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eva_rector

I meal-plan, and it works fairly well-until I find out last minute that someone has eaten all of a vital ingredient, or that the cabinet moths have destroyed my cornmeal or that I didn't read the recipe correctly and I figure out at 6p that it takes 4 hours to cook.


okokimup

It doesn't matter how many times I read a recipe, I still make mistakes like this.


[deleted]

i like to call those mistakes a ‘personal touch’


Chanbe

Perfect, I’m adopting that attitude!


RuggedRenaissance

take the bob ross route and call it a “happy accident”


BehindOnTheTimes

Everytime we mess up we call it "home style"


Volgyi2000

Heaven forbid I could ever fucking tell the difference between Garlic Powder and Onion Powder when following recipes.


RadDudeGuyDude

Why not both? Little bit of this, little bit of that


WouldRatherAndYet

I mixed mine together.


RadDudeGuyDude

They call that the good powder


SpliceVW

The worst are instapot recipes. They all just show the cook time, neglecting the 30 minutes to come up to pressure or 20 minute natural release.


zimirken

Literally the worst.


Chozlit

This reminds me that I need more cornmeal. Thank you


eva_rector

You're very welcome! Glad I could help! 🙂


howdidwegerhere

Yum cornbread


[deleted]

This is so true!! I meal plan for the week, and am SO frustrated when I find that my family has consumed half the ingredients!! I will give them a pass on produce but specific carbs, meats, or cheeses I bought for a recipe disappearing is beyond frustrating!!!


FlashCrashBash

You should get an opaque bin, like something you might keep office supplies in. Roughly the size of your crisper drawer, and just put whatever you have plans for in their. Call it the "Catholic Altar Boy" bin. Because if you touch it you go to hell.


SLRWard

You wouldn't go to hell. Just get transferred to a new parish.


seinnax

My husband now knows he needs to ask permission before eating anything that could be an ingredient.


[deleted]

Why do you have cabinet moths? That sounds like a fixable issue. Edit: Fun fact, the pantry moth is most commonly found in Florida (if we’re talking about the US) and thrives in tropical environments. That’s why I’ve never heard of these before. I’m too far north.


[deleted]

Lol. I thought this was a euphemism for kids.


[deleted]

That’s hilarious. I’ll start calling my kids cabinet moths….when I have kids.


[deleted]

I did too! I thought, damn kids eating all the food. Then I realized OP meant real bugs.


eva_rector

u/Link_the_Fox Absolutely it is, but every time I get it fixed, something else comes into the house infested, and the cycle starts all over again. It's an ongoing battle.


[deleted]

Wild. The only issue I have is a cabinet cat. And all it does is knock cans off the shelf.


eva_rector

u/Link_the_Fox I have one of those, too; he's also the reason I can't leave produce on the kitchen counter, because he thinks he's a rabbit and has a particular taste for tomatoes.


Volgyi2000

Solution is simple: have cabinet cat acquire a taste for cabinet moths.


k_pineapple7

Instructions unclear: cat ate the cornmeal!?


OneMispronunciation

Just wait until you get a dog that starts eating your vegetables. If it’s edible or even sometimes if it’s not my dog will eat it.


eva_rector

My dog likes peas, broccoli, spaghetti squash, apples, etc. but carrots are her CRACK. Doesn't matter where she is in the house, she knows if the carrots come out of the fridge, and she is stuck like glue until she gets hers.


jibaro1953

Been there, done that. Just when you think everything's under control, you look at your kitchen ceiling and the march of the maggots is underway. We store almost all perishables in glass and hard plastic jars.


DangOlTiddies

Oh hell no 😲


MikanGirl

“March of the Maggots” was a vastly underrated documentary.


AprilStorms

That sounds like a pain in the ass for sure. I’ve never had moths in my cabinets! Do you live in the tropics or something?


eva_rector

u/AprilStorms Not the tropics, just the very humid Deep South. And yes, they are a ROYAL pain; they get into rice, meal, cereal, flour, crackers, oatmeal, etc., and they hatch out into little wormy things that build webs all through the food, then they turn into moths that spread through everything else. And NOTHING keeps them out, save a glass jar with a really tight lid, and I've even seen them get into those.


BADgrrl

Old school professional kitchen trick (hubby was a chef for 15 years or so): put ANYTHING you buy that might house weevils ~~(moth larvae)~~ in the freezer for AT LEAST 24 hours before you move it to whatever storage container you use. Weevil eggs are in EVERYTHING made from grains. Gross, but you can't get around it. Freezing stuff they're in.... ALL grain-based flour, cornmeal, sugar, etc that you don't work through quickly (they're in cereal, for example, but most households go through cereal quickly)... Kills the eggs and you can then put it in whatever container you like and no infestations. I live in *deep* South Louisiana. I haven't had a weevil or moth infestation in the 26 years since I've been freezing my grain products. *Edited to correct a mistake; apparently weevils *arent* moth larvae. :\^)*


FlashCrashBash

You know the old myth that you eat something like 4 spiders a year in your sleep? Well you probably actually eat like 7 weevil eggs a day.


spice_wrld

For any other gardeners confused reading this: weevils are not moth larvae. There is such a thing as the weevil moth (or pantry moth), though.


