Thursday, January 6, 2011

M is for Meal planning...

I think I can... I think I can...

Today I am participating in Ms. Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday.

Todays letter is the letter "M".

I have tried and tried through the years to have a good meal planning system.

When my boys were little I belonged to a "MOPS" group. It Stands for Mother of preschoolers and we met at a church once a week and the kids got to go in their own class for their age group and us moms got to chat, make crafts, eat and usually they had a guest speaker.

One week the speakers were two ladies that had written a cook book called "Don't Panic! It's in the Freezer"




The book explained how to cook once a week and make triple portions so that you could freeze them and have them later. I did it for a while and really enjoyed it. It was such a great feeling to have a freezer full of meals I could just thaw out and pop in the oven or cook on the stove. I actually still use several recipes I got from this book.

My friend Lindsay over at Bytes Of Memory is a really good meal planner and she posts her meal plan along with recipes every Monday (I think it is). I admire her organization!

My friend Terra over at Sittingonanoak is also a good meal planner. If I remember right she does hers by the month!

I really intend to get better at meal planning this year. I have to admit Mark does a lot of the cooking because I work until 5 or 5:30 several nights a week. I'm pretty lucky to come home and have dinner on the table! If I could make some meals ahead and freeze them it would help him too.

Soooooooo I'm just kind of thinking out loud really but I would love from you if you are a good meal planner or not. What do you do and how do you do it??

12 comments:

Susan Anderson said...

I am a terrible meal planner. In fact, I don't plan at all. I decide at the last minute.

I would like to change that.

=)

H said...

'Planner', erm...is that a new word? I'm absolutely useless at thinking ahead; it's always last minute and 'what have I got in?' I could undoubtedly save a lot of time and money if I thought ahead a little more!

Liz Mays said...

I'm just awful! I usually think of it about an hour before we eat. To plan a week or a month ahead would be well outside my capabilities!

Judie said...

The only meals I plan are the ones for our two dog children. I know that sounds horrible, but I always cook what we are in the mood for at 6 p.m. The dogs are always in the mood for baked chicken.

Jo said...

I try ... i mean sometimes i try ... it does seem to save money in the long run because if i dont plan i am usually off to the grocery store ... i can plan about 2 weeks in advance but that's as far as i get ...

RNSANE said...

At 66, now that I'm retired, I rarrely cook anymore. Two sons - 40 and 26, are soon moving and so am I, downsizing to accomodate my retirement and dimished income. I have always had a big upright freezer and cooked in quantity so there would be plenty left over to freeze. Now, I'll get a small apartment and sell my freezer. I need to save money and it will just be me.

Unknown said...

I am not a great planner. I try to keep the ingredients to my favorite main dishes in the house and decide what I am making in the afternoon.

Teresa said...

I'm not a big meal planner, especially now that my son is grown. I do always freeze portions to take to work for my lunches. I'd starve otherwise because they don't have many vegetarian options at work. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

oo you can do it! I borrowed a friends cookbook like that one time and loved it.. I might have to get a copy!!

Becky said...

The Owens family and I are planning on a COUNTRY BUFFET breakfast Sunday @ 10:00. Wanna join us?

mub said...

My weeks run much more smoothly if I do my menu-plans. I got out of the habit last summer but I've been working my way back into it and I need to STICK TO IT! *L*

I need to keep my eye out for that book though, it seems to be pretty handy!

Jenny said...

When I'm being good with WW's I am a great meal planner. I sit down twice a week and figure everything out, including snacks.

When I'm not being good with WW's, I stink.

Totally.

Whatever is easy (and probably high-calorie) or I can con my husband into picking up.

That top cookbooks sounds neat!

Thanks for a thought-provoking post.

I really enjoyed my stop here today.

A+