Talk to me about Meal Planning (long)

pennstated912 · October 2013

DH and I pretty much had a BLOW OUT last night over the cleaning lady issue (I still don't see what the huge issue is. It's $50... *sigh*). He made claims that I was "trying to skirt around responsibility and spend money frivolously."

I scoffed at him and started laughing. I did the breakdown for him of how much we actually spend in eating out (the deal when we got married was I clean, he cooks - he's stopped cooking altogether). Per month, it comes to about $600 - just dinners, probably about $900 or so if you include the several times a week he goes out for lunch.

I told him that if he's so concerned about money then we should make a chore chart and start doing meal plans and using coupons. He agreed to this and I'm going to implement it tonight. I'm going to MAKE SURE he follows through.

Where you guys come in: What are your experiences with meal planning? Do you plan for the entire week or just day of? What are your favorite go-tos that can be frozen/refrigerated until ready to eat? I'd like to save as much time and money as possible.

Basically, how do I do this? He's a great cook and I suck, so I would need quick, simply, yet still healthy stuff so I can participate.

Sorry for the rambling post. I guess I had a lot to get off my chest...

growingmybun · October 2013

Slow cookers are so great for people who work. You put everything in before you go to work and its done when you get home. I also think that you could create some efficiencies by finding recipes that use like ingredients for the week. I am terrible about this and end up spending $20-30 on vegetables and herbs that go to waste because I only use them once.

Kraft's website has surprisingly good recipes and you can sort them in a number of ways to make things easy.

growingmybun · October 2013

One more thing--you have to be kind of careful about what you cook for two people if you're trying to save money. I am often surprised that I am spending $30+ on a meal without even realizing it.

pennstated912 · October 2013

@MarBee1214 - any suggestions for non-pasta based meals?

He won't eat soup (he doesn't like hot liquids :-/ ), I'm trying to branch out from pasta since that's pretty much all I can make - and since diet is an issue, I'm putting a ban on burgers in our house for the month. Lol

@growingmybun - is there a website for slow cooker recipes that you like?

Shannahbee · October 2013

We meal plan on a weekly basis, and grocery shop 1x per week, spending anywhere between $80 and $120 (if there's meat on sale we stock up, etc.)
We often will chose dinners that we can make extra of, then bring leftovers for lunch (for example, we made a butternut squash soup last week and we each had it 2x for lunch that week in addition to one dinner. Or we make this really delicious/healthy Quinoa Chili, or morrocan stew.) I hate sandwiches so if we didn't do something like this, I'd end up buying lunch before I'd bring a sandwich in. Other dinners we usually plan for are chicken fajitas, vegetable stir fry, pasta, hamburgers, etc.
Like MarBee, we get a bunch of fruits and veggies to choose from for sides/snacks throughout the week.
I probably buy lunch about 1x a week as a treat, otherwise I'd get bored. But we seriously only ever go out for dinner for special occasions (birthday, anniversary, etc.)
ETA: my DH is the chef in our family too. I'm not bad... But he HATES doing dishes, so the trade off is that he cooks and I clean up... Which I am 100% ok with!!!

valigrl21 · October 2013

I plan for a week at a time, usually the day before I do my grocery shopping. Before DD, I used to meal plan a month at a time, but I just don't get that far ahead any more.

I have a list of easy go-to dinner ideas like eggs & waffles (or really any breakfast food), sandwiches, wraps, etc. Even with meal planning there are some nights when DH or I change our mind - either the day was really busy and we ran out of time or whatever I planned just didn't sound good. So it's nice to have "backups".

I also rely heavily on freezer meals and/or crock pot. During the week, I get home at 5:30, and by then I am starving and DD is hungry and wants mommy time. So I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. But whenever I do cook (especially on the weekend), I try to make a double batch of whatever it is and the second batch becomes a freezer meal. Pasta sauces, casseroles, enchiladas, soups all work very well for that. It's such a nice feeling to have a freezer stocked of ready to eat or ready to cook meals! And it's not that much harder to cook twice as much.

dltate29 · October 2013

I typically try to just grocery shop once a week but I am suffering from major pregnancy brain and have had to make several trips per week lately for things I missed, etc.

