Meal Planning

[whatgoingon]

Can some of you share some tips for meal planning. Thank you.

[whatgoingon]

Thank you. What would you consider a good breakfast?

[Zest]

Hi whatgoingon

What aspects of meal planning would you like the tips to focus on? There are some articles out there on meal planning but they tend to focus on different areas - e.g. meal planning for heart health, meal planning to lose weight, etc - or meal planning to utilise left-overs, or meal planning on a budget. I shall certainly think about it, and pop back with anything I see that might be helpful to you.

Hope you're having a good day.

Zest

[whatgoingon in reply to Zest]

Thank you for your reply. If you remember I don't like cooking and therefore I don't eat very well!! I guess I am wondering if people base their weekly meals around store sales or if they look through cookbooks and choose something and then purchase items needed or if they just cook what they have. I have tried to research meal plans for seniors but I don't seem to come up with anything useful. I live alone so I usually end up wasting food. I guess what I want is someone to come cook for me!! I am also wondering if people actually plan meals for each day of the week. I think you can tell food is a problem for me. Just grasping for help with my eating. Thank you. Sorry for my food confusion. I actually don't eat enough to keep my energy going.

[Zest in reply to whatgoingon]

Hi whatgoingon

Yes, I do remember that you don't like cooking so much, so that is more challenging, but definitely not impossible, as I feel sure you could build your confidence over time, and develop a range of meals you'd enjoy cooking, and maybe try new ones from time to time. In answer to your query - speaking personally, I tend to shop quite often - as the shops aren't far away, and I can pop in to get things for the day - and I will often go by Sales - and then choose foods to accompany whatever is on a special offer - and I like to batch cook too, and for example the Lasagne I made yesterday has lasted us for 2 days - so the second day, I don't need to cook. I will also use up left-overs, and I will also look in recipe books, or I might put what I have available (in my fridge and cupboards) in the search window of my computer and see what recipes come up. Or I'll be inspired by something someone has cooked on the forum, and consider having that item, or meal - e.g. buying raspberries and tomatoes which have featured lately!

If I see any helpful articles or tips - I will put them your way - but in the meantime, hopefully people will share their tips on meal planning with us - as it's great to hear different approaches.

Don't apologise - I'm so glad you're asking in the forum, as we can hopefully help you out with some ideas.

Wishing you an enjoyable evening/day (not sure what time it is with you just now, but it's evening here).

Zest

[whatgoingon]

Thank you. I actually only eat twice per day. Sometimes only once. I have a part time night janitor job so my life is night schedule. I usually don't get hungry until late in the afternoon. I really appreciate your suggestions.

[Zest]

Hi again whatgoingon

I got a really helpful article in my in-box today about 'Meal Planning - 23 Helpful Tips' so in view of the title of your post, I thought I'd add it here - so you can see it:

healthline.com/nutrition/me...

It is from Healthline, and looks quite helpful.

Hope you're having a great week.

Zest

[whatgoingon in reply to Zest]

Thank you!

[Fran182716 Prediabetic]

Hi whatgoingon I have been planning ahead more both to try to avoid wasting food and to try to make sure I have something healthy. It’s not a rigid plan and it does change sometimes. Some of my plan is similar to what Zest has described above.

I tend to do one big weekly shop and some little catch up ones (bread, milk, salad, things I have forgotten) I look ahead at my work diary for the week and can roughly see which evenings I will have time to cook something easy (taking 30 ish mins) and which evenings I’ll need to throw something together in 15 - 20 mins or take evening meal to work with me (we have a microwave, fridge and kettle at work). I tend to cook more time consuming meals on my days off and always try to cook extra for the week (but if my sons are at home the “leftovers “ don’t always make it as far as the freezer!)

I keep things that can be made very quickly and easily and eaten with a salad or microwaved frozen veg, omelettes are very quick, a lot of the quorn products cook quickly from the fridge or freezer (I don’t eat meat) or leftovers heated up from fridge or freezer. A can of salmon can go well with a lot of things. I’ve got much better at checking the use by dates on things in the fridge and plan round those as well.

On a day where I have a bit more time I will put a big pan of veggies to roast in the oven, just chop them up and drizzle with a little olive oil garlic and black pepper and when they’re done they will keep in the fridge for a few days to be reheated, or frozen. I prefer this to salad when it’s cold.

I do sometimes like to cook something more complex and try new recipes when I have time but find if I keep it simple during a busy week I’m more likely to stick to my plan.

Hope this might have given you some ideas.

Good luck 😀

[whatgoingon]

Thank you for your reply. This is helpful. I don't like cooking and I don't like what I cook. I will try some of your suggestions.