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Post by sarahyoo72 on Jul 30, 2014 16:12:36 GMT
I have ups and downs with my meal planning. I try and make sure there is always ground beef in the freezer,and pasta and pasta sauce in the pantry. Sometimes I get adventurous and look through some of my BBC Good Food magazines for something new to cook.
Most weeks we will have the same types of meals, but depending on DH's work schedule then those are subject to change, which is why I always like to have a couple of back up meals. DD is extremely picky, DS will eat most things, DH will eat anything.
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Post by gmcwife1 on Jul 30, 2014 16:31:48 GMT
Come on in and commiserate with me. Please. ugh. Day after day after day, thinking up what to cook. And of course I hate cooking so that compounds the problem. Yes it's my job because my dh works long hours. YES you may whine about this because I completely agree with you!!! I ask and it's whatever you want, I don't know, etc, but then you can tell by how much they don't eat whether they were in the mood for it or didn't really care for it. I work full time and just don't enjoy cooking that much so I hate making the meal choices all the time!
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Post by lurkingsince2001 on Jul 30, 2014 17:23:11 GMT
I get absolutely zero help from the family myself. So when someone does suggest something I make certain to get it on the menu for that week. I tried the rotating 12 or 14 recipes like suggested above but I get bored too easily. I love to cook, so just making the same things over and over would kill my spirit. That being said, it seems that for the hundreds of recipes in my boxes, I still make the same 10 or so with great regularity. Those favorites are my stand-bys for when my inspiration follows theirs out the door. But I try to put in something else or new at least 4 nights a week.
My true hatred of meal planning is adding up all the ingredients I need: how much flour, sugar, cans of this or that, etc.. My husband has been working on designing a program that will do that for me, but he's as likely to get that finished as I am to become a ballerina. I'd love to find an app or something but the ones I've seen want me to upload and share my recipes and have all sorts of pop-ups and interactive thingys or look difficult to add my home-made database to. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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mlana
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,523
Jun 27, 2014 19:58:15 GMT
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Post by mlana on Jul 30, 2014 17:33:24 GMT
I get absolutely zero help from the family myself. So when someone does suggest something I make certain to get it on the menu for that week. I tried the rotating 12 or 14 recipes like suggested above but I get bored too easily. I love to cook, so just making the same things over and over would kill my spirit. That being said, it seems that for the hundreds of recipes in my boxes, I still make the same 10 or so with great regularity. Those favorites are my stand-bys for when my inspiration follows theirs out the door. But I try to put in something else or new at least 4 nights a week. My true hatred of meal planning is adding up all the ingredients I need: how much flour, sugar, cans of this or that, etc.. My husband has been working on designing a program that will do that for me, but he's as likely to get that finished as I am to become a ballerina. I'd love to find an app or something but the ones I've seen want me to upload and share my recipes and have all sorts of pop-ups and interactive thingys or look difficult to add my home-made database to. Does anyone have any suggestions? Try the app Paprika (I swear I don't profit from the recommendations for this app!) In addition to adding like-prepared ingredients (2 cups chopped, 1 cup diced) it is also the easiest program I've found for importing recipes. I brought my recipes in, then started importing them from blogs and websites. If it doesn't port over the recipe as a whole, you can add the parts simply by highlighting a section and then selecting what that part is. For instance, highlight all the ingredients in the recipe, then select the ingredients tab at the bottom. Done. Love. It. When I watch cooking shows, I can add the recipes from the website faster than the guy on tv can cook them. Marcy
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arlamo
Shy Member
Posts: 25
Jun 26, 2014 2:11:30 GMT
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Post by arlamo on Jul 30, 2014 17:35:40 GMT
Thanks for the Paprika recommendation mlana - I'm going to try it! I like to cook, but I hate planning!
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Cheesy
Full Member
Posts: 135
Location: The cornfields of Illinois
Jun 26, 2014 16:49:38 GMT
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Post by Cheesy on Jul 30, 2014 17:38:24 GMT
Kids & dh are all pretty picky no matter how many times I ask for suggestions. To be honest, I've mostly stopped asking them and just make stuff I like. And you know what? There's less complaining now! Who knew??
