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Original poster

I know this is pathetic but can someone help me overcome my fear of meal planning!!

32 replies

purpleprincess · 28/06/2006 15:05

Yes I know it is riduculous! I've been meaning to start doing it for ages and was going to start after new kitchen fitted (that was April!). I've read all the threads, downloaded various forms but when I get out my list of meals etc I just freeze. Pathetic or what! I know how much easier it would make my life and am getting frustrated thinking 'what are we going to have tonight' or 'what are we going to eat on the weekend'. It would also save poor DS from marmite or cheese sandwiches for lunch. I work 3 days so it would improve my life i'm sure.

OP posts:
spidermama · 28/06/2006 15:07

This has worked for me ...

Get an organic veg delivery then base your meals around that. You never know what you're getting but you know it will be seasonal stuff. Get a cookbook which does things by season (River Cafe is very good) for inspiration.

emsiewill · 28/06/2006 15:07

Well I can tell you that it's changed our lives for the better. We eat much heathier stuff and there's none of that 'oh god it's 5:30, and I don't know what to cook...'

It really is worth it. Just grit your teeth, sit down and do the first one. Every week it will get easier as you get into the swing of it.

I have to confess that it isn't me that does it in our house, but dh, so it has definitely made my life easier lol.

Go on, take the first step...

Bozza · 28/06/2006 15:07

Right well start simple and then build up. Choose 4 meals that you can cook this week. Make sure that 3 of them are suitable to freeze and order enough to make double quantities. Choose veg if you need it for that sort of meal.

Once you have started doing this you can move onto lunches for DS.

Why don't you put down your initial thoughts and see if we can help you with any gaps.

emsiewill · 28/06/2006 15:08

Sorry, I wasn't as constructive as the others - went for the support option!

Original poster
purpleprincess · 28/06/2006 15:11

Thanks - have ordered some veg from Riverford this week (but not doing regularly at the moment). I think my problem is that I cant necessarily envisage myself making a particular dish on a Tuesday evening for example.

Going shopping tomorrow (at work today it's very busy can you tell!!) as dont really have any meat/fish in the freezer/fridge. So will put my thinking head on and let you know.

Thanks so far!

OP posts:
spidermama · 28/06/2006 15:18

Good luck PP.

Mercy · 28/06/2006 15:21

There are 2 ways of doing it

  1. Look in your cupboards, fridge or freezer. See if you can make any meals from what you've already got.

  2. Write a list of meals for the week and base your shopping list on this.

A decent recipe book is a good idea. I like Nigel Slater's 'Real Fast Food' - good ideas for storecupboard snacks/meals. Others have recommended 'The Dinner Lady' by Jeanette Orey.

The meal plan can just be used as a guide as to what you will be eating that week, ie, it doesn't have to be a case of 'if it's Friday, it must be fish pie'. Although I know a lot of people prefer to do it that way.

What sort of things do you normally cook?

Kathy1972 · 28/06/2006 15:23

Agree with Mercy about recipe books - find an easy one you really really like and sit down with it and get inspired!

Bozza · 28/06/2006 15:23

PP you don't have to say that we are having 'x' on certain days. Just we are having one of these 4 options. Obviously when you have used 3 of them up you will be forced to have the fourth. But that's only like when you haven't been shopping and have to use what you can find in the cupboard.

My little system is to have one cheap meat (sausages, bacon, mince), one expensive meat (chicken breast, braising steak) and one vegetarian. Make double of each. The other day is either something that I made triple of, an extra, visiting family, meal out or whatever.

Original poster
purpleprincess · 28/06/2006 15:34

Thanks for all your advice!! I dont want to buy any more cookery books as I have enough - too many and I wont know what to look in. I have reasonable selection including Delia Smith, Nigel Slater, Jamie Oliver and Ainsley Harriot Meals in Minutes (although not that keen!) - also cut out recipes from magazines and collect the cookery cards as well! Need quick easy things for the days I work and then can do more time consuming on the days I'm off so can feed the kids for tea as well. It all sounds so lovely...

Dont really know what I usually cook - so far this week not been that good.. Monday I do Pilates so DH just has pasta (kids get fed at CM), last night we had fishcakes (not homemade I'm afraid!) and tonight Pizza and salad. How crap is that!

Typical things I cook would be....erm....the usual things, shepherds pie/fish pie in winter, spag bol/lasagne, various pasta dishes/roasted veg. I'm really struggling to think of meals I make on a regular basis so need to get my act together. As there will be nothing on TV tonight (apart from football!) that will give me the evening to sort myself out before going shopping tomorrow. I do know what I'm making on Friday as my parents are coming round for supper so doing Jamie Oliver salmon wrapped in prosciuttio with herby lentils (so there she says smugly...)

