As you decide what to make for dinner or purchase, what is the first item you decide on?
Sometimes I will use a carb-first approach (e.g. I had pasta last night so tonight I will have potatoes).
In the summer months when I have lots of fresh veggies, I might use a vegetable first approach, but more likely I just match up the veggies to the protein (next option)
Protein-first is my normal approach. I will take some meat out of the freezer, or fresh from the butcher and then design the meal around the meat I have (or decide for vegetarian).
I am thinking of switching to a sauce-first approach, since I have so many hot sauces. The way it will work is I decide on a hot sauce and then make a meal that fits that sauce. So if it's Valentina night, that means fish sticks. Crystal night can be burgers. Super hot night usually means some kind of carb to cut the burn. Since I'm also a saucier I could theoretically add sauces that aren't hot sauces.
Style first is for those lamewads who say shit like "I'm feeling like Indian food tonight" or "I'm thinking Chinese" and then order Butter Chicken (a UK dish) or Chop Suey (a US dish). These people are irrational. You should steer clear of them - unless they say "Meat and potatoes" and that is the only style they ever pick; those people are ok.
Combination is for if you don't really have a set thing, you just base it on whatever food is going to go bad soon or whatever.
None is for the thoughtless who just grab whatever, and don't understand why someone would even study meal planning.