It’s taken me a year to get this down to a science. I believe I have one of the easiest methods out there, but everyone has their own way that works for their family. Try out the method that works best for you. Here’s mine:
You may include things like frozen pizzas, and other things you frequently make, even if its not homemade. Of course, I recommend making everything homemade. Its cheaper and healthier to make food yourself. If you don’t believe me, you’ll find out after a few weeks of feeding your family for under $20 a week.
ANYWAY. Put your two lists into plastic page covers, and stick them on the fridge or somewhere you won’t lose them. My toddler often steals them off the fridge and adds her scribbles.
Getting Started!!!!!!
Look in your freezer and fridge first, see what you have on hand that needs used up, or could be used to make a different meal. Then check your pantry (soups, pasta, mixes.) Write down what you see.
Now, go to your 2 lists of meals you know how to make.
Using the ingredients you already have, see if you can make any meals without buying a thing. (This is my favorite. We call it our “Chopped” challenge like on Food Network- Using only things on hand to make a meal.)You’ll be surprised HOW MANY meals you can make if you really try. I usually get to about Thursday in my weekly plan.
Try to plan for variety in a week, Beef on Monday, chicken on Tuesday, soup on Wednesday and so on. Try not to repeat the same flavors back to back. Keep in mind you will be eating leftovers the next day, so you wouldn’t want meatballs on Tuesday, then again for lunch on Wednesday, followed by meatloaf on Wednesday night. Too much beef!
Ask your husband/children if they have any special requests for the week.
Work through the week (or whole month) planning out what you want to eat. Then write a grocery list of what you need from the grocery store. Start with a goal of $50 MAX per week for groceries. I don’t care how big your family is. Try it. The longer you do this, and the more you use the freezer method, you should be able to get your total even lower.
HOWEVER, if the store is running a GREAT deal on meat, or soups, or something you use a lot of, use your extra cash to bulk up your freezer & pantry. Say your planned meals were about $30. Go ahead and spend the extra $20 occasionally to buy the sale items. A few times a year you will have to spend over $50 to get your stockpile of chicken/beef and treats built up again. But believe me, its infrequent.
Post your weekly plan on the fridge, and check every night if you need to thaw something for the next day. The day of- just relax! You know what you’re making! You have all the ingredients you need! Make delicious food!
Note: The fifty dollar limit does NOT mean you cannot enjoy steak, organic produce, Ben & Jerry’s, or other expensive splurges. I think we've eaten healthier, and had more options as a result of this method that we ever did before. Say you’re planning out the week of Father’s day. Let’s say Father’s day is a Monday. Pencil it in and plan the rest of the week budgeting out for the cost of daddy’s steak. Pasta salad and baked potatoes are very cheap to make for steak sides. Add a bag of potato chips and you’re good. Have the extra pasta salad for lunch with a sandwich on Tuesday. Use the extra potatoes in that 5lb bag to make mashed potatoes with baked chicken on Wednesday. Have toasted cheese & tomato soup on Thursday. Super cheap. Make pulled buffalo chicken salads on Friday, and use up the potato chips that evening for your Red Box movie night. Saturday grill up veggie skewers with shrimp, and make bruschetta for an appetizer. Sunday go out for lunch. Boom! You did it.
How to use Freezer Meals with Meal Planning:
To me, the best part of freezer cooking is what LITTLE time it takes to make a meal when you’re simply thawing out an already cooked supper, and adding fresh elements.
Say Tuesday is my Spaghetti night.
Monday evening, I go to the freezer and pull out my 1lb bag of Basic Beef Mix. I put the Ziploc bag in a mixing bowl in the fridge to thaw.
Tuesday evening: While I boil the noodles, dump the Ziploc contents into a skillet to warm up, add a jar of spaghetti sauce, put some garlic bread in the oven and I’m done!
Dinner in 9 minutes!!!!
Say Wednesday is my taco night.
Tuesday evening, I go to the freezer and pull out my 1lb bag of Basic Taco Mix. I put the Ziploc bag in a mixing bowl in the fridge to thaw.
Wednesday evening: I dump the Ziploc contents into a skillet and heat. Grab your tortillas/hard shell tacos from the pantry. Build tacos on plates. Add cheese, lettuce, whatever you want for toppings!
Dinner in 15 minutes!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment