does anyone do meal planning?
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Topic: does anyone do meal planning?
Posted By: kat_hutch
Subject: does anyone do meal planning?
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 9:34am
if so, how do you start? what are some of your family friendly fav's that are always on it? do you do it weekly/fortnightly/monthly???? would like to start and have it established before our second bub comes along to bring costs down. thanks  ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 9:43am
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We did it for like a month using a weekly plan but I got bored and didn't end up sticking to it lol..
But our standard favs are: - pasta bake - home made fish n chips - risotto - mac n cheese with vege and meat on the side Those are the ones we have every week. I change up the others. |
Posted By: kat_hutch
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 9:59am
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thanks stace. thats given me a few different meals i didn't think of. -------------
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 10:02am
| Our meals have to be daniel friendly as well as vego friendly lol. Hard task sometimes |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 10:10am
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I do ours weekly as that's how often we shop at the supermarket, and mostly its determined around what's on special at the supermarket.
Standards are mince and chicken, and sometimes sausages. I make a lot of homemade burgers, spag bol or mexican, chicken stir fry. I also like to include at least one vegetarian meal each week - I love veges Dh prefers meat. We usually have a home made pizza on a Friday to use up any left over lunch stuff - ham, mushroom, capsicum etc. We have pancakes every Sunday for Brunch, after 6 days of cereal and milk its nice to have a leisurely start to the day. I have a white board on the fridge with the days of the week marked on it, sometimes all I write is the meat we are going to have that day so I know to get it out of the freezer the night before. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: kat_hutch
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 10:13am
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yea ours need to start being more liam friendly now too.
home made pizza's are a good idea. we do a vege meal once a week too. need more variety in that!! -------------
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:09am
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I've found mexican a great vege option, I make it with kidney beans and tomatoes leave out the mince.
For more vege inspiration grab yourself a copy of Alison Holst's Meals without Meat Cookbook its got some awesome and easy vege ideas. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:27am
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I don't know any toddler that likes mexican. Daniel isn't fussy and he hates it lol
Ummm last night we had frittata and on the side of that we had salad and chicken. Its yum and easy. We do homemade pizzas, Daniel for some reason won't touch it so Dh and I share half a pizza, Daniel gets a slice to look at in disgust and then cook some wedges and shove in some chicken nugets to cook at the same time for Daniel to eat or some galic bread. Potato salad, stir fried or mixed vege and some random meat (whatever is in the freezer) makes another regular at our house. |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:28am
| With Daniel he has a portion of everything we are eating but when I know there is something in the meal I know hes iffy about or hasn't had before I'll also boil some peas, carrots and corn for him as an extra cause thats always going to get eaten and its not exactly expensive. |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:30am
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Kebakat - my DS is a really fussy eater but loves mexican and indian.....I worked out my child friendly meals were not tasty enough for him! -------------  
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:33am
| Oh wow! Me and my cousins were all talking about our kids eating habits and between the 6 little ones not one will touch mexican! |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 11:41am
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We plan out our meals as well. Mostly because we provide DP's daughter with a weekly menu (part of battery of interventions for taming the fussy eater).
Stuff we like: http://foodproof.com/recipes/view/hungarian-paprika-chicken-188 - Hungarian Paprika Chicken (I suggest you add bacon), Mexican, Stirfry, lasagna, steak, homemade hamburgers. I make roast chicken last two nights by adding cut-up bits of leftover meat with about 1/2 a cup or so of plain yoghurt and some dijion mustard for taste. Plop them down in the middle of half a flaky pastry sheet, make a bundle and cook in a muffin tin. Voila, you got yourself individual pie! With regards to mexican, it can be toddler friendly. Cook with less spice and then cut up the tortillas into smaller slices with some meat and cheese inside. |
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 1:26pm
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I do meal planning monthly. I go to the butcher and buy enough meat for 4wks or sometimes I decide to buy a little bit from the supermarket, mainly chiken portions and fish. I then work out what meals I can make with the meat and then write my supermarket shopping list from that. Since having Ben I make alot of meals up in bulk at the beginning of the month and then freeze them. I don't plan what we will have each night in advance but have a list that I can look at each day and select from it.
