What's for supper?

United States
September 3, 2007 2:49pm CST
...How do you decide what to make for dinner? Do you plan by the month, week or each day? Do you ask your family what they would like to have or just go by what you have in your pantry? Do you schedule it? And what do you do when there is someone who doesn't like what's for supper? Do you allow them to have something else? ...Menu planning was part of my work responsibilities. When I got home from work, it was the last thing I wanted to do. I hate waiting until the last minute to start planning dinner, too. I want to know, at least, in the morning, if not the night before, what I need to thaw or start getting ready to have dinner on the table at dinner time. ...Thank you for responding to my puzzlement. I want to be fair to my children and teach them responsiblility. ...Have a great day and peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
3 people like this
14 responses
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
5 Sep 07
I like to always have at least a month's worth of food at my house, and I rotate it forward when I go grocery shopping, and make sure to use anything that is getting close to expiring. I go grocery shopping twice a month, and before I do, I check the pantry and see what we need to use soon. I then try to plan meals that will allow me to use those foods. As far as menu planning, I just have a rough idea of about 15 dinners or so that I want to make. I also make sure we are stocked up on things that I will be making for my son (and a packed one for my husband) for lunch (grilled cheese fixings, peanut butter, chicken for grilling, cottage cheese, etc). I make a list and buy all those things we need, and then as the month goes, I ask my husband the night before what he wants the next night, or I suggest something and see if it sounds good to him. We don't plan specific things for specific days until the night before.
1 person likes this
@bronie123 (4587)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Well this is what i do while im at work i think about things that sound good to me i chose something then i usually text my fiance and brother to see if that sounds good to them or what else they might want then I pick it up to cook after i get off of work
@bronie123 (4587)
• United States
5 Sep 07
no not usually when i go to the store i usually buy a big pack (family size ) of meat and whatever else then on the next few days i can think about what i can make with that type of meat
• United States
5 Sep 07
...Do you do this everyday? You go to the store everyday? YIKES!! I hate shopping on weekends when everybody is out. I get grouchy. ...Thanks for sharing. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I ask my husband what he wants to eat because he is such a picky eater and dinners have gone to waste because it is not what he wanted. So I ask him. If it is a meal that will take awhile like a roast then I will ask him the night before otherwise I will ait till he gets home to start to cook. Sometimes we don't get supper on till seven o'clock because of it but I can't stand making 2 suppers and wasting food.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
5 Sep 07
No, Saddly I do not have any children. But I do babysit alot and have my sister who's 6 stay with me alot especially in the summer months. When she is here at my home I do have to fix 2 meals because she is a picky eater also and she eats before my hubby gets home. Hers is easy though she wants simple things. Noodles,hot dogs,hamburgers,spaghetti and meatballs in can, yogurts, ect.. easy stuff. I hate eating so late sometimes I think it is a major part to my weight gain. I am thinking that I will have to change things soon. Fix mine earlier then fix his. It will probably waste food but I need to start eating healthier then I am now. He is skinny size 30-32. That is the size I wear in big womans clothing.Their is a site called Fitday.com that is great. Well, happy cooking.
• United States
5 Sep 07
...That is what it was like living with my ex. You must be very patient. It drove me nuts not knowing what to make. ...Do you have children? Mine had a hard time waiting for dinner when ex would come home late. I'd have to feed them something and that killed the family together time. ...We are much happier in our own home, eatting about the same time every evening. It makes my life less stressful. ...Good eatting to you. PBWY =(^;^)= Della
• Philippines
4 Sep 07
whatever is availabe in the kitchen and whatever kind of food i want to eat that's where i usually decide what to cook for a particular meal since my parents allow me to cook whatever food i want to cook... :)
• Philippines
5 Sep 07
there are also times that i do the shopping for our meals...i love going to grocery and choosing for vegetables to cook :)
• United States
4 Sep 07
...So you live at home with your parents and they do the shopping? I like that arrangement. It just won't work for me. ...Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
• China
4 Sep 07
i am a student,i am living in school,so i needn't care others about what to eat for supper. i think a cup of milk is enough for supper,or if i still feel hangry,i will eat a piece of bread in addition.
• United States
4 Sep 07
...Your diet is very alarming. Nutritionally, it is very inadequate. You need to add fruits, veggies and a protien source. ...Please tell me you eat better than what you have described! You have to be as thin as a pencil. You will have more energy and be able to study better if you eat better. ...Eat child! Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
• China
7 Sep 07
oh, thank you for your concern.i am not very thin.i think i am a little fat.so the supper is enough for me.hehe~
• China
4 Sep 07
haha,you already have a family life ,but i am single howbeit.now time is 17:44 in my city, and 16 minutes later i will go for my supper not in my home but in the eatery. if i have a home with my wife ,i will cook good dinner for us . you know chinese food is so famous to the world,welcome to china ,and to bejing !because the Olympic Games will be holded in the capital in 2008.08.08.then,if you come to china, you can not only watch the games but also can deguset chinese food which is so delicious.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
5 Sep 07
Yes that is great that you are willing to cook for your wife. My husband doesn't cook me anything never has. His idea of cooking is making a sandwhich, which he doens't make for me. I love chinese foods I buy them every month sometimes in frozen t.v. dinners not the same as the good real hot fresh stuff but it's better then none at all. My husband doesn't do dishes. So it would be great that if she cooked and you done dishes occasionally for her.
