Menu Planning Made Easy!

Menu Planning Made Easy! 07/27/2010

A Guide to Saving Your Money & Your Sanity!

I've done it many times. We return home from Lego Club and it's 4:30. The kids are hungry and my sweet, famished hubby is due home in an hour. I have no idea what I'm making for dinner.

It took me a while (I'm a slow learner) but I finally figured out that by planning my meals, I save money and I help preserve the modicum of sanity I still have. Many people have asked me how I do it, so here are the steps involved in planning a menu and creating a master shopping list. (Actually, the second part has been done for you!) Please post questions, if you have them.

Step 1: List Your Family's Favorite Meals

Make a list of meals your family likes for breakfast, lunch, & dinner. Write as many as you can think of. (If you want some ideas, I have included a list of our favorites.) Primarily, you want to focus on your dinner meals. Now is a good time to include a recipe or two that you have been wanting to try. You could even have a weekly “New Food Night!” Or, you may just want to stick to your tried-and-true favorites. My mother made the same meals week after week. Monday was “Fried Chicken Day” Tuesday was “Ravioli Day” Wednesday was “Taco Day” and so on. You can make your menu the way YOU like it. Also, if you have some really busy days, that would be the time to plan a freezer meal (like lasagna) or a “Fend for Yourself” night.

Step 2: Plan Two (or Four) Weeks of Meals

I plan a two-week menu for my family, because my husband gets paid every two weeks, but it's just as easy to plan for four weeks. So, every two weeks, each of my 6 family members (myself included) chooses two meals from my list of twenty-six. That way each is assured of having two meals that they really want during that time. (That's 12 planned meals and 2 "fend for yourself" nights) Then, I go through my recipes, and make my shopping list for the ingredients that we need. I add to that breakfast foods, lunches and snacks. At the end of this guide is a free, Blank Menu Planner that I found at OrgJunkie.com. In addition, I have included links to a free Homeschool Planner AND Menu Planner in One and a Menu Planner with a To Do / Chore List from TheHomeschoolMom.com.

Step 3: Gather Your Recipes & Create a Shopping List

Gather your recipes from cookbooks, online or your recipe cards, or if you can remember the ingredients because you have made them so often, go ahead and review those recipes mentally.

I was tired of making a list every time I went shopping, and I always forgot something, so I created a master shopping list. It had everything needed for our meals, in addition to household items we regularly purchased. It was handy as I planned my menu, because I could just check off the items we needed without having to write it all out every time. At the end of this post, I have included a free, printable Master Shopping List if you want to use it. If you do not want to use a master list, you can create a list from the meals you just chose for your menu.

Example: Our Favorite Meals

You will notice a lack of seafood. Most of my family does not like fish, so I hardly ever make it.

Breakfasts
Oatmeal with Raisins and Fried Ham
French Toast with nitrate-free bacon and Orange slices
Cold Cereal and Bacon
Breakfast Burritos (eggs, salsa, cheese, bacon or sausage in a tortilla.
Breakfast sandwiches – Wholegrain English muffin, egg, ham and cheese.
Bagel and Cream Cheese with Fresh Fruit
Wholegrain Pancakes, turkey sausage and Fresh Fruit
Breakfast Smoothie, made with soy and whey protein powder and fresh or frozen fruit.

Lunches
Left-Overs from Dinner
Whole Wheat Pita Bread Pizzas (pepperoni or Hawaiian)
Turkey Wraps with lettuce and tomato
Soup & Quesadillas or Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Hot Dogs and Fruit Salad
Club or Hero Sandwiches and carrot sticks
Turkey Kielbasa, Tater Tots and Fruit
Egg Salad or Tuna Pita Pockets and apple slices
Hot Dogs and orange wedges
Main-Course Salad with protein, like Cobb or chef salad.

