[Deana]

for meal planning, I always try to do a protein (sometimes vegetarian), veggie and a starch. I just really try not to do the same foods two days in a row. So, I sort of alternate between proteins/starches and veggies. If I make a casserole w/lots of veggies, then I don't do a separate veggie. I also take into account what the day will be like -- if I am going to be out all afternoon or hosting playgroup or something, I'll do a crock pot dinner or soup and sandwich - something that is easy and something that I can prep in the morning. We order in about once a week (Saturday has become pizza night).

I go to costco once a month and load up on staples like meat/chicken/frozen stuff/frozen veggies/pasta, so I really try to mealplan around what I have. I try to only make one quick trip to the grocery store per week - mostly produce or fresh items.

I have about a zillion cookbooks - but I try to only use one or two per week, so that I'm not flipping around through books all the time. I also use allrecipes.com a LOT. My sister also mealplans, so sometimes we do our mealplans jointly over the phone - sometimes she or I will just steal the other person's mealplan all together!

I also will double an easy recipe (meatloaf, baked spagetti, stir fry) and freeze one portion - makes it easy to pull out a healthy home cooked dinner if we are having a hectic or lazy day.