When I first started learning to cook, figuring out what to make for lunch or dinner was one of the hardest parts. I'm not going to lie, it's still challenging; especially when you're cooking for a triathlete (my husband does triathlon/Ironman races throughout the year).
Over the past 2-3 years of trying different methods and strategies, here is my process of how I decide what to cook next:
1) Plan Ahead of Time
Now this may seem like an obvious thing, but it really is something I overlooked a lot over the years. When I first really started to cook for myself and my husband, I would just take a look in our fridge and pantry to see what we had that I could cook. Some days it ended up being the same meal for 3 days (this included many ramen days).
I also tried making dishes/meals that we were craving, however; that would mean I would need to find time in my day to go to the grocery store if we didn't have all the ingredients for that specific meal. So, I decided to first plan in advance for the next 3 days. This allowed me to plan a time to go to the grocery store if needed, but to also plan out how much time I would need to make a dish. Some times when you're making a stew, that takes longer than 30 minutes to make - so this would be a meal I would plan for on a day that I have a lot of time.
Fast forward to present day, I now plan what I want to cook for the whole week! I have saved so much time and energy by not having to think about what I am cooking, or going to the grocery store multiple times a week. The way I keep track is just using a calendar just for my meals (see image below).
I also note if we're going to be on vacation, or any events that we may be eating out for, and holidays. Customize your calendar to what fits best for your lifestyle or eating/dieting plans you have for yourself.
2) Write Down Your Recipes/Bookmark Recipes
Having my own personal recipe book has helped me a ton, especially for those passed down family recipes that I learned from my parents and grandparents. I can't tell you how many times I have made something I forgot how to make it the next time. Writing down all the things I've cooked in past has saved me a lot of time on those days that I'm in the mood to cook, but not really wanting to cook something new.
The other thing I do when I am feeling adventurous, take a look at a cook book! From the cook books that I own, I place a post-it note or bookmarker on recipes that I want to try, or the ones that I've tried and really liked! It's always nice to have a guide when cooking.
NOTE: Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are also great places to find new recipes!
3) Check What You Currently Have When Planning Meals and Before Going Grocery Shopping
Since I typically plan meals for the week, I do my grocery shopping haul at the end of the week (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). Before I decide what I am cooking for the week, I usually take a look in my refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. Sometimes you will find that you have all the ingredients to make a meal - less items you will need to shop for. I first try to incorporate a recipe into the meal plan with things I already have, then I go from there.
Before you go the grocery store, make a list of the things you need to buy. I found that this has helped in preventing me from getting side tracked from my meal plan. If I have my list in front of me, I know what I will be cooking. A list will also prevent you from buying more of an item that's in your pantry - trust me, you don't want to have 3 jars of paprika if you don't need it.
4) Meal Prepping
During really busy weeks, or for the weeks that my husband is doing a triathlon or race, I usually try to meal prep. This is similar to my first method, but this is more to do with cooking a meal in bulk to last a couple of days. A lot of meal prep recipes are great, especially if you don't have time to cook, but would like to have home cooked meals. Typically these meals are made in 1 pot or pan, or in a crockpot.
If you are short on time, and don't want to cook a different dish everyday, meal prepping is a nice options! Now, a meal prepping plan will look different for everyone. It's going to be based on your own lifestyle, diet, etc. I still follow all my previous steps above when meal prepping :)
Conclusion
Figuring out what to cook next can be intimidating and frustrating, especially when first starting off; or just having to add something into your already busy day. I hope this helped and encouraged you to try and figure out a process for yourself when it comes to cooking at home and figuring out the next thing you want to cook!
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