Do you plan out your dinners for the week?

We go grocery shopping every 2 weeks so I plan out my menus for 2 weeks in advance. Then every night I plan out my whole day of eating for the next day.

I pretty much have staple meals that I rotate. Then every once in awhile I come across a new recipe to try. I used to keep a binder in the kitchen with all my meals then I could just flip through it to plan, but I've gotten lazy about that part of it.

I have a big dry erase board in the kitchen with our schedules on it and I also plan all the meals for the month on it based on how busy that evening is. I like the dry erase because if I have to change it I don't have a meltdown!! I usually plan 1-2 leftover nights depending on what we have. Though we also have leftovers for lunch. I keep a list of meals that we like and go from that list, I also try at least 2-3 new meals a month and if they are good they get added to the list and if they are not-well at least we tried it! I try to have fish at least once a week and meat from animals with four legs no more than once a week.

Um, not really...I usually buy 2 different kinds of meats and make mental notes of what I CAN make with them and then what I'm in the mood for determines what I make that night. Tonight, tilapia and asparagus (going on 3 nights in a row but I'm not tired of it yet!!!). Tomorrow is blackened tilapia with Mexican style rice. Friday I might do fajitas since I haven't done that in awhile. Saturday is usually a pasta day kind of to reward myself for my hard work during the week and I just usually crave pasta then and I don't eat it much so it's okay. :happy:

So, in short...no. If I go with a set plan, it's only the day before (I just planned all of tomorrow's meals and put them in my diary) otherwise I will not be in the mood for it and usually go over my calories because I changed the plan...whereas, with no plan, I can mentally add how many calories I'm during the day - versus having to add & subtract from what I ate according to plan and what I didn't. Does that make sense? I guess I'm just lazy with math.

We plan them 2 weeks at a time and use that for grocery shopping. We don't designate a particular meal to each day, just 14 dinners in general knowing that a few of those nights are weekends when we have time for more elaborate cooking. I have some staples that I use for night when we forget to take something out . . . such as potato and broccoli frittatas (yum). I do find it is easier to stick to healthy eating when you plan ahead as you are not starving and thinking about all those options on an empty stomach.

I go through recipes and store sales and make a weekly menu. I display the menu on the frig for the family to see. I use the dinner leftovers for lunches through out the week or I plan one night to be left over night. I go to the store once a week and have Organic fruits and veggies delivered to the house every other week. We eat out at least once on the weekend.

It is time comsuming to make the menu but less stressful and saves time to know what to cook for dinner. Plus if mom is busy someone else can look at the menu and start dinner - no problem.

I always pick one or two different dinners to make and eat for the week. I generally have pretty much the same breakfasts and lunches. I have found if I don't pick recipes to make for dinner I won't know what to eat and I end up eating food that isn't good for me and I eat too much cause nothing sounds good. I do much better when I plan in advance

I've done the meal planning both ways - I've gone to the store and bought random things that could make a meal, and I've planned meals in advance. Right now, I'm planning a week's worth of meals, going to the cupboards and fridge, and making a list of what I need BEFORE going to the store. I have found that this saves me: time, money, and additional trips to the store for what was forgotten.

I've been posting my weekly menu to my blog...not because anybody reads it, or has asked for it, but so I remind myself what is for dinner. I often get the comment from friends, "But what if you get to that night and don't feel like eating that?" Honestly, I find that the family gets excited about items on the menu and in general, we all look forward to what is coming up. If we go out for dinner unexpectedly, or have a change in plans, it is OK. I just shift everything back a day.

My weekly menus are not fancy. I am a working mom of a family of four and I can't be spending 3 hours making a sauce or prepping crazy things to roast, bake, or braise. For example, this weeks menu:

Monday - Baked fish on spinach (for me and hubby), fish sticks and fries(for the kiddies)
Tuesday - tacos & taco salad
Wednesday - Homemade taco soup (a recipe from weight watchers)
Thursday - Chicken and Broccoli Quesadillas
Friday - Flat bread pizzas
Saturday - Pulled pork sandwiches & leftovers
Sunday - sausage & mushroom frittata

I find that I am able to control my eating and activity levels so I can eat with the family and still lose weight. I substitute salad and veggies a lot for items that I still make for them and I chew gum while I cook. If I don't, I munch. That is what gets me in trouble.

I try to meal plan for the most part. I don't write it down but know what we are having every night for supper. We sometime eat out once a week. This week we had or are having hot dogs and beans, streak and cheese subs, cheese burger subs, Pork Pie, Baked chicken breast, Homemade Pizza. I freeze or have leftovers for lunch. I just find that it is easy to have a plan then you aren't standing in the Kitchen wondering what you are going to have and settling for something that isn't the healthiest but it was the easiest. I go shopping once a week. spending $60 to $150 depending on the week and if I have to buy household items. I'm in search of some new meal ideas. This week I have stirred the meal up a little ~ we were having chicken a lot for a where there. I try to buy meat when it is on sale then come home and pack it in food save bags and freeze it. We also buy a pig every year but this year might me our last year.