I suggest if you stockpile that you use a monthly menu plan. I suggest creating one/two menu’s for spring/summer and one/two for fall/winter. If you use a monthly menu plan then you will know what ingredients you need to shop for and what you need to stockpile. If you use a monthly menu plan be sure to include one family favorite meal each week and include a leftovers night. If it is in your budget you can include dining out.
When I began staying home in 2006 I began using a weekly menu plan and found it very useful. I am able to have flexibility in my menu by flipping the days if necessary or if something comes up in the week. However I find that we rarely go out to eat when I menu plan because I know what is for dinner and by menu planning I save money because I know what I need to stockpile.
When menu planning be sure to include a variety of foods. I like to include one food from every food group. I center my meal plan around our protein and build from that. Include a variety of textures, shapes, colors and temperatures.
Start by writing down all of the meals that you know how to prepare and your family likes to eat. Then it is easy to fill up the calendar with what you know how to cook. Next, you can look for frugal recipes to add to your menu. We offer recipes on our site. You can also check out 5dollardinners.com for some fabulous frugal recipes!
Another idea is to consider bulk cooking and freezing meals. It will save you time and is especially helpful if you work outside of the home or have a busy schedule. A helpful tip: Do not freeze meals with mayonnaise or sour cream. They don’t freeze well. We will be featuring more on bulk cooking and freezing meals soon! If that interests you please let us know!
Shelley and I both this a magnetic dry erase calendar which is available here from amazon.com.
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Great idea! I’ve just started doing weekly menu planning but monthly would be even better! I’d love to do the bulk cooking as well!
I love the board Idea. I do my on the computer and never thought of a board
I’m going to have to get a board! That is a great way of letting everyone know what we will be eating and when.
i NEED to do this… it’s part of the reason cooking is so hard for me… I rarely have what i need on hand.
I usually plan for a week at a time, but I see the benefits of scheduling 2 weeks to a month of meals. Usually, we have 1 leftover night and I change around the order of dinners, depending on how our day is going. Definitely a great tool!
An awesome tool! Now, to find someone who will cook it…
I use the weekly menu plan from orjunkie.com, it has helped me stay on budget w/grocery shopping.
I’ve never done a full months menus but, the way you explain it makes it seem less daunting. Thanks.
I love the board idea bcuz then my kids won’t have to ask me 10 times “what’s for dinner”.
LOVE the white board calendar idea…STRICTLY for meals!
Also…I LOVE that you suggest to put a “leftovers” night on your calendar! I ALWAYS do this and friends think I’m crazy to “schedule” leftover night. But this way I don’t have to cook one night and I ensure that all the food I make gets eaten!
like the idea of knowing exactly what ingredients I need to buy if I meal plan
Th is a great idea and can only mean one thing. Saving $$$$
I just cannot plan meals. I need help lol!
All last year I did a monthly menu and it was great. Somehow I fell out of that and I will start back up. Thank you for the tips. The bulk preperation tip is a good one!
Great idea using a board to keep track of everything!!!!
I have been monthly meal planning for 2 years now and I have saved so much sanity, time, and money!!
I’m not sucessful with weekly planning, how can I do monthly?? Hopefully with the great ideas from your site, I’ll be able to take baby steps and do it right!
I used to do weekly meal planning. I need to get back to that. I like the idea of monthly planning and stockpiling. I will buy 10 cans of olives (for home made pizzas) when they are on sale. The other thing I’m hoping to do is use coupons. I just won the Couponizer and hope it helps me in using coupons.
Good idea to start with a list of meals you make and the family likes. I bet there are more than I think!
I love making menus- they are so handy!
I do a list of all the things I know how to cook that my family likes too! The only difference is that I don’t make my list for a month. I make it for two weeks at a time. Thanks for the links!
Very timely post. I just started menu planning last week and helped a lot to know what we’ll have and what items I need to stockpile. Two weekends ago, I cleaned my pantry and did an inventory of what I have. So far, so good. Will check on your recipes for sure.
Your ideas are so helpful! I believe that I can do this with help from your website!
I think I will try weekly meal planning first and see how that works for me. I have always been a stockpiler but I sometimes have a hard time using up what I have stockpiled. Thanks for all the helpful hints.
I just started back working in December and preparing meals has been really hard when I don’t plan ahead. I will most definitely look at getting a board like this one, right now I just use a blank dry erase board I keep on the side of the frig. But planning a couple of weeks to a month ahead sounds so much better than planning a couple of days to a week ahead. I MUST DO THIS!!!!!
Okay, so I’m new to the whole pricematching/ couponing experience. I have tried to keep a 200 a month budget for 2 adults, a 4 year old bottomless stomach (boy) and a 15 month old baby. My friend does a 30 day meal planner. Here’s my thing, I don’t know how to cook 30 different meals, my family is pretty picky when it comes to veggies, fish and I’m unable to stomach beef. I also have a son who’s allergic to dairy.
I want to keep healthy meals on our table and in our fridge, but I’m not sure how. I want to cook easy healthy meals. Any suggestions? Good websites with easy healthy recipes? How do I come up with 30 different meals?
Thanks
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