My bigger problem, though, is that a lot of nights are so unpredictable that I can't plan ahead. So I keep a few meal items and ideas around for those times, like frozen pizzas. One less thing to think about.
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Post by happymom on Jul 30, 2014 17:41:25 GMT
I agree about the rotation planning. Also, you could add make your own night leftover night - I call it buffet try a new dish night.
when the boys were little, I did similar meals each day of the week. monday. Chicken- any kind of chicken rotisserie, grilled, shredded chicken tuesday. Pasta. Any kind wed. Always breakfast for dinner ( church night at 6:30) thurs. Soup and sandwich or salad or sandwich friday. Pizza, homemade, frozen or take out.
we also grill a lot on Sunday nights and eat throughout the week.
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Post by stampinbetsy on Jul 30, 2014 18:04:45 GMT
I need to get back to meal planning. My super picky child just went off to college, so coming up with things we all like should be easier now.
I need to get some ideas and go to the store tonight!
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Post by houston249 on Jul 30, 2014 18:12:51 GMT
I hear you! Meal planning is work and in my book not so enjoyable.
Somethings that make it more tolerable for me. Mass cooking. I dont make 1 meat loaf I make 4 at one time. I mix it in one big bowl and then split it between 4 pans and cook them all at once. Then i take them out of the pans, wrap them individually in foil and label a 2.5 gallon ziplock bag with meatlaof and date and put them in the freezer. When dinner comes i peal off the foil (sometimes i run the thing under hot water to help) stick it on a plate and microwave it.
Another thing that never occured to me. Side dishes? I buy 2 things and that is pretty much the only side dishes we have all week . Right now? I buy a big watermelon, cut it ALL up into a big bowl and that bowl is brought to the table every night until it is gone. Usually 5 days. Also i buy big bags of grapes. Clean them all at once. Snip the clusters into serving sizes and that bowl goes on the table every night. I may add another side dish but i dont have too! This concept was so freeing for me! Mangos? I cut in mass and serve for days. Somethings dont work well for this. Peaches? Yeah big disaster.
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,971
Location: NW PA
Jun 25, 2014 23:50:38 GMT
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Post by Judy26 on Jul 30, 2014 18:23:48 GMT
I could eat cereal or popcorn every day with a scrambled egg thrown in for diversity. Everyone in my family is on a different schedule. I need to be at my evening job by 5 four nights a week. I'll make something and get home at 9 to find that no one made it home for dinner. Ticks me off to no end. I often let them fend for themselves and they do the cereal, popcorn, egg thing too. I am definitely a failure in the Leave It To Beaver perfect mom competition.
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Post by lurkingsince2001 on Jul 30, 2014 19:27:27 GMT
I get absolutely zero help from the family myself. So when someone does suggest something I make certain to get it on the menu for that week. I tried the rotating 12 or 14 recipes like suggested above but I get bored too easily. I love to cook, so just making the same things over and over would kill my spirit. That being said, it seems that for the hundreds of recipes in my boxes, I still make the same 10 or so with great regularity. Those favorites are my stand-bys for when my inspiration follows theirs out the door. But I try to put in something else or new at least 4 nights a week. My true hatred of meal planning is adding up all the ingredients I need: how much flour, sugar, cans of this or that, etc.. My husband has been working on designing a program that will do that for me, but he's as likely to get that finished as I am to become a ballerina. I'd love to find an app or something but the ones I've seen want me to upload and share my recipes and have all sorts of pop-ups and interactive thingys or look difficult to add my home-made database to. Does anyone have any suggestions? Try the app Paprika (I swear I don't profit from the recommendations for this app!) In addition to adding like-prepared ingredients (2 cups chopped, 1 cup diced) it is also the easiest program I've found for importing recipes. I brought my recipes in, then started importing them from blogs and websites. If it doesn't port over the recipe as a whole, you can add the parts simply by highlighting a section and then selecting what that part is. For instance, highlight all the ingredients in the recipe, then select the ingredients tab at the bottom. Done. Love. It. When I watch cooking shows, I can add the recipes from the website faster than the guy on tv can cook them. Marcy Thanks for the rec! Do you have to share your recipes with the web?
