So has anyone started a discussion on this now that we all have access to the menu planners?
I looked at them, and they were a little bit inspirational, but we mainly eat veggy food, and so a lot of the meals listed weren't for us.
I have made my life very complicated every Thursday, but very easy for the rest of the week by menu planning our lunch, the kids' evening meal and my and DH's evening meal.
This isn't quite as complex as it sounds, as leftovers from Macaroni cheese (for eg) made for my and DH's evening meal, will become the kids' tea the next day.
I thought I might put a list of all the meals I draw from each week on here - not as a plan as such, but more as inspiration, which is the way I use it.
I try to stagger the rice-pasta-potatoes throughout the week. We eat a bit of meat, but not much: chicken maybe once a fortnight at most and the kids and DH might have fish fingers or sausages one other time.
Soups
French Onion
Pea & Pesto
Lentil
Broccoli & Cheshire Cheese
Minestrone
Leek & Potato
Sweet Potato, Carrot & Pepper
Jamie Oliver?s Tomato & Roast Pepper
Pasta E Fagioli
Chickpea & Leek
Salads
Warm Pasta Salad
Potato Salad
Coleslaw
Waldorf
Pasta
Spaghetti Bolognese
Pasta & Pesto
Macaroni Cheese
Lasagne
Spaghetti w/ Uncooked Tom, Olive & Rocket
Spaghetti w/ Fresh Toms & Herbs
Potatoes
Shepherd?s Pie
Red Dragon Pie
Baked Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes / Butternut Squash
Baked Sweet Potatoes w/ Chilli, Mozza & Basil
Chips
Gratin Dauphinoise
Roast Veg & Couscous
Mash & Sausages / Fish Fingers
Sweet Potato Cakes & Sour Cream Sauce
Tortilla
Sweet Potato Chips
Pies&Pizza
Cheese, Onion & Potato Pies
Quiche
Red Onion Pie
Mini Tomato Tarts
Surprise Tatin
Spinach & Ricotta Pie
Baked Cheese & Potato Cake
Pizza
Quorn
Spag Bol
Lasagne
Kebabs
Rice
Curried Baked Beans
Stew
Baida Vindaloo (curry with eggs in it)
Tofu, Green Pepper & Black Bean Sauce
Thai Green Beans, Rice & Tofu
Risotto
Potato Curry
Lentil/Pumpkin Curry
Chicken Tikka Masala
Dhal
Veg, Smoked Tofu & Satay Sauce
Oven/Baking
Baked Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes / Butternut Squash
Chips
Gratin Dauphinoise
Roast Veg & Couscous
Nut Roast
Chicken Chasseur
Roast Chicken
Baked Cheese & Potato Cake
Surprise Tatin
Puff Pastry Tarts
'Moon roasted' tomatoes
Chicken/Meat
Chicken With Noodles & Five-Spice
Chicken Chasseur
Roast Chicken
Sausage & Mash
Coca-cola chicken
Barbeque
Misc
Roast Veg & Couscous
Enchiladas / Tortillas / Fajitas
Spring Onion Pancakes
Pancakes / Blinis / Drop Scones
Pepperonatta
Falafel
Pumpkin Sweet & Sour Tagine
Jerusalem Artichokes, Sage & Cream
Thai Stuffed Green Peppers
Vegetable Tempura
Lunches/DC's Tea
Tortilla
Scrambled Eggs
Pasta Pesto
Lentil Soup
Omelette
Egg Fried Rice
Eggy Bread
Pancakes / Blinis / Drop Scones
Fish Fingers
Oven chips
Mini pizzs
Baked beans on toast
Rice cakes with peanut butter/marmite/cottage cheese
Sandwiches (eg. Walnut & Olive Pate / egg + cress)
Cheese on toast
Boiled egg + Soldiers
Noodles
Chicken sausages