Whether you’re looking to save money or prepare meals quickly, you often see suggestions for planning your meals. If you’re unfamiliar with meal planning, then this can be frustrating and confusing advice. Here’s how to meal plan.
#1 Use your supermarket ads
Take a look at the sale items for the week at your local supermarket. What’s on sale? Anything you’d likely buy and eat? Anything that can make a meal? For example, if ground beef is on sale for half price, then you may want to make a note of that. If squash is on sale, then make a note of that.
#2 Use your resources
If you have cookbooks on hand, then great. The next thing you can do to plan your meals for the week is open your cookbooks and look for recipes with ground beef, squash, and any other items you found on sale in the supplements. If you don’t have cookbooks, then simply visit an online cooking site.
For example, foodtv.com has thousands of recipes. Cooking Light is also a good magazine to look at because the recipes are organized by month. This means the recipes will often coincide well with what’s on sale at your grocery store. The sale items are usually the produce items that are in season.
So, if squash is on sale, it’s because it is in season. Chances are this month’s Cooking Light will have a few squash recipes. It just makes your recipe search easier. You can also buy old used Cooking Light cookbooks and they’re also organized by month.
#3 Plan your meals
You now have both sale items and recipes at your fingertips, which means you’re ready to plan. Sit down and look at the five to seven nights you must work. Consider meals that can be made ahead of time and frozen.
Consider meals that generate leftovers, so you don’t have to cook every night. Also, look to make sure you’re providing a well-rounded meal. For example, hamburgers alone aren’t a healthy meal. If you add Cole slaw and sweet potato fries, then you’re providing more nutrients. And if cabbage and sweet potatoes are on sale then you’re doing well!
#4 Make a list
Make a list of the ingredients you need for the entire week’s worth of food. Don’t forget to check your staples like bread, milk, and eggs.
#5 Go shopping
Make sure you shop from your list. If you deviate from the list, make sure you have a logical reason for the addition. A list helps you stay organized. It also helps you stay on budget.
Meal planning isn’t difficult. However, it does require a system. You need to be both organized and a bit patient. Sometimes the sale items just don’t mesh with the recipes you have in mind. Or your week is really busy. Pasta, burgers, and even breakfast for dinner are options for those busy nights.
Get creative and have fun. Meal planning really can alleviate much of the stress of busy families and mealtime.