Snacks
Whole Grain Crackers, Salami and Cheese with Sliced Apples
Whole Wheat Pita Chips and Hummus with Canned Pineapple
Graham Crackers with Cream Cheese & Jam
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Whole-Grain Cheese-Its, Carrots or Snap Peas and Ranch Dressing
Almonds and apple sauce or grapes

Dinners

Poultry Dinners

Lemon-Basil Chicken with Angel Hair Pasta and Sauteed Veggies
BBQ Chicken (or fish!) with Potato Salad & Green Beans
Chinese Chicken Salad and pot stickers.
Orange Chicken, Rice & Broccoli
Fried Chicken with Steak Fries (frozen) and Steamed Broccoli
Shredded Chicken (or fish) Tacos with the works
Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce and Salad
Chicken (and Shrimp) Jambalaya with Rice (Veggies are in the Jambalaya)
Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli
Turkey Kielbasa in Red Beans and Rice with Cucumber & Tomato vinaigrette
Turkey Breast Roast with Cranberry Sauce, Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans
Grilled Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches, Soup and Canned Fruit

Beef Dinners
French Dip Sandwiches au Jus & Cucumber Vinaigrette
Lasagna (frozen) and Green Salad
Hamburgers with Whole Wheat Buns and Fresh Fruit Salad
Beef Stir Fry with Green Beans and Rice
Round Roast with Red Creamer Potatoes & Spinach Salad
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Cucumber Vinaigrette
Meat Loaf with Steamed Broccoli and Rice
London Broil and Baked Potatoes with Sautéed Zucchini & Yellow Squash
Beef and Bean Burritos in whole grain tortillas with the works!
Chili Dogs (or dogs & beans) & Salad
Beef Stroganoff, noodles and steamed broccoli

Meatless Meals
Vegetarian Chili, topped with cheese and onions (The veggies are in the chili) Served with Whole Grain Crackers or Rice
Build-Your-Own Potato with the works (Anything goes here!)
Eggplant Parmesan and Garlic Bread

FREE Resources: Menu Planners & Shopping Lists

From Econobusters:
Free Menu Planning eBook

From OrgJunkie.com
Blank Menu Planner
Blank Grocery List Template (PDF)

From TheHomeschoolMom.com
Homeschool Planner & Menu Planner in One!
Menu Planner with To Do/Chore List

From KeepAndShare.com
Master Shopping List (PDF)
                Glueten-Free Shopping List (PDF)
            Lactose-Free Shopping List (PDF)

                From LivingLocurto.com
                 FREE WEEKLY MEAL PLANS & RECIPES!
                (Including shopping lists!)

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Comments

Elmarie link

07/28/2010 11:08pm

I LOVE your blog so far, I want to read it in more detail and will soon. Your post on Modesto Homeschool group about your meal planning tips got me here and I'm so glad you posted it.
Keep up the good work!

Monette

07/30/2010 9:21am

I am soooo inspired to do this! I have been frustrated in organizing and planning meals for my family of six. I can't wait to do this before the school starts! Thank you for sharing.

Sonita Lewis link

08/11/2010 11:20am

Just came back-I swear I posted a comment on this post-did I not? Anyway....

We need to get back into using chore charts-it def helps. Heck I use one for me-well a daily list-but it's the adult equivalent of a child's chore chart LOL

Sonita Lewis link

08/11/2010 11:22am

oops-wrong post LOL

Well we menu plan too! I've become a huge fan of Kroger-they've been having some gret sales lately and I can make my list online-on the spot as I look at the ad online and menu plan along and print out a list AND ad digital coupons to my kroger card!

Valerie @ Frugal Family Fun Blog link

08/14/2010 11:51am

These are great tips! It's so important to get kids involved in helping out around the house too.

Sally Thomas

10/04/2010 5:37pm

I love the master grocery list! You had shared this w/ me before but when our computer crashed last month I had lost it. You also have inspired me to try some new dishes! Thanks, friend!

jimmie link

10/29/2010 6:08am

I do rough menu planning. I plan three to five meals and shop for those with a list (always use a list). Then I can pick and choose which of the meals to cook each night. Some meals take more time or require advance preparation. Some days are busier. You know. And some times the family just wants beef or chicken. So my planning is very flexible. But I try to have at least one "next meal" ready to go. Tomorrow I've got chicken wings planned. Asparagus too. (What a find at the grocery store! It's rare for me to find.)

I love your "fend for yourself" nights. We do those too.... And sometimes I factor in leftover nights/lunches.

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