Meal Planning/Grocery Shopping Tips/Etc

[thebeckery]

Please post your suggestions/meal plans/tips/etc. here.

[thebeckery]

StillJulie:
Meal Planning
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I have a little grid (something I made up from a spreadsheet program) where I fill in 4 weeks of meals. I just do Monday through Saturday, b/c I figure one night will likely be left-overs. I don't follow real strictly to always fixing things in the order that I've written them out. Sometimes I wake up and just don't "feel like" having what's written for that day, so I switch things around.

We raise beef, so we have an abundance (and then some) of beef in our freezer. Because of that, I usually plan 3 meals centered around beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork, and 1 fish. DH requires meat at every meal.

I keep a 3-ring binder of lists of meals that I make that fall into each of those categories. I also list the ingredients for each.

I've also got a master sheet of most grocery items I purchase. When I make out my meal plan, I usually have my meal lists, my grocery list, and any grocery ads for the week in front of me. I use a highlighter to mark any items I'll need to purchase.

I also have a list of emergency back-ups - meals that can be done real quickly for whatever reason. We very rarely go out to eat, and there are days when I just really don't feel like cooking, so here are a few of my "back-up" plans: frozen pizza, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, mac 'n cheese, soup & grilled cheese, complete meals in a box (several companies make these), complete meals in a bag (freezer type - several companies make these as well).

Anyways, hope this helps a little.


FlyinHigh:
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I use the meal planner sheets that you can buy from the H&H planner (merchandise page). On one side you make your meals for the week and on the other side you make your grocery list. Very nice if you want to plan one week at a time or one month at a time. I usually plan week by week now. That way we can have more variety and everymonth is not the same.

On the meal plan sheets you have slots for every meal of the day (breakfast, lunch, dinner). I am experimenting with planning snacks so I don't feel rushed or stressed to come up with something (and healthy too).

Crockpot night is great to have on a night where you dk's are busy in an event such as sports or scouts. Because my schedule changes I vary which night I use. Here is a list of ideas. Also you can get ideas from the book "Sink Reflections". I'll check my other books too.

Crockpot night
Mexican Night
Poultry
Beef
Casserole
Fish
Pork
Leftover night (or lunch on Sunday)
Soup and Sandwich

For fun: colored food night, Kid's cook night, picnic in the park, picnic in the yard are just some ideas

Veggie night (we sometimes have something like vegetable pockets with corn on the cob etc. instead of always having a meat )

Once in a while you just have to eat out or order pizza


SandKsmama:
Okay, here's how I meal plan...
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And this is the only thing in my life that I am actually *organized* about, so don't think I'm completely anal:-)

Breakfast: I do a rotating menu for breakfast, which pretty much stays the same each week until we are sick of something, then I rotate in something new.
Monday: Bagel w/ PB or cheese
Tuesday: Cereal
Wednesday:Eggs w/ Cinnamon toast
Thursday: Pancakes
Friday: Breakfast burritos
Saturday: Waffles/eggs/grits/sausage
Sunday: Egg Mcmuffins or Cheese toast(depending on how much time:-)
Also, I offer juice and milk every day, as well as some sort of fresh or canned fruit.

Lunch: Same deal as breakfast
Monday: Hot dogs
Tuesday: PB and J sandwiches
Wednesday: Mac n cheese
Thursday: leftovers
Friday: Chicken nuggets and tater tots
Saturday: Pizza or leftovers
Sunday: Sub sandwiches or out to lunch:-)
Again, some sort of fresh fruit, as well as some kind of chip/cracker usually. We almost always drink water.

Dinner: (I do this 2 weeks at a time)
Monday: Italian (Lasagna, salad, bread)(Spinach manicotti, salad, bread)
Tuesday: Easy/one dish (Macaroni Goulash) (Chicken and rice, grean beans)
Wednesday: Mexican (Taco Salads) (Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans)
Thursday: Seafood (Mexican Tilapia, spanish rice, refried beans) (Marinated white fish, mixed veggies, mashed potatoes)
Friday: Beef (Roast/potatoes/carrots) (Grilled steak, baked potato, salad, bread)
Saturday: Casserole (Chicken Divan, stewed apples, bread) (Shepherd's pie, salad)
Sunday: Leftovers or out to eat!

