Meal planning. Need help.

NYMOM101511

I'm so bad at it. Can anyone send me some easy meal plans? I always try and plan but then fail.

Kewii

It works for me if I keep it simple. We have a fish night, a meatless nigh, a chicken night, a beef night, and then 1 or 2 leftover nights. When I do it that way I just go to skinnytaste or pioneer woman and find a recipe that fits the category. I find it easier since I know I'm looking for.

VitaLuna

If you don't mind repetition, you can do a 2 week (or even 1 month) menu cycle. Otherwise, PP has a good idea of designated protein nights.

groovygrl

I stink at it too but when I am most successful is if I make multiple meals from one type of meat. For example, if I get several pkgs of ground turkey, I can spend less time browning it all, then separating out to make some taco meat, some meat sauce for pasta, etc or set aside some raw to make meatballs or turkey burgers. Or I will buy the packaged pork tenderloins which come w two in one package and do pork two ways on two nights.

ricekez

We rate recipes on an A-F scale. That way we remember what we like. I generally have a rhythm by type of recipe - soup night, sandwich night, salad night, pasta night, leftover night, fun dinner night (like nachos), and a big comfort-food dinner on Sunday.

MommyAtty

We sit down after Sunday breakfast, just before leaving for the grocery store, and write down what we will have every night. Then we can see what needs to go on the grocery list so there's no "oh crap" moment mid-week that requires an unscheduled trip to the grocery store. I also tend to schedule a couple of leftover nights because our lives are just nuts right now.

lexusolsen

We plan based on the protein that is on sale that week. We save the ads for our preferred store, hit up skinnytaste or our shared Pinterest board and go from there. Even though each night has a designated meal, we sometimes switch it up if it is more convenient. We find that we spend less money, make fewer trips to the store, and eat healthier this way. I'm happy to share our Pinterest board if you want.

[Deleted User]

A former Bumpie runs a meal planning service.  I can give you the FB page if anyone wants it.  You tell her what you like, ease level, etc and she plans including the grocery list. 

I'm trying to tread the TOU here since The Bump gets testy over these type things.

[Deleted User]

I try to use the crockpot at least once a week and prefer to make something I can also eat for lunch or for leftovers. 

I also do a pork tenderloin every other week for something different.  Otherwise, it's an assortment of various ways to cook chicken breasts. 

[Deleted User]

I sent a PM @socialmediamommy‌