How Far Ahead Do You Usually Plan Your Evening Meal (Menu)?

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

I've always planned a week at a time, what I was going to make and the sides down the left side of the paper, following the store specials, with a grocery list in the order of the store on the right.

The plan allowed me to get in enough chicken, pork, fish, and beef variety. I would also plan with events in mind (church, Boy Scouts), and I could get in the right sides so I didn't end up with the same thing over and over.

Our sons would look at the list and be very upset if homemade spaghetti got moved around, or if anything did!

I still make that list so I always have the carrots if stew is on the schedule!

It makes me crazy now, because DH can't decide until the last minute!

kaydee50 · ‎02-07-2011

About an hour!

FastDogWalker2 · ‎03-10-2010

Like you, I try to plan out for the coming week and I also like to shop the grocery store's ad. It makes sense to me too!

Still Stylish Lady · ‎08-03-2019

Within an hour is more like it for me.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

Pretty far in advance. I shop my market's sales. DH generally doesn't offer suggestions, but I usually tell him what I have planned for the week. I'll ask if there is a night he'd like to eat out.

house_cat · ‎03-09-2010

I plan meals for the upcoming week on Saturday morning. I've done this for decades and I can't imagine functioning any other way. It also involves checking my calendar, because if there are nights when I'm working late, or have other appointments or engagements, I have to prep ahead. We rarely eat out and it's not unusual for me to be prepping a meal at 5 am before leaving for work.

~ house cat ~

jannabelle1 · ‎09-12-2010

I keep a short list of things I can make based on what's in the freezer or refrigerator. I don't always follow that though. I don't really plan ahead too much....it just depends on what we feel like eating, and how big our appetite is for the day! My short list doesn't include any sides - I don't always make a side dish and if I do, it's a last minute decision. To be honest, I don't cook something every single day - there's always leftovers, sandwiches or eggs. DH and I go with the flow, and he's very capable of fixing something if he's hungry!

SurferWife · ‎12-12-2010

My husband does all of our meal planning & he generally gets his "epiphany" (as he calls it), each day.

Time is just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. It isn’t how long you live that matters; it is how well you are prepared to die. ~~Colonel Robert B. Thieme, Jr.

godi · ‎03-09-2010

I made my own list that has my meals written in boxes at top and the categories like diary, dry goods etc in sections below. I then shop with that and save it for me to remember my menu. It runs Sunday to Saturday.