I hth! Also, I do feel free to switch around my menus - if I wake up on Thursday and don't feel like fish, then we have the casserole or whatever. Also, if fish is really expensive, then I just nix it for those 2 weeks and eat more chicken, etc.

Amanda

[thebeckery]

Organizing Breakfast...
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My good friend passed this idea on to me and it has been great. On each day of the week I make something different. This way it's not cold cereal every morning. The one thing the kids have had to get used to is that I make them breakfast and that's what we're having...no more short order cooking. You can adjust this list to your own family and what they like. Here is my list

Sunday: Pancakes(Bisquick Mix) and Bacon
Monday: Cold Cereal
Tuesday: Waffles(Eggo Brand) and Bacon
Wednesday: Oatmeal and English Muffins
Thursday: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon and Cinnamon Rolls
My kids love the Pillsberry Cinnamon Rolls!
Friday: Cinnamon Toast and Yogurt
Saturday: Muffins and Sausage Links

It has been so nice to wake up in the morning and know that I'm making a really good breakfast before they head off to school.

[thebeckery]

Here is my old list. I need to work on it and begin menu planning again.

What I did and still do to some extent was each night of the week would be a different dish (mon; chicken tue; spicy wed:beef etc) but we never had the same dish in a 30 day period. I know my family would be happy if I would get back on track!!

Spaghetti
Lasagna
Pizza
Stromboli
Chili beans
Tasty Beans
Pinto beans/ fried potatoes/ greens/ corn bread
Potato soup-homemade
Chicken noodle soup --homemade
Chicken and rice
Homemade beef stew
Honey mustard chicken
Chicken Patties/buns
Chicken Fajitas
Kielbasa w/ peppers/onions served with buttered noodles
Fish-coleslaw-hushpuppies-fries
Salmon cakes
Taco salad
Enchilada casserole
Cheeseburger bake
Beef Roast
Barbeque on Bun-chicken/pork/beef
Potluck pockets
Hamburgers
Hot dogs
Baked potato/broccoli/cheese
Burritos
Chicken stir-fry
Corn beef and cabbage
Chicken broccoli casserole
Meatloaf
Spiced pork chops
Ham
Hobo dinners/ ground beef-potatoes-carrots-onions
Chicken potpies
Chicken dumplings
Sub sandwiches
Steak
Cabbage/ground beef/salsa
Bacon beans and wieners
Gravy biscuits/ eggs
Turkey
Zuppa Tuscana

[thebeckery]

A month of dinners
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I think there are 30 different meals here:

Roast Chicken
Beef Stew
Tilapia
Twice Baked Potatoes
Spaghetti
Ham Steaks
Fried Chicken
Salisbury Steak
Sausage Potato Casserole
Vegetable Beef Soup
Tacos
California rolls
Meatballs
BBQ Chicken
Tortellini
Turkey Tenderloin
Chili
Bulgogi
Meatloaf
Parmasean Chicken
Quesadillas
Potato Soup
Fried Rice
Homemade Pizza
Pork chops
Chicken Pot Pie
Country Style BBQ ribs
Stuffed Shells
Sausage and Bow Tie Pasta
Lentil Soup

[thebeckery]

okay I only have the ideas..nothing is fully planned yet...becuase I haven't decided how to arrange them yet...

but my basic meals I rotate are:
-spaghetti or a pasta bake
-ravoli
-pizza
-lasgana
-chicken parmeansana (sp?)
-chicken enchiladas
-beef enchiladas
-fajitas
-tacos, southwest shredded chicken or ground beef
-nacho night
-sweet n sour chicken
-garlic basil roasted whole chicken
-chicken alfredo
-sometype of stir-fry with either pork or beef
-garlic lemon pork chops or asian roasted pork tenderloin (depending on meat prices)
-mandrin orange chicken
-hamburgers
-cilantro chicken casear salad
-BBQ Chicken

I am sure I have more things I mix in there...but those are my basic meals...

