Earlier this year I began planning our meals for the fortnight before doing the grocery shopping. I could never think of what to make for dinner, and then once I finally did, inevitably, I didn’t have the ingredients. It came to a head in April when I ended up driving up to the shops 3 times to get ingredients for a curry (including curry paste). It occurred to me that once we move to the country, it will be a 1 hour round trip to the shop – don’t want to do that once let alone 3 times. I had to do something to make life easier.
I am a total convert to meal planning now. I can’t believe how much money we are saving by not throwing out so much food that we didn’t end up using, and I love not having to make a decision at the end of the day (one less thing to think about is always great). Also the variety of foods we eat and our nutrition has improved because I am no longer making pasta 4 nights a week when I can’t think of anything else.
Here’s how I did it:
- I made a list of all the meals that I make regularly (or should make more often).
- I then divided them into categories e.g. make ahead, vegetarian, takes time, kids favorites, easy.
- I then did a quick calendar grid for the month on the computer.
- With the kids help we choose the meals for the fortnight, taking into account what else is happening in our life. I generally don’t plan Saturday dinners. We might do something with friends or family or go to the market that day and buy something fresh for dinner. Alternatively we can have eggs on toast.
- I make up a shopping list and go shopping.
So here’s what our menu plan looks like this week:
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Monday:
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Meatballs with mash and salad
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Tuesday:
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Chicken curry with naan
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Wednesday:
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Vegetable Soup
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Thursday:
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Vegetable Soup
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Friday:
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Sausages and vegetables
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Saturday:
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Not planned
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Sunday:
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Homemade Pizza
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We always have the same thing on Wednesday and Thursday because they are the days that the Country Boy also works. We always get home after 5pm with 3 tired hungry kids and need to feed them quickly so I make something on Tuesdays for the following 2 days.
I also try to include at least 1-2 nights a week without meat for both health and budget reasons.
Since I started doing a meal plan I have noticed that there are heaps of resources on the web. Some even have the recipes and make up a shopping list for you. Planning with Kids is particuarly good.
Do you meal plan? Do you have any other good ideas to help me become more organised?
I meal plan, Jo. I don't know how people don't. We just work out the meals and then buy the food, but we don't put a day for a meal, we just pick what we feel like from the list. That way, it still feels like some choice is involved. What I like is that, if you have ingredients left over that you need to use, you look carefully for a meal that will use them up and put that on your plan for the next cycle.
It's out of necessity rather than anything else!
You mum would be proud! Oh to be so organised.