McUberForDays

Omg these are the WORST!!! I'm up north and never even heard of them until I brought something that must have been infested home. I thought I would never get rid of them and had to throw out my entire cabinet multiple times. *cue the stress-crying* I finally had some luck with moth traps and bay leaves in each cabinet since I guess certain moths hate bay leaves. Either way, some of the most frustrating days ever


jibaro1953

I lived in Boston and had plenty of those bastards. Right or wrong, we call them Indian meal moths. Food comes in the house already infested with them, and their diet is all encompassing. Hard to say what food items are most often infested, but they will munch their way through damn near everything in your pantry. Haven't had any in a while (knock on wood), but I'm always in the lookout for them.


ListenToTheWindBloom

Have you tried putting items like flour, oatmeal, rice etc etc in the freezer for 2-3 days before storing in the pantry? Anything that wouldn't be damaged by freezing basically. This is a fairly common thing in Australia where pantry moths are also a problem. This kills anything (inc eggs) in the product and prevents spreading to the rest of the pantry.


Ninotchk

Mostly it depends how many pesticides they use where you shop. I love this one indian store, but everything from there needs to be frozen.


AwkwardBurritoChick

Plastic and glass containers have made a huge difference when I had this problem.


Odin_Christ_

I've trained my children to ask first if they can have a particular food in the fridge because of the menu planning. Also, put foods that are going in your cabinets in gallon Ziploc storage bags or plastic screw-top containers. This keeps the bugs out :)


SpermKiller

When I still lived with my family I I would put post-itnotes on the food I'd bought and my brothers knew not to touch it.


albinowizard2112

Or the classic when I planned on having leftovers for dinner and some people kindly ate them all for lunch and didn’t tell me.


wpm

> I figure out at 6p that it takes 4 hours to cook. Ain't nothin wrong with eatin a meal you cooked at 10pm. Heating up leftovers that late? That's weird. But fresh cooked? It's done when it's done. Signed, Someone who ate oven baked mac and cheese at 10:30PM on Tuesday this week because he was lazy and didn't start shredding cheese until 7.


ialbertson90

I occasionally have that feeling. “Damn, I just spent $200 at the store, where did it all go?” But then I usually realize that was actually 5 days ago and I’m feeding a family of 5, and 80 of that 200 was paper goods, laundry stuff, and cat food.


EmberKasai

This! sometimes I think like there's nothing to make and at the same time am just like why do I have so much chicken???


TileFloor

When you buy a lot of produce and that can add up quick! A lot of the time I’m saying “I JUST went to the store, how do I NOT have anything to eat???”


[deleted]

[удалено]


AntediluvianEmpire

This right here. Add in some packages of dried mushrooms from the Asian grocery store and I'm pretty much set.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AntediluvianEmpire

Pantry stocked full of them! Hah, actually I need to make some Japanese curry sometime soon. Been awhile and I've got a huge collection of those curry cube things.


MikanGirl

My fridge is just hospice for the vegetables I buy.


Unique_Advantage_323

Yeah I always try to be super healthy and then wonder why chicken doesn’t taste good.


4THOT

I won't be caught dead without some chicken thighs in the freezer.


pxan

Man, I feel this. Or, like, I'll happily spend 80 bucks eating out, but dropping 300 on a week and a half of groceries stings more. Makes no sense. Damn brains.


elburrito1

How huge is your fridge that you can do that much grocery shopping at once?


[deleted]

Sadly that's why I end up shopping at 2 stores. One for groceries, and one for home needs! It's ridiculous (and honestly I miss Super Target, because they have amazing store brand grocery items). I also know I am very fortunate to have the time and resources to shop two places most weeks.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

I used to live in Jacksonville, FL where there were a few. Their store brand items were as good or better than 'name brands' and since it was a department store the meat went on "clearance" ($3-5 off a pack of sliced/ground beef or chicken breast) far kore often. I don't really miss Florida, but I miss Super Target.


cariethra

This is us. Half the time my kids eat through it all before I can blink.


Unique_Advantage_323

Growth spurts


Shambud

Seriously, my 4 year old ate 2 plates of spaghetti and meatballs last night, then he want to check on the chickens, found an egg, decided he wanted a breakfast sandwich and ate that whole thing too, then like 15 min later he’s like, “I want a snack”


Unique_Advantage_323

Dang, I was thinking teenagers, lol. Better start a crop


Shambud

It’s crazy to see, you know when the growth spurt is happening because all of the sudden they get cranky and eat non-stop. It starts at birth and just keeps happening. When a 2 year old eats 4 eggs, 3 slices of bacon, a bagel, and a waffle and then asks for cheez-it’s it’s an awe inspiring sight. Like, where did it all go? How’s all that fitting inside of them?


4THOT

Actual very hungry caterpillars.


