Menu Planning

Weekly Planning:

1. Make a list of recipes your family will eat. Include Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks, and Desserts.
2. Put these recipes onto index cards listing ingredients and directions if you would like. ( I place them in a baggie so they don’t get dirty during cooking. I also place the recipes for the week on top so I don‘t have to search for them during the week.)
3. Sit down for an hour (set a timer) and, using your index cards, layout what meals you want on which days. Don’t forget to leave days blank if you would like to eat out.
4. During your hour, write the ingredients down on a grocery list (see resources below).
5. Check the pantry for any ingredients you may need but already have.
6. Approximate how much you will spend on each item. If you are unsure, guess. While at the store write down the correct price on your list.

If this sounds complicated, pick one of the following sites and use their already prepared weekly meal lists, including shopping lists and directions.

One Family One Meal (organic and whole foods, she is a chef by trade)

Whole Foods in a Hurry (trying to use whole foods)

Once a Month Mom (recipes need to be modified a bit for healthier meals but she seems to be the queen of once a month freezer cooking)

Shopping on a Budget:

1. Buy sale items in bulk. If there is a very good sale, be prepared to purchase a ton of whatever it is and freeze it. Eventually you will have a good stock of many of the items you use daily/weekly and this makes a huge difference in both your costs and trips to the store.
2. Shop with a list and stick to it. Have you ever came home with a $49 gallon of milk?
3. Buy the store brand. King Soopers has a great organic brand that is comparable to the national brands.
4. Buy local and seasonal produce. I like Door to Door Organics because they try to do both PLUS having produce delivered every Monday allows me to avoid the grocery store.
5. Shop on a full stomach.
6. Don’t shop with the children. You can read labels better without the small ones helping. I shop at night once they are in bed or on the weekends when my wonderful husband is home cleaning and doing laundry. (edited by Bill, the husband)
7. Substitute. If your recipe calls for ground beef but turkey is on sale, substitute.

Free Printable Resources

Grocery Lists:

Money Saving Mom

Org Junkie

Grocery Lists Deluxe

Grocery Lists Vegetarian

Meal Planner:

Org Junkie

Assests Unclutterer