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 4:28:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 19:33:15 GMT
Honestly, if they were ever all three away at once I'd eat eggs, sandwiches, soup, cheese and crackers, maybe a rotisserie chicken if I felt ambitious. That's what I do during the week now. We have a few different deli meats and stuff to make sandwhiches with. We always have cheese, salami and crackers on hand. I usually have some lettuce/pasta salad/fruit ready in the frig too. It's easier than trying to come up with a menu week after week - especially in the Summer when no one wants to cook.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 30, 2014 19:47:07 GMT
My husband does the grocery shopping and I cook. He'll tell me the day before or day of that he is going and I scramble to get stuff written down on his list. I sometimes forget what I was even going to make with what he brought home. I think I will try the 12-15 meal plan and see how that goes. Once school starts back in session I get home by five and am pretty tired. If I cook five times a week I am amazed.
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Post by ten&rose on Jul 30, 2014 20:03:22 GMT
UGH I hate making up the weekly menu. I ask the 4 other people in my family for ideas and I get the same ones ever damn week. DH -- "some sort of meat" (Thanks a lot) DD1 - "Buffalo Chicken and sausage and lentil soup" (Ok you know 3/5 don't like buffalo chicken and it is too damn hot for soup) DS and DD2 -- "orange chicken and rice" (it is the only meal they ever request)
Is it so hard for the 4 people I live with to each come up with one thing so I only have to think of 3?
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peabrain
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,588
Jun 25, 2014 22:18:04 GMT
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Post by peabrain on Jul 30, 2014 20:10:09 GMT
no, I don't think it works that way at all.
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Post by lurkingsince2001 on Jul 30, 2014 20:23:35 GMT
Thanks peabrain! It looks like it doesn't have a Windows app so I think I'll pass. I could get it for my tablet but prefer to do planning on my PC. Oh well.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,423
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jul 30, 2014 20:55:26 GMT
I have huge issues with feeding my family. I screw up recipes all the time due to my memory. I buy stuff and then don't know why I've bought it. A husband that May or may not be home, a son that has texture issues, it's frustrating. I'll look at paprika
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caro
Drama Llama
Refupea 1130
Posts: 5,222
Jun 26, 2014 14:10:36 GMT
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Post by caro on Jul 30, 2014 21:38:24 GMT
I get an email from Allrecipies everyday and have made many new meals as a result. But I love to cook.
How about some easy meals like a roasted chicken and salad. Or grilled chicken or hamburger with baked potatoes and grilled corn on cob. I grill meat all the time and bake potatoes with roasted veggies.
Make a big pasta salad to go with grilled chicken.
Just go simple till it cools off.
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Post by lightetc on Jul 30, 2014 21:52:49 GMT
I agree about the rotation planning. Also, you could add make your own night leftover night - I call it buffet try a new dish night. when the boys were little, I did similar meals each day of the week. monday. Chicken- any kind of chicken rotisserie, grilled, shredded chicken tuesday. Pasta. Any kind wed. Always breakfast for dinner ( church night at 6:30) thurs. Soup and sandwich or salad or sandwich friday. Pizza, homemade, frozen or take out. we also grill a lot on Sunday nights and eat throughout the week. I remember mum doing this when I was about 15. Monday was wraps, burritos, tacos or similar Tuesday was meat and veges (sausages, steak, chops with mashed potato, etc) Wednesday was pasta - spag bol, pasta bake Thursday was fish of some sort - cassarole, battered, take away, BBQ'd. Friday leftovers Saturday soup or get it yourself etc The quick easy nights fitted with the nights we had activities after school. And while the specific meal wasn't planned at least there was a bit of direction.