• United States
5 Sep 07
...My children love chinese foods. There are so many different Asian foods available here. Thai, Cantonese, Shashwon (I know I spelled that wrong, forgive me), Korean, Japanese and more. It all looks and smells so good. ...It is nice to hear you will cook for your wife. It will also excite her if you will clean up after yourself in the kitchen. ...What kind of dishes do you like to cook, Bruce? ...Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@nmw2005 (1197)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I make a list on Sunday and plan for the week. Before I go shopping I ask for mealtime suggestions. I figure that way if i make something and it is not liked, oh well you had an opportunity to put your 2 cents in.
@nmw2005 (1197)
• United States
4 Sep 07
Glad you like the frog. My husband opened his backpack one morning and the frog leaped out. He brought it inside and it just sat on the counter and posed for a few pictures. He then let took it out and let him go. Good luck with your meal planning!!
• United States
4 Sep 07
...What is the story behind your little green frog? It is very cute. ...Your idea is what I was looking for. I want them to participate in planning and really don't want o hear any complaining once dinner is on the table. ...They have to plan out their school lunches for a week, so I know what to make in the morning. They can be so grumpy when I get them up for school, having to ask them what they want in their lunch is the last thing I want to do. ...Thanks for responding. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@vhansen (2029)
• United States
18 Sep 07
I've never really planned a meal other than holiday dinner.I usually start thinking about what I'm hungry for about quitting time and hopefully by the time I get home I have an idea of what I'm going to cook.If not,I just order take out.;-)
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
4 Sep 07
I used to have a menu planned for two weeks and posted right in our fridge, but i eventually got tired, Now, I cook whatever is available, sometimes hubby prepares dinner but I have to tell him what to cook.
• United States
4 Sep 07
...Did you get tired of planning two weeks at a time or what you planned? ...It is nice to have someone to share this responsiblity with. My ex would cook once in a while, then tell everyone he has to cook all the time. My new man likes to share responsibilities and he will even do the dishes and wipe up after himself. ...Thank you for sharing. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
4 Sep 07
i absolutely hate planning and thinking of what i have to make for supper. my hubby generally makes all the meals at our house, but i generally think of what we are going to have, so end up taking out what we are going to have... my kids do plan meals some times, but they are responsible for cleanup...(they are 10 & 14).
• United States
5 Sep 07
...Wow, cher! Do you ever try planning a week at a time? It would make it only once a week that you would have to think about it. ...It is nice to hear that your hubby helps making meals and your kids clean up. Sharing responsiblities is a great way to show kids cooperation. Mine are doing dishes now too. They are 11 & 12. ...Thank you for sharing here. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@kuting (885)
• Philippines
4 Sep 07
Supper is usually a boring meal for me. i live with my cousin and a friends of hers. we are all busy with work and sometimes both of them get home late. sometimes i just eat from a fastfood or a diner before i get home. or i order something for take out and just eat it at home. sometimes my boyfried would aske me out and we'd have hearty supper. its the only time that i enjoy supper.
• United States
4 Sep 07
...kuting, I think that is called fellowship. I'm glad you enjoy it. ...Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
• United States
5 Sep 07
I am making chicken cooked in terrykia sauce, rice and veggies tonight. I go to it day by day but I do not work so I can make up my mind at the fly.
• Germany
3 Sep 07
I'm still new to having my own household. We're just two at the moment and my boyfriend is a pilot, so he's absent very often. When we are both there, we try to plan a bit: We choose some meals for the next together, buy everything we need and then decide spontaneously which of those we are going to cook each day. When I'm alone I used to not think of food at all, I'm afraid. Sometimes I even forgot to eat properly. I'm trying very hard to get into a routine now and in the last weeks, I'm definitely improving. When I have children, I'm going to plan like my mother did: for one week and then stick to whatever I've planned, regardless what anybody is up to. That's how I was raised and I think it's been good for me. It's teached me to be consistent and not to complain about everything.
• United States
4 Sep 07
...The one week plan sounds really good to me. I want to go back to school, so having a plan will really help free me up to study. ...Thanks for your input. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della
@peanutjar (5198)
• Canada
4 Sep 07
Hello delladidit!How are you?Fine i hope!Well just recently i started making a list for the week whats for supper,that way i know before what im cooking instead of leving it for the last minute and not knowing what to cook.My daughter is the fussy one here,so i make her a seperate meal when she does not like the one thats planned.4 1/2 year old can be quite fussy.I dont mind the extra meal,as long as she eats something!My boyfriend on the other hand will eat just about anything except seafood.So he gets spoiled when we eat clams.I make him a nice fat steak just for him.He,he!:):)
• United States
4 Sep 07
...Both of my children are fussy. It is difficult to make something that they will both eat. I can usually plese one, just not both all of the time. So I let them take turns picking out what we will have. ...Too bad for your boyfriend! I love seafoods! Mmmmmmeow! ...Thanks for your response. Peace be with you. =(^;^)= Della