https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:16:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-118473 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:41:06 +0000 Pancakes 118473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been pretty religiously meal planning for about 7 months now. I keep a binder with my weekly meal plan written down, and that way if I can't think of something, I can flip back through my other menus to get ideas quickly. I used to only plan 4-5 meals out, but I began forcing myself to do 7 meals at a time and it has gotten easier. I do a big grocery run once a week and then I may have to run into the store once during the week to get something that wasn't at another store (or to get more bananas, always running out of those!). It's made my life a lot easier because before I was always thinking, 'Okay, it's 4:00, what are we having for dinner tonight?', and then scrambling (and stressing!) to come up with something. I'm more likely to not just resort to going out to dinner now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-118037 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:29:52 +0000 Alivoo01 118037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love menu planning because the hubby and I are super indecisive when it comes to meals. Then I can't decided what to prep the day before, etc. It's such a headache. Now, at least I have an idea. If he doesn't want chicken today, we just swap it out with something that I was planning on making later that week. That way, all the ingredients/supplies still get used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117813 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:10:35 +0000 Minnie_Girl 117813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We normally eat the same variations of foods, and will plan for one or two unique meals. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117784 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:39:16 +0000 sulli301 117784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>YES!!!!!! I have saved SO much time, stress &amp; money by doing this! I plan my menus out monthly &amp; shop every Sunday. It has changed our lives! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117706 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:36:32 +0000 Andrea 117706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I used to wing it but that wasn't cutting it once the LO started on all table food. Now I plan so that she can have nice, nutritious meals! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117705 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 07:33:22 +0000 volksgirl64 117705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We sit down every Sunday and make our lists and plan our meals. We're each responsible for 3 dinners during the week (depending on what's happening) and then we head for the store. It really helps us not to overspend and use what we buy.<br /> Plus, it cuts down on the "What's for dinner" conversation and always eating out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117685 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 05:38:01 +0000 pastemoo 117685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: Stone soup is something that my mom "invested" based on the fairy tale (in some languages nail soup, or stone soup)--where you start out with a nail in a pot of boiling water, and then you gradually add things from around the house.<br /> It's like stew, except we keep stones (canned goods, frozen goods, dry goods) for soup/stew/chili. </p> <p>When my mom made it, sometimes it would come out more like goulash. Always good, never the same.</p> <p>Thing is sometimes I even go to the store on the way home because I want something specific for dinner. I cannot plan a week ahead. We always have cheese and tomato sauce and dry goods for baking, so in a pinch, we not only have stone soup, we have pizza.</p> <p>I guess a menu wouldn't help me just because of the way I cook-everything I make can be made with almost any ingredients...</p> <p>We buy 3 veggies per week plus a lettuce head of bag of lettuce for a salad (not including frozen) so it rarely goes bad--with just us 2, 3 veggies is really like 6 servings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117660 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:38:29 +0000 looch 117660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I write a plan because it helps me not to over buy at the store. I tend to buy too much produce and it spoils. </p> <p>I have a large 6 week rotating plan so we're eating a wide variety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117618 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:41:42 +0000 Sweet T 117618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to do it every week but I've been slacking. I'm starting up again this week. We've been over spending a lot because of it &amp; a lot of produce has gone to waste.</p> <p>@chopsuey119: &amp; @cupcakemama: I'm assuming that she's referring to the story "Stone Soup."</p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_soup" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_soup</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117606 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:12:12 +0000 Mrs. Pen 117606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, I'm pretty religious about it. I even plan each breakfast an lunch, including lunches for my husband to take to work.</p> <p>I haven't done a meal Plan since LO's been born. It's been busy, but I will get back into it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117542 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:32:55 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 117542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually make a meal plan. I think it keeps me from spending too much at the grocery store. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117529 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:22:57 +0000 lemondrop 117529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on how crazy the week is and how moody I am about cooking. I like it better when I do have the week planned out, but I'm tired and so done with cooking after Easter and have been half-a$$ing it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117503 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:13:13 +0000 heartonastring 117503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, but I'm generally big on organization (okay, fine, obsessive). It got thrown off this week because of Easter and I feel so all over the place!</p> <p>I spend less money since I started menu planning and it saves time. I also (usually...not this week) make all my lunches and all my breakfasts on Sunday so that I can just stumble through the week without having to think too much ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117486 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:02:44 +0000 heffalump 117486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends how I feel. Hopefully I'll be able to more often, but I have learned to be flexible with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117485 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:02:28 +0000 cupcakemama 117485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: wanna know that too?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117482 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:02:00 +0000 chopsuey 117482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pastemoo: What's stone soup?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117480 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:01:55 +0000 cupcakemama 117480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do find it easier and we generally have minimal produce we have to throw out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117477 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:13 +0000 pastemoo 117477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No way, never!<br /> We just get the veggies we like and various kinds of meat.</p> <p>I never cook with a recipe anyway, and we always have some "stones" on hand for stone soup, as necessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117475 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:00:11 +0000 chopsuey 117475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cupcakemama: I just buy whatever I feel like buying.. and throw it in the freezer (if it's meat) and eat the veggies as quickly as we can! :T I think I'm gonna start planning weekly dinners once DH stops traveling.<br /> :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117469 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:57:16 +0000 cupcakemama 117469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! We decide what we are having for dinner for the week before we go to the supermarket. That way we know what to get! How do you do it otherwise?? I mean if you don't plan how on earth do you know what meat and fresh produce to buy??</p> <p>I also like it because I find the working out what to have for dinner is the hard part. We do that together so it's not all on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-do-you-plan-a-weekly-menu#post-117463 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:54:27 +0000 chopsuey 117463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so amazed that so many of you do! Maybe I should...?<br /> I just go to the market 2 times a week and wing it. </p>