Menu Planning

[Halex]

AMH - I have one night per week allocated to left overs - otherwise my freezer wouldnt shut!!LOL

How much do you spend per week on food, you seem to have got it down pat too

All you guys are doing so well.

Hally

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

You are all so inspiring.  I always have good intentions but get sidetracked when I see other recipes or don't feel like what is on my menu. I am going to sit down tonight though and do my plan for the week. I think it must be the only area of my life that isn't super organised (I'm a new flylady convert ).

[Halex]

Hi Chelsea,

I cant believe how great menu planning is - I am addicted! - my DH is very impressed and took me out to a really expensive restaurant for lunch, we spent my 2 weeks savings but thats Ok as a treat.

Once done it is so easy. I now have a spread sheet full of meal ideas
I have sections as follows
beef, chicken, pork, lamb, vegetarian, soups, others - each sections has at least 10 meals so far, I also label whether they are TM and where to find the recipe, so its really quick and easy. Nearly all the meals are TM and if they are not marked TM the TM would be used for part of the meal.

I just try to keep to a strict plan, 1 mince, 1 vegetarian, 1 soup 1 rice or pasta dish, this seems to be a great formula for me.

Enjoy
Hally

[Halex]

Hi all,

Just wondering how the menu planning is going.

I have averaged out my costs over 4 weeks and my grocery bill which includes cat food, toilet rolls etc is $187 per week, so I am very happy with that and so is DH. See what the next 4 weeks bring.

We are eating very well, infact we have never had so many deserts and cookies and cakes. Not so good for the waistline!LOL

Would love to hear how others are going.

Hally

[meganjane]

I've just started to do Menu Planning again as I'm so busy lately. It's been a real boon as I'm using what's in my fridge, freezer and pantry and only buying what I need.

I've developed a Menu Planning (what is displayed is missing it's border and columns and I can't work out why!) and Grocery Check List template.
Here's a pic of my menu for next week:

[meganjane]

Pic didn't come out very well, so link instead.

[cookie1]

Mine is similar MJ. I have a master sheet that I print off and do mine by hand though. I don't plan for lunch either as I always have salad with a little protein of some sort and 2 slices of bread. DH eats the leftovers.

[CreamPuff63]

wow thanks MJ, I don't menu plan at the moment so I should give it a go using your templates 

[medusa]

This is a good thread, I need to get back to menu planning.  Just need a kick up the rear end lol!!

[meganjane]

I've found it to be really helpful in saving money and not wasting food. It does take time, sitting down with all my recipe books, planning the week's menu.
But, often families do this together on a Sunday night, getting everyone involved in the meal choices so each family member feels that their input is valued.

[cookie1]

You're certainly does take time MJ but I must admit I enjoy doing it. I get out some different books each week. I've also included in my plan a space where I can write suggestions for next week. Useful if you see something in a magazine.  I always check with the rest of the family if there is anything they would particularly like that week. I've factored in a space for the family in/outs for the week.
I love your grocery check list.

[tarasis]

Menu planning is something i really need to learn to do, along with weekly shops.

I tend to hoof it, decide on the day what I'm cooking and buy based on that, it kind of works but does lead to spending more than intended as I do pickup X & Y that I think are needed. There are lots of little excuses why I don't (like spending the couple of hours free time in the morning for myself rather than cleaning, being not good at organising, feeling overwhelmed by children sometimes, struggling to be organised enough and so on and so forth, not a fan of veg) but I want to start getting on top of it.

[Halex]

Rob, menu planning is great. When i stick to it my food bill is down $100 or slightly more. I just used to buy daily whatever we fancied but now i have a list.

A good start is to see what you have to use up and plan around whats in the house to start with. You will be amzed at how much you casn use before you need to do a big shop.

Hally

[obbie]

  I usually do up a menu plan on saturday's, then shop sunday morning for groceries.

When i'm really organized, I plan a month at once.


It does save money when i do it.

Robyn

[obbie]

I use   organizedhome.com

for printables, for menu planning.

Robyn