Eating out in Singapore is convenient—hawker centers offer incredible value, and there’s no shortage of food options. But when dining expenses start adding up, especially if you venture beyond hawker fare into cafes and restaurants, cooking at home becomes an attractive alternative that’s not just cheaper, but often tastier and definitely healthier.

The challenge? Finding time to plan, shop, and cook without it feeling overwhelming. Here’s how meal planning transformed my family’s eating habits and budget.

Meal Prep with Picky Eaters

If you have kids, you know the struggle. My children can be incredibly picky about food—but I’ve discovered something interesting: when they find something they genuinely like, they’re happy eating it on repeat. This isn’t a problem to solve; it’s actually a huge advantage for meal planning.

Instead of cooking fresh every single day, I lean into this preference by batch cooking their favorite dishes. When I make Ayam Kicap or a pasta dish they love, I’ll prepare a larger portion that can last the entire week, or at least a few days. Store it properly in the fridge, and I’ve got ready-made meals that just need reheating.

This approach has multiple benefits: I’m only cooking once but eating multiple times from that effort, the kids are happy because they’re getting food they actually enjoy, and I’m not stressing about what to cook every single night. On busy weekdays when time is tight, knowing there’s a pre-cooked meal ready to go is a lifesaver. It’s like having your own personal hawker stall at home—same dish available whenever you need it, but healthier and cheaper.

You Don’t Have to Cook Different Meals for Everyone

One of the biggest meal planning myths is that catering to kids means cooking entirely separate meals. The reality is much simpler: I cook similar dishes using the same base ingredients, then adjust the seasoning.

For example, I’ll prepare a stir-fry with the same vegetables and protein, but set aside a less spicy portion for the kids before adding chili to the adult version. Or I’ll make a curry with coconut milk and keep theirs milder while adding more heat to ours. Same cooking time, same ingredients, minimal extra effort—but everyone’s happy.

This approach has another benefit: kids gradually become more adventurous eaters when they see adults enjoying slightly different versions of the same meal.

Build Around Your Family Favorites

Every family has those dishes that work for everyone. For us, it’s Ayam Kicap (soy sauce chicken), ABC Soup, and Soba with tempura. These aren’t complicated restaurant-style meals—they’re simple, nutritious dishes that both my kids and my wife genuinely enjoy.

These reliable favorites form the foundation of our meal rotation. Knowing we have go-to dishes that require minimal prep and consistently satisfy everyone removes so much mental load from weekly planning. I keep the ingredients for these dishes readily available, making them perfect for busy weeknights or batch cooking sessions on weekends.

Planning Ahead

Here’s where everything changed for our family: planning before shopping, not during or after.

The old pattern was familiar and frustrating. I’d wander the supermarket aisles hoping inspiration would strike, or I’d get home and stare at random ingredients wondering what to make. More often than not, I’d just order delivery—convenient but expensive and not always the healthiest choice.

With OurMenu, I’ve completely flipped this process. Now I plan several weeks ahead, checking what ingredients I already have at home and creating a specific shopping list for what I actually need. There’s no more standing in front of the refrigerator at 6 PM feeling decision fatigue.

The grocery shopping itself is faster and more focused. Research consistently shows that shopping without a list leads to overspending—you’re much more likely to make impulse purchases or buy things that seem like they might be useful but end up unused. Having a plan eliminates this entirely.

The Real Savings Add Up

Since starting with OurMenu, I’ve noticed savings in multiple areas:

Less overbuying: I purchase exactly what I need for planned meals, not “just in case” items that might go to waste.

Fewer takeout orders: When I know what’s for dinner and have the ingredients ready, the temptation to order delivery disappears.

Reduced food spoilage: Ingredients get used before they expire because they’re part of an actual plan, not random purchases. No more discovering forgotten vegetables wilted in the crisper drawer.

Lower grocery bills: Shopping with intention and a list keeps impulse purchases in check.

For a Singapore family eating out frequently, these savings can easily reach hundreds of dollars monthly—money that can go toward other priorities or even the occasional guilt-free restaurant splurge.

Conclusion

Meal planning isn’t about becoming a master chef or spending hours in the kitchen. It’s about working smarter: understanding what your family actually enjoys, preparing similar base meals with simple variations, and most importantly, planning ahead so you’re never caught wondering “what’s for dinner?”

With OurMenu, meal planning becomes manageable rather than overwhelming. I’ve saved money, reduced stress, and improved our family’s eating habits—all without sacrificing convenience. If you’re tired of overspending at the supermarket or relying too heavily on takeout, give meal planning a try. Your wallet (and your family) will thank you.

Ready to start saving money and time with smarter meal planning? Try OurMenu today and see the difference planning ahead can make.