About three months ago I sat down and made a meal schedule for five weeks. I figured that I cooked 4 dinners a week at home (not that we ate out the other meals, but with leftovers and unexpected events, this was the number), so I picked 20 meals to last for five weeks. I arranged the meals in each week and tried to have a variety in each week. Each week includes a fish, poultry, soup or salad, and beef or some other variation. Then I tried to group the meals together that had similar ingredients so I don't waste money on something small that I won't use again.
I have the menus on the fridge with the cookbook and page number listed. I laminated each week's grocery list, so all I have to do is check my cabinet to see what I'm out of. The list includes three sections 1. Basics (bread, milk, etc.) 2. Basics for the recipes (spices, chicken broth, etc.) 3. Necessary Items for the Recipe. I always know I need everything in category #1 or #3, unless it's been a really strange week, and then I double-check my cabinet for category #2. And each category is in the order I shop through the store.
Let me just say, this has been the BEST thing I have ever done related to grocery shopping and meal planning. Why?
- I am spending less time in the grocery store. I can actually be in the check-out line within 30 minutes of entering the store (how long the check-out takes me varies, it's Wal-Mart).
- I'm spending less money because I know exactly what I need. I'm spending at least $10-15 week less than my grocery budget.
- I know what is on the menu for each evening and I'm looking forward to that meal. I'm less likely to give into a craving for a restaurant on the way home.
- On busy weeks I can prepare a few things ahead of time so that the week will run smoother.
- CDK is always willing to cook, so all he has to do is go to the menu list and pull out the ingredients to make it.
- Our 5-week plan usually stretches into 6, so we can repeat the plan and it doesn't feel like we're eating the same thing again. We're about to start our third cycle of this and we're not tired of it at all. If we do get tired of it, I'll make a new one.
So, I think I could sell this. I really think busy women would pay to have a meal plan made like this and to have grocery shopping simplified. What do you think? Maybe I'll post some of my menus.
9 comments:
Wow! I'm jealous of your organization and discipline! Actually, I was planning meals a week at a time when the school semester started, but have fallen out of that habit since husband started Nutri/System. It is hard to want to plan and cook a meal for 1 1/2 (b/c my kids don't eat enough to count as one whole person!) I am always on the lookout for new recipes, so post your favorites, please.
I absolutely love this! I do the same thing in that I plan for the week to come, but I've never thought about being this thorough! What we struggle with is creativity in our meals. Recently I found a blogring where women post their weekly dinner menus each Monday. That's helped me...here's a link if you're interested! http://orgjunkie.blogspot.com/2007/04/menu-plan-monday-april-23rd.html
Oh, and I'm glad you like the pic of Ava! love you and say hi to Chris for us!
I've heard of people who also have dinner clubs. Sometimes they get together once a month and make several meals to freeze. Sometimes they rotate and one person brings a meal once a week to the other two, then they switch, etc. (I think this would only work well if all of the people lived close together.)
I, however, am nowhere near this organized. I'm actually pretty pumped that I have meals in the freezer for post-baby. And, if I didn't have a little market in the first floor of my building, I don't know what I'd do! I think I go there every day. Sometimes twice. And if I forget something, a third time.
Props to you for your organization!
wow, i stand in awe of your organization skills. and i thought i was getting somewhere when i started creating shopping lists on all recipes.com.
thanks for reading my blog and commenting. feel free to anytime!
KK--Oh my goodness. I can't believe how organized you are. I'm definitely going to have to come by and see all this plan in action....it sounds like it beats trying to decide what to make on the way home from work and stopping by the grocery store each day!!
Hello! I saw your comment on my blog. The Arabian part is that my parents are from Saudi Arabia. I was born and raised in the US. My husband is American, of mostly European descent. Our children are half and half. :)
I saw that you lived in Dubai for a little while? How long? Why were you there? The email link on my blog in the sidebar works if you want to talk a little. Thank you for dropping by.
You should post some of your menus!
The thing that always gets me with prescribed meal plans (you find with diets and such) is that you eat something different at every meal! You know, an Enlglish muffin one day, a bagel the next, cereal the next... what about the 5 other muffins/bagels that came in the package and the whole box of cereal? I liked what you said about grouping things together that have similar ingredients. Yes, variety is good, but in the way most meal plans present it, NOT cost effective at all.
Well, I know that I would definitely pay you to do this for me!! Anytime you want to "practice," let me know!!!
are you kidding? i would pay you for it! i used to love my life filled with spur of the moment meals and long leisurely trips to the grocery store on a mid-week morning. but now that i'm working 50+ hours a week, your plan sounds 100% fantastic! :-) sign me up!
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