Wow…I just…um…wow.

My method is the somewhat-more-common weekly method; we (and by “we” I mean “I”) pick out about five dinners per week, count on leftovers or “fend-for-ourselves” nights, and get stuff for each meal. Then we generally decide day-by-day which one we’re having (although sometimes it’s decided ahead of time based on what’s going to go bad if we don’t use it).

My husband, when he does the grocery shopping, prefers the approach of buying some commonly-used staple things like chicken breasts, ground beef, veggies, etc., and deciding later what to do with them, but I don’t have the confidence in my ability to just throw something together from what we’ve got on hand.

The yearly method would take a level of organization I just can’t imagine, but good for her for making it work (and I imagine even this is up for some on-the-fly revision). Even if I was able to be this organized, though, I enjoy trying new recipes frequently enough that it would be difficult to plan this much.

Yuck, she schedules red meat about 5 x’s a week, not to mention, her alfredo and use of other “sauces” I wouldn’t make part of the regular rotation…. Personally, her menu isn’t all that healthy to me, but that’s just me. I don’t go for boxed food items, we avoid HFCS and hydrogenated oils, etc. And, like GP, I am (obviously a foodie) and guided by mood so could never plan that far in advance.

Although my menu differs greatly from Leslie’s (we don’t eat much prepackaged food or that much meat) I am totally inspired by her organization. My husband and I used to shop often and buy whatever we felt like eating but then my twins came along and that came to screeching halt. I quit working to stay home with the kids, cutting as back to one income and there went the impulse buying at the grocery. We don’t eat the same way the Chilsom family does, but I wish I could meal plan like her!

I’m with others, I enjoy sometimes deciding on a whim what to make. Today is a terribly rainy day in the Northeast- the perfect weather for Irish stew and soda bread. So that’s what we’ll have. If it had been a gloriously sunny day, I probably would feel differently. I can’t imagine deciding a year in advance! How would I include all the new recipes I’ve discovered on Nibblers???

Last year, in the whole year, the only processed food I ate was restaurant food when I went on a trip(s). And then, if the hotel had micro-fridges, I bought fruit and vegies that were fresh. Obviously, I can’t be planning to far ahead, except that I do buy frozen fruit and fish that tends to last me for a month or so.

This is supposed to be better than eating out? My bowels would revolt if I ate crap like this every day. Where are the veggies??

Haven’t read the meal plan but going by what you are all saying that it is recommended that young children have red meat up to 5 times a week and adults 3 times a week. I don’t agree with all the pre-packaged food but meat is an important part of our dietary requirements.