Hit 50 different dinner recipes this month and it changed my whole meal planning mindset

So I was trying to figure out what to cook tonight (again) and realized I actually hit 50 unique recipes this month. That number surprised me because I tend to just rotate the same 10 meals on loop. What convinced me to break out of that was a neighbor telling me she keeps a jar with meal ideas on slips of paper, and every Sunday she pulls out 5 random ones. It sounded silly at first but now I'm obsessed with trying stuff I normally skip over, like lentil soup or stuffed peppers. Has anyone else tracked how many different dinners they make in a month? I'm curious if 50 is average or if I'm just easily bored.

3 comments

3 Comments

sethhernandez7d ago

The jar idea is genius actually, I might have to steal that.

ivan_mason7d ago

I actually just read about this in a study that said people who cook at home regularly only rotate through about 9 to 12 meals on average, so 50 is seriously impressive. The jar method sounds like a fun way to beat that rut without having to think too hard, which is my biggest problem after work. What's funny is I heard a food writer say most families actually have a "repertoire" of about 20 meals they feel comfortable making, but they don't realize how fast boredom sets in. That's probably why I've been falling back on tacos and stir fry twice a week without even noticing. You mentioned lentil soup, which is one of those things I always think sounds too plain but then I see a good recipe and wonder why I never try it. Did you find that cooking outside your normal comfort zone made you appreciate the old favorites more or just want to keep exploring?

charliestone7d ago

Right, but here's what I'm wondering - did you actually like all 50 of those recipes, or were some of them just okay? Because I tried something similar a while back and realized I was cooking stuff I thought I should like instead of stuff I actually enjoyed. The jar method sounds fun but my worry would be pulling out something that sounds good in theory but ends up being a Tuesday night chore. I think there's a middle ground between the 10-meal rut and forcing yourself through 50 different things in a month, you know? Like maybe the real win is just adding 5 or 6 new reliable ones to your rotation instead of starting from scratch every week. Did the lentil soup make the cut for your permanent list or was it a one-and-done?

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