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azredhead
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,755
Jun 25, 2014 22:49:18 GMT
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Post by azredhead on Jul 30, 2014 22:00:29 GMT
Ohh I know what ya mean. I HATE the planning and deciding what's for dinner. There's only two of us! I don't mind the cooking part so much. But I HATE making menus.
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momto4kiddos
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,153
Jun 26, 2014 11:45:15 GMT
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Post by momto4kiddos on Jul 30, 2014 22:00:31 GMT
I hate it too. The cooking part isn't even so bad, it's the coming up with the ideas that really makes me crazy! Plus I hate making the same stuff over and over. So not a fan!
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Post by miominmio on Jul 30, 2014 22:02:29 GMT
I don't mind cooking, but I hate planning! And right now, it's been really hot here for at least a month, which means I have no appetite at all, and that makes planning meals even more difficult.
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Post by PEAcan pie on Jul 30, 2014 22:08:59 GMT
We make a lot of tacos... the first day we make soft tacos and the second day taco salads. Also roast a large pork tenderloin because it taste good the next day too.
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Post by karinms on Jul 30, 2014 22:20:04 GMT
With two picky kids and an even pickier bf who I cook for most weekends... I totally hear you. To add to that... I just got switched to the 10-6:30 shift at work which is going to mean I HAVE to plan ahead, for good healthy dinners that can also provide me with lunch the next day:).
I see good and bad reviews for Paprika. Does anyone have it and not like it?
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Post by zeutdog86 on Jul 30, 2014 22:40:38 GMT
I do love to plan meals and cook them so if you read this, I have a suggestion. Once you've made a meal, write it down. Keep adding to the list when you cook a meal. When you get 12 or more meals on your list, start a rotation of those 12 meals. If you do the above and put the days recipes/instructions/grocery list on a file card and store them in a file box. Once you get 12 or more built up, you can just go through them at the beginning of each week and pull out 7, put them in the order that you want to serve them, place them in the front of the file box, and menu planned. We did this. We had over 30 dinners on index cards. Pulled 6 cards for the week; made sure the ingredients were in the house and picked a different card for dinner each night. Always made sure there were simple dinners for the nights dinner needed to be quick. They didn't go back into the box until the month was over. I don't cook, dh does but my job was to decide, shop and clean. Worked for us when the kids were growing up. Now that it is just us, he only cooks big dinners on weekends.
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Post by roxiemarie0524 on Jul 30, 2014 23:13:39 GMT
I used to meal plan every week, but now I have fallen out of the habit. I am finding it so hard to get back in the habit - I just don't want to do it!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jul 30, 2014 23:16:13 GMT
I totally hear ya! I don't really mind the actual cooking but the deciding, shopping, etc. get me down.
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Post by bianca42 on Jul 30, 2014 23:45:28 GMT
I use google calendar. I have one for each member of the family and one for MEALS. That way when I plan the week's meals I can see which days are busy and need a quick meal. I also look back over the last month or two for ideas. I try to ask the kids and DH...but I usually get "McDonalds" or "order pizza" as suggestions.
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Post by lovetodigi on Jul 30, 2014 23:52:56 GMT
With two picky kids and an even pickier bf who I cook for most weekends... I totally hear you. To add to that... I just got switched to the 10-6:30 shift at work which is going to mean I HAVE to plan ahead, for good healthy dinners that can also provide me with lunch the next day:). I see good and bad reviews for Paprika. Does anyone have it and not like it? I have it on my iPad, my iPhone and my Mac and I use it almost every day. Love that app. It is easy to do your menu planning with it and I like how easy it is to input recipes. Well worth the money.
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Post by Scrapbrat on Jul 31, 2014 0:05:20 GMT
I have a couple of things that work pretty well for me. One thing is that I have a list of many of my families favorite dinner main dishes, and they are all organized by type. For instance, I have quick and easy main dishes, vegetarian main dishes, things cooked on the grill, etc. it really helps fit meals into the right slots during the week. The other thing is a fantastic app called MealBoard. It costs a few dollars, but it's the best meal planning, recipe, shopping, and pantry control app ever.
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