Favourites are: Lasagne Shepards Pie Beef Stroganoff (in crockpot with Maggi sachet) Mince cooked in tomato based sauce ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 2:49pm
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I got a sample menu plan off the destitute gourmet website, which I saved, and print off every week and stick it on the fridge.
I also have a grocery list that a friend made for herself and gave to me that is every item in the supermarket that she(and I) get in the order it is in the supermarket. Man it changed my life, lol. I now go round the supermarket really fast cos I don't need to double back) and I never forget anything and don't buy what I don't need. I always used a list in the past, but this list really "revoloutionised" thigns for me, lol. I put hti sunder the menu plan and just highlight what I need during hte week (before the shop) and in the blank space at the end of the page I write what meals we are having (before I shop) so I know what to buy and which shop from (combo of 2 supermarkets and butchers) I have a "staple" of about 12 to 15 meals that I rotate and have now added in BBQ and we often have a takeaway once a week, so that goes in, too. Whats good about this is everyone knows what we are having, and I know that I don't have to have "this" on "that" day, but it sure takes the what will I have for dinner thing away. I also don't need to stick totlly to the menu plan, but can make other thigns with the ingredients. Its really good. Ive got a fussy hubby so that makes things challenging at times and if in doubt, i do casserole. I often make extras of pasta bakes and casseroles so I can give thise to my mum as she is poor so I make enough of those things for her too, although if I didn't need to, i would freeze them. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 2:55pm
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Same faves of ours are.
Gourmet chicken burgers and wedges (made with tegel takeouts chicken tenders, brie, sweet chilli sauce and asst salad fixings.Yum, fast, cheap and easy as. You can do the same thing in a wrap and can make it mexican by using salsa instead of sweet chilli and plain grated cheese instead of brie. Nachoes Burritos Casseroles (chicken or beef) RoganJosh Roast Pork slices, stir fry veg and Rice Steak chips mushrooms Mince and pasta of some kind (bolognese, bake, lasagne) BBQ anything Chops Sausage xcasserole (ick) bake, sos, oinions and mushcroom sauce or gool old meatloaf. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 2:56pm
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oh and pork and pineapple patties (yuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmm) ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 3:17pm
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I do a fortnightly meal plan.
This fortnight its thurs -steak fried rice (last night) fri - lentil burgers and wedges (double wedges for tomorrow night) sat - chilli beans on wedges w salad (double salad for tomorrow dont add dressing) sun - quiche (using up leftovers) w salad and garlic bread (double for tomorrow) mon - tuna patties w potato salad (extra potato for tomorrow night) and garlic bread tues - meatloaf w mashed spud, brocolli and cauli in cheese sauce (I use half a pack of mince) wed - stroganoff meatballs on fettucine w salad and garlic bread (other half of mince pack) thurs - pumpkin curry w naan fri - pizza w wedges sat - red wine stew w dumplings (leave some meat aside) sun - stew and cheese pie (frozen pastry plus leftover stew plus grated cheese ;)) w garlic bread (double for tomorrow night) mon - steak chow mein w udon noodles (using steak from stewing pack) tues - roasted vege fettucine w garlic bread (extra vege for tomorrow night) wed - quiche w salad and garlic bread I'll have the odd chicken dish, fresh fish, etc whenever we can add that stuff to the shopping list. I like tasty and easy and healthy but I have heaps of recipes we love so nothing on the list other than pizza, pie and quiche thats super-regular. Jake eats or goes without. I always make enough for lunches the next day too which saves us $$. Best place to start is probably check out your cupboards and see what you have, write down some recipes you want during the week/fortnight you're planning for and go from there. Try to tie your meals in together so you can prep one night for dinner the next KWIM? This meal plan hasn't done this a huge amount coz I'm trying a couple of new recipes but check out http://simplehomekeeping.blogspot.com/2009/07/meal-plan-ideas.html - Linky 1 and http://simplehomekeeping.blogspot.com/2009/05/document.html - Linky 2 if you want more of an idea. I make our naan, tortillas, pizza bases, garlic bread which helps the budget so we're able to live on $60 - $70 a fortnight. HTH -------------   
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 4:58pm
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we used to meal plan but found it cost too much , but now I have two lists - one is every fortnight - every fortnight we MUST buy - rolled oats, toilet paper etc. the other list is everything we have in our cupboard (turns out we need a summer and winter version of this). I highlight things we have run out of. Then i go through the brochures and add to the list - baking and meals, depending on what is on special.
