Meal Planning Anyone?

[MrsEmuTavi]

So over on that OTHER board a bunch of us were talking about meal planning on Sundays. I know it's late but I figure we can always collect ideas for next week. Anyone interested in sharing this weeks menu? (AKA what won't make you gag)

[MrsEmuTavi]

I've already prepped most of this weeks meals. I have/ will have prepped the following:
Oven baked chicken fajitas
www.budgetbytes.com/2013/02/oven-fajitas/

Beef stew
Just went with tradition, beef cubes, beef broth, potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, green beans, and celery. Browned the beef and threw everything in a crock.

Mexican lasagna
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/simple-mexican-lasagna

Salsa chicken & black bean soup (had it for lunch today... Delicious!)
www.atimetofreeze.com/salsa-chicken-black-bean-soup-recipe/

Crock pot salsa chicken
1 can corn, 1 can black beans drained n rinsed, 1 can cream of whatever soup, 1 lb chicken, some taco seasoning, 1 jar salsa. Put in crock and cook on high for 3 hrs, shred chicken, serve over rice/in tortillas.

I did double recipes of everything and froze half for later use.

[MrsEmuTavi]

That's why I have to do this pineapplesmoothie. On weeks we are away visiting family and don't get back until Sunday night we do what you and YH do. I figure soon enough my level of exhaustion is going to reach a peak and I will be incapable of any work after 3pm (luckily my teaching day ends at 2:30). Last pregnancy I was useless for at least a month. This time I have lots of food stockpiled so I can just pull from my freezer meals instead of ordering out. Everything for this week (not including the beef) cost me under $100 and I probably cooked 4 weeks worth of food. We would spend at least $100 in a week ordering in.

[mandy522]

I'm so nauseous tonight, I'm thrilled I did this yesterday so I don't have to think about food today.

Sunday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes and carrots
Monday: easy black bean tacos
Tuesday: leftovers
Wednesday: chili
Thursday: creamy chicken with fettuccine and broccoli
Friday: take out
Saturday: leftovers while MH goes to a beefsteak festival
Sunday: Family dinner at our favorite place in Chinatown

Eta Hooray I figured out how to make links on mobile!!

[beane]

MH does all (well, 95% of) the cooking in our house. We made a New Year's resolution to cook at home more so have been planning out meals better. This week we'll have, in no particular order:

-Lamb curry w/rice & asparagus
-Homemade pizza
-Fish tacos
-Roasted vegetables (usually sweet potatoes, carrots, red potatoes, onions, Brussels sprouts)
-Pasta w/ground turkey meat sauce
-Leftovers

[beane]

Jan 18, 2015 22:02:55 GMT -5 pineapplesmoothie said:

So do you guys like make all the stuff for the entire dinner and just put in in the fridge? Like if you are having tacos do you cut up all the lettuce and tomatoes and other items you will be having and stick in in the fridge? I get the freezer action, but does anything get slimy if you made it Sunday and aren't planning on eating it til Friday?
I am in awe of you super meal planners.

Like beane did you just buy the stuff for the roasted veg or actually roast them off today? Same with fish tacos?

I'm down with trying to get onboard with the meal planning because the fatigue is coming on like WHOA.

No we just buy all the stuff on Sunday so that mid-week we aren't like "uh, we have no food, let's order take out". Fish tacos are easy-- we buy these frozen breaded tilapia filets and bake them, then just warm up tortillas and make Guac. We buy pre-shredded cheese and then throw on some hot sauce. Also to be clear my role in all this is to do the clean up. When DH is out of town I buy frozen entrees.

[MrsEmuTavi]

I prep what I can ahead of time. As beane said, it's more about not having to go to the grocery store or figure it out. I haven't made the beef stew yet but will probably chop all the veggies tonight or tomorrow so it's less prep work later on. If I decide to cook everything over the weekend I will cool it, then freeze it, and warm it in a pan/pot the day of.

[andtheheartbreakers]

I always meal prep! A few weeks ago I made most of these freezer meals and have them ready to go for nights when we don't have anything planned. We just pull one out the night before and throw it in the crock pot the next morning. All of them so far have been amazing!

Tomorrow I'm going to make this potato soup for lunches during the week. I have high hopes, I love a good potato soup and this one is a healthier recipe.