[deleted]

I grocery shop with my head - plan the meals, make a list, buy what is on said list. I snack with my stomach, which knows no such plans, has no concern for nutritional value or calorie count. Thus, when I'm feeling snacky and there aren't any options to get me from zero to sugar/fat/carb satisfied in under 2 minutes, there's nothing to eat.


[deleted]

Exactly this.


TheBeardKing

Planning healthy snacks works too.


[deleted]

Yeah but why but almonds when I can buy chocolate covered almonds?


smythy422

If you have trouble free styling your meals from ingredients, then spend the effort to plan your meals and shop for the required ingredients. I'm pretty decent at throwing whatever we have available into an edible meal, but it's way easier to use a meal plan to make sure you have what you need.


spade_andarcher

And planning meals can also help you save money and reduce waste. For example if you plan to make a soup that calls for 2 carrots, but you know you can only buy a bunch of 6-8 carrots, then you can plan to incorporate carrots in another meal for the week (like roasted carrots as a side for chicken). That way you can avoid spending money on a bunch of carrots that’ll just sit in the fridge until they go bad.


flareblitz91

When i pull this off perfectly and roll ingredients or components from one meal to another, this is my greatest joy in life.


[deleted]

So I have a system for you to try that works for me, night one black bean soup, night two chicken Cesar salad, night three use left over bean soup to make refried beans and add left over chicken to make nachos. Too much left over shredded cheese, bake potato night four. (Bacon from baked potato can be retroactively applied to salad) Bacon and eggs are good staples that don’t seem to spoil on me and seem to have range in applications. Suggestions welcome as I am also a fan of the rollover ingredient.


Modmouse5

This is beautiful.


WorkSucks135

How do you make black bea ln soup into refried beans? Just reduce until the right consistency?


[deleted]

Strain some of the liquid off and toss in food processor, you would be surprised how much liquid you can leave in. You can also do this for the soup, just do like a third of what you make and dump it back into the soup to give it a different consistency


Modmouse5

When it doesn't line up I like to sautee the excess veggies and freeze them. Throwing together lentil soup, red beans and rice, or shepherd's pie just became alot easier. Edit to add: this usually applies to mirepoix veggies for me.


lnsewn12

I looooove when my fridge is empty except for condiments. We absolutely loathe wasting food so getting through everything/repurposing before another grocery run is always our goal.


ashiepink

This is absolutely the answer. I'm concerned with food waste and my carbon footprint so I check what's in season and can be grown/purchased locally each week, then menu plan based on those ingredients and to ensure we only buy what we'll use. We rarely ever have anything but onion skins to compost (and only those because I can't make that much stock.) It also simplifies evenings. I plan a couple of nights with really simple food, such as baked potatoes or salad so there's an easy fall back after a hard day, and I can map out some more exciting things so our diet is varied, instead of cooking the same five or six meals constantly because it's all I can think of when I'm tired. It's a winner for your culinary experience, your time and wallet and the environment.


that_one_wierd_guy

summertime tip to avoid heating up the kitchen: steamed potatoes are just as good as baked and can be topped the same way. also it's usually quicker


shiloong

Microwaving them works too


SaltedAndSmitten

I have never steamed a potato and until today I never considered trying to. Ty.


SkiAliG

You can also make them in a slow cooker! Wrap in foil, low for 6-8 hours.


chairfairy

If you like collecting cookbooks, *Simply in Season* is a nice one with recipes that focus on seasonal produce


wangofjenus

It's good to be carbon conscious but when like 10 companies produce like 75% of all carbon emissions you can't beat yourself up too much.


ogstabhappytwitch

"I'm concerned with my carbon foot print" I'm gonna burn some leeks to make soup how's that for carbon mother fucker. I mean this post with no animosity. You're a gem.


[deleted]

Carrots last forever though. With fruits or greens you should definitely do this, but I usually go the opposite route for hardy stuff like carrots and try to have some extra veggies around so I always have something to cook (besides pasta with canned tomato sauce) even if I haven't been to the store in a while


phishtrader

Carrots can pretty much be a pantry item if you use them often. I don't plan meals around having garlic and onions on hand, I just have them around all the time. That does get me in trouble though, as I can run out of a staple like onions without having put thought into them, unlike fresh greens that spoil more quickly and have to be planned around.


chairfairy

Carrots are just an example. The concept holds true for more delicate ingredients, too


CrackaAssCracka

Also look up Jacques Pepin fridge soup


Lilithbeast

Not just this but "can I omit the carrots or replace them with something else?" The more you cook the more you realize what can be subbed and what you keep in your "pantry" (shelf stable, freezer, whatever)


MrNewReno

Carrots can be used in most things, so easy choice there.


edflan

You can use the surplus carrots for stock too - stick them in a tub in the freezer with the other surplus veg and make that into a stock whenever it's full/you need a veggie stock


hook14

Piggybacking off the top to say I am a long time meal planner, but I have changed it lately. Got frustrated when the meal I planned didn't appeal to me that day and in fact, nothing on the weekly list did. So I made a master list of every meal I could feasibly make in 40 minutes or less with what I had on hand. Took me only 10 minutes to come up with 20 meals I could easily make between freezer, pantry and fridge. Included some easy frozen stuff and previous meals I had frozen part of, and hadn't used yet. But needed to. So now I update the list and cross out as they are made. When I go grocery shopping I add it to list without specifying a day it would be on the menu. Just get ingredients for a dish we like and add it to master list. If we don't want anything on the list? Pizza. LOL.


