So, you all know I believe in menu planning 100%. I wrote about it awhile back. Today is not about why to menu plan or even really how…it is about getting organized so you can menu plan!
So, you decide you want to start menu planning. What would be a good templete or method to use? I have tried SO many over the years. I first just started by
making a list….Monday-burgers, Tuesday-chicken, etc… That is a great, simple what to get started. However, it just wasn’t working for me. I would dread sitting down to make the plan and could never think of what to put on my plan. We did not want to have tacos every week! So, then I went through and did a whole bunch of work creating 4 months worth of plans and I decided to rotate those plans. This eliminated lots of guess work and made shopping easy. But guess what? I did not like this method either! I hated being tied down. I couldn’t shop the sales very well and I couldn’t try new recipes.
My favorite method is so simple and works fantastic for us! I use a blank monthly calendar! So easy! Here is a site that allows you to print your own. That does mean that I actually plan my menus one month at a time. I just get out the family calendar and the blank calendar. Then I plan leftovers and easy meals on the busy nights. I usually plan something simple or a crockpot meal on grocery shopping days as well. I check what’s in the freezer plan to use those items. I look through my recipes to try and add a few of those in. I love planning once a month because I don’t dread it! I don’t have to do it that often. 
Now, in an effort to become more frugal, I thought I should start planning breakfasts and lunches, too. Can I say that this is much more difficult? I have been using a template from OrganizedHome.com. The template is only for a week at a time. I have the hardest time planning breakfasts and lunches. Usually, I just keep the stuff in the pantry or freezer and we just pick what we want each day. So, I’m wondering…is it worth the extra effort to plan the breakfasts and lunches?
Now, if you are a working person (I stay at home) and want to make life easier for yourself there are menu planning sites. They do all the work for you and mail you the recipes and grocery lists each week. I love this simple idea, but we are too picky to utilize one of these. :) Friends have directed me to two great ones:
Menus4Moms
Menus4Moms has so many choices of menu plans. You can choose the “busy moms” menu plans, “basic” menu plans, or even the “frugal mom” menu plans. I like it that their frugal mom plans actually have a cost analysis of each recipe. Of course, there is a cost to use the service…$5 monthly for the frugal mom plans…not too bad!
E-Mealz
E-Mealz also has several choices of menu plans. Their menu plans are organized by store (Kroger, Publix, etc…) or you can choose a couples meal plan. They even have meal plans for various diet plans like vegetarian, low carb, low fat, and the points system (Weight Watchers). So cool! Each meal plan also includes a grocery list. This makes your job so easy!
Hope this helps you! Remember that I organized my recipes last week? This should also help with my menu planning…I organized my recipes by chicken, beef, etc… so if I want another beef recipe, I just flip to that section to find it. Streamlining the process is always great!
Did you hear? I’m giving away a video camera! Check it out!
Hello and I am soooooo happy to be back! I’ll be here for 2 weeks and then one more vacation before my daughter starts kindergarten (sniff, sniff).