Planning the Week's Meals the French Way
Sit down with your partner, decide what to eat this week, write the shopping list and share the cooking.
Many French families plan the week's meals around one big shop, often done through the supermarket's drive (order online, collect at a pick-up point), plus a trip to the weekly outdoor market for fresh vegetables. Schoolchildren usually eat a hot lunch at the school canteen, so dinner at home is often lighter, like soup, an omelette or a salad. At home everyone says tu, and spoken French drops the ne and shortens il y a to y a.
- 1
On mange quoi cette semaine ?
What are we eating this week?
- 2
On fait une liste.
Let's make a list.
- 3
Je fais les courses samedi.
I'll do the shopping on Saturday.
- 4
Y a plus de riz.
We're out of rice.
- 5
Des pâtes lundi, ça te va ?
Pasta on Monday, OK with you?
- 6
Je préfère manger du poisson.
I'd rather have fish.
- 7
J'ai pas très faim ce soir.
I'm not very hungry tonight.
- 8
On peut manger les restes.
We can eat the leftovers.
- 9
Je fais une grosse marmite de soupe dimanche.
I'll make a big pot of soup on Sunday.
- 10
On en congèle la moitié.
We'll freeze half of it.
- 11
On va au marché pour les légumes.
Let's go to the market for vegetables.
- 12
Les enfants mangent à la cantine le midi.
The kids eat at the canteen at lunchtime.
- 13
C'est rapide à faire.
It's quick to make.
- 14
Il faut des œufs, du lait et du beurre.
We need eggs, milk and butter.
- 15
Je commande au drive.
I'll order it for click-and-collect.
Tip: Supermarket pick-up point.
- 16
On en a assez pour quatre ?
Have we got enough for four?
- 17
Qui fait à manger ce soir ?
Who's cooking tonight?
- 18
C'est ton tour.
It's your turn.
- 19
Un truc léger, genre une salade.
Something light, like a salad.
- 20
On fait attention au budget.
Let's watch the budget.