Recently, I wanted a white board to have a physical list of homemade healthy food available at home. We didn’t have the money for one so we bought some dry-erase markers and taped old paper bags onto the back of the glass of our rarely used china cabinet. I like having a big visible list in the kitchen so my husband and I could refrain from opening the fridge several times a day. I also like planning a day before or on the day of so I can gouge what we’re craving for and which ingredients we have available that day.

Forgive the handwriting but I listed down several foods and recipes that we enjoy and have been repeats in our diet. We also wanted it to be relatively cheap so we process and prep meals at home to save food. All of the meals and food items listed are vegan. So far, we’ve been saving up great and feeling better with relatively healthier eating :D

How do you plan your meals?

image description: A china cabinet with its glass doors used like a white board. Brown paper bags are taped behind the glass to make the text visible.

  • Lvxferre
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    1 year ago

    Once a week, I sketch a rough plan of what I’m going to prepare through the week. 8~9 meals, only for the lunch (main meal where I live); for breakfast everyone here eats their own thing, and dinner depends on potential leftovers so I try to be flexible. The 8th and 9th meals are for emergencies, like “I couldn’t find the ingredient that I planned to use”.

    For example, here are my current plans¹:

    • Wed - ratatouille, seared chicken breast, polenta.
    • Thu - steak, white rice, tossed salad.
    • Fri - boiled yucca, pork milanesa, sauerkraut, air fryer-roasted vegs.
    • Sat - entrevero², bread.
    • Sun - green lasagna with Bolognese sauce and white sauce.
    • Mon - I’m not cooking Monday. I’ll buy takeaway lunch.
    • Tue - risotto with whatever meat is left in the freezer.
    • emergency meal 1 - curry (chicken, potato, carrot).
    • emergency meal 2 - frozen cappelletti with white cream.
    1. I actually planned this yesterday, as today [Wednesday] is the day when I buy cheaper groceries.
    2. A local dish. The main ingredient (pinhão/piñón) doesn’t grow outside my chunk of the Southern Cone. Other ingredients are bell peppers, onions, pork, beef.

    I love the idea of the list going on the cabinet. I’ll do the same - people here keep me asking “what’s today for lunch?”.