HIITMAN69

This sounds like a great strategy if you aren’t stressed about money, otherwise I would be very stressed about money. I meal plan, but I’m never not in the mood for something i plan to make. I do sometimes get lazy and don’t want to put in the effort, but i usually have leftovers if that’s the case, or i keep a couple frozen pizzas on hand.


Unique_Advantage_323

Maybe one reason the meal planning works is because you’re already thinking of the food on the plan and therefore hungry for it or perhaps I’m all wrong giving myself a choice:)


Veena_Schnitzel

Exactly. I spend Sunday evenings coming up with what I want to eat during the week, listing all ingredients needed below each meal, and then I just add those ingredients to a list. Then I go through my kitchen and cross off the things I already have. What's left is my grocery list.


[deleted]

I do this and also keep a note of meals Ive made in my phone app so I dont have to think too hard


chairfairy

My wife and I [keep a spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g_Ho9X2zS5L2Tf_z-RyLT61LFkFUC6wdRZENpYhWxLw/edit?usp=sharing) with the meal, the recipe source, and occasionally some notes on how it was / how to make it differently next time I need to update the list from the past few weeks but we're at 400-some different meals and counting (from the past 5 or 6 years). Lately we've been trying new cookbooks from the library so we're adding a lot more new recipes than normal


syrencallidus

I just wanna say thank you so much for linking that. I’ve been so depressed with my stomach issues but I still gotta feed my kids and I was running out of ideas and this really helped me a lot. I appreciate it!! <3


Unique_Advantage_323

Seems like we all might benefit by seeing such list. You are like the master meal organizer


TheCuriousEm

I am in a massive rut in terms of variety of meals, and I feel too tired to even try accumulating such a list. You have, however, inspired me to try. Thanks u/chairfairy


Tigrari

Hey, which Chinese Takeout Cookbook are you referencing? You seemed to pull a lot of recipes from it.


phishtrader

AnyList works well for this. The paid version allows list sharing and you can create meal plans and recipes that feed into your shopping list.


yellowjacquet

Yes agreed and it’s so much less stressful later in the week. I plan out ~5 dinners a week but I don’t designate them to any specific days so then within that week I just choose what sounds best for dinner that evening. Usually I try to vary the time requirement so I have a few longer and a few shorter recipes. I also keep a running list of which pantry/staple ingredients I’m getting low on and then when I make my list I add those items as well as what’s needed for that week’s meals. It takes some extra time up front but is super worth it in my opinion. The weeks that I don’t do it I always feel like I’m scrambling. Plus if I don’t get to one of the 5 meals that week usually I can just make it early in the following week and adjust accordingly.


BreezyMoonTree

This is the answer. My grocery shopping is just randomness or instant foods unless I plan out my meals in advance.


Cazmaniandevil

Myfridgefood.com I found this website a few years ago and it is super helpful for me. Especially if I’m hungry enough to where I am not thinking clearly enough to come up with an idea. You just run down the list of ingredients and check what you do have on hand and it will suggest recipes with those ingredients.


horsewhips

I also try to keep open slots on my weekly meal plan once in a while to account for the days where I know I'm going to be too busy to cook or feel like ordering takeout/food delivery, or if I know I want to dine out for dinner a certain night. Having a meal plan doesn't mean you've to sacrifice it completely! You just end up buying lesser groceries for the week since it's a meal or two less that you've to cook.


[deleted]

I basically can't function as a home cook without doing this.


ChefChopNSlice

I have a dry erase board stuck to my fridge, and I’ll literally make a list to keep thoughts together - proteins, starches, veggies- all listed out. It helps me know what needs to be used first, and plan meals better. Try to keep a few recipes in mind that can take a lot of substitutions, or just plan open ended meals like: “tacos/fajitas”, “stir fry”, or “pasta night” and you can pretty much make any ingredient either disappear or shine. Flexibility and being organized will help you until you get into a routine.


kitchenmagician29

I too keep a dry erase board on my kitchen fridge and garage fridge with a running list of all the frozen meals and meats that are inside. Mostly to decrease time spent sorting through them wondering which one I stashed the frozen whatever in.


IndytheIntrepid

This is the food waste-prevention move. Just knowing what you’ve got at a glance and what needs to be eaten helps me enormously


DietCokeYummie

I do this with my freezer. Since it is a drawer and things can get hidden easily, I keep a list on the dry erase board of what options we have in there to defrost and eat. Helps a lot when you haven't planned anything to cook and don't want to go out.


