Walking You Through Saving On Groceries Part 6: Menu Planning Revisited

One of the first questions I am asked when someone is trying to save on their groceries is “Where do I begin?” My reply is almost always, “Plan a menu!” Most of the time I get strange looks as well as comments. I understand planning a menu can be difficult, but it does not have to be.
In an earlier post, I gave you tips for planning a menu. I want to re-emphasize those tips as well as give you some more.
One of the things which we have gotten away from  in America are family dinners or any meal for that matter. Did you realize my children and I have all three meals and snacks together at the table every day? My husband is there for all the meals when he is not at work. He leaves too early for us to have breakfast together, but we have a scheduled supper time every night. That time is when Daddy (my husband) gets home from work, the table is set, the meal is ready, and we eat. I realize many of you work and you children go to school, so it may be more difficult to plan meals. However, you can do it too! In fact, if your children eat at school, then there are two meals you do not even HAVE to worry about purchasing food! If you are packing a lunch or fixing breakfast, then you will need to plan for those meals. On days where you are going to be running later, make a meal in the crockpot.
Here are some more ideas to get you going for your menus.

• Take one week at a time.
• Write down your weekly routine. (Just your routine this week.)

-Where are you and your other family members for each meal?
-Can you take a meal?
-Do you have to purchase a meal?
-Is each week different?

• Make a chart of each day of the week and each meal you need to make.

Here is an example of my week:
Monday: Breakfast-Home
Lunch-Home
Supper-Home
Tuesday: Breakfast- Children/hubby home, church-me
Lunch- Out with friends/ Hubby work (need to pack) children- home w/grandmother (she is fixing lunch for them this week)
Wednesday: Same as Monday
Thursday: Breakfast: early lessons (need to plan ahead and have quick and easy breakfast!)
Lunch: Home
Supper: Home
Friday: Same as Monday
Saturday: Breakfast- Home
Lunch- Birthday Party for newphew (will eat there)
Supper- Home (snacks, leftovers if needed)
Sunday: Same as Monday

• Look in Your Pantry and Refrigerator

Now that you have your menu outlined, look in your pantry and refrigerator. What do you see? Are there items which are about to expire and need to be used? Are you about out of essentials such as salt, oil, flour, etc.? What is in there which you can use for meals?

• Go to Taste of Home and find DELICIOUS Recipes!

-You can go to Taste of Home and find great recipes! Use their advanced search and type in ingredients you have. It will give you recipes containing those ingredients. All you have to do is fill in with the items needed. You may even see one of my recipes as I have had several published in Taste of Home.
-If you do not want to use the website, either begin a journal of your family’s favorite recipes OR look in your cookbooks. If you are a beginning chef, I highly recommend Betty Crocker’s New Cookbook! My mother-in-law purchased this book for me as a wedding gift! I LOVE it! I already cooked some before I was married, but there were still so many things I need to learn! It is my favorite cookbook! I use it often and the wear on it shows! I need to have it rebound it has been used so much! The link I have given is to the Betty Crocker website. My version is an older version and different cover.

• Check your local ad for sales on remaining ingredients/supplies needed.

-I have already given a scenario of how to shop at Kroger. Check out that post to get some ideas on how to shop the deals.
-You can find deals here on my blog or check out some of the other great blogs below for more deals!
Blue Frog Creations
Coupon Katie
Coupon Mommie
Couponing in Critical Times
Frugalisa Finds
Knoxmoms.com
Knoxville Mamabelle
Knoxville on a Dime
Sharing Savings with You
Thrifty Christy

• Make your list and go to town!

-Make your list. Check out my post on making your grocery list.
-Try to plan your visit when you are already there and avoid making more trips than necessary!

• If you still need help with a menu, please let me know. I will try to help you!

You can see more posts in this series below!

• Walking You Through Savings on Groceries Part 1
• Walking You Through Savings On Groceries Part 2- A Trip to Kroger
• Walking You Through Saving On Groceries Part 3- Grocery Budget
• Walking You Through Saving On Groceries Part 4- Planning a Menu
• Walking You Through Saving on Groceries Part 5- Making Your Grocery List

Next Topic: Collecting and Organizing Coupons