When I do cook, I cook in big batches so I can freeze the other half of the meals. The other thing that is great with left overs, you can pack them up to lunch size portions that are ready to go so there is no excuse on what to make or have for lunch. I am also bad at cutting up fresh veggies at times so having the frozen on hand helps me add color to my meals. My H does not cook at all so I am stuck doing all the cooking and typically most of the cleaning. I usually let him clean up my mess after I am done. It works for us and it'll never be perfect because there are times I just don't have the energy and he is very understanding.

When I am not freezing larger meals ahead of the game I certainly try to pick meals that I can piece together with anything I might have left over... pasta, soup, eggs are great for turning left over spares into a one pot or one pan wonders. I always keep noodles on hand, sauce, eggs, and broths or stocks. I also keep frozen bagels and breads in the freezer because those are easy to zap in the microwave or toast up in no time. Oh and stir frys are really good for just combining a bunch of left over ingredients and experimenting with different spices herbs, etc.

echo136 · October 2013

We plan for a week at a time and try to plan all meals or at least what the main will be.

We have a pretty solid rotation of meals. Each week we cook a whole chicken which does a dinner, lunch or two and we make stock out of the bones. We also will generally do shepherds pie and pork chops each week.

It definitely helps to save money! I cannot imagine eating out so much. It'll take time to get used to have a plan and sticking to it but it's worth it when you have less stress over what to make and see the money saved!

pennstated912 · October 2013

MarBee1214 said:

pennstated912 said:

@MarBee1214 - any suggestions for non-pasta based meals?

He won't eat soup (he doesn't like hot liquids :-/ ), I'm trying to branch out from pasta since that's pretty much all I can make - and since diet is an issue, I'm putting a ban on burgers in our house for the month. Lol

@growingmybun - is there a website for slow cooker recipes that you like?

I will try to remember to go home and go through our recipe favorites notebook. I have lots of great easy meals in there that aren't pasta-based and I can PM you some things

Don't let me forget!

You are awesome, @MarBee1214! I'm super focused on making this work and definitely need help.

cnwilbur1030 · October 2013

I found a free app called food on the table. You can look up recipes based off of categories (dinner, sides, what type of meat you have etc), add them to your weekly list, and then the ingredients are added to a shopping list. It will even let you put in what store you shop at and loads the weekly add so you can choose recipes off that as well. Before I go to the store, I simply check off the ingredients I have already and then buy the rest plus some snacks and bread etc. I really like it and it's free!

peanutmuse · October 2013

I'm sorry, but I just can't get over how he accused you of skirting your responsibilities when he obviously completely ABANDONED his. This makes me so flipping mad at him for you!!!

But, here's my (hopefully) helpful advice...

We actually do our grocery shopping together on Sundays (lately it's been every other Sunday, but soon it will go back to normal). That way we can both pick things that we like. It's also part of how we spend time together. I love to cook, so it's not hard for me to come up with recipes. But our grocery list usually looks something like this:

- Meats (chicken, beef, pork -- ETA: we buy bulk packages and freeze sections, so we only use what's needed and don't buy meat every week necessarily)
- Fruits & veggies (ex for 1 week: bananas, grapes, apples, broccoli, brussels sprouts, asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, red peppers, lettuce, cucumbers)
- Bread
- Sandwich meat
- Milk
- Juice
- Cereal, oatmeal
- Occasionally some snacks (cookies, chips & salsa, yogurt, etc.)

I usually have things like olive oil, eggs, butter, coffee, onions, garlic, spices, rice, pasta, etc. in bulk and only stock up on those as needed.

I will peruse recipes on Sunday morning to see if there's anything specific that I want to make and if there are any additional items I need and add them to the list. Otherwise, I'll just come up with something I want to make using the ingredients that I have in the house. Occasionally, if I'm craving something, I'll run out to get a few items or send him out. But we both work from home during the day, so for us it's a bit different.

