Getting started in the UK
Plan the meals, then write the shopping list
Start with the dinners your household will actually eat. This six-step guide turns those choices into a list you can check at a UK supermarket. It works with a notebook or your own notes; no Smaklig account or UK app feature is needed.
Explore the UK supermarket guidesBefore you begin
Three things to put beside your plan
You need only enough information to make this week’s shop useful. Start with what your household already knows.
Your week
Note the evenings you expect to cook, the number of people eating and any meals you will have elsewhere.
Your kitchen
Check food already in the fridge, freezer and cupboards before adding another pack to the list.
Your retailer
Keep the shop or delivery service you intend to use in mind. Pack sizes, stock and delivery options depend on the retailer and your location.
Your first weekly plan in six steps
Keep the plan small enough to change when your week changes.
1. Count the dinners and people
Mark the evenings when you expect to cook. Note how many people will eat and whether anyone needs a different meal. You may need a plan for three dinners rather than seven; use the number that fits your real week.
2. Choose meals you can make
Pick a few familiar dinners, then add variety where you want it. Check the time, equipment and ingredients each meal needs. Choose recipes that share an ingredient only when you have a safe, realistic way to use the remainder.
3. Check your kitchen first
Look in the fridge, freezer and cupboards. Note quantities and use-by dates. Put food that needs using soon into the plan where it is suitable, following its storage instructions.
4. Make one list with quantities
Combine repeated ingredients across meals and subtract what you already have. A useful list says what you need, how much you need and which meal it is for. Keep household essentials separate so the dinner plan remains easy to check.
5. Check the actual shop
Compare the packs, labels and current prices available at the retailer serving your address. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, M&S Food and Ocado have different ranges and ordering options. Availability, offers and delivery terms can vary by location and time. If you have an allergy, check every actual product label and any substitution before buying or cooking.
6. Adjust after the shop
Change the menu when a product is unavailable or your plans move. Record what was bought and what remains, so the next list starts from the food you really have. A weekly plan is a working aid, not a fixed rule.
When the plan changes
Common shopping-list questions
Do I need to plan all seven dinners?
No. Plan only the dinners you expect to cook, then leave room to change them when your week changes.
What if a pack is larger than the recipe needs?
Record the pack you will buy and the amount the meal uses separately. Only plan to use the rest if that fits its storage instructions and your week.
What if my usual product is unavailable?
Change the meal or check the actual substitute’s ingredients, allergens, pack size and price before you buy or cook. Do not assume a substitute is equivalent.