Frugal Menu Mamas

Mondays around here will be “Menu Plan Mondays”. Why you ask? Well, first of all, I’d like to participate in OrgJunkie’s Menu Plan Monday. Second, it will keep me accountable to get my menu plan done! Third, so you can understand the importance of menu planning!

Menu planning is essential because it saves in two all important areas: time and money! This is one of the first changes I would suggest to someone trying to cut back on the grocery budget. It also saves extra trips to the grocery store. It’s not hard, but explaining it is lengthy - so stick with me!

The “how-to” part of menu planning varies by person, so use a method that works for you. You can Google the topic “menu-planning” and find all sorts of methods. Three that I think are especially helpful are:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/menuplanning.htm

http://organizedhome.com/menu-planning-save-time-kitchen

http://orgjunkie.com/2007/07/how-to-menu-plan-theres-really-nothing-to-it.html

You can even pay for various website to send your inbox menu plans and recipes each week. Real Simple magazine collected a few of these here:

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/package/0,21861,1626111-1179919,00.html

Menus can be planned by the week, two weeks, or month. Many people suggest planning weekly. This helps you take advantage of the weekly sales and plan your menu accordingly. However, weekly menu planning has never worked for me. I don’t like waiting for the sale ad to plan my meals or being limited to it. Two years ago, we were given a freezer which allowed us to buy items when they are on sale and freeze them. Then I can plan whatever I want.. Therefore, I do my menu planning once a month and I only plan the dinners.

I have decided to add other various rules for myself. These include:

• planning one night a week for leftovers

• one night a week for a crock pot meal

• one night a week for a freezer meal

• one night a week for a meatless meal

Don’t worry, we will address all of those topics in other posts.

I used to have a hard time remembering meals we liked while changing it up every once in awhile, so I started keeping a list of recipes we like and I organized it by chicken, beef, ect…and side dishes. I keep this handy along with a list of meats and main dishes we have in the freezer when planning my meals. I also keep our family calendar handy so that I know what nights we’ll be out or need a quick meal.

I use a blank monthly calendar. I usually write in the leftovers night first according to what evening we have the most stuff planned. Then I add in the crock pot meal and freezer meal on other nights when we need an easy meal. Then I fill in the rest of the week according to what meats we have. I try not to plan chicken two nights in a row or two Italian meals two nights in a row, etc.. I do this for the whole month and then I fill in the sides again trying not to have rice two nights in a row or corn two nights in a row, etc.. I also plan one or two new recipes to try each month. After meal planning, I make my grocery list. I do my shopping once a week.

Well, that’s about it! I will be posting my menu plan weekly on Mondays and give you a few recipes here and there, so check back! And check out OrgJunkie.com for more menu plans. What are you making this week?  Please add a comment and let me know! Here is this week’s plan:

Monday-cheesy chicken in the crock pot, white rice, corn

Tuesday-easy baked potato soup, salad, bread or rolls

Wednesday-LEFTOVERS

Thursday-country style steak from the freezer, mashed potatoes, green beans

Friday-crispy Parmesan chicken strips, macaroni & cheese, salad

Saturday-ham (I bought this on sale. We will invite someone over or cook it and chop up the leftovers

to freeze and use in other recipes.), cornbread casserole, peas

Sunday-breakfast @ dinner: eggs, bacon, biscuits, fruit