As far as recipes, if he's cooking, he really should be the one to doing the work on that side. Honestly. I can't imagine my husband searching for recipes for me. But as long as you have ingredients stocked up, he should be all set.

cpm1223 · October 2013

@pennstated912 can you swap out the regular pasta for whole wheat or even the "white pasta" ones with high fiber? It's alllll about proportion, so I think switching to a healthier pasta and only making two real (i.e. use the serving suggestions on the box, measure them out, and only make that amount) would be more doable.

Also with the burger thing...you could buy lean ground beef (they make ones that are around 7% fat as opposed to the "regular" meat being 20% fat) get light rolls and light cheese.

I've followed WW for a looooong time now and I've learned different ways to eat what I want in a healthier way so that I'm not miserable when I eat.

pennstated912 · October 2013

@cpm1223 - he thinks WW is a waste of money and refuses to stick to it. He's horrible about his portion sizes (hence why he's 300 lbs) and if I let him, he would eat burgers 3x/day every day. Trying to break the cycle.

@peanutmuse - I was FUMING when he said that! I can count on one hand the number of times he's helped me clean in the last 6 months. But, if he wants to be like that, two can play that game. Therefore, he's getting a chore chart and meal plans. We will see who actually sticks to the plan. My money's on me though.

Maybe if he sees that I'm sticking to it and he's not, he will concede since I'm making an actual effort to save us money and get us organized for Baby.

LittleMommaBlueHen · October 2013

I plan by the week. I always check the weather before I meal plan (because who wants to cook a roast in the oven for a few hours when it's 85 degrees outside?!) . I also look at our schedule for the week so I plan quicker dinners for nights where we have something going on. One of our favorite inexpensive meals is breakfast for dinner. DH hates the planning aspect of meals but loves to cook so as long as I plan it he will cook it.

MrsGraham06 · October 2013

I know there's a woman at my church who makes lasagne in a 9x9 foil pan, and freezes it. I might be able to get the recipe for that, but I'm sure you can get a recipe online. I think it might take time to heat up, like an hour?

Another thing I like to make, I don't know what it's called but is great for leftovers, is:

brown 1 lb ground beef
Add spices
Add 2 cans of cream of mushroom/chicken/celery soup (do not add water)
Heat through, stirring occasionally

Also cook 4 servings of rice.

Serve the beef/soup mix over the rice.

It takes maybe 10 minutes after the hamburger is browned. It's my go-to meal when we don't have time for much, or everyone is hungry NOW. We always have the ingredients stocked.

cpm1223 · October 2013

@pennstated912 I didn't mean that you had to join WW, just that it taught me to look at ways to improve "normal" recipes to make them healthier. That way it's an easier transition to eat healthy instead of taking away all of the foods that either of you enjoy.

lmills730 · October 2013

A lot of PPs have said similar things, but I plan weekly and go shopping on Mondays (my day off). If I didn't shop for a week, i think DH and I would have a hard time getting motivated after a long day of work and long commutes. But, when you know exactly what's on the menu and what the recipe you're making is, with all the ingredients ready to go in the fridge-- it's easy (for us anyways). I use Pinterest mostly to organize my recipes and then select 3-4 recipes to try. 2-3 of these need to be soups or casseroles or something like lasagna that makes enough for two nights so we don't have to cook every night. We also make sure to make enough every night for the two of us to take lunch the next day. When we are cleaning up from dinner, we pack our Tupperware containers right away so we just have to grab them in the morning. We've been doing this routine for about 2 years and I would say we go out to eat/order takeout maybe once every 6 weeks to 2 months. We are self-proclaimed restaurant snobs though so when we go out, usually the bill is higher because we would prefer to go to a place that is special since we go out so infrequently. Having a plan has always helped us stay on track healthfully and financially. Good luck!

wedbliss5 · October 2013

I meal plan every weekend (pick 5-6 meals, not day specific), and then we shop on Sundays (our Albertson's does a 10% off if you wear the local MLB, NFL jersey on game days!). I totally agree with many of the pp's about relying on certain staples, freezer items, and crock pot stuff. I also have a subscription to Cooking Light ($18 for 2 years) and love looking through it for new menu items and ideas - plus they are fairly healthy.