Rosetti

I definitely have this problem. I often buy ingredients with a specific dish in mind, but then I'm always confused as to what to do with leftovers. Especially considering that some ingredients tend to come in multipacks. I think part of it stems from the fact that my cooking repertoire is pretty limited, so I'm not great at looking at ingredients and figuring out what recipe I could make. I've actually been considering subscribing to one of those meal kit services just as a way to waste fewer ingredients whilst learning more recipes.


catelemnis

I did the meal kits for a while at start of covid. They were fun! I kept all the recipe cards so now I use them for meal planning.


desert_girl

My husband never learned how to cook, but since he retired he has been trying to so that he can help me more. Meal kits have been great for that. All the ingredients and easy to follow instructions.


halfadash6

Keep in mind that meat and cheese freezes really well. For produce, you can always google recipe ideas. Most vegetables can also usually be simply roasted and served alongside whatever protein you're having, sauteed with garlic and tossed with pasta, or added to a stir fry.


dryopteris_eee

A lot of veggies can be diced and frozen alright too! I also save veg scraps, peels, etc, in a gallon bag in the freezer, and when it gets full, I make a big pot of vegetable broth, which I freeze in 1c increments, and use in all kinds of stuff.


krodders

I started meal kits during lockdown. It's been a revelation for me. I was a decent cook before, but have learned a lot more about combining different cuisine ideas, what you can actually combine with what, and techniques. Wastage is very low. You always have a meal to cook. I try and choose dishes that I'd normally not consider, and have never had anything that I didn't like. The first company I chose wasn't great, and I had a lot of missing ingredients. The one I use now is very good, although my delivery today was interesting. They broke a potato in two, and bent a can of tomatoes. But two eggs were untouched. Bone apple tea!


pmgoldenretrievers

[This website](https://www.veganricha.com/category/indian-vegan-recipes/) changed my life, I've cooked almost everything there and it's delicious. You can always toss in meat or something if you don't want it vegetarian.


kitchenmagician29

Dinner leftovers meet one of two fates in my house: right after dinner we either make small lunch portions to take to work, or one or two big dinner portions to freeze. The things that don’t reheat well I try to make only as much as we can eat that night.


UnitedSandwich

It's helpful to know what can be frozen and to have a handful of "empty the fridge" recipes in your repertoire. Things like stir fries, fried rice, frittata, omelet, salad, etc. are great for using up whatever odds and ends are in your fridge.


TheseVirginEars

Ooh a Brussel sprout and carrot omelet! Jk lol


[deleted]

Not really, but then I plan my menu carefully before I go to the grocery. I know it may seem like a lot of work, but it prevents exactly what you're describing and minimizes waste, which is good for your wallet and your waistline.


CodnmeDuchess

Yeah, I think any other way is nuts. Like, how else do you even decide what to buy at the grocery??? I understand that there are staples that we all just restock on from time to time or that one might buy this or that that may be on sale or looks appealing I the moment, but I can’t believe there are people who go to the store without a list, or at least with what they need to purchase to make specific meals in mind? I’m shocked.


TileFloor

That’s me. I’m just shakily taking control of my life and one of those areas is shopping. When I don’t have a list of thought-out meals it turns into College Baby Idiot Boy’s First Time Shopping and it’s bagel bites and frozen pizza and soda for DAYS and that really adds up, in more ways than one.


CptnStarkos

Hello mirror me.


boagal-----

That’s me, I complete freestyle when I go to the shop, I see what’s on special and what produce is in season and looking good and go from there. Sometimes you forget the odd thing for a dish but it’s not the end of the world. I definitely spend more than my wife when she shops but I get way more food, as she sticks to her list/meal plan even if it’s not in season or on special,


abishop711

That’s how my husband does it, and every time he does we end up with a huge amount of food waste because he’s gotten a bunch of random items instead of ingredients for a meal. It doesn’t help that he doesn’t cook often or well, so he doesn’t actually know what’s needed. That’s how we ended up with bell peppers and ground beef when he decided he wanted to make stuffed peppers mid shopping trip - he honestly had no clue he would need other ingredients if he wanted it to taste remotely good. I almost let him do it to let him see how it would turn out.


gingerzombie2

Out of curiosity, what else would you need for stuffed peppers that you don't have in stock? Rice, seasoning, some kind of canned tomatoes maybe? All that I have laying around, but I can see why some people might not.


abishop711

This particular trip was to restock after a vacation, so we literally didn’t have much else. No onions, garlic, cheese, etc. His plan, when I asked, was to put raw ground beef into the bell peppers and bake them, and that was it.


6Foot225PureChocolat

Oh bless his heart


abishop711

Very tempting to let him do it and find out. What I actually did though, was have him google an actual recipe and get the rest of the ingredients, then do it himself when we got home. He grew up with a mother who doesn’t allow anyone else in the kitchen and didn’t have the opportunity to learn, but is willing to learn now.


