Plan batch cooking and leftovers

Choose meals that fit your schedule

Pick a recipe, choose the day you will cook it, and add the same recipe to a later day. Decide the portions for each meal. A two-portion dinner and a one-portion later meal need three portions in the batch.

Link the later meal as leftovers

In LeanMeals, save repeated recipes in your meal planner, then open My kitchen and link the later meal to its original cooking day. The batch summary combines those portions. The shopping list includes all planned servings once; linking leftovers does not add an extra copy of the ingredients.

Keep your nutrition totals clear

Your later meal still has its own planned servings and nutrition. Log the meal on the day you eat it. If you want a different recipe, unlink the leftover first so the plan no longer treats it as part of the original batch.

Check storage before you cook

A plan is a reminder, not a storage guarantee. Follow the recipe and food packaging guidance, label stored meals and check whether freezing is suitable for the dish. Use the UK Food Standards Agency’s guidance for safe chilling, freezing and reheating.

Food Standards Agency: chilling food safely

Shop for the difference

Add your stock to My kitchen before shopping. Unexpired pantry quantities in compatible units reduce what the shopping list asks you to buy. Update pantry stock after using it; the shopping checklist does not automatically deduct food from your cupboard.

Batch links require a membership with planning and portion controls. Pantry and shopping tools require shopping access.