how to get started with a menu?

[smiley]

I really need to menu plan for dinners. We have a lot of foods in the house but we rarely eat at home. If we cook at home we end up buying stuff at the store and cooking rather than using what we already have. I need help on how to begin with a menu plan!

[udscoobychick]

The first step would be to look at what you have in the house--what needs to be used up? What do you have a lot of? What do you feel like eating?

Next, check your local store ads to see what's on sale. How does that match with what you've got at home? Can you start getting a sense of a few different meal options?

Finally, make a list! What meals go on what days, what ingredients you need for each meal, etc. Don't plan a meal for every single day, especially if you're used to eating out a lot--maybe try planning 4 meals and going out or eating leftovers on the other days. Once you get more comfortable with meal planning, you can work your way up to planning 5 or 6 meals. I still wouldn't do 7 because odds are, you're going to have leftovers (although, I like to eat those for lunch!), and you're going to go out at least once.

[mbcdefg]

I think it helps to go ahead and indulge your cravings, but learn how to make the same (or similar) dishes at home. I don't really get the urge to eat at a restaurant just to eat out ... I get the urge when I think to myself, "Ooh, I could really go for some [type of cuisine] tonight."

Pizza dough is easy to make and freeze. I've made fried chicken at home quite easily. I've seen lots of recipes for DIY Chinese food, plus the frozen stuff from Trader Joe's is pretty good. If I have pasta and chicken breasts on hand, I can make a variety of Italian dishes.

When I get ready to go grocery shopping for the week, I look in the pantry and fridge to see what needs to be used up before it expires. I ask MH if he wants anything in particular. I usually buy some kind of beef, pork, and chicken every week, and the cuts depend on how tight my budget is that week (bigger budget = steaks, pork tenderloin; tighter budget = pork chops, whole chickens when they're under $5). I keep at least two kinds of pasta in the pantry, I always have potatoes and onions and garlic, and I buy a variety of fresh green vegetables every week.

[dearprudence]

I have lots of cooking blogs I follow in my google reader. As the week goes on, I mark recipes that pop up on my google reader and keep track of leftover ingredients from current meals (for example, this week I have leftover tomato paste, chipotles in adobo, and corn tortillas). Then on Saturdays I make out a meal plan using the ingredients I have on hand and the recipes I've marked. This week we'll have chipotle chicken pasta to use up the chipotle peppers veggie enchiladas to use up the tortillas and tomato paste.

[jcbarbee]

I also look at the weather, if it is going to be really cold, I will put something in the crockpot or make a soup. Also, look at your schedules what day it will be one person or two etc. I look at lots of blogs and I also try to replicate things I like from restaurants. Lately, I have been craving Lettuce Wraps from Pei Wei, so I am making Thai Chicken Wraps this week, same concept.

The most important thing is to stick to your plan. Leave one night off for date night, or plan for homemade pizza one night if that is something you like to have on the weekends.

[stever]

I agree with starting out small and only planning a few meals per week until you get into the groove of things.

I'd say start out with pantry basics - canned and dried legumes, grains, pasta, boxed stock ans canned tomatoes.

From there see what is seasonal, on sale or takes your fancy. In the coooler months I tend to roast a chicken every Sunday then use the leftovers in a pot pie or soup. During warmer months I go through fresh veg like crazy and make all kinds of salads.

[magdala]

In addition to all the other suggestions, it helps to have a list of meals that your family likes. For us, that includes macaroni and cheese, fish tacos, homemade pizza, chili, minestrone. Including a family favorite helps to eliminate the complaints....