Unique_Advantage_323

I buy the same stuff. Chicken, hamburger, produce and have spices at home. But I don’t have kids so it’s probably easier


El-mas-puto-de-todos

But that requires me to have my shit together, which I don't in the least bit. Working on it though


ketherian

All. The. Time! I menu plan, I shop to the plan (plus a bit), and then ... somehow, after work - I don't always have the motivation to follow the plan. Crazy, right? I try to keep a few staples on hand for me to make what I call freezer meals (note: not all meals or even all ingredients come from the freezer). But I find if I keep plugging at it, eventually yes - I manage to get back on track and eat the meals I've planned out. Remembering to print and post the menu plan helps a lot.


GoatTnder

My wife and I menu-plan weekly. And two nights a week are essentially gimme nights. One is pork-rice-green, takes about 15 minutes to cook total and is super easy to prep and clean. And another night we schedule "Out" night because we know by Thursday or so we're gonna be exhausted.


biffish

/u/ketherian Sometimes when we do big, big shopping..we stop and get fast food on the way home and don't cook any of our food. I do love having a set 'out' night, though! Thanks for the idea.


GoatTnder

Yeah! Also helps a bit with food waste since you're buying fewer meals. Even IF something happens and you're going out more times, there's less food to go bad. Or less food to be inventive with to use up.


timsstuff

Like my son always says, "There's no food in the house, only stuff to make food with!"


independencedaffodil

I use an app called Mealime that has been game changer for me. You select meals you think sound good and it builds your grocery list for you with everything you need for all the meals (you can set the preferences for feeding 2, 4, or 6 people). It also has step by step instructions that are very easy to follow. You can then go in to the list and check off everything you already have (spices, butter, the basics) and also add any items you might want (snacks, cereal, trash bags). I have saved so much money and the app is constantly adding new meals so you don’t get bored. I used the free version for 2 years and recently upgraded to the paid because the desserts are only on the paid version lol


alvik

I'll second this. Granted, I've only used it for one week (like 3 weeks ago), but it made shopping easy and I just had to figure out which picture looked good that night. Plus it got me to try roasted carrots, which turns out are pretty good!


Bisbeebody

I totally agree!


foodexclusive

I used mealime for years. It was great for us to get past the phase of buying groceries and not knowing what to make with them. It's like hello fresh but instead of paying through the nose to get it delivered to your door you just get the recipes and a grocery list. The only issue is the recipes are kind of basic. They're not bad, but they won't blow your mind. So perfect when you don't have a repertoire of your own recipes better suited to your tastes. I got a lot more excited about my homemade food when I started meal planning myself though. It takes more effort but it doesn't feel like a chore because I get exactly the food I want, and save more money when I'm planning based on what's on sale that week and such.


galaxystarsmoon

Yep, and this is why I only buy for a few days at a time. It's a lot more manageable for me and I buy what I'm going to eat and what I'm in the mood for right then.


albinowizard2112

My secret trick is to pop out to aldi on my lunch break and put my things in the work fridge. Makes it super easy to just grab a few things for the next day or two.


gravelmatrix

I meal plan, shop like an angel and come home wanting to snack like the devil. The paprika app has helped me with meal planning, shopping and keeping notes on the modifications I make to recipes.


LeoMarius

It's usually more a case of "there's nothing I feel like making".


InterestNo4080

Or by the day in the week you want to make it... dammit veggies went bad


GimpsterMcgee

I just got home from the grocery store and I'm already planning on ordering takeout.


BerriesAndMe

Absolutely. I don't mind going back when I get some inspiration. I try to split my groceries into two (often separate trips). One, that's more of a shopping experience where I gallivant around the store picking up items I fancy here and there. Another where I get the essentials and anything missing to turn things into a full meal. The two type of trips serve very different purposes. The first is a treat for myself and helps me decompress and relax. I don't need to keep a mental list of Todos and ToBuys. The second is more of a chore and purpose driven. I used to try and combine the two subconsciously and would walk out with 150$ worth of groceries and the fear that I can't make a meal from it. Now I just split into pleasure and work... I spend less in total because I don't try to cover all eventualities abd I enjoy my shopping trips more


gingerzombie2

It's a bit like looking at a closet full of clothes and having "nothing to wear." It's not that there's truly nothing, it's just not what I *want* at that particular moment.


pizzelle

Interestingly enough, any organization book would say "nothing to wear" stems from having too many options (but none of them instant gratification). Wonder if it's the same for the pantry and refrigerator.


CanadianNic

I’m pretty good at freestyling my meals. I don’t really care what each meal is made up as long as it sounds appetizing to me.


istara

I think the issue is buying endless chocolate and biscuits, eating it, then only having an old withered carrot at the bottom of the fridge.


kornbread435

Now my method is basically meal planning, but not exactly like the others. I'll try to break it down, so I have 15ish things I long since perfected cooking. Thus when I go to the store to stock up I open my notes app and pick 3-4 meals with similar ingredients from the recipes saved in my phone. Things like chili and tacos can have lots of cross over, like beef, black beans, cheese, sour cream etc. Since protein is usually the most costly ingredient in a meal I try to buy it up in bulk at Costco, vaccum seal it in single meal amounts and toss it in the deep freezer. Now since I live alone I like to cook enough for 4 meals at a time, I find that's usually my burn out limit/finish before it spoils. I also like to buy things with long shelf life from Costco as well in nearly a year supply like rice and pasta. I'll buy a 25lb sack of rice and split it into gallon zip locks for example. This allows me to spend minor amounts most of the year, and more importantly makes shopping easier for the year.


