Do any of you use a Food Planner?

[SarahH]

Just had my email from netmums with all their info on it and they have a section on food and food planning.

Do any of you plan ahead what you will eat every night? I have never broke it down to night-by-night before, but I am thinking I maybe will!!

This is what they have on their example one (including receipes for some of the items)... I am thinking I may copy it!!

They leave the weekends free for treats or if you are going out.

 

[aramintalovegrove]

My Mum used to do this when we were kids!

I have done it when we have had a low budget its actually very good for budgeting and not wasting food, you dont get pudding in my house though!!

 

[mrs_metal]

I try to plan meals as I've found it stops me wasting so much food, I've started getting a weekly veg box so I normally plan around that. I usually leave a couple of nights a week free as plans often change. It's amazing how much I save on food shopping compared to before.

 

[helsekia]

yup i plan saves me money cos I only buy what i need.i have a white board one of those small ones hung in the tility room.on 1 side i have days of the week written and on the other side ashopping listpart.next to each day of theweek i have written whats for the main meal and obviously in the list part what i need to buy.I just find it helps me to know what im doing and i dont waste food that way either.

 

[Lola's Mummy]

I don't at the moment but I'm going to start

With all this credit crunch business i'm gonna have to start cutting back

 

[widowwadman]

Well, I don't sit down and write a plan. However when we go for our weekly shop we basically decide there and then -depending on what looks good - what to get in to cook meals for the whole week. It's kind of pre-planned then, as there aren't any emergency don't know what to do for dinner shops, but it's not me sitting down with a piece of paper and properly planning-

It's still cheaper than buying food for dinner every day, I find.

 

[badgergirl]

We plan while going round the shops, but don't write it down day-by-day. As long as everything gets eaten by its going off date, no harm done!

That said, a couple of times when we HAVE done this, it's made for a cheaper shop, as we're less likely to buy snacks, etc, as they're not on the list, so we don't bother wandering down those aisles.

 

[mum2A&L]

i used to for dinners. made making a shopping list a thousand times easier! but ive not since moving out of my mums. must start again though!

 

[MrsBrightside]

I really should meal plan cause it would be better on the budget... might look into it!

im sick of cooking the same thing over and over again!

 

[happy-chick]

Yeh this is something that we're looking to start doing cos we spend hours deciding on what to have for tea all the time!!

 

[valentine]

I do this every week for lunches and teas - I can't imagine how you can not? How do you know you've got the right stuff in? I live a wee bit away from a big supermarket, so maybe if I had one within 5 mins walk, I wouldn't be so bothered.

I also have a blackboard in the kitchen where I write down stuff we're running out of that isn't tea or lunch ingredient related (e.g kitchen roll, cereal, shower gel, tomato ketchup etc).

We have a relatively small weekly shop budget so maybe thats why we're so religious about doing this, I couldn't imagine going to the shops with no idea what I was cooking! We do buy extras or change depending on BOGOF offers so nothing is set in stone until we've been through the checkout.

Valentine Xxx

 

[Charlie:-)]

I do this. I go to the supermarket on Thursdays and I like variety after living with my grandparents who had the same meals every week, so every wednesday night I sit down with my recipe books and I plan and write down what we are going to have each night. I write my shopping list at the same time so I have everything I need, It saves so much money and means food isnt wasted. I generally make everything from fresh and avoid packet/jars and tinned meals.

I dont go into detail on my plan, just keep it plain and simple.

Here's this weeks plan

Thurs - Thai Fishcakes
Fri - Risotto Carbonara
Sat - Chicken Cacciatora
Sun - Out for a picnic
Mon - Steak & salad
Tues - Omlette chips & beans
Weds - Jacket spud

 

[SarahH]

Thurs - Thai Fishcakes
Fri - Risotto Carbonara
Sat - Chicken Cacciatora
Sun - Out for a picnic
Mon - Steak & salad
Tues - Omlette chips & beans
Weds - Jacket spud

I'll see you every night this week then!!

 

[Charlie:-)]

Thurs - Thai Fishcakes
Fri - Risotto Carbonara
Sat - Chicken Cacciatora
Sun - Out for a picnic
Mon - Steak & salad
Tues - Omlette chips & beans
Weds - Jacket spud

I'll see you every night this week then!!

Long journey from Aberdeen but I'll keep it warm in the oven for you!