Fed up with thinking about what to eat? Find some helpful tips here

Stuck for ideas for meals and the time to plan them? Here are seven hacks to help you through the week! 

Make a note of what you have in before you think about meal planning 

• Then search online for recipes with the ingredients you already have in your fridge, freezer and cupboards – you might stumble across a new family favourite! 
• Knowing what you have also helps when shopping – you can focus your time on what you know you need to buy, not what you think you need. 

Shop online when possible 

This takes less time and can be far less stressful than visiting a shop. It’s not always possible to shop in this way, but if you know what you need and you are in advance of the week, it might be your saviour!  

Follow chefs and foodie programmes on social media, and save your fave recipes 

Then once a week, check them out and see what tickles your fancy. If they seem a bit extreme for the whole family, some ingredients could be removed to make a child-friendly version at the same time. 

Another idea is to go to a well-known online auction site and search for meal cards from food delivery companies. You’ll have your meals planned without having to think too much, and it’s cheaper than starting a subscription. 

Look for some recipes that use the same ingredients but can make different meals 

For instance, buy a load of mince (veggie or not) and plan to make a chilli and some burgers with it. You could also grab some potatoes and make wedges to go with the chilli, and chips with the burgers. Buy a pack of veg or salad to go with them and you have two balanced meals. 

Make meals out of leftovers – or cook double! 

• We don’t always eat what we’ve made, and that’s fine! You’ve unconsciously saved yourself making one meal the next day – could that be someone’s lunch? 
• If you have lots of leftover food, why not make a buffet with it? Children often enjoy picking at different foods and this is a perfect solution for the bits and bobs hanging around. 
• You can also plan for leftover food by buying lots of the same thing and cooking it all at once. Say you’re making a roast, if you have enough space in your oven, make twice as much as you need so you have two days covered. 
• Roast vegetables also provide the perfect base for soups, curries and pasta dishes. 
• Save some of the meat for sandwiches the next day. 
• Or just make extra Yorkshire puddings; they will come in handy for whipping up a sausage and mash meal or mini toad-in-the-holes. 
• Many meals can be made in large quantities: bolognaise, curries, lasagna and pasta sauces! Make a note of what you’ve made and pop any extra portions in the freezer. 

Create a list of meals that your family eats regularly 

• Take the pressure off by knowing there are certain meals that will always be enjoyed.  
• Write a list of them and plan to eat one or two of them weekly. Spacing the amount of time between cooking favourite meals means no-one will get fed up eating the same thing, and you know you’ll have a family with full tummies. 

Involve the family 

Making meals can be an all-hands-on deck exercise – it doesn't just have to be you all the time. Involve everyone by giving them things to do, and have a family cook-off!'