Meal Planning

lindakp83
lindakp83 Posts: 45
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
I am terrible about not cooking. I always have good intentions about making dinner every night. I am better than I used to be but a lot of times I just grab something quick. Needless to say my 18lb weight loss is not budging because I have been super busy and not cooked. I know some people like to plan meals for a week ahead. For those people I have some questions.

1. Do you plan dinners for the whole week or longer?
2. Do you always stick to the menu even if it doesn't really sound good that night?

Replies

  • Naomi91
    Naomi91 Posts: 892 Member
    I Have recently started making my meal plan menu, but I only do it for a week at a time

    And I normally stick to my menu because by the time I a eating I am so hungry I just want food! But sometimes if I am still feeling hungry Ill grab an extra snack or something. I use it more as a general outline of what I will be eating and making sure I get all of my calories and nutrients everyday... or I end up getting very lightheaded
  • Disciplined74
    Disciplined74 Posts: 298 Member
    Great post. If I could do this I think it would really help me too.

    I can cook, it just seems so much trouble. It is just me and my son at home and I feel like it's just easier, cleaner, and cheaper to grab a dollar burger or pizza than it is to cook. So maybe if I cooked a week at a time I could find that it is easier, cleaner, cheaper, and MORE HEALTHY to eat at home.

    Thanks.

    - Eva
  • lindakp83
    lindakp83 Posts: 45
    I just have me and my son also. I have a roommate too so sometimes one of us will cook for everyone. It is easier cooking for a bigger group.
  • Claudia007
    Claudia007 Posts: 878 Member
    I do plan out our dinners but only a week at a time, other wise I feel overwhelmed! I usually just plan the main course, then decide what sides while I'm cooking. So, when I have time, I'll cook brown rice. If I'm running behind schedule, I'll heat up a can of veggies, or throw together a quick salad. I usually always stick to the plan because A) it's cheaper, B) it's healthier, and C) I don't want my daughter eating so much crap.

    Also, if you have leftovers, you can have them for lunch the next day or even for dinner the next night. If I make too much chicken, we'll have chicken tacos the next night, or I'll make myself a chicken salad for lunch.
  • lastchance2010
    lastchance2010 Posts: 494 Member
    yep i totally suck at planning meals. I am pretty proud of myself tonight cuz my 7yo wanted spagetti and MEATBALLS I was like wut? sooooo...i had some ground beef defrosted soooo i seasoned the meat up and made little meatballs. I baked them in the oven 20min while the water boiled and once the meatballs were done...i drained the whole wheat noodles poured in the Prego heart healthy and threw the little meatballs in and heated it up for a few minutes. It took no time..20-30. They are devouring their food now. I'm having my yummy chicken breast I made. I have these focaccia croutons and I crushed them up and used that at "breading" and seasoned it up...baked it for 20 min and there is this rice I get from costco..an organic quinoa and brown rice garlic flavor that goes in the microwave for 90 sec. oh so yummy for sure! Now that I think of it...soup is something else that is super easy and freezes good. maybe make a couple different soups and freeze so u can at least have variety. Good luck to ya.
  • amysambora
    amysambora Posts: 219
    I religiously plan my meals every week and do a big grocery shop accordingly. I never sneak extra snacks into the shopping cart or anything that doesn't fit into my plan. It's not exciting or spontaneous but I'm so used to it now and it makes life a lot more organised :)
  • dmossett
    dmossett Posts: 24
    I plan my meals a week at a time. I also go grocery shopping once a week, and stick to whatever items I need for that week and that week alone (no impulse buying, snacks sneaking into my cart, etc. If it's not on the list it doesn't go into the cart). This is a huge change from before I joined MFP when I would go shopping once a month (if that) and ate out for most of my meals. My motto was, "Cooking for one is a waste of dishes." To be honest, the meals I prepare are fairly quick and I don't spend hours on end in the kitchen preparing them. I save the fancy cooking for guests!

    Now that I have gotten into the habit of planning meals and shopping more often I do stick to my meal plans. On occasion (like once or twice a month) I will eat out instead of sticking to my planned meal. However, I always make sure to stick within my calorie/nutrition goals. Plus it makes counting calories a lot easier.

    Best of luck to you!
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