For some reason when it comes to menu planning and what to cook for dinner, I struggle. I find myself running to the store at least twice a week which ends up costing me a bunch more than it should if I had it all mapped out before hand.
A few years ago, I read this book ↓, which I highly recommend if you are looking to save some money. Just to warn you, these people are INTENSE, literally ‘in tents’. ☺ Although I know that I could never do it like them, (I am not anywhere near that disciplined) I do think there is so much to learn from the way they live.
In this book she talks about how they grocery shop once a month (I know!), how they freeze everything: bread, cheese, milk; to name a few. With the milk, she says that they just pour out a little to help with the expansion in the freezer.
Anyway, I look to you all as such a great resource, so I wanted to ask you: What’s for dinner?
I would love to hear it in the comment section, or better yet, if you are a pro at menu planning, I would love to see a post with what works best for you and your family.
ps. Don’t tell Kyle…he hates Peeps. ☺
I don’t think I could ever live in tents wow! I do clip coupons though and try to double them. My favorite meals are lasagna and chicken spaghetti and they are great as leftovers too! Good luck!
Ever since I went part time this year, we’ve been pinching our pennies a little tighter. I made a goal to spend no more than $80/week on groceries (that includes diapers, wipes, etc…) It hasn’t been too bad. One thing that has really helped me is making a list of weekly meals before I shop. I also always keep cooked and shredded chicken and several bags of marinating meat in my freezer I can use in a pinch. Have you seen the “Fix, Freeze, Feast” cookbook? It saved us last year!
P.S. I’m with Kyle about Peeps…yuck! I also loved your frame in your last post.
I love PEEPS!! I bought them for my kids for Easter just so I could eat them:)
I will have to post a few easy, ingredients that won’t go bad, quick, recipe ideas.
funny that you should ask this today since I was so proud of my meal planning prep over the weekend. I eat out waaaaaaay too often and cooking for one can be an entirely different challenge. But yesterday I made a couple of easy things that are quick and are also good as leftovers. First, baked sweet potatoes. They are healthy and delicious and all I did was spray them with pretend butter and sprinkle them with paprika and a little bit of salt. A very simple lunch or side dish. I baked extra sweet potatoes for later in the week. I also grilled some chicken (marinated in a sesame/ginger concoction) and had it with brown rice and green beans made from a recipe I stole from here: http://thats-life-enjoy-it.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-to-eat-wednesday-green-beans-with.html
Good Luck!
I am totally the same way. I want fast fixins and end up going and spending so much more on food every week than I really should it’s hard. I am going to try this book out. Looks like a winner! I love the frame below by the way, super super cute.
Cute Peeps in a jar!! Love it! You know I use coupons. But here is a GREAT website I use as well. http://www.dealstomeals.com I pay 4.95 a month and It tells me every week all the grocery stores sales! She compares prices to Costco and Walmart too. It’s not a coupon thing but a GREAT way to stock up on the deals. AND THE BEST PART…she plans a menu for the week using the weekly grocery deals! Main Course, Sides and Dessert! They are yummy recipes! She makes it real easy! It use her site hand in hand with the free coupon site. grocerysmarts.com. Try the 2 week free trial to see if it is something you are interested in! I hate thinking of new recipes! It is so easy to get in a rut!
I plan a two week menu, so I only go to the store/Costco every two weeks. That way, I have everything on hand and don’t have to run to the store every other day.
I need help too. Love reading all the ideas. I just bought a cookbook “The rescue nanny”. She does themes. I like it so far. I wish I could shop once a week so my food would be more fresh but i have found shopping every 2 weeks is way cheeper. I will continue checking this today to see what other people comment, thanks for the post
I don’t do coupons. People where I live go crazy and do get crazy deals but I have found it is food I normally dont buy so it is not worht it to me. Even if it is Pringles for .25 cents or cake boxes for .10 cents. I know some great coupon sites if you are interessed.
tell kyle it’s time to get on the peeps bandwagon. PRONTO.
1. i could NEVER live like that family. interesting to read about, NOT so much fun to live that way.
b. we eat out too much and menu plan not enough. but i’ve accepted that and moved on.
thirdly, i LOVE seeing my friend’s menu plans for the month. i might try making a few of them, but i’d rather just look at hers.
peeps in a jar= FANTASTIC!
I wish I could help you out here, I am usually flying by the seat of my pants. I try to get a rough idea of what I want to make before we do our Costco trip so that way I have the bulk of it on hand.
Love the peeps in a jar…they are so cute just wish they tasted better!