I try to plan for at least 2-3 salads a week and buy whatever produce looks good and is on sale. I also try to keep fresh fruit in the house since my DD is a huge snacker and loves apples, pears, strawberries, etc. I'll grab some fresh veggies to cook with a meal, depending on cost and if nothing looks good, we use frozen. We also just started getting the Bountiful Basket so that will help with our fruits and veggies.

As for meals, here's a list of what we normally rotate:

Baked salmon, veggie, baked potato / rice / pasta-roni
Spaghetti and salad
Tacos or taco salad
BBQ Pork Sandwiches in crock pock / Baked Beans / Veggie
Chili
Beef Stroganoff in crock pot over noodles / rice with veggie
Pork Chops / Veggie or salad / Rice or pasta
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Breakfast for dinner
Brats and saurkraut in crock pot
Baked chicken / veggie or salad / rice or potato
Lasagna and salad
Veggie / Lentil Soup
Southwester Soup (similar to chicken tortilla)
Fish Tacos
Cranberry Porkloin in crock pot / Stuffing / Veggie
Italian Meatloat / Mashed potatoes / Salad
Chicken and dumplings
Turker burgers
Chicken / Shrimp fried rice

In addition, we keep some frozen and boxed meals around - frozen chicken nuggets, tuna/hamburger helpers, pasta and sauce, etc.

LexGator · October 2013

Wow, you win this battle. That's a lot of money a month to feed two people.

I coupon, and for two adults and a toddler, my weekly grocery bill is $45-$65. That's for five dinners (Sun-Thurs) and breakfast/lunches/snacks. We usually go out to eat/order in on Fridays/Saturdays. I know that's really low and not everyone has the time/interest in couponing, but meal planning (with or without coupons) does save a lot of money.

I plan for the week and shop on Mondays. I first shop my kitchen -- see what meat I have frozen, what kind of things I have in the pantry, and plan my meals around what I already have. I then see what's on sale and what coupon matchups I have. I don't always do this, but if I'm struggling to come up with ideas, I'll aim for one meatless dinner, one pasta dish, one beef, one chicken, and usually a crockpot (again planning around what I currently have). That gives us some variety and focuses the meal planning. I have a spreadsheet of our go-to recipes as well as a few Pinterest boards and draw my inspiration from those.

I am all for simplifying dinners, too, so I'll prepare meat in advance and freeze it. For example, I got a bunch of ground beef this morning because it's on sale. I'm going to make a big batch of meatballs and freeze them. I can use them for Swedish meatballs, pasta/meatballs, and meatball subs. I will throw a whole bag of frozen chicken breasts in the crockpot with some seasoning and a little bit of chicken broth and shred it. I can use that for enchiladas, chicken tortilla/chicken noodle soup, chicken fried rice, casseroles, etc.

maebynot · October 2013

Also re: the meat thing - try turkey burgers if you haven't yet? You can get very lean or pretty lean ground turkey and the burgers really taste great IMO. Different than beef but you get used to it. And much healthier! One drawback is the turkey is generally more expensive than beef (especially leaner meats) but sometimes Jennie-o puts is on sale and you can stock up and freeze it. Just an idea. I struggle with a very picky DH myself, so I know what you mean (won't eat anything with any butter/marg in it and will barely let me use oils to cook and generally won't eat chicken and I like to limit/avoid red meat for health reasons) and I"m not creative as a cook but I'm working on it and love the suggestions from the ladies above!

pennstated912 · October 2013

cpm1223 said:
@pennstated912 I didn't mean that you had to join WW, just that it taught me to look at ways to improve "normal" recipes to make them healthier. That way it's an easier transition to eat healthy instead of taking away all of the foods that either of you enjoy.