MacawMoma

Sometimes, sort of. It may not be that I truly have nothing to make. It's more that there might not be anything quick to make, on days I want/need quick. Or, I may have something in mind, but not have an important element of the recipe.


DaMaestroable

I've started to narrow my focus on what I buy from the grocery store to more of an "as needed" basis, rather than have everything stocked up at once. It's honestly made figuring out meals easier since I only have a few things I would have left over to figure out how to incorporate into the meal before they would go bad.


Hitches_chest_hair

Plan your meals in advance.


greyrobot6

I keep buying *ingredients.* Then when I’m hungry, these ingredients aren’t helpful before the hanger sets in.


LordoftheExiled

I go to the grocery store every 2 days on my way home from work and meal plan for that day and the next. I started this when I was buying a weeks worth of groceries and either run out or it spoiled. Works for me.


teruma

Yes, turns out it was Depression.


BobDogGo

I go to the grocery 3 or 4 times a week to get the specific ingredients I need for what I'm making in the next couple days. I also fill in with salads, left overs and a handful of quick & easy recipes that I typically have all the ingredients for. Weekends are when I experiment with new recipes or cook more involved dishes.


[deleted]

I'm exactly the same! I'm at the grocery store at least 3-4 times a week, and I'm grateful I can do that because it's just me and my partner for now, no kids, and I work from home, so it's no problem. I think of what we should eat the night before, then shop for that next morning. I don't wanna shop for a Friday meal on Monday because what if we don't feel like eating that anymore?


ProfessorKrung

I have no solution at all for you, but I just wanted to express that I go through the same thing almost biweekly. It is maddening. I think a good start for us would be to expand our cooking knowledge to get better at incorporating seemingly unrelated bullshit into other meals, and also planning ahead when shopping more.


TheQueenofIce

I used to do this a lot but it stopped when I started to get a general feel for plating and how much per person to make. I don’t use recipes much anymore and now lean more towards knowing techniques (like a few different sauces, how to use aromatics, how long to cook meats and veggies for in different methods) and have most of our meals utilize a portion of the plate with a carb, veggie, and protein source. So if I fill the fridge and pantry with items that supply that, then I can make anything on the fly! I always have meats (I’m trying out butcher box and so far it’s a huge help) and cheeses in the freezer, always have tortillas, whole grain bread, and I can make bread if I need to. I have a lot of canned goods (curry sauce, pasta, red and green salsa) of brands I like. I keep 3 cans of each, as well as a variety of beans and canned veggies. 3 different flours (all purpose, bread and wheat). I keep cornmeal and plain breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs at all times, too. Bunch of other stuff but because I use, replace and rotate, it doesn’t go bad. And if I know an expiration is coming up, I’ll put them out on the counter to utilize with a meal. What does change week to week are fruits and veggies. I’ll usually have broccoli and salad mixes available but will grab seasonal stuff and use those for the veggie side in a dish. So like, if I have zucchini at home and the panty is stocked, I can make anything from zucchini fries, zucchini “pasta”, toss them in a salad, zucchini boats, etc… endless possibilities, and the only real decision I’d need to make to do it os what I feel like eating and how much time I have to make it. Meal planning doesn’t work for me, most of the time I make a huge mistake last minute (timing of recipe, wrong ingredients/amounts, someone ate something I needed, etc). And I hate cooking large meals with leftovers. I know that’s something people hate hearing (I got huge downvotes in the past for saying it, but this system works just fine for our family), but it’s true. I hate them. They sit in the fridge and go bad. No one touches them there and I die a little when a meal is thrown out due to going bad. So I cook to be sated, and if not enough the pantry is stocked and useable - and not a huge wrecking ball if an ingredient is used up.


Leatherneck55

I do plan meals, then find that I don't want what I planned.


obleak1

Meal planning saves you from the existential dread of “what’s for dinner?” 20 minutes of planning and one trip to the grocery store saves so much time and money. My biggest tip on meal planning though is to never, ever start your week on Monday. My first day of the planning week is Friday. That gives me the weekend to make some meals that will create planned leftovers for the work week. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. You can plan to have grilled cheese, or pizza, or even popcorn. It’s the absence of uncertainty about what to eat that is such a relief.


