Meal plans - different meals, same ingredients?

[roxtarrr]

Maybe it's because I'm usually cooking for myself, but I find with the plans that I've come across that they tend to require you to buy items that don't come as a single serving for only one meal.  For example, one meal might be a wrap. You only need 1 but they come in a bag of 6.  Now I'm stuck with 5 extra pitas.  Or having to buy a whole container of spinach for a cup.

Does anyone know of a meal plan that will give a list of the main ingredients for the week that you may have to buy in quantities and plan around them?  Whenever I try and do it myself, I just end up having the same thing over and over again all week. The problem is by the end of the week, I get bored and end up buying something unhealthy.

Thanks!

Thanks!

[steff]

This one http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/2009/03/weekly-menu-planning-for-singles.html looked promising.

[LCHFmom]

One set of ideas:  I just made several of these for my family. 

Ingredients:

• Meat - see each recipe 
• bell peppers ( or any combination of red, green, yellow ,etc)
• garlic
• onions
• Seasonings ( hopefully already in your cupboard)
• oil

1- Chicken and red peppers - mixed with italian seasoning and smidge oil 

2- Italian Marinated Flank steak - peppers, onions, garlic, oil, vinegar

3- Fajitas- pick your meat, peppers, onions, garlic, seasoning of choice

4. Balsamic chicken - mixed with peppers or fresh spinach 

5- take ANY of the previous 3 meals and make a salad , wrap, etc 

THere are many more ideas, just by adding another couple ingredients.  Hope this is along the lines of what you are looking for. 

[roxtarrr]

These are both great suggestions - I've even tried making an excel document before. I guess it's like any habit that comes with time and repetition but I've tried and I just fail every time. 

What I had more in mind was something that was generated or set, though.  Kind of like how you can have a meal plan set for you on SparkPeople. Most of the workout programs like Body Revolution, Insanity (I think) come with one, too but they give you a recipe that makes 12 muffins and turn around and only put it on the meal plan once that week.  I hate that! lol

I'll give the Excel sheet another go and see if I can do better this time.

[steff]

I found a different one, that is more comprehensive:  http://resourcefulcook.com/mealplans/browse/forone