I have had a few people ask me how do you plan your meals with all the other stuff you have going on? I am a stay at home mom and in order for me to manage it financially, I can't order food or eat out often so it takes a little planning to make sure I have something to cook every night. The way I found to be the most successful is to plan 3 days in advance. I will sit down and think to myself what do I want to make for dinner for the next 3 days? I am not the kind of person who likes to eat the same thing every Tuesday so I will usually think of a couple of items I know we like and maybe one new recipe on the third day. For example:
Monday I want Chinese so I think I will make: Chicken Chow mein
So I will write down all the ingredients I need on my grocery list. I then think ok Tuesday I will have beef so how about for Tuesday I make Steaks
Then by Wednesday I would like something without meat like pasta or I will also use a leftover from Sunday like chili.
To me it is too difficult to plan a week in advance but 3 to 4 days has always been easy for me. This way you are going to the store every 4 days. To some people it may seem like a lot but let me tell you this way you use up all the food and your produce doesn't go bad. Just a little planning also keeps your from getting frazzled thinking about what are we going to eat tonight and then just ordering out. I noticed I will spend the same amount on one dinner from a restaurant that I would have for 3 days. My grocery bill used to be easily over $100 dollars each week and I was always throwing something out. Now it is smaller increments because I am going about twice a week less stress and we use up everything. Give it a try and let me know what you think or if you have any questions. Don't get me wrong I do sometimes get too busy and unable to get to the store so we end up throwing something together from the freezer or pantry or just ordering pizza.
I love this idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm the mom who usually pops over to the store every day (or every other day, if I'm lucky!). I've tried planning for a month of meals, which just stresses me out. I've tried planning for two weeks, which stresses me out just a wee-bit-less. But four days? Three days? I can do that!
Thanks for the idea!
I always thought New Yorkers went to the store everyday with a small bag. Haha! I do go weekly and always have a plan for at least 3 meals. Hopefully I have something left over to make a second meal.
ReplyDeletelol..it is easy to go to the store everyday if you want but starts to stress me out. I hear you on the left overs. Sometimes I have some most often I don't.
DeleteWe do this too in our household and it helps so much in reducing the amount of food we throw away. Plus, then I have a plan when I get home and I'm not scrambling to try and find something to make for dinner. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI love your Chinese noodle. Looks so colourful, healthy and yummy!!! You make me crave for fried noodle now :D
ReplyDeleteI want to make your Chicken Chow Mein. Planning is great! Some weeks I got it down sometimes I haven't. I think your plan works. I frequently find myself at the grocers every two days. This week I did well I've only been twice.
ReplyDeletethat steak looks delicious--yum yum!!!! I'm thinking about making steak for dinner!
ReplyDeleteAndrea thanks for visiting www.jinfitness.com today!!!! I'm following you back :)
That Chicken Chow Mein looks outrageously good. :) I would eat that every day. :)
ReplyDeletelooks wonderful lovely site nice to meet you
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