I spend $150 a week for two adults and two hungry kids - we don't have takeaways, and we have yummy lunches. I refuse to buy anything i can make myself tho. my kids LOVE tacos btw |
Posted By: Andriea
Date Posted: 18 November 2009 at 7:42pm
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I menu plan for us fortnightly, we mainly did it so I could try and keep food costs down and we are super busy so come 5 o'clock we didnt need to think about what we are having.
By doing it Our grocerys are $300.00 fortnight for 2 adults and 6 kids, that include disposible nappies for 2 and formula our favs are roasts cottage pie spag bol stuffed chicken breast homemade burgers and pizza ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: princesspumpkin
Date Posted: 19 November 2009 at 4:49pm
We started menu planning about 2 months ago, and it has made a HUGE difference to the grocery bill  .
I usually sit down once a fortnight & rummage through my cuisine & dish mags, and a cookbook or two, and choose stuff from there - not only am I buying food that we're actually going to eat, but I've ended up cooking all sorts of yummy things that I wouldn't have without sitting down in advance & thinking about it! Some weeks our grocery bill has been $45 - it's gone up since DS has stopped bfing, but still heaps lower than before. ETA: the Moosewood cookbook is wonderful for vegetarian recipes too, we usually eat vege at least one day a week
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Posted By: ?Lolly?
Date Posted: 19 November 2009 at 6:40pm
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Annie - Any chace of getting a copy of your list lol.
How do you guys keep your shopping down! We so need to do some menu planning. My fav meal has got to be home made hand bugers, but I tend to get mind farts when ever its dinner time. Now sure why I have such hard time trying to figure out what to eat, it should be easier right? ------------- Captain Chaos (5) & the Trouble Monsters (2!) 
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 19 November 2009 at 8:17pm
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I have to menu plan....mainly cause I'm really bad coming up with ingenious meal ideas on the day or at least at the last min!! But the main reason I meal plan is because of the elimination diet we are still doing.
But a great staple & really quick cook is homemade chicken nuggets & chips. I buy Pams frozen chips @$2.50 a pack & get chicken on special or buy a whole chicken & cut it down myself (MUCH cheaper) the nuggets are just diced chicken breasts & seasoned with rock salt & rolled in flour & then cooked in Sunfield canola oil. No preservatives or additives. 
it's a great hit & is cheap takeaways which are much more filling. Usually my shopping weekly ranges from $55 to $110 ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 20 November 2009 at 3:34pm
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Alia's mum,
I've got a recipe for oven fries that even my resident fussy eater loves. Goes like this: Preheat your oven to 225 degrees. Wash and scrub (you can peel them if you want) potatoes and cut into cubes of about 2.5 cm. Chuck them in a pot of cold water with some salt and bring to the boil (only to the boil, you don't want to cook them through). Seive the pototatoes and while they are drying out (important stage) put a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a roasting pan and bung it the oven for a few minutes to get the oil well heated up. Once the tray is heated, bring it out and put your potatoes in the tin, coat well in the oil. Season with salt and pepper, plus some rosemary (optional). Put them in the oven for 20-25 minutes tossing the potatoes every few minutes. They should be crispy and golden once done. Fussy eater declared them better than the regular frozen chips that her mother serves up. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 20 November 2009 at 6:14pm
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hehe, I did something similar the other night but used swede. Might try the boiling bit though next time
My oven fries are purely from a laziness POV & more like real takeaways. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: lemongirl
Date Posted: 21 November 2009 at 9:59pm
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Alia's mum,
Just remember you don't want to boil them per-say just bring to boil otherwise they go soggy. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 22 November 2009 at 9:59pm
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Ok, will remember that! Will try them out this week ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |