How far in advance do you plan your meals?

[tstalafuse]

2 weeks at a time, because we only go grocery shopping once every 2 weeks.

[Michael_in_TX]

Two weeks?! I may start another thread on this topic....

[ssandy_561]

Saturday mornings after Breakfast we sit down and discuss dinners for the week. I do all the cooking and I work from 6:30 am to 5 pm M-F so weekday meals are quick and easy fare.

I just got home from the grocery store.

This week we are having tacos, chicken wraps, BLTs and broiled haddock with mashed cauliflower and steamed broccoli. Friday nights are either take out pizza or a fish fry. Saturdays we usually go out for dinner and Sundays I’ll make brunch and usually BBQ something for dinner. Brunch tomorrow is corned beef hash, dippy eggs and toast. Dinner is lasagna and I will be making pork belly burnt ends to take to work for the department on Monday.

[Old Glory]

We tend to have similar meals each week. We stock up the fridge and freezer then pull out what we want to cook the night before or that afternoon. Look to see what veggies we have and then cook a starch.

When we host a get together we plan well in advance. If trying something new / fancy or that requires prep in advance that is planned as well.

Generally in the rotation:
Grilled Chicken breasts / thighs / whole bird
Grilled Pork Chops
Stir Fry Chinese / Thai / Korean different proteins and different veggies
Grilled streaks / Tri-Tip / Bavette / or other
Pork Tenderloin
Pork Loin
Pasta
Tacos
Pizza
Kielbasa sheet pan / grilled / boiled dinner
Italian Sausage grilled / sheet pan
Fajitas
Ribs
Pulled Pork

Sides Veggies:
Broccoli
Green beans
Corn
Snow / Snap Peas
Cauliflower
Asparagus
Sauteed Cabbage
Broccolini
Summer Squash
Zucchini
Winter Squash
Brussels
Peppers
Mushrooms
Salad

Sides Starch:
White Rice
Roasted Potatoes
Home Fries
Mashed Potatoes
Boiled Potastoes
Sweet Potatoes
Pasta
BBQ or Pinto Beans

[Michael_in_TX]

I need to do something like this....separate the sides so as to pick and choose...

[DTro]

Listing out a rotations seems really helpful.

[JustKyle]

We plan for a week at a time. We have a picky teenager and try to plan a couple meals around what she will eat when she’s home. I’m pretty rigid on my menu. I make it, send it out to the family group text and tell them if they want changes to have it to me by noon on Sunday before I shop for the week. If they don’t like it, there’s always a peanut butter sandwich.

[smokin fool]

12 mins ago I thru 3 chicken burgers in the oven, they'll be done in 6
nuff said

[MBMorgan]

We plan for days. Prep for hours. Then cook whatever comes to mind.

[DavidNorcross]

I cook Friday through Sunday. My wife cooks Monday through Thursday. I send her my menu on Wednesdays so she can buy my ingredients when she shops on Thursday. This system has worked for us for years.

[Oak Smoke]

Cooking for two retired people is so easy. We do try to at least start the week with a plan for Sunday dinner. Since we still can’t master cooking a meal without leftovers we have leftovers on Monday. After that it’s usually, what do you want for dinner, around noon so we have time to go to the store. As far as defrosting something from the freezer I’ve found that if I lay it on the granite counter top in the kitchen it thaws quickly. All I have to do is move it over to a warm spot about every half hour. Unless it’s huge it will thaw in a couple of hours. We’re also not above just ordering Pizza delivered.

[jecucolo]

We use an app called eMeals. Generally plans meals a week out.

[SheilaAnn]

I try and at least plan a week out. Mostly because 90% of our proteins are frozen and I have to slack out. Sides and stuff depends on what I get in csa and then I will tack accordingly.
worst case: drive through our favorite local burger joint.
best case: thawing schedule, marinating schedule and accompanying sides all spelled out. Recipes in paprika at the ready. (This rarely happens 🤣)

[TheCountofQ]

Rarely schedule here. I stock the pantry/cupboard fairly genericly, then decide what I have time/ energy for day by day & minute by minute. If course, some things need pulled out of the freezer, so I guess I plan a little ahead a at times. Even still, I might change my mind and do something different at any stage of the game.

Being single has its advantages.

[klflowers]

On the way home from work.

[fzxdoc]

I've been doing curbside shopping for nearly 6 months now, so that makes it much easier to plan for the coming week or two. I find that I spend much less on groceries with curbside, because it keeps me out of the grocery store thereby minimizing impulse purchases. Plus it makes me really think about what items in the fridge or freezer need to be used up, and I tailor my order accordingly.

The first time I'm able to drive to Sam's Club an hour away and get to their meat department, though, all bets will be off!

Kathryn

[SheilaAnn]

fzxdoc Fantastic discipline! I find if I plan, I spend less as well.

[Clawbear57]

I never plan more than a day at a time except for maybe Sunday dinner. Sometimes at 5pm I will realize that I didn't take anything out of the freezer then it's a late dinner.

[barelfly]

No planning really. My wife will pick up produce on saturdays for the first part of the week and then I just cook what sounds good to me, and I usually start thinking about that at 4pm…

I will plan more for the weekends, as that will tend to be the fun cooks for me. Week days is just get it on the table.

I’ll also try and cook up a bit of chicken on Sunday’s that will help with lunches and dinners for baseball nights.