I know a girl who does some serious couponing, but don’t be afraid! The website she uses does the dirty work for you! I would do it, but it’s sort of based on a stocking up model, and since we’re currently vagabonds, it’s not really for me but once we move and are settled I’m totally going for it! Check out this link, and she has a few more posts about it on her blog. http://brightideasbyamy.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-new-favorite-thing.html
As far as menu planning goes, I have a planner that has a place for menu planning and grocery lists in it which I LOOOOVE! It’s this: http://www.thefamilyorganizer.com/
It’s not super fashionable, but so functional! Good luck!
Wow, great ideas on your comments here. I just make sure that I have a planned menu and list before I go shop. It helps me stay on track. I also will try one new recipe a week. My kids hate it when they have to try too many new things in a row. Also, Kirk hates Peeps too.
I plan my meals by the week. I post a little note on the fridge by the day so I know what I’m cooking that day and can plan ahead. I keep a sheet of loose leaf taped up in a cupboard and all week long I write whatever down I know I need so I never forget anything. When I plan my meals for the week (usually Sat.) I take that sheet down and write the ingredients I’ll need. On Sunday when the ads come out, before I leave for the grocery store, I add to that list from the sale items. Sometimes I try new things, and sometimes I use the old standbys for my menu. I take into account what days are busy so I make something easy and fast that day. I hate grocery shopping, I hate cutting coupons (seldom do…we have a store with good generic around here and I stock up on that stuff). I will tell you I spend about $300 week. Before you all gasp, that’s for EVERYTHING…diapers, a school supply here or there, printer ink, lightbulbs, dish towels, a pack of socks…etc. And I have 5 kids. 4 who are boys. I find if I don’t spend that much, we run to the store for stuff, or I have to spend more next time. When I had just 3, I’d spend under $100 easily. I was a pro. Now I consider my time too. I don’t have time to play the coupon game that much, although sometimes I will run to different stores if they have something we use often really cheap.
it pays off. It’s good too, for kids to hear the word NO, whether you HAVE to say it, or just want to, even if it’s about a bag of candy or special cereal not on sale.
I have gotten lazier since it’s been easier for us. But we paid our dues by being very careful when the older kids were younger…once you establish good saving habits (and accounts
That’s the longest comment I’ve ever seen in my life. Sorry.
We shop once a week, and try to decide what we will have for dinners before we go. However, now with just three of us, and all three big enough to do our own thing, rarely liking what each other likes. It’s pretty much Yo-Yo (your on your own). The only rule is we sit and eat our dinner(s) together.
Kami – I am just starting the menu thing… Since I have recently become a stay at home mom (okay going on a year now) I am just getting in the groove of having the many meals prepared and ready for my family to enjoy
I love simple and easy – so I have some ideas that I’ll share with you http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/08/crockpot-brown-sugar-chicken-recipe.html
Those are just a couple I have on hand!!! Let me know what you think
Love ya girl
We need to get together soon!
The peeps made me throw up in my mouth a little.
Here is what i do:
http://utahtib.blogspot.com/2008/07/whats-for-dinner.html
unlike vanessa, i run to the store every other day.
i could use much improvement in this area.
on a regular basis we eat
spaghetti
salmon
and taco’s.
I had nothing valuable to say yesterday, so I came back today to read all the great comments. Thanks for posting this. I need improvement in this area as well.
Gotta run, I’m putting a fresh batch of PEEPS in the crock pot for dinner tonight.
I maintain my stance that Peeps are disgusting… but, I’ll share my small amount of advice on menu planning.
I sit down every Tuesday evening and plan out what’s for dinner the next Thursday-Tuesday. I do this on Tuesday because I always go grocery shopping on Wednesday mornings, and I don’t have to cook on Wednesday nights (yay Bajio)! I haven’t always planned the menu, and I used to go grocery shopping every two weeks, and only then when we’d be completely out of food. I would always end up spending a ton more and getting a bunch of crap we didn’t need or eat. Now, even though I go every week, I spend less money overall in a month because I know exactly what I’m going to be cooking and only get what we absolutely need.
I also like the weekly menu planning because I can control what Dave eats, and make sure it’s healthy.
) And we don’t eat out as often as an excuse for not having anything to eat at home!
I’m with you, I go to the store way too much. I just went to Walmart 2 days in a row and I hate that place. Sometimes I just get in a mental block where my brain won’t let me plan ahead. Its the procrasinator in me. Reading your comments though has given me some inspiration to really sit down and plan meals. I think that is definitely key. And I should read that book. Sounds interesting.
I bought this book & try to use some things I've learned from there.
One thing that I was reminded of with that book: eat leftovers! We were throwing out TONS of stuff, and wham! there goes that money….
But agreed: they're way intense.
I like the way they break it down for how involved you want to be with this topic, or that topic….
I stumbled upon your blog from another~ We use http://www.e-mealz.com we have saved a ton of money and time and no longer doing the 5 o’clock stare!! LOL! That book sounds so good but we don’t have a freezer big enough to go 1 time a month. That would be nice though…Take Care!