Once-a-Month Menu Planning

You're organized.  You've shopped for ONLY items on sale.  You're stocked up.  We're now ready for the BEST part...MENU PLANNING.

The Big Idea

The main thing to remember is that you will plan all of your meals for the next month around what you have on hand already stocked up.  

(If you're feeling a little iffy about planning for an entire month, try starting off by planning for just one week.)

The Master List

Include your family in this important step.  It will help them feel like they're a part of this new way of thinking in your household.  Make a MASTER LIST of every meal you serve.  On your list, make a heading of the main ingredient (ex: chicken, pork, beef, pasta, etc.).  Under the heading, list every dish you cook using that main ingredient.  Ask your family to list their favorite dishes, and make sure to include those.  Don't forget to do the same for side dishes, breads, and desserts.

Meats are usually the largest expense of a meal.  To save the most money each week, try to plan at least one or two meatless meals.  Consider making a heading of meatless meals, such as cheese sandwiches, vegetable soup, baked potatoes and salad, veggie or cheese pizza, tomato soup, pastas, vegetable lasagna, breakfast for dinner (waffles, eggs, hash browns, etc.).  The list is endless!

Keep this master list handy to use each month when you plan a new menu.  Add new recipes to it as you discovery more you like.

Making a Plan

As you begin, think about your normal work week.

• Is there a certain night for church or other activities?
• Do your children have practice or ball games that will make for a late evening?
• Are you more tired usually on Thursday than on Monday?  (As a teacher, this was always the case for me!)
• Does your family have a large meal on Sunday?
• What day is a good day for someone else to prepare a meal?

Print out a calendar to use for planning out your meals.  (I also suggest using a pencil to write.)  Look at your master list.  Which ones do you have all of the ingredients already in your pantry/fridge/freezer?  Write those meals on your calendar.  As you plan, let your children choose their favorite meals for sometime during the month.  Try to include some of these suggestions to simplify your life.

• Plan one or two "easy" nights each week.
• Plan a night (or two) for someone else to cook.  (Even younger children can fix cold sandwiches for the family.)
• Plan a night to eat up all of the leftovers.  (My daughters used to make a menu each week as for a leftover "restaurant".

Breakfast/Lunch/Snacks

On a separate page, make lists for breakfast, lunch, and snacks.  List these as "choices".  These are meals on your own (without planning - unless you choose to do so).  By making a list to display, it helps the family see what they CAN choose from and ensures that they are not eating items that are needed for your dinner menus.

Putting Your Menu into Action

Post the completed menu on your fridge or somewhere else easily seen.  Each evening, check to see the next evening's meal plans to allow you to thaw, meal prep, etc. in a timely manner.

The Benefits

• The first words out of your darling family's mouths are no longer, "What's for dinner?"  (If it is, point to the calendar, or give them "THE LOOK",  haha!)

• After an exhausting day at work, you don't have to come home and try to figure out a game plan for a fast meal.

• Without a menu, extra trips to the grocery store are sometimes needed, causing extra expense.

• With a plan, it's easier to grab fast food, which again eats into that budget!

• With a plan in place, the afternoons are not as hectic, giving you a little rest time!

Pull out those menus and get started.  You're just in time for a new month and to get any kinks worked out before it's time for back to school.

Check back next Friday when I'll share some of my favorite frugal meal plans!  :-)

That's just...

 MY Kind of Teaching!