Meal planning. I've lost my way and need help.

[Burlea]

We are now retired, through ill health of Dh. I need to change the way we eat.
I would love some ideas on meals. Lunch and dinner.
Our main meal needs to be at lunchtime as Dh has a bowel complaint, so needs to digest before bed.
We eat most things (not pasta) but I feel in a rut as having nearly the same things every week.

Also ideas for the light meal we don't always want or need a sandwich, suggestions for that as well.

I'm not the best cook but will try anything as long as it's not a banquet.

Thanks for any help.

What kinds of things do you like? Italian, British etc. Does your husband have to avoid any particular foods with his complaint?

It depends on your budget and any dietary restrictions your DH might have, but I find the recipe boxes very good for trying new recipes and getting out of a rut. You can then use the recipe cards again if you enjoy the meals.

What about using a sort of system across the week. So, depending on your preferences, have a chicken meal, a beef meal, a vegetarian meal etc, so you have some structure to start with, before putting specific meals in. This really helps us, although we tend to categorise by curry meal, pasta meal, slow cooker meal, freezer meal etc, as that fits our diet better.

For lighter meals, what about homemade soups, falafel & pita bread, proteins on toast?

We eat French toast as a small meal

Or something like garlic mushrooms on toast

Veg wraps

Chicken and mushroom pie

Caesar salad

Omelette

Anti pasti

Curry and rice

Sweet and sour chicken

Hunters/ bbq chicken

Lamb steaks and mash

Burgers

Pizza

Pork and apple sauce

Moussaka

Cajun chicken/ nachos

Cauliflower cheese

Toad in the hole

Salmon en croute

Duck and cherry sauce

Fish and chips

Bruschetta

Broccoli gratin

I use the approach mentioned by a pp.
Come up with categories and build plans around that. Then just vary categories week to week.
I keep list of the categories and meals that fall in each then over time it just becomes a case of picking meals from different categories.

Light meals
Things on toast beans, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, pate
Sandwiches and various other bread based things - crumpets, bagels, wraps, rolls, baguette, English muffins, pita
Toasties
Soup
Tuna pasta
Cheese and crackers
Ploughman’s
Puff pastry tart
Fritata
Omelette
Breadsticks, crudités, dips, olives,
Cheese scones

Following. I need help with this too!

Wow such good ideas, I knew MNS would help me.
Thank you