Attention all meal planning experts (or wanna-bes)

[Kathy]

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Cooking Light Meal Planner and am getting frustrated because they are back-ordered and information is not available regarding when they will be back in stock. (Something about waiting on returns which makes me less than thrilled. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif ) Anyway, has anyone found a system, ie log, computer software, etc that has healthy meal suggestions? I am trying to get myself organized and am stuck. Thanks so much!

[luv2cook]

wow, kathy, thanks for opening my eyes. Where have I been? I didn't know there was such a thing. I guess that's what I get for not browsing!

[kwormann]

Kathy...Where did you find the CL planner...do you mean the planner/calendar, or is there a special meal planner, and where do you find it???

TIA

Kim

[Kathy]

Kim, I just mean the Cooking Light Annual Meal Planner 2001. Is that just a calendar? I guess I need a personal weight loss counselor/chef!I am going through my own recipes trying to come up with a menu. My MasterCook has some Betty Crocker Meal Plans, but no Cooking Light...Did I just make up a product?! If so, I will share what I come up with! So far, I have banana bread, lime pots de creme and Spicy Grilled shrimp...all Canyon Ranch stuff. The pots de creme would be excellent on a light graham cracker crust! (Ala key lime pie!)

[This message has been edited by Kathy (edited 01-07-2001).]

[Beth]

Kathy, do you have CL cookbooks in your MC? I think I have some meals, although not many. CL could also put together some meal ideas in the home page features. Bet the way we come up with more stuff for them to do, find space for, etc.

[Kathy]

Beth, great idea! I do have the Cooking Light MasterCook; I did not see any mealplans though. I know I have seen meal ideas; it would just be very helpful to have a computer program that would reference a recipe if you type in the meals you want. What do you think? Does MasterCook do that?

[almiter]

This thread reminded me of a question that I wanted to ask- my new CL Mastercook 6.0 did not come with any meal plans although the manual included said that there should be some included. Did anyone who bought the CL MC 6.0 have meal plans included? Would love to have some pre-planned for me! I have a hard time coming up with side dish ideas, etc.

Another thought was to exchange menu ideas in this chat board. Anyone interested

[Kathy]

I didn't see any with 6.0 either. I would love to exchange ideas! I am going to start WW on Sat and I really need to get my act together!

[Beth]

Kathy, I'm not sure where what I do have came from since I have had MC 4.0, an early CL, Best of MasterCook 5.?, and CL 6.0. I just remember seeing them when I went to my computer, clicked on my hard drive and opened up the Sierra folder and went to CL. They are a folder within that. I'll try looking at them a little later and see if I can come up with anything helpful.

[RUSTYSMOM]

I would love to try to participate in some menu planning forum. How do we do this? I am really trying to get my act together here. THis week I planned the week out and made several items this weekend. SO far so good... Four nights to go....

[DeniseB]

That is a great idea. We could all share our ideas. It sometimes gets so hard to be creative and reading other's meal ideas always gives me a boost! I need to have plans that can work for whole family. I am really trying to lose weight but, at the same time my son is trying to gain.( Too bad we can't just exchange some weight!)

[BevP]

It's not from cooking light but the American Diabetics Association has different meal planners out including a cookbook/meal planner. The one I have is Magic Menues for People with Diabetes. It's broken into breakfast (50), lunch (50) and dinner (75) (some are easy no-fuss meals, some are recipes) and snack (30) ideas. Each day contains about 1500 calories and suggestions how to add or subtract calories. They have other books too. (And, no I don't work for the ADA I just try to follow their eating plan and these books help http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif)

I know they have a web site but darned if I can remember the address. There is a 1-800 number if anyone wants it.

[almiter]

I will be doing some meal planning this weekend and will post my plans on monday on a new thread since this one is getting kind of long. I'm going to focus mainly on easier recipies with a few more complicated ones thrown in.
I do a lot of freezer cooking also, so I will sometimes take the more complicated ones and double the recipe if they are freezable. Anyway I'll let you know what I come up with