Save Money on Food by Planning Menus

Menu planning is a simple way to live within a food budget and saves the aggravation of planning meals everyday. It effectively utilizes food storage, canned goods, home canned items, frozen food, fresh food, garden fruits, vegetables and herbs. You may also want to plan for a few quick meals (i.e. frozen prepared meals) as well.

You may use this guide when planning meals for one week, two weeks or a month.

YOU WILL NEED:

• A calendar or clipboard for meal lists
• A Notebook to write down favorite meals, ingredients and shopping lists
• If you clip coupons, a place to keep them near your grocery lists

STEP 1:

• Make a list of favorite meals
• Keep in mind seasonal produce and holiday favorites

STEP 2:

• List the ingredients with the meals

STEP 3:

• Check freezer and storage for what you have already and check off the ingredients from your list. *If you have an item, use it first. Can't think how you can use it? Look online for a new recipe.

STEP 4:

• Make a grocery list
• Items that are not checked off are your main shopping items. If doing this for a month, you will need 2 shopping lists. 1 for the beginning of the month and one for mid-month.

STEP 5:

• Place meals on calendar or place list of meals on a clipboard to check them off as you use them. Calendars are easier.

TIPS:

• Place meals with the freshest ingredients immediately after shopping days, so they are not wasted.
• Remember preparation times. Don't make a dish that takes an hour on a day you know you are busy.
• Try new recipes on days you have the time.
• Remember leftover nights, too.
• Remember times you will be eating out for functions or family outings.
• There is nothing wrong with soup and sandwich nights on busy sports, church or school function days.

STEP 6: (For super busy people: small or large families apply)

• Pre-make a few meals and freeze them. Then you will have a fast healthy meal.
• For smaller families, make a meal into two or three meals.

STEP 7: USING THE MENU

• If you don't use a meal on your calendar, underline it.
• Write unused meal in the next month, or in your notebook to remind yourself you still have that available.
• Always keep back-up dinners not on your list (ex. Frozen pizzas, burgers for the grill or breakfast for dinner.)
• Remember if you are using a back-up meal, underline the one you have on the calendar and place accordingly.

Make this fun for the whole family!

You will:

• Eat healthier foods,
• Rotate Food Storage
• Save Time
• Save money!!!

Start today!

Source: Christine Schwent