So Really, What’s For Dinner?

No food today.  Instead I want to tell you about some updates and how they help me us with meal planing and grocery shopping and ultimately staying on budget.  So, basically this post is all about me, but you might find it helpful too.

I have added two features to my What’s for Dinner? link.  Now, if you are going, huh? That’s because you haven’t clicked through from your reader in awhile and that’s okay because I have sucked at updating the page.  The last several weeks months have been pretty fly by the seat of your pants cooking.  I have never been a very good meal planner even though I know what an important tool it is for saving money.  The link is at the top of the right-hand column if you are interested in finding it in the future.

So in an attempt to remedy my difficulty with meal planning I have attached two pdf files to the top of the What’s for Dinner? page.  The first is a blank weekly planning template.  It  has blank columns for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas, as well as a column to make notes like, “Pay Day” or “Mom’s Birthday” etc… to remind you.  I do not always write something in each box but use the columns to jot down ideas like, “Breakfast Burritos” or “Chicken Salad.”  Although, I do try to write in one dinner idea for each day of the week even if it is “Order Pizza” or “Breakfast for Dinner.”

Once you have settled on a meal plan for the week  you can print the second pdf: the master grocery list.  I have found over the years that this type of grocery list helps me come home with the things I actually need much more often than a list hand written from memory. I just circle the things I need based on my menu plan for the week.  I also circle things on the list as I run out of them so I don’t have to recall them later.  It is organized by grocery store section which means no passing up an item and having to go back.

Also, this is the list that works for me.  I think it is pretty universal but it may or may not work for you.  I write lots of notes in the margins regarding sales prices, specific varieties, amounts needed etc… There are also lots of blank lines for jotting down an ingredient not listed.  If I find I am constantly making the same notes I may update the list to reflect that but currently I believe it is complete.

Copyright Issues: feel free to print, alter or distribute the files as desired.  It would be nice if you linked back to chaos in the kitchen or left the address in the footer but I won’t ever know if you don’t-so go forth and conquer your grocery budget.

So here is my method:

1. Sunday night, I print out the menu planner and get out my coupons and sales papers.  I try to get ideas based on what’s on sale and what’s already in the pantry and then use the internet to pick recipes.
2. I write all my ideas on the planning sheet and print the corresponding recipes and the grocery list.
3. Scan the recipes for ingredients already on hand-and if you aren’t sure go look-and mark all the needed ingredients on the grocery list.
4. Add all the basic groceries you will need to the list.
5. On Monday I go shopping.
6. Hang your meal plan in the kitchen where you will see it each day and remember what you had planned.
7. Print a fresh grocery list and place it in a handy spot so you can mark items as you run out or get an idea for next week.
8. Use that grocery list on Sunday night when you start the process over again. 🙂

It is important to be flexible and realistic.  That’s what the “notes” section of the planner is for.  It helps me keep in mind that gymnastics in on Monday and we will probably go out to eat before hand.  Then I don’t waste my money buying food for a meal I am not going to cook.  If I decide to cook instead I can always bump another meal up the list.

Do you already have a method that works great? I’d love to hear it.