Menu planning...

I've never been able to work with a menu plan. I've tried and and always quit because I will suddenly get a craving for chicken when beef is on the menu or someone will mention sandwiches with all the trimmings and dinner seems boring so I switch. What I do to save money is be sure to keep staples on hand and when I go to plan a meal, I plan from what I have. If there are leftovers, I try to use them first, but sometimes I freeze them for later. Eating leftovers is like getting a free meal and really messes up a menu plan!

I don`t do much menu planning noadays as I live alone. But I try to buy reasonable amounts of food and I use all the leftovers. For me, menu planning means making an omelette the day after I had rice, pasta or veggies. I don`t eat more than I want to, but save every bit.

I don't do menu planning. It is too constraining, and it also does not take into account changes in one's schedule. I like having flexibility and creativity in my cooking. I like to explore and create, and meal planning does not allow for that. Plus, when I go shopping, I like to choose things that are fresh and local. I choose what is available and what strikes my fancy, and I go from there. I may have a bit of a list, but things can change quite a bit once I get into the store. Since I do buy so much fresh produce, I need to honor its time frame in terms of when to prepare it. For instance, if a tomato is starting to get a little too soft, it is time to toss it into a soup or stew; I couldn't do that if I tied myself to a meal plan.