I started doing this about 2 mths ago and find it REALLY good. I sat down and wrote a list of all our 'standards' that we like to have and then put them into a 4 week rotating menu table with a few spots here and there for a takeaway night or something special. Then when I do my shopping, I look at the table of what meals we are having that week and write my list. If I decide I want to do something different than what I'd planned then I might swap a night here and there, or use the ingredients to make something a bit different (eg. we love Rissoles, mashed potato and Gravy but every now and again I make them into Hamburgers with the lot) On two nights in the four weeks I have Grilled Chicken written down, which means I still can marinade it and have it with rice or make a nice sauce to go with it and have it with vegies, etc. so that it doesn't become too boring and planned.

My DH was sick of me always asking him what he wanted for tea, and so this way I don't have to think, I don't have to ask DH and he actually looks at the menu and goes - "oh, good tonight is Spag Bol night"!! I've also found that it means we are having tea earlier as I can get my meat out of freezer in morning and be organised, rather than doing it at 5pm.

A couple of years ago I did something similar, but wrote all of our standard meals, plus a few creative/special ones onto cards and kept them in a box. When it was time to do the weekly shop I would randomly pick out 7 cards and that would be what we were having that week. Only catch was that I often found myself selecting the same card three weeks in a row, or I would make my pick, and have 4 beef nights and 3 chicken!!

Hope this helps,

Lou.