Sorry, I read that wrong.

it's a shame he won't join WW though. The one time we did it together (when we first met), he lost 40 lbs.

pennstated912 · October 2013

cnwilbur1030 said:
I found a free app called food on the table. You can look up recipes based off of categories (dinner, sides, what type of meat you have etc), add them to your weekly list, and then the ingredients are added to a shopping list. It will even let you put in what store you shop at and loads the weekly add so you can choose recipes off that as well. Before I go to the store, I simply check off the ingredients I have already and then buy the rest plus some snacks and bread etc. I really like it and it's free!

This is an amazeballs idea for an app! Consider it downloaded!

KristaBelieve · October 2013

A few thoughts before I begin... turkey burgers are a good option and Jennie-O has pre-made patties or frozen patties available. Also, we started the meal planning Mondays so we can share ideas different from our normal go-to meals. You will get great ideas there! I have a different method based on our schedule. I LOVE grocery shopping so I do all that. I do one big trip to Ralph's for our canned goods, basic staples, pantry items, frozen food, dairy, grains, etc. my basics are similar to Peanut's. Then I also go to Trader Joe's or Sprouts for our lunch, snacks (fruit, veggies, etc) specialty breads, meat for dinner and specialty canned items. Basically my "fresh" stuff comes from here. I usually go there on Wednesdays since Sprouts has "double ad Wednesday" where the sale prices from the week before and the current week are honored. I love a sale! My DH's schedule is very different day to day so if he has a game (professional sports) he gets food at work so I only worry about me and I make something quick (pasta or a baked potato with all our leftover veggies, salads, a frozen meal, breakfast items, etc.). If he is home we usually make our go-to meals: curry chicken with coconut rice, baked chicken with Parmesan saffron risotto, chicken fajitas/tacos, black bean enchiladas, turkey or chicken sausage subs or ground in pasta dishes, quinoa with veggies, grilled/sautéed/baked fish with rice, pulled chicken dishes (our new favorite is a BBQ buffalo chicken and cornbread casserole, grilled chicken or steak salads, etc. I like having some sort of fresh element with my meals so I like a little side salad too. Once a week or so I will make something new and exciting so I get those specialty ingredients on my Wednesday trip. Our lunches are mainly pre-made trader joes salads, leftovers, I also like egg white salad on English muffins or frozen meals. Again, if I eat a frozen meal or small sandwich, I pair it with a salad. For breakfast I eat oatmeal, a banana and a string cheese every day, and my coffee of course! My DH eats whatever he wants to make, peanut butter on an English muffin, bagel & cream cheese, toast, breakfast sandwich, pop tart, etc. My snacks throughout the day, which I pre-portion ahead of time, are strawberries, grapes, hummus, yogurt, peanut butter filled pretzels, string cheese, almonds, etc. I bring two snacks to work usually. For inspiration, I DVR my favorite food network shows and get ideas but I usually end up making my version of it anyway. I rarely follow a recipe, I just experiment and it usually turns out great. Hope this long rant helps! Good luck!

apickett925 · October 2013

pennstated912 said:

@MarBee1214 - any suggestions for non-pasta based meals? He won't eat soup (he doesn't like hot liquids :-/ ), I'm trying to branch out from pasta since that's pretty much all I can make - and since diet is an issue, I'm putting a ban on burgers in our house for the month. Lol @growingmybun - is there a website for slow cooker recipes that you like?

Didn't read all of the comments yet, but I love https://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ for crockpot recipes. I've been following her for a few years (she did the actual 365 days of crockpot cooking maybe 2 years ago). Her most recent post was actually a meal planning one.

She has a few kids, so they're almost all family friendly recipes.

apickett925 · October 2013

Also, someone mentioned making something like a big tray of lasagna to portion and freeze. Since it's just my husband and I, I actually make us lasagna in a loaf pan. If I want to do a full recipe, I'll just make a few in disposable pans and freeze all but the one we're going to eat. The width is just about perfect for lasagna sheets. You could also do lasagna rolls, I've been seeing a lot of posts about them on Pinterest.

pennstated912 · October 2013

@apickett925 - this site looks awesome! Thanks!

