Meal Planning... The Struggle is Real

blb85

I really truly struggle with meal planning... And I know this is my biggest reason why I struggle to lose weight. I get so bored so quickly with the typical yogurt parfait or instant oatmeal for breakfast, salad for lunch, and frozen chicken/fish with frozen side veggie for dinner. I am horrible at cooking and get lazy, so I end-up doing the same things all the time; get stuck in a rut and end up ruining my efforts by eating out more often than I should.

I'm looking for advice, inspiration, easy throw-together recipes.

jemhh

What do you order when you eat out? Make a list of those foods and search for recipes for them.

Lounmoun

Eat food you like. You can plan a limited menu and rotate through.
I plan and cook a different dinner for almost every day.
I don't plan breakfast, lunch or snacks because I tend to have the same things and don't usually cook
Breakfast- cereal, fruit, granola bar, yogurt, sandwich, dinner leftovers
Lunch- sandwich, salad, dinner leftovers
Snacks- carrots, popcorn, fruit, yogurt, deviled egg, granola bar

I get recipe ideas from pinterest.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10270725/things-to-go-in-salads/p1
http://www.budgetbytes.com
http://www.food.com/recipe/tandoori-style-chicken-83276
http://www.theyummylife.com/Oven_Chicken_Fajitas

rainbowbow

Why are you prepping and planning meals you don't like? I dont understand.

There is no reason to eat meat/fish with veggies, oatmeal, and other foods which you obviously find boring. What foods do you like to eat? What type of food do you find yourself going out to buy?

These are the things you need to be making on your own.

http://allrecipes.com/

Type in a dish you like or click on the meal (bfast, lunch, etc.) you want a meal for. Experiment with recipes. Try new things.

DO NOT let yourself give in to boring meals. Alternatively, you can save calories for your eating out. But usually it's a whole days worth in one sitting for me. not worth it.

cross2bear

Studies have shown that the average home cook only has a repertoire of about 12 recipes that they rotate over time. If you can even find 6 meals that you LOVE, learn how to make them as healthy as possible, and then make them in bulk, freezing some for those days when you are just operating on autopilot! I think the previous suggestion that you learn how to make the things that you order when you are eating out is really good - if its burgers, its easy to make up a bunch of portion controlled burgers and freeze them. If its chicken, same thing. I am sure you will feel better about your meals when you feel that you are in control and not overwhelmed with options.

MamaMc3

What do you eat when you aren't meal planning? You can still eat the same foods, but maybe just eat a smaller portion and then fill out the rest of your meal with vegetables. You could split a restaurant portion between a couple of meals. Think about the types of foods you really enjoy and then look up recipes online. There's so many healthy recipes out there! If you make something, you could freeze the extra portions and then work it into your meal plan. I'm a meal planner, so you are welcome to add me and look at my diary if you'd like!

Francl27

I eat what I want to eat. When you go out to eat, what do you eat? Think about what you'd like to eat and look up a recipe to make it at home.

Now I hardly go out to eat because I can make the same thing at home for less calories most of the time...

Lizzy622

Do you have a crock pot? Stews and soups are easy to make and can be made in bigger batches. Portion and freeze your leftovers and you have a quick and easy dinner on the night you just don't want to cook. The Eating Well website has many free plans at various calorie levels to give you some inspiration.

x311Tifa

This is just me (but I LOVE the kitchen and being able to create tasty things), but I go hunting online for things that sound good, write out my whole week and about two backups (I have even backup staples in my house to make them anyway).

I use Pinterest, Skinnyms, myrecipes (love the log it to MFP button), allrecipes, etc. Find things that you enjoy and just make it! I live out of my crockpot, so I usually make both dinner and the next day's lunch for myself and the other half. But there is no reason you can make flavorful meatballs and pasta, rice bowls, stuffed peppers, asian dishes, etc that all fit into your calorie amount. Do not deprive yourself to lose weight. There is so much variety out there to be had! Even for someone who may be lacking in the kitchen skills department.

Speaking of "easy meals," have you seen the premade crockpot sauces? Seriously. Throw in the meat (and possible root veg), turn it on, and potentially cook a side when you get home.

AngryGangrel

If you're bored with the same old same old, explore dishes from different ethnic cuisines--and look beyond Chinese, Italian, or "Mexican" (which here in the US tends to be more Tex-Mex than authentic Mexican). Many of these recipes are already healthy, low calorie and full of fiber. Those that aren't can be adjusted to reduce sodium and high calorie ingredients, or substitute ingredients that might not be as easily available at your local market. Try Korean bibimbap, Filipino chicken adobo, or this Persian noodle soup made easy in a slow cooker.

http://www.mypersiankitchen.com/slow-cooker-asheh-reshteh-persian-noodle-soup/

ElizabethOakes2

I've been making crock-pot steel-cut oats for breakfast and it's been a bit hit in our house. You throw everything into the slowcooker the night before- steelcut oats, water, nuts, fruit, whatever you'd like (current favorite is dried cherries & walnuts. I throw in some vanilla extract and cinnamon) and let it cook while you sleep. Wake up, stir, and voila! Hot breakfast! The recipe I'm using makes four servings, so I have one, my husband has one, and then I freeze the other two in individual servings so that on days when or the other of us has to be up earlier we have something to microwave.

When I lived alone, the slowcooker was my go-to. There are tons of easy healthy slow-cooker recipes on Allrecipes. You can make a batch of something on the weekend and freeze it up for lunches and dinners the rest of the week.