Thanks

OP posts:
Bozza · 28/06/2006 16:00

Well do spag bol one day then and make double so you can freeze and warm it up when you get in from work. You have salmon planned for Friday so that is 3 days sorted. That would be a start.

Mercy · 28/06/2006 16:08

Or freeze one half of the double portion of bolognaise sauce to make lasagne next week. You could even quadruple it so you have 2x spag bol and 2x lasagne to eat over the next 4 weeks.

Chicken curry, chili con carne etc all freeze well.

Good luck!

groggymama · 28/06/2006 16:10

I've got a plan, I've just done it so I thought I'd share it with you!
I intend to do this one week and eat what I like the next and then get back to this on week 3 so I don?t get bored!

Sunday ? Roast
Monday ? left over meat with rice or noodles and chinese sauce
Tuesday ? spanish omlette and salad
Wednesday ? tuna pasta bake, or tuna salad if its hot weather
Thursday ? veggie curry (freeze half)
Friday ? sausage, mash and veggies
Saturday ? whatever we fancy ? usually fish and rice!

I agree meal plans are boring but I work full time so I need it!

Original poster
purpleprincess · 28/06/2006 16:11

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!! We had spag bol on Sunday (from the freezer by the way!) so will have to think of something else child friendly as DH out Thursday night so will eat with the children. Also going to be a hot day as well. Whenever I try and do something with chicken for the kids seems to be a complete disaster - except for home made nuggets which they loved last week although they were rather crispy (burnt!).

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleprincess · 28/06/2006 16:12

Thanks groggymama - that's definitely given me a few ideas!! When I've mastered my plan later I'll share it with you and you can tell me what you all think!

Cheers!

OP posts:
groggymama · 28/06/2006 16:13

oh god, I should be working not planning meals, oops, good luck purpleprincess let us know if you come up with a plan

Bozza · 28/06/2006 16:18

My plan for next week is:

Friday - sweetcorn wheels then barbecue at school fair (just a good way of getting veg into them and keeping them going)
Saturday - quiche, wedges and salad (plan on making two quiches, one chicken & brocolli and one bacon & mushroom)
Sunday - chinese takeaway with friends
Monday - chilli and rice
Tuesday - freezer meal - probably meatloaf
Wednesday - freezer meal - probably chicken & veg crumble
Thursday - freezer meal - might have to be quiche but might be a bit short of salad by then but have ordered babycorns which will do

Go on tell us what you decide pp.

Jahan · 28/06/2006 17:25

My plan for next week (mostly from WW)is;
Sun - Roast chicken and veg
Mon - Dahl and rice
Tue - tandoori trout in pitta
Wed - linguine with prawns and garlic
Thurs - paneer, peas and potato curry
Fri - homemade burgers
Sat - Coley with cherry tom, capers and black olive topping.

haggered · 28/06/2006 17:33

Groggymamma you have exactly the same thing as us !!!!! I get my stuff Tesco.com so I dont over spend and can really plan how sad am I

ilovecaboose · 28/06/2006 18:02

Do you know the bbc has a recipe search on their site.
here

You can search by ingrediants and select things like easy, low fat, kids etc. I find it easier than going through all my recipe books.
Also UKTVfood has one as well.

ilovecaboose · 28/06/2006 18:03

Woohoo that was my first link and it worked! Yay.

JackieNo · 28/06/2006 18:05

Well done, ilovecaboose - it's a rite of passage, your first link.

foxinsocks · 28/06/2006 18:11

purpleprincess, I do a sort of half hearted meal plan in that I see which meat/fish is on special or looks good and then meal plan around that (much easier if you go to the shop - just start in the meat/fish section then pick the meat, plan the meals using the best before dates on the meat/fish then get the accompanying veg).

If I shop online, I don't bother with the best before date planning but just hope that the meals where I need quick stuff coincide with the best before dates on the meat/fish otherwise, I replan accordingly!

alittlebitshy · 28/06/2006 18:15

sweetcorn wheels
tandoori trout in pitta
Dahl and rice

you guys... those 3 things in particular sound fab.... tell me more......

Bozza · 29/06/2006 09:19

Sweetcorn wheels are just whole sweetcorns which have the ends chopped off and are skewered. Just cook and rub butter on. My kids love them. And as we are going to the school bbq so they will probably be having a hotdog and then loads of junk I thought that they could have the sweetcorn as a snack to keep them going beforehand. I sometimes serve them as a veg with a meal but the children insist on having a full one each and get quite full.