically a variation of these and there are leftovers for most things for OH for work,so he has cut down on what he spends at lunchtime.

You should have a look at the bbc recipes website as its actually really good for quick, easy dishes.

 

[dom85]

I do, I started to do it when Brady started weaning. There's only two of us (well one and half in food terms really) so I found that I was throwing loads of stuff away at the end of the week because we weren't getting through it all. I found it really difficult at first to cook for just us and not waste anything, but then I started planning our meals and it's got a lot easier. I try and cook one new thing a week, so I go through some recipe books on a Saturday night (my life is so glamorous!) and chose something new. I try and cook meals where I can use similar ingrediants on different nights so I reduce waste or I cook a 4 person meal and freeze leftovers for the end of the month when things are a bit tight.

I plan every meal now, breakfast lunches and dinner because I would be going round and thinking 'oh have I got any cereal left' etc and end up buying things that I hadn't even nearly ran out of. I'm so busy with work and Brady that it's nice when it comes to making dinner to know what I'm doing and I dont have to think up something on the spot.

 

[Mummy2Asher]

I meal plan now, only since I stopped working in march and was trying to cut our outgoings. Used to spend £200 to 250 on food per week and now spend £80 + one meal out or takeaway every week. When I was really saving a few months ago it was £60 per week but now we've moved into our house and all the baby stuff is bought we don't need to save but I still meal plan cuz it's so much easier!! I homecook everything really and it all works out so much cheaper.

 

[sweetlullaby]

I meal plan as well. Every friday night I walk around the kitchen where all the food is stored and write down everything I need like milk,bread,cheese,ham, cooked chicken, mince (for making burgars,mincepie, meatballs, lasagne, cottage pie, spaghetti bolognese mix (i use two small tubs that holds enough in the freezer for two nights of spaghetti bolognese)yoghurts, eggs, tins if I need any, cereal, one other "different fresh meat like pork chops, gammon joint, beef roast, steak etc),potatoes, pizza, fish, fruit and veg etc It's only me and Matthew Im feeding though I do feed my mum on Mondays and my gran on Fridays (i like the company and usually do sweet and sour or spaghetti bolognese or a pasta bake dish those nights) My shopping is only around £15-£20 week because I use a lot of the fresh meat,fresh veg and potatoes, to make up various dishes to freeze. I also do BLW so save a fortune on baby jars and just buy Heinz baby sauces for most of the sauces for both of us (they don't taste any different to normal ones really lol)

 

[xpinkness87x]

Ok i have sat down and done it.

We have :

spagetti
sausage and mash
fish and chips
chilli and rice
pizza and garlic bread
curry and naan bread
Cottage Pie and Green beans,

Oliver has :
Mango and yoghurt
Banana and mango
fish, cheesey sauce and veg
mince, mash and stock
sweet potato, spinach and peas

I have a shopping list that is very short lets hope it works!

 

[Sam9kids]

Ok i have sat down and done it.

We have :

spagetti
sausage and mash
fish and chips
chilli and rice
pizza and garlic bread
curry and naan bread
Cottage Pie and Green beans,

Oliver has :
Mango and yoghurt
Banana and mango
fish, cheesey sauce and veg
mince, mash and stock
sweet potato, spinach and peas

I have a shopping list that is very short lets hope it works!

Just dont forget you essentials like toilet rolls etc!

Good luck! xx

 

[Chaos]

Or do you just buy whatever when you go shopping?

If you do meal plan, do you find it cheaper?

Yes and yes. Although since we've had to go totally dairy free (I mean, studying labels of every product) because of missy milk allergy, its got a little bit more expensive, but I still make it from scratch and meal plan. We also have to avoid beef as it sets my IBS off.

Example, I went shopping tonight and this is our menu for the next week or so:

Today: Home made turkey meatballs w/ brown pasta
Fri: Baked breaded salmon, Mac n cheese, veg (brown rice for baby rather than Mac n cheese)
Sat: Take out night
Sun: Roast chix 1/4s, Roastie spuds, veg
Mon: Baked spuds
Tue: Braised balsamic chicken, brown rice, veg
Wed: Baked porkchops, Mash, veg
Thurs: Pesto chix florentine
Fri: Spag bol
Sat: Take out night
Sun: Roast!

 

[aliss]

We always make the same dinners:

Broiled salmon with steamed broccoli & brown rice
Lean steak with steamed broccoli & brown rice
Occasionally a pork loin with... you guessed it... steamed broccoli & brown rice!

I occasionally make things like pizzas but they are not typical pizzas (whole wheat pita with light tomato sauce, tons of veggies, grilled chicken and a wee bit 1oz measured skim-milk mozza).

Sorry, that's it! If I am truly lazy, I might just have a shake (banana, almond butter, almond milk, vanilla protein powder, cocoa powder)

It's SOOO obvious which ones of you are from the UK, lol, just from the dinners you make! We have no typical Canadian food here except occasionally bison burgers, elk steaks, and (a rarity) ground moose in spaghetti sauce!! MMMM

 

[xpinkness87x]

Ok i have sat down and done it.

We have :

spagetti
sausage and mash
fish and chips
chilli and rice
pizza and garlic bread
curry and naan bread
Cottage Pie and Green beans,

Oliver has :
Mango and yoghurt
Banana and mango
fish, cheesey sauce and veg
mince, mash and stock
sweet potato, spinach and peas

I have a shopping list that is very short lets hope it works!

Just dont forget you essentials like toilet rolls etc!

Good luck! xx

I put them on the list first!!

I will let you know if i save money when I am back lol! We are going shopping tonight so I will make sure we stick to the list.

 

[Sam9kids]

Ive just bought 91 items from Asda for £112!

This week we are having

Tonight: The kids are having chicken salad on fresh bread with other bits like cheese etc Followed by a smarties cake! Im having beef, onion and mushroom on the fresh bread and John is using the chicken to make sweet and sour stirfry

We have also got

bolognaise
Quiche with homemade wedges, veg (and cottage cheese!)
Chicken fajita wraps with onion rings, cheese, dips etc
pizzas
Jacket potatoes with various fillings