Thanks so much for all the advice, ladies! We are going to make our meal planning day Sunday since that's usually the day we do errands. You guys are awesome.

I made color-coded meal planning schedule options (like who cooks when) that I'm going to show him tonight. I'm pretty sure I'm developing OCD alongside my nesting lol

goldenB · October 2013

The go-to's in my household are stirfries with fresh and/or frozen veggies and brown rice, pasta with gluten-free noodles, chicken with a side of quinoa and lots of veggies.
I also don't buy new produce or groceries until I am completely out of food. This way, I never follow a recipe but cook based on my what I have on hand and I don't need to throw out any produce that has gone bad (this used to happen a lot to us). We also always have a lot of spices and beans on hand so that easily changes up any meal.

The other day I made a delicious chicken meal - I used sauteed onions and cooked the chicken in some mustard, horse-radish and honey sauce (just random condiments I found in my fridge) and it turned out amazing!

So the point of my post is that I really don't have a plan, I just don't let myself shop until I am completely out of food. Forces me to be more creative in the kitchen.

ChuggingWater · October 2013

You're a saint. I'd murder my husband, and have a second divorce under my belt, if he didn't help me clean. Two make the mess, two can clean.

ChuggingWater · October 2013

In regards to meal planning, our grocery trips are very much like @peanutmuse . We usually do some sort of meat, a vegetable, fresh fruit (split banana/apple/orange between the three of us), and sometimes share a slice of bread & butter. I have to appease the boy child.

We do a pasta only about 1x weekly, and I try not to eat a lot of grains because of my RA (flares it). I grocery shop about 2x a month, and then supplement fresh fruits/veggies/milk/eggs/cheese as needed.

MH doesn't get to bitch and moan about what is for supper if he isn't cooking or grocery shopping. He bitches? I quit cooking.

ChuggingWater · October 2013

Also, you could try spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Try new things, explore. You might just find you enjoy cooking and he mind find he enjoys healthier food.

ChuggingWater · October 2013

Oh, I am also an asshole, and put aside leftovers for the next day before serving dinner. What is on the table is what is on the table. MH struggles with portion sizes too, but is very active. However, going through a 9x13 pan of enchiladas (for example) in a single meal is ridiculous, and expensive.

Summer889 · October 2013

You've already received a lot of great advice here, but I'll just briefly add my system to the list.

1) Together make up a list of the meals you guys like to eat. The more the better. I'd shoot for 20-30. And make sure the recipes are easily accessible (I use a google doc for this).

2) From your list of favorite meals, plan out what you want to eat. I plan 2 weeks at a time, but you could do just one. I never cook 2 nights in a row - I'll double a recipe if I have to, but I make sure it yields 4-6 servings so we can have left overs.

3) Rather than spending time clipping coupons (which typically save you money only on name brand processed type foods) I just look in the grocery store adds for what meat and veggies are on sale and plan meals around that.

4) Make a list of everything you'll need to make your two weeks' worth of meals and get it all at once.

5) Order meals so that you use up any perishable produce first. I try to make sure my meals for the second week are made from frozen or non-perishable items so none goes to waste.

Summer889 · October 2013

ChuggingWater said:

Oh, I am also an asshole, and put aside leftovers for the next day before serving dinner. What is on the table is what is on the table. MH struggles with portion sizes too, but is very active. However, going through a 9x13 pan of enchiladas (for example) in a single meal is ridiculous, and expensive.

LOL, I do the same thing!

RobynLovesDano · October 2013

Just wanted to chime in with another good recipe source- allrecipes.com. I use them for tons of recipes, and they are delicious!

pennstated912 · October 2013

You all have such great advice! Thank you so much!

@ChuggingWater - I know, I'm pretty awesome. He would live like a hoarder if I wasn't here.

I like the idea of setting aside the leftovers first. I'll see if I can get the spaghetti squash on the table. Lol

nbbride06 · October 2013

I plan weekly and shop weekly. It usually ends up being about 5 days of dinners depending on what is going on that week. We spend $80-$120/week on groceries for 2 adults and a toddler who eats quite a bit, and that includes all organic. It also includes doubling a recipe at least once a week to freeze for later. My DH still eats out most days for lunch, but it's covered by work 90% of the time so it's not a big expense. I shop mostly at Trader Joe's (not sure if you have that near you).

