Meal Planning Part 1... Weekly Planning -

Recently I was asked virtually how I melt dinner. Not really melt it, just how do I decided what to cook. It seems that whether a mom, single, married, working or not, deciding what to cook for dinner is a dilemma everyone has, and hates! When I was pedagogy full fourth dimension, we had just had Koa, and we were on a pretty decent budget. My husband had just graduated class Law school and was waiting for Bar results, and permit'south be real teachers don't go paid much (that'south a rant for another post.) I went about figuring out a mode to stick to our budget and lessen the stress of dinner. Honestly before we had a infant, nosotros went out. A lot. Later on work, it was just easier to pick something upward on the style dwelling house, than actually become home and cook. And information technology wasn't even the cooking part that I didn't like, it was the role of trying to figure out what the heck to make.

That's when I started Meal Planning. And it not merely has saved my sanity, only information technology saves us coin, and nosotros eat better too! I accept been asked a lot near how I do it, then… here you go!

I plan our meals weekly. For our family that is what works. I start planning on Sat, only maybe yous demand to go Monday-Mon because that's what works for y'all. This is what it looks similar:

What you lot need:

pen

Grocery List

Card Printable (optional, but so beautiful!)

Saturday: I sit with handy dandy Pinterest and become to town looking for ideas. (You could as well practise this with cookbooks, or recipes you already know.) I come up with 5/six meal ideas, pin them, and write them down. I decide what to swallow on what solar day. I usually go out Wednesday as a leftover nighttime. Just if you like to take leftovers for lunch, or if your family doesn't eat leftovers, yous may not do this. I also leave one night, usually Fri or Sabbatum, equally a Go Out Nighttime/floater night.  It'due south a night either we take a Date Night out or order pizza, or have a family night, or eat cereal because my 3 year one-time is driving me crazy and needs to go to bed early, or any.

Once I have decided on my meals, I start my grocery list. I look at each recipe and figure out what I already accept in the pantry/fridge/freezer, and what I need to get at the grocery store. I add these to my grocery list (I have fastened the printable at the bottom of the post!) I will also add together anything we may need for lunches/snacks, side dishes.

I like having a visual for the family unit, so they know what we are eating each night, so I apply thisMenu Printable in a cute flick frame on a stand. Then each calendar week I fill in the meals using a chalk mark. Like shooting fish in a barrel! And my husband likes beingness able to look at the week's meals! (So does my sister and her boyfriend. It's how they decide what dark they want to come up over for dinner!)

Lord's day: I go grocery shopping. I do this on Dominicus because my husband is home so that means shopping without kids! I stick to the list for the week. Having the weeks meals planned out has cutting back on the grocery beak so much! No more buying just in case. I know what I demand and so I can stick to the list.

Also on Sundays, I may prep some of the week'southward meals. For example, if I am making a few dishes that call for shredded chicken, I may toss some craven in the crock pot to cook, shred, and freeze to accept it ready to go for the week.

One time the shopping is done, information technology is just a matter of looking at the Menu around 4pm each twenty-four hour period. It's then squeamish to know exactly what to cook and when. No more staring into the pantry abyss wondering what I should/can brand. I can cull meals according to items tat are on auction, or coupons I may have if I desire to. I am not a huge coupon clipper, just I do use Target Cartwheel and look at ads, and use those to help my meal choosing sometimes.

This Weekly Meal Planning really was a small change that has had a Huge impact. It's amazing how much time was existence wasted sitting around at 5pm trying to figure out what I was going to brand, not mention it'due south stressful! haha. We waste less food, since we know what nosotros need and stick to that. It's also been a fun way for united states to expand our horizons and effort new recipes. Everyone has their favorites, but those tin can go sometime if you are eating the same meals every single week. This mode, I can program and use new recipes. Sometimes we notice something we love and other times we have been disappointed (those recipes get deleted from my Pinterest pages, never to exist eaten again!)

Hopefully this can aid you lot as well! I take attached a few freebie printables for yous to utilize if you want. Merely a few things to brand the planning easier and cuter!

To aid out, here is my Sample Bill of fare for this week, consummate with links to the recipes. Visit the sites, bank check out the recipes and see what yous already accept in the fridge/freezer/pantry. Jot down what you lot need on the Grocery Listing, and go shopping! This week's dinner planning is done! You are and then welcome!

Lord's day: Pasta Fagioli Soup c/o Damn Delicious with Bisquick biscuits

Monday: Enchilada Casserole c/o The Seasoned Mom with refried beans and cucumbers

Tuesday: Ranch Craven and Veggie Skillet c/o Averie Cooks

Wednesday: leftovers

Thursday: Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken and Rice Bowls c/o Julie'southward Eats and Treats

Friday: BBQ Chicken Bake c/o The Pinning Mama with steamed broccoli

Saturday: Out

P.S.  Visit my Pinterest for lots of recipes I use when planning.

Come back later this week for Meal Planning Part ii: Monthly Planning!

On another note, everyone around here is sick except me. That means a ill married man (always fun), cough 3 year one-time, and a cough, sneezing, drooling, ear pulling baby. Wish me luck this calendar week. I need information technology! Luck and caffeine. Lots of caffeine!

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Source: http://www.recipeforasweetlife.com/meal-planning-part-1-weekly/

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