Reply to How do you figure out what to eat for dinner every night?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I keep a well-stocked pantry. I always have sandwich bread, pasta, rice, beans, canned tomatoes, frozen peas, and tortillas, as well as some other grains like couscous and quinoa. So a lot of times I'll end up making something like chicken and veggies in an olive oil sauce over pasta, rice, or grains, or grilled sandwiches with roasted veggies, quesadillas, etc. When I grocery shop on the weekends, I buy fresh meat and produce for the week depending on what's fresh. I rarely worry about what to cook with it, knowing that I have the staples at home to make something even if it's kind of basic.

I also read a lot of food blogs so I get inspiration from them when I'm in a rut and just don't feel like cooking any of the usuals. [/quote]

Really, what is it with all this "planning ahead" and apps and weekly dinner menus? Is it really that difficult to cook a meal? This is in no way meant as a criticism, I am really just trying to understand if I'm the only one who cooks based on what we feel like eating? Sure, you DO need to keep your pantry/fridge/freezer stocked up, but that's the hard part. Then, the easy part, when you know you have all the basics covered, is to just think "what are we in the mood for tonight??" and make it. So much of it depends on the weather for me (yes, truly), or what we've been having for the past few days or so (mostly meat? mostly starch?) and/or leftovers..... I'd go crazy if I couldn't eat based on what I feel like having. It would take the pleasure of cooking/eating away.[/quote]

This is me too.

But it took a while to get here. I went through about a year of meal planning and learning what worked for me before I felt comfortable ditching the detailed planning part. If you're not comfortable or experienced cooking for your family, then deciding on the fly isn't going to work and will feel like a burden. It also makes a difference what your approach to cooking/eating is. I love both and I think about food a lot, browsing recipes is enjoyable and I consider cooking a hobby. So for me, cooking and eating isn't a chore. For others, cooking and eating are chores and they don't get as much pleasure out of it. Planning is the way to go if that's how you feel.

I DO plan out how to use my leftovers over the next 1-2 days as I cook each evening. I also get a box from Washington Green Grocer, so I'm 'creative' to make sure I use it all up. I get it delivered on Friday so I have the weekend to think and prep. So, I guess I still plan a little :)[/quote]

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