Comments on: menu planning for the planning phobic

By: Nancy Dunn

Nancy Dunn — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:07:08 +0000

Ever since I got married, we have planned our meals for the week. We go through our cookbooks, write down what we need and go shopping on Saturdays. We never buy anything that’s not on the list unless it’s on sale and we actually use it. Good luck finding a system that you can work with, it does save you money

By: Assertagirl

Assertagirl — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:11:57 +0000

I go through spurts where I plan our meals out and it actually relieves a lot of pressure and stress throughout the week to know exactly what is for dinner that night, and not have to stand at the open refrigerator door, panicking because there’s “nothing to eat.”

On the other hand, I’ve considered trying out a cleaning schedule but have never committed to that.

By: Mare

Mare — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:15:04 +0000

I’m not a “planner” per se but a “to do lister.” I make my to do list with no deadlines and then cross off each item as it’s accomplished. If I only get one thing done, I’ve still been able to cross something off my list. That way I didn’t fail-I accomplished.

On the next page, I carry over those things not yet crossed out. Now with groceries you could just make sure you have all the basics for a week of “tentative” meals you might “like” to make. You could always switch it up as long as you have what you need in the house. It doesn’t have to be written in stone.

By: sagemom

sagemom — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:59:45 +0000

I always wanted to try menu planning too, but I guess I may be planning-phobic too. I always have well laid out plans for a lot of things, but things always come up. It's hard. I can totally relate to how you feel. sagemom's last blog post..At Least He's Not Eating It...

By: MJH

MJH — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:11:37 +0000

I actually like to plan, but I find planning with a kid is setting myself up for failure. As for housework, I PLANNED to mop the floors and straighten the house yesterday. End of the day house still a wreck, didn’t do shit all day, not even anything fun with the kid. I intended to focus on the kid and play all day today, got the bathrooms cleaned, floors and laundry done AND played outside for hours AND actually read several stories instead of sending him off for quiet time alone! I can’t explain how that works out.
For food, I’m 20 miles from the grocery, so I have to plan. I jot down about 5-6 rough meal ideas to get me through the week plus there’s often leftovers so maybe 2 weeks. My list might be: chicken+veggies, salad, fish+greens, beans+rice, Italian stew. Usually I only need to check a recipe for one meal. The rest I wing it. Of course I check for things we’ll run out of like milk and OJ. I fix the meals in order of most perishable. Maybe that could work for you, not a REAL plan, just a rough idea.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:46:23 +0000

I feel the same way!! I feel like my inner teenage rebel pops out anytime a plan is set! Even if I actually like the activity/food/event! Yikes!

By: sherpamama

sherpamama — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:16:14 +0000

Ha ha! http://www.gfreecuisine.com Relish has figured you out!! course the hatred I can’t help with – I’m sort of a cooking sheep – steer my in the right direction and I’ll just baa and cook…

By: fidget

fidget — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:12:48 +0000

sites like that are usually tough for me b/c I eat gluten free. Also, I hate most peoples recipes and have to change them. ROFL. Im such a pain in the ass.

By: sherpamama

sherpamama — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:04:23 +0000

Two words – Relish Relish (.com) I hate planning, I hate shopping I hate shopping lists but get me in a grocery stroe without one and it’s like I fall into a black hole of beverages and salty treats. I swear, I will walk out with 12 differant snacks involving varying degrees of saltyness and about 9 beverage options. So… Relish. Pick your 5 meals, hit print – voila – shopping list, menus, easy breezy. (i usually spend under $75 for the 4 of us) It might help – good luck!!

By: Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing]

Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:08:52 +0000

I recently discovered that I don’t try to lose weight because I will inevitably fail.

However, I have already been successful at being a failure at gaining weight.