Whenever I make something for dinner that is freezeable, I at least double the recipe and freeze the extra for later. Some of our favorites are meatballs (cooked fully and added to spaghetti or on rolls for meatball sandwiches), BBQ beef sandwiches, lasagna, Swedish meatballs (serve over noodles), Quinoa salad, enchiladas, chili (since DH doesn't consider this a meal on its own, I usually serve over baked potatoes), lentil soup, tomato basil soup (you can make this in crockpot and once again because DH doesn't consider this a meal, I serve with grilled cheese), turkey meatloaf (freeze before baking for best results). I also freeze muffins, homemade waffles and pancakes for easy breakfasts. The waffles and pancakes can be popped in the toaster.

BBQ beef is tri-tip cooked in water and spices made in crockpot. Shred and add BBQ sauce. I usually buy the tri-tip at costco. It make about 3 full dinners including leftovers. This is a great, easy meal and makes a ton.

Once a week we eat something "frozen" that I made. Once a week we do an "easy" meal, meaning pancakes and eggs, or quesadillas, or grilled cheese, served with a side salad or fresh fruit. The leftovers of all meals are usually eaten by me and DD for lunch during the week. I always keep things like frozen broccoli, frozen peas, frozen sweet potato fries, etc. in the freezer for quick, easy, healthy sides. Otherwise we often have fresh veggies, fruit or salads as sides. Once in awhile I make a "carb" for a side but it's not often.

kosbo06 · October 2013

@pennstated912
We have a meal plan from a website called emeals.com
You pick your plan (can be chosen specifically with particular diets in mind) and how many you feed, plus where to shop. They send you a weekly menu, with a complete shopping list included. Most plans have you spending less than $100 for 7 days of meals including sides. We love it! They have a whole entire plan based on using a slow cooker. They also have an app that you can access your plan from anywhere. Check it out!

pennstated912 · October 2013

@kosbo06 - is the website free or a subscription?

kosbo06 · October 2013

pennstated912 said:
@kosbo06 - is the website free or a subscription?

It is a subscription. I believe for the year it's around $50. However, we got a groupon for a year that only cost us $20. Either way it was totally worth it to me, because I don't have to search for recipes or create a shopping list

AnnikaD20 · October 2013

We do the "bulk cooking" thing, which works well for us, although some people like more flexibility. Basically, one day a month is a cooking day, and most of the entrees for the month get prepped or fully prepared, and then most of it goes in the freezer. We'll defrost a couple options at a time in the fridge, and then have dinner basically ready to go on work nights. Just heat it up and make a quick side or two (salad, steamed veggies, rice, whatever sounds good).

There are websites dedicated to having a full months meals with seasonal ingredients and shopping lists already worked out, and printable recipes and labels. I like https://onceamonthmom.com/?s=dinners Their old stuff is free, the newer menus require a subscription.

wesser · October 2013

Couple of things...

we're def. getting a cleaning service at least every 2 weeks. no way in hell am I going to spend my very precious and minimal free time on hands and knees scrubbing toilets, floors, etc. I'd rather scrimp in other areas and have more free time for fun stuff. life should be enjoyed.

check to see if your area has any community supported ag. co-ops. You get a TON of fresh local veggies, eggs, meat for cheap! good for local farmers and as a veg-head who has a crazy fear of pesticides, I get organic veggies for like half the price of grocery store costs. a win win.

re. meal prep., the hubby and I have a pizza stone and use it ALL THE TIME. homemade dough costs next to nothing, you can make big batches on the weekend to freeze in individual portions and then you have something to put all those veggies on. sooo tasty!

Other meal favs:

chili

quinoa stuffed bell peppers with melted cheese on top (awesome!)

fajitas

burritos (can make sever extras and freeze individually for lunches)

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