Meal Planner

[johnholmes]

It has recently occurred to me that I can eat better than I currently am for about the same budget. As silly as this sounds, though, I am far too busy to sit down and make sure I'm getting all the vitamins/foodgroups/nutrients/etc that I should be each day. This is really bad when you realize I have two kids ~4 days a week. I really want to make sure their meals are healthier than "eat a vegetable with that".

So, what I'm looking for is a phone app, website, or software that will help me plan out daily/weekly/monthly meals. This *DOES NOT* have to be a diet plan. Just healthy eating. I don't really care about counting calories.

So, anyone know of something like this? I've done my googling, but everything I'm finding ends in a paywall or a trial membership. Don't really wanna pay unless it's a one time fee for a phone app.

[Allison]

Wow! An actual, legitimate question?

I will look around and see what I can find.

[Rasha]

Great question. I actually need this too. I try planning on paper, but its harder since I am busier. I will be on the look out and report if I find something. Please let me know if you do too!

[Faith]

Johnholmes, you might want to look at this. Maybe this will help.
http://havecouponswilltravel.com/showthread.php/21356-Food-On-The-Table-Free-easy-meal-planning?p=98768#post98768

[johnholmes]

I'm finding lots of stuff like this: http://www.howdoesshedoit.com/menu_planner_about.php. However, it just doesn't offer something that hits all the food groups / recommended nutrients.

[johnholmes]

Johnholmes, you might want to look at this. Maybe this will help.

http://freebiessamplesdeals.com/2011/11/01/food-on-the-table-easy-meal-planning-2/

This is extraordinarily biased towards Kroger. I live in a small town and have a small grocery store. While I appreciate the fact it allows you to base it on sales items; I would rather have one that is just based on a healthy diet in general.

[KellyMarie]

JH~This was just posted this morning, it's free and seems worth checking out, Faith posted it above :)

http://media.enimgs.net/brand/files//escalatenetwork/389/FOTT300.jpg (http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_c?offer_id=389&aff_id=4366)http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_i?offer_id=389&aff_id=4366

[johnholmes]

JH~This was just posted this morning, it's free and seems worth checking out, Faith posted it above :)

http://media.enimgs.net/brand/files//escalatenetwork/389/FOTT300.jpg (http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_c?offer_id=389&aff_id=4366)http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_i?offer_id=389&aff_id=4366

I'm giving it a try right now. The main issue I'm having with it is the inability to say "I want a fast breakfast, pre-cooked lunch, and a good dinner - Now pick something for me from the list of approved meats/etc that I have and generate my meal plan for a week". I know that sounds needy, but it's exactly what I need.

Edit - Got to the end and they want $30 / 3 months. It was already not looking good before that. I'm going to have to keep searching after that.

[KellyMarie]

Well JH~You are a programmer aren't you? Why don't you create one and sell it like crazy!

[johnholmes]

Using this as a pastebin now. Below are the things I've found that I like, but still aren't what I want. Most of them are just lists of a week or two. I really want something that generates every week/month.

Weekly menu based on calories (pretty healthy, too, but doesn't hit everything and is based more on dieting than living healthy). Not customizable. :
http://www.louisvilleky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/713F338E-F6FF-4270-BC10-B9DF0CC024D2/0/WeekofHealthyMenus.pdf


Another weekly menu. More healthy, less about diets. Still not customizable and relies too heavily on a diet I won't conform to:
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=2677

Subscription based (I'm not paying a monthly fee for this):
http://menus4moms.com/store/busymommenu.php

[KellyMarie]

Oh JH you need an invite to pinterest!

[johnholmes]

Ok, getting frustrated. Anyone know of a good blog that just puts what their weekly meal plan is? I'm seriously considering taking this "THAT" lowtech.

[Tara]

JH, did you try the Betty Crocker, Kraft or Pillsbury websites?

[johnholmes]

JH, did you try the Betty Crocker, Kraft or Pillsbury websites?

Don't really see an option to make a weekly meal plan. I'm really trying to be lazy/cheap here. I'm somewhat getting frustrated, though. I just had a 45 minute talk with a coworker about how damn easy it would be to set up the page/database and how sad I am that I can't find someone who already did it (Note: I'm trying to be MORE lazy here, not come up with an idea for a new site).

[johnholmes]

I FOUND A BLOG!!!! WOOOHOOO! (seriously, sarcasm here as it took me ~3 hours of searching). And, it only does dinners. But, hey, it's a start. Now if I can find a blog for lunch and breakfast...

http://www.meijermealbox.com/weekly-nutritious-menu

[KellyMarie]

JH~pm Monica or FB her...she and her family are on a super healthy meal plan and I bet she has a good site for you to use :)

[Heather]

I'm not sure if you have already tried it or if you were only looking for a free one, but there is an app called MealBuilderPro (http://appshopper.com/healthcare-fitness/mealbuilder-pro-healthy-meal-planner-and-groc). I haven't tried it I just found it with a search. It is $1.99 though not free. I will see if I can find anything else.

[Heather]

I know I had put a free one on my Ipod I haven't used it yet though. Let me go grab it and see what it was.

[Heather]

The one I had is a free one called Food on the Table, but now that I really look at it it's not that great.

[KarrenOliver]

John, the only one of know of is called emeals.com and it is $5 a month. Not too expensive and I think they plan around your pantry supplies and local sales for your area. I haven't looked at it, so I cannot offer an opinion.

[KarrenOliver]

JH....I spelled it wrong, but I found the link: http://e-mealz.com/about

[Rasha]

I FOUND A BLOG!!!! WOOOHOOO! (seriously, sarcasm here as it took me ~3 hours of searching). And, it only does dinners. But, hey, it's a start. Now if I can find a blog for lunch and breakfast...

http://www.meijermealbox.com/weekly-nutritious-menu



Wahoo!

[KellyMarie]

I'm giving it a try right now. The main issue I'm having with it is the inability to say "I want a fast breakfast, pre-cooked lunch, and a good dinner - Now pick something for me from the list of approved meats/etc that I have and generate my meal plan for a week". I know that sounds needy, but it's exactly what I need.

Edit - Got to the end and they want $30 / 3 months. It was already not looking good before that. I'm going to have to keep searching after that.

well heck, as I read it, they said it was free! Sorry to anyone that signed up :(

[johnholmes]

I'm not sure if you have already tried it or if you were only looking for a free one, but there is an app called MealBuilderPro (http://appshopper.com/healthcare-fitness/mealbuilder-pro-healthy-meal-planner-and-groc). I haven't tried it I just found it with a search. It is $1.99 though not free. I will see if I can find anything else.

Buying this, now. Will report back in a bit.

[Heather]

Let me know if you like it I might buy it too!

[johnholmes]

Let me know if you like it I might buy it too!

It's nice. But, still not what I'm looking for (ton of manual setup - it comes with very few sample recipes)

[KellyMarie]

JH~Monica said to check this out:

http://www.supercook.com/ It's not healthy, but cool...you tell it what is in your pantry and gives you recipes. Seriously, you need to develop a program that does healthy meals and grocery lists

[Heather]

It's nice. But, still not what I'm looking for (ton of manual setup - it comes with very few sample recipes)

Well that stinks! Sorry you can't find one that is what you are looking for!

[Rasha]

Still looking.

[Allison]

http://www.mealsmatter.org/ Take a look at that one and see if it will work for you

[courtney]

I like this website- http://orgjunkie.com/- she does menu planning every week and a lot of other bloggers link up every Monday to share their plans.