Meal plans.....??

I occasionally try to use everything up in my cupboards, fridge and freezer to:

a) save money
b) avoid having to shop every day (temptation!)
c) uses up all the rubbish in moderation, so next time you fill up the cupboards everything can be healthy!

Last week I made a list of everything in my cupboards first, with calories per portion (and how many portions I could get out of the item). Then the same with fridge and freezer items. I then made a chart for seven days, three meals per day (morning, noon and evening).

So today I've had two weetabix biscuits for breakfast, I'll have a tin of carrot and lentil soup with a wholemeal roll for lunch, and some long grain rice with grilled chicken and frozen stir fry vegetables for dinner.

Hope this helps! I've managed to get about three weeks worth of meal plans from whats lying around in my cupboards - when everything is gone I can plan a shopping list from the meal plans without worrying about using things up

I meal plan, mostly as a budget thing but it does help having good food on hand and knowing exactly what I'll be eating. I often prepare dinner the night before (especially if I am working) so it is pretty much ready as I get in the door.

This week has changed slightly as me and husband are feeling crappy (we caught the kid's virus) so I've changed dinner tonight to be easier. Plus we have guests twice on a sunday so do 2 big meals. I tend to use up leftovers from dinner for lunch with a salad or jacket potato. My husband turns them into a burrito. Breakfast is fresh fruit (probably be tinned by the time winter comes) with salami/cheese/bread for the kids and I tend to have a protein shake. I keep a stock of hard boiled eggs in the fridge to snack on and things like portioned cheese (babybels or cheese triangles) plus we always have fruit in and some nuts in the cupboard.

This week

Sat - out all day
Sun - lunch was coq au vin, with bubble and squeak and assorted veg. Dinner was burgers and salad.
Mon - chorizo/pork/haricot bean stew with runner beans
Tues - changed to sausages, poached eggs, baked beans, potato waffles and mushrooms
Wed - a sausage based pasta bake type thing
Thur - hairy dieters lasagne
Fri - Chicken curry and rice

I tend to alter recipes myself to make them healthier. But we do eat with the kids in the evening so I often eat up to half my daily calories in dinner as it suits me and my lifestyle better.

I'm a much saner eater when I meal plan. I usually do a week at a time and start with the grocery store circular/flyer to see what's on sale, then build meals around that if I can. I put the meal list on the fridge and then - here's the hard part - check the night before or in the morning to make sure that what I need for dinner that night is thawed (say chicken or a roast).

It keeps me from coming home from work hungry, looking in the fridge, being undecided or uninspired, and ordering pizza.

Good luck!