Dear Home Ec 101:
I am so sick of hearing how menu planning can save money. What if I don’t want turkey surprise on Saturday and want ribeyes instead?
~Fighting it Tooth and Nail
Heather says:
Well Ms. Nail, what if you were to consider it from a time saving standpoint? I’m a firm believer in taking ten minutes now to save time later. Before I began menu planning I spent time running to the grocery store on off nights for missing ingredients or an inordinate amount of time staring at the refrigerator’s contents waiting for something simple to magically appear.
Perhaps you are too regimented with your attempts. I loosely plan the menu, knowing it will get shuffled depending on activities, energy, and whims. Each week I list six meals, assuming one night will end up being something simple: sandwiches, leftovers, or a treat. At least once a month we try something new. This also helps avoid a rut and use up planned overs. This week’s example:
- cheesy lentil casserole, salad, biscuits (any leftover biscuits will be served with honey or syrup with breakfast)
- oven fried chicken, rice & gravy, green beans, corn (leftover rice = rice pudding)
- cheeseburgers, raw vegetables, ranch oven fries (extra burgers frozen for future soup, along with leftover vegetables, potatoes will be sauteed with onions in the morning, extra buns are saved for croutons)
- turkey jambalya, collards, cornbread (fat chance of leftovers)
- grilled salmon, asparagus, broccoli (kids aren’t huge asparagus fans), wild rice
- pan fried pork chops, steamed cabbage, baked sweet potatoes
I post the list on the fridge and cross off the meals as they are prepared. I try to decide the night before so I can place any meat in the fridge to thaw. Having a menu keeps me out of the stores and out of ruts. Knowing what is on hand also reduces our trips through the drive through, which not only pinches pennies now, but is an investment in our health as well.
Good luck and give it another try, your wallet may thank you.
[...] Have a hard time keeping up with weekly menu planning?: Perhaps you are too regimented with your attempts. I loosely plan the menu, knowing it will get shuffled depending on activities, energy, and whims. Each week I list six meals, assuming one night will end up being something simple: sandwiches, leftovers, or a treat. At least once a month we try something new. This also helps avoid a rut and use up planned overs. This week’s example: [...]