Meal Planning Strategy

Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by Mary Lutz in Archives, Time Management

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photo credit: Dan4th

As with any new project, the hardest part is getting started. To begin, you’ll need to sit down, look at your family’s tastes, preferences and schedule. You’ll want to create your meal plan, shopping lists and recipes.

If your family is on a budget, start planning your meals according to what is on sale at the grocery store each week. Using this method of meal planning, you would look through the store’s circular, or “weekly ad,” which can usually found in the local Sunday paper as well as on the grocery store’s website.

If the store is running a sale on whole chickens, you may want to buy several and plan on having roasted chicken, chicken stir-fry and a chicken casserole that week. If ground beef was on sale, you may want to plan for meals such as meatloaf, spaghetti, tacos, and chili.

If you have several grocery stores in your area, you may want to compare the sales at each of them to insure you are getting the best prices available. It will take a little extra time, but the cost savings can definitely make up for it.

To start forming the basis of your meal plan and shopping list, write the type of meat specials the store is offering on 3×5 index cards. For instance, if chicken breast and round steak are on sale, then label one card “chicken breasts” and another card “round steak”.

Once your cards are labeled, start brainstorming recipe ideas on each card. For example, on the “round steak” card, write out some of your family’s favorite meals that use this type of meat, such as steak sandwiches, beef and broccoli stir-fry, steak fajitas, etc.

If what is on sale at the store each week is less of a concern to your family, you can simply plan your meals according to your family’s taste buds.

As you plan your meals, don’t forget about breakfast, lunch and snacks. If you have school age children, their school will most likely send home a lunch menu each month. Sit down with your child and decide which days they will be taking cold lunch so you can plan for their lunches when you make out your shopping list.

Don’t forget about you and your spouse – what do each of you do for lunch? Do you eat leftovers, make sandwiches, go out to eat? Plan for all those “little items” to make sure your family stays within the food budget.