[thebeckery]

meat and potatoe casserole
chili
stew
spaghetti
ham and scallop potatoes
tuna casserole
prime rib
pizza
soup
roast chicken
steak
pork chops
sausages and rice
lasagne
hamburgers
perogies
pork roast
chicken breasts
meatloaf
chicken pot pie
nachos
wings

[thebeckery]

I plan a month at a time. I can look back at past months to know when we had whatever the last. Plan grocery lists according to what you are cooking and can change a meal quickly if you run out of time to fix what you wanted. Shop sales for meat and then you can know you have in the freezer to plan your meals. I go grocery shopping once a month except for milk. It SAVES us SO much!!!
Karen : )

Quote of the week: 3yo DS "Where you going daddy?"
"I'm going to work."
DS "Where you going mommy?"
"Nowhere. Where are you going"
DS "I going CRAZY!" : )

[thebeckery]

This is a weekly meal plan, it seldom varies.

SUNDAY: Pancakes or sweet rolls
MONDAY: Eggs, bacon or sausage, toast
TUESDAY: Waffles
WEDNESDAY: Bagels or oatmeal
THURSDAY: Quick bread or quick muffins
FRIDAY: French toast
SATURDAY: Boxed cereal

[thebeckery]

1. Spaghetti with salad and french bread
2. Stuffed shells - recipe on box.
3. Meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn
4. Grilled cheese tomato soup
5. Crockpot Roast beef, potatoes, carrots
6. Chili and cornbread
7. Parmesan Chicken and noodles
8. Turkey Dinner, Stovetop, Dinner Rolls, veggie
9. Green bean casserole
10. Sloppy Joes
11. Turkey and Dumplings
12. Spaghetti with meatballs
13. Homemade Pizza
14. Pancake night with bacon
15. Hamburger Beef Stew and Dinner Rolls
16. Tacos (Need tortillas, tomatoes)
17. Mac-n-cheese and hot dogs
18. Chicken (baked or fried), Rice-a-Roni, veggie
19. Hamburger Helper and veggie
20. Chicken fried rice and Egg Flower Soup
21. Buffalo Wings and Oven Fries
22. Macaroni and Cheese and Corn Dogs
23. Hamburgers (Need buns and tomatoes)
24. Kielbasa Sausage and Pasta
25. Ravioli with Marinara Sauce
26. Oven BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
27. Chicken potpie
28. Shephard’s pie
29. Goulash and green salad
30. Potato Soup and dinner rolls.
31. Catfish nuggets/oven fries, veggie

I cheat and buy the big bag of Rhoades frozen rolls. I can get 72 for $4.99 and I take out several on the days we are going to need them.

The () are items I need to buy fresh that week. Otherwise the ingredients are in the pantry/fridge/freezer.

In the AM, I look at the list, choose our meal, take out the ingredients if frozen and gather the canned goods on the counter with my recipe. Then I cross that meal off the list.

Adding on shopping day I buy the bulk hamburger and this month I mixed up 55 meatballs and froze them on a cookie sheet. Then after they were frozen I dumped them in a big zippy bag. Just pop them in the oven for baking. My kiddos loved them. I also premade my patties for burgers and froze those in ziplock bags.

[thebeckery]

go to the meat market weekly and catch and sale items and stock up for the next two weeks and plan my meal around such. I love the menu ideas. My mom and older sister gave me a wonderful gift when I was little (we had hot meals) Rarely, did we go out to eat. Now, that I pressure cook, it is so much easier. Thanks for the menus.

[DDofEve]

Thanksgiving tip from the KRAFT bulletin board!!!! SOOOO AWESOME!!!!

Here's a great way to make the hectic Thanksgiving
> menu Planning/Preparing very easy!
>
> For several years now I've been preparing EVERYTHING
> the day or two ahead ... including the Turkey. Well,
> I do wait until TG to make the mashed potatoes as we
> prefer them freshly mashed.
>
> The clue to roasting the turkey the day (or 2!) ahead
> is ... Roast it as usual. Let it sit for 30 minutes
> before carving. Carve it into the usual slices and
> place in a clean roasting pan. Cover the meat with a
> chicken stock (I use Swanson's). Cover with foil and
> put pan into the refrigerator until TG. Keep covered
> while you reheat the turkey ... about one hour at
> 350. The house will have that great turkey smell and
> the meat is MORE MOIST than most birds we've had when
> we roasted and served the same day.
>
> You have already dealt with the mess and dirty pans
> by fixing it ahead of time.
>
> I also ask each daughter-in-law to bring a side dish
> to include them in the meal. BUT, everything but the
> mashed potatoes is fixed at least the day before.
>
> Enjoy!

Hope this helps relieve some tension in your home this year! I know it will in MINE!!! FER SHYER!!!!