The Grocery List - Meal Planning

I have been there, standing in the middle of Walmart with fifteen hundred other people swarming around you while you try to figure out what in the world are you going to feed your family for the next week.  It is how I always grocery shopped.  I had maybe 5 things on my list and I ended up with an entire cart full of what I thought I needed.  Luckily, I began meal planning before I had kids.  I can’t imagine adding in that as well when trying to grocery shop. 
 
Lucky for me, my sister asked me one time, “Why don’t you create a meal plan before you go shopping?”  My response was simple, “Too much work”.  Well, once I had to get ready to pay for a baby and had daycare to pay for, she didn’t seem quite so silly.  So, I thought I would give it a try.  First time I shopped, I remember thinking how quick I was able to shop.  Honestly, I was bored waiting on her to finish up her shopping.  It dawned on me then, it took me an extra 15 minutes to create the meal and list; however, it saved me so much time when I was in the store.  I can go through 2 grocery stores in around 50 minutes and that includes me buying for 2 weeks’ worth of groceries.
 
This solves the question, “What’s for dinner?”  I keep the menu on the board and my husband knows to go there to see what I will be making.  If that night, we don’t feel like what I have set, then we trade it with another day.
 
Where does the money savings come in?  First, since you are creating your grocery list from the meal plan, then you don’t have nearly the waste.  Second, since you are not buying stuff you don’t need, then you won’t have extras that are going to waste.
 
Creating the Meal Plan

•  I keep a notebook on hand at all times.  I write down grocery ideas and anything I want to add to my grocery list throughout the week.
• I only create a meal plan for dinner.  Breakfast is always smoothies, eggs or cereal and lunch is leftovers.
• I make leftovers on the nights I am busy.  I am on the go Thursday nights so I always do leftovers on that night.
• If you think of it, give yourself a variety of dinner ideas:
• Ex: Mexican, Italian, a family favorite (Like Hamburger Rollup)  Basically, just don’t do Pizza every single night or you will get tired of it
• I always make a few meals that make enough leftovers for the next entire day so I don’t have to cook for 2 days. (Ex: Spaghetti, Tuna Noodle Casserole, Chicken Salad Sandwiches.
• Once every couple months, challenge yourself and make a meal plan strictly from extras that you have lying around the house.  This is how I cleanup anything that I don’t want to go bad. (Ex: Frozen Chicken, a stove top mix)

 

Sample of a Meal Plan for us:
 
Monday: Broccoli & Cheese Soup
Tuesday: Grilled Ham & Cheese
Wednesday: Spaghetti
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Lemon Pepper Chicken
Saturday: Pizza
Sunday: Anything leftover from week
 
Monday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Baked Chicken Sandwiches
Saturday: Hamburger Rollup
Sunday: Anything leftover from week.