meal planners - what is this weeks list?

[peckarollover]

Just about to do mine and would like some variety

What you cooking this week?

oh yes, hmc, you reminded me. We also hate waste. Menus are planned on the basis of leftover bits and bobs in the fridge/freezer.

i,d love to men plan for the whole week but wouldnt know where to begin, how do you sit down and think of all the different meals-i wouldnt have a clue

Have you got recipe books jenk1? - flick through them for inspiration

Well jenk1 as I always cook double I only plan 3 meals a week. The other day is either visiting family, take-away or something that can't be kept so as to be made as a one off. I plan one vegetarian, one cheap meat (sausages, mince etc) and one more expensive meat meal a week. I don't know how you would know what to buy if you didn't plan at least to some extent.

Jenk1, what I do is look at what I've got in the fridge/freezer/cupboards and try to base some meals around what I've got in. Eg, if I've got mince we can have spag bol, homemade burgers, cottage pie or mince & potato curry. It also saves money.

Can you sit down and write a list of your family's favourite food? Maybe also compile a list of basic storecupboard ingredients?

Doubt there any around here marsy, but I might try it next time I'm in croydon, sounds interesting. A west indian friend of mine makes the msot lovely lamb soup and dumplings. I miss that so much!

how can you not plan? I have to plan so I know what I am buying when I do the shopping and to make sure I have enough for the week. Otherwise I would constantly be downt he shops and spending too much money. When we moved I didn't plan and managed to spend £300 in ten days. I decide what we're eating for the week, but not down to the day. And I cook huge portions so that I can freeze half for another time, so I don't actually have to cook twice every single night.

Most of the time we go to the supermarket every day and traipse around till we see what we want.

We used to do a big shop once a week but a lot of it got thrown away however, ive just ordered some annabel karmel cookbooks to give me some inspiration as im not very good at planning.

i will have to get tough and do it though because every time we go to the supermarket we spend more on things that we dont really need.

reading Bozzas comments I realise I DO actually plan - just dont say it aloud

I always cook double or triple so I ccan just defrost stuff when I get home

MM I don't plan by the day unless something won't keep, so I just plan 3 meals and cook them in the order that I feel like. Unless for instance I know I am going to be out late afternoon one day in which case I will cook a casserole or something which can be left in the oven ready for when we get back.