I'm also going to cook up the meat and prep veggies for these taco lettuce wraps so we'll have them for dinners. We keep things pretty simple here and follow a gluten/dairy free diet and our meal prep tends to involve portioning out things like cottage cheese, yogurt, fruits, veggies, and nuts. Then we cook up a couple of meals for the week and portion them for finishing/reheating.

[MrsEmuTavi]

andtheheartbreakers, I've made that soup! It's awesome. MH normally dislikes "diet" food but ate all of the soup before I could even eat any of it! You can't even tell that the majority of it is cauliflower. I've been toying with the idea of the lettuce wraps, let me know how they turn out!

[andtheheartbreakers]

Jan 19, 2015 0:18:36 GMT -5 MrsEmuTavi said:

andtheheartbreakers, I've made that soup! It's awesome. MH normally dislikes "diet" food but ate all of the soup before I could even eat any of it! You can't even tell that the majority of it is cauliflower. I've been toying with the idea of the lettuce wraps, let me know how they turn out!

We've done them before and we love them! I mean you normally put lettuce in a taco, and all the goodness is the inside not really the shell so we don't miss it at all! I'm glad to hear the soup is tasty - makes me more excited to try it!!

[pharmtechmom]

I like this idea. I've been wanting to get into meal planning. My go to method now is just cooking day by day.

[southernpeach89]

I love me some meal planning!

Sunday: Chicken Pot Pie
Monday: London Broil that has been marinating since Saturday night so it should be perfect hopefully.
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: South of the Border Skillet
Thursday: Tilapia
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Chicken Fried Rice

[aquaangel75]

I started this recently and it has made life so much easier! I always try to make enough so that I can take some for lunch the next day.

Sunday-Hot wings
Monday-Pork loin, mashed potatoes, and broccoli
Tuesday-Penne pasta,spinach,cherry tomatoes, and Italian sausage tossed in olive oil
Wednesday-Tacos
Thursday-Ravioli in some sort of sauce
Friday-Pizza
Sat-Eating out

[London]

Meal planning is such a life saver, and I love reading other people's plans since inspiration is half the battle. We've also noticed a huge decrease in our grocery bill each month since we started meal planning, since our purchases are more focused.

No links unfortch, but here goes!

Monday: Pasta with red pepper and hot italian sausage sauce (frozen from previous batch)
Tuesday: Crockpot sweet and sour chicken
Wednesday: Salad bar (my go to is usually romaine, hard boiled egg, chick peas, bacon, peppers, and a spicy ranch dressing)
Thursday-Saturday: likely eating out as we are visiting my parents. Pro- no cooking. Con- coming up with ways to explain not drinking.

[dorkymama]

I'm a leftovers fan. Sundays are always crock pot days. Last night I made chili in the crock pot which will be my hubs' lunch today and both of our dinners tonight, and maybe dinner for tomorrow, too. Usually when I cook, I make enough for lunch and dinner the following day. Anyway....

Monday: Chili for me, chili cheese dogs for my hubs.
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Ravioli and pesto, or pierogies and a salad. Not sure yet.
Thursday: Jambalaya
Friday: Leftovers

[kbeazly]

I'm trying to get on the meal planning train as well. DH finally committed to being entirely responsible for one night/wk for dinner, which I will believe when I see. Here's us:

Sunday: Pork/Peanut sauce stir-fry served with rice
Monday: Homemade mac & cheese w/ salad
Tuesday: taco night
Wednesday: leftovers
Thursday: DH's night
Friday: Meatloaf & mashed potatoes
Saturday: Take-out night

[Deleted]

Sunday-white chicken chili
Monday-fish sandwiches
Tuesday -tacos
Wednesday-skillet chicken with chard
Thursday- breakfast burritos
Friday-spaghetti
Saturday-order in.

I'm trying a free plan from cook smarts. If I like it I'm considering buying into it. Each week you can choose to make the plan regular, gluten free or I believe paleo. Then it gives you a grocery list and prep plan.

I was doing the fresh 20, but their meals got repetitive and uninspiring for me.

[MrsEmuTavi]

I'm glad this took off! I will try my best to post this thread every Sunday morning or would you all rather it get posted on Saturday? If I ever don't post it feel free to post it.

[andtheheartbreakers]

Jan 19, 2015 19:17:30 GMT -5 pineapplesmoothie said:

I vote Saturday so I can plan and then shop Sunday. Sunday people can just add on to the started thread?

That's some pretty sound logic. I second this!