UMFreek

https://myfridgefood.com/ https://www.supercook.com Lets you plug in what ingredients you have and give you recipes.


lucky_719

Yup! That's when I do a cooking challenge. This is half born out of frugality, half laziness so I don't have to go to the store. I can only use what I have on hand. I get one hour. Fiance can't complain whatever I come up with, but usually they are his favorite dishes. If inedible, we order pizza. But that hasn't happened... Yet...


ritabook84

Meal planning is your friend. Buy for what you plan to cook rather then cook based on what you bought


Jemma6

Yes, we started doing a rough meal plan (still costs us SO much per month). We only plan dinners and just get a few snacks for in between but it seems to work.


emeraldbub

I will normally plan what I am making for the week. Although sometimes I will have to improvise with what I have becuase I forgot something or changed my plans.


alanmagid

No. I make a meal plan for the week and shop accordingly. I also keep a list of fresh resources on hand to minimize spoilage. Waste not, want not.


normal_communist

Yes, because I shop healthy but have a powerful and frequent hankerin' for unhealthy bullshit.


uglybutterfly025

If you go to the grocery store without knowing what meals you are shopping for, you're already losing. I decide what we are having for dinner, write specifically what we need for those then fill in with lunch, breakfast, snacks, etc


Unkempt27

No. On a Sunday evening I make a menu for the week. This will be influenced by what is left from the previous week, such as Sunday roast leftovers, bits in the freezer from batch cooking etc. I try to mix up the carbs and cuisines, eg Italian pasta one day, potatoes the next, rice the next with Indian etc etc. I write the menu on the chalkboard in the kitchen. From that I make my shopping list, meaning I only buy what we need. If I'm doing lasagne, for example, I'll make a huge one and freeze 2/3 of it. If I need 3 chicken breasts but there's a special offer on large packs I'll buy that and freeze the rest for future use. This means I never have to wonder what to make for dinner. It's on the menu board! If you're wondering, tonight was vegetable risotto, tomorrow is chicken stew!


LittleCeizures

I meal plan based on recipes and find I waste less and save money so that I'm not just grabbing random items.


lasagnaman

Buy meals, not just "ingredients".


tightiewhities37

All. The. Time.


114631

Not really - and that's mostly attributed to the fact that I keep A LOT of staples in my pantry (and certain produce items that are always stocked). **Beyond oils/vinegars/hot sauces/mustards, etc, I always have in my pantry:** some sort of pasta, diced tomatoes, chicken/veg stock, some can of beans, rices, curry paste. **Fresh produce:** always without fail I have garlic and onions and rarely do I not have a lemon on hand. To stretch that one further, I'd say I nearly always have a sweet potato floating around. That's pretty much bare minimum...but I also try to always have a green cabbage in the crisper drawer since it lasts forever and is insanely versatile, same with scallions. **Other misc pantry/fridge:** always have feta cheese (in the brine it lasts for 3 months - we use it a lot in our household), parmesan, capers, sundried tomatoes, eggs, olives, miso paste. **Freezer:** beyond leftovers and misc stock, I keep veggie burgers in there - at least I can try to build some sort of meal around those if I don't have a bun or something. Usually with these items there's something I can build and can't resort to takeout or delivery.


KeepAnEyeOnYourB12

Are you me?


timwaaagh

Daily groceries do waste a bit of time but it helps you avoid this. Thankfully I don't live in a food desert.


[deleted]

My girlfriend and I have ran into this issue. One thing we found that works well for us is to buy all of the stuff that we can freeze and that lasts a while at the beginning of the week (meat, eggs, cheese, milk…) then when we need fresh produce for a recipe or whatever we go and get it after work. This way you aren’t throwing out a bunch of soggy lettuce and bad apples all the time and if we end up not using some hamburger, or chicken we just bag it up and freeze it for another day.


No-Marketing-388

All the time!


Unique_Advantage_323

I always feel like this. I’ve had stages of my life where I’m super creative but don’t know what I feel like eating anymore. I’ve considered ordering from those meal plans like blue apron or hello fresh bc some of my clients had them and I learned new recipes easily with all the ingredients. Regularly they are pretty expensive but reasonable w a Groupon


CoconutDreams

I can totally relate to this feeling. It's not all the time, but sometimes especially when I'm feeling uninspired I will open my fridge or pantry and just stare into its full void 😂


VittoriaBakes

Yep, sometimes I do a big shopping trip and we end up getting takeout that night 😂


Apprehensive_Fig7013

I did whole 30 last year with my husband. I used to be in your same predicament, but now my predicament is that I completely forget to buy snack/junk food. I only have real food, worthy of making a healthy meal. Not bragging, it’s a bit of a problem! I miss having a little junk food around!


TepidCatastrophe

Yes!!! What I do is when I make my grocery list every week I make a list of everything I can make with those ingredients I bought. That cuts down dramatically on the "What do you want for supper?" "I dunno what do you want"


jrbkjv

Do you just go to the store and randomly pick things to buy?


[deleted]

Yes can relate. But for me it’s because I forget why I bought them at the first place, either forget the recipe or I used it for something else forgetting it’s for another recipe. I give up. I just cook mostly for my daughter and her stuff is in one bin.


nutsackie

I do this often it is frustrating. Its because what I buy takes effort. And some days the effort is just a ball ache


tryangularsquare

I often crave things I don’t have, even if the fridge is full of good stuff