A Guide To Meal Planning
Not only do we want to look for ways to save money this year, but we also want to get more organised and reduce our waste. Luckily for us, meal planning is a way that we manage to do all three.
By creating a meal plan, not only do I know what I am cooking for the week and can plan it around what we have on. But what I love most about it, is I can also be sure to only buy the things that we need for that week. This not only saves money but also means the amount of waste we have at the end of the week is greatly reduced. That’s the theory anyway!
Want to know how we do it? Then read on.
MEAL PLANNING AT ITS BEST
Yes, you read right. I have a spreadsheet that I use for meal planning. It sounds overly organised but if I don’t have something to refer to, for some reason I just can’t remember 7 different meals for the week.
So, the idea is that each time that we have a meal we enjoy, it gets added to the list under that category. Then each week I flick through any magazines or cookbooks for new things I want to try and then I fill in any gaps with our tried and tested favourites. I try and make sure we have 1 meat free meal, 1 fish meal, 1 fakeaway (Friday night of course), then a few chicken and meat dishes.
Some examples include everything from a roast dinner on a Sunday, a sweet and sour chicken on a Friday, a night winter warming sausage casserole on a Tuesdays and how about a light dinner of a salmon, potato, asparagus and tomato tray bake on a Wednesday?
In true organised style, all of that gets recorded on a meal planner which sits in the kitchen all week so we know what we’re due to be having when.
From there, it’s easy to list everything we need in that weeks shop. A quick order online, delivery into the kitchen and boom, we’re done for the week.
Online shopping is something we’ve done for a few years now, since I was pregnant with the Bear and too big and exhausted to venture out anymore. I know people have saved a lot of money by shopping around different supermarkets and looking for the best deals, but for me it’s best just to get it online and have it delivered. Less right for impulse purchases!
So, there we have it. A really simple process from spreadsheet, to paper to online shopping. It works for us though and helps to keep us organised when to comes to what we are eating. What about you? Do you meal plan at all? What’s your process?
WHERE I GOT IT
Linx 8″ 32GB WiFi Tablet – available from AO
What to Eat Planner – available from Paperchase
DISCLOSURE: this is a collaborative post,
I am so unorganized its ridiculous, I do have countless diaries but none of them get used but the idea of using a spreadsheet is a great one, more so with shopping so you don’t over buy one item (like what we did with chicken nuggets)
great post
I’m so glad I’m not the only one with a spreadsheet!! That way you can update it without the messiness of having things scribbled out as well! x
Hahahah. I’m not alone! I love my spreadsheet
I would love to try meal planning! It’s always been something that intimidates me. I wish online ordering groceries was available around me!! Unfortunately I live in a small town and that’s just not possible for me area. Bummer. It would definitely make my life easier.
I live in a tiny village but I’m so lucky that home delivery is available from all the main supermarkets. The benefit of living in a little country!
I already do meal planning, it’s so easy and saves a lot of hassle! Great post.
Ok that planner is amazing! I have one for packing and use it every trip!
I love meal planning, i always do it but i always fine that something gets in the way. But its getting better that we are sticking to it.
Great post! X
The spread sheet on the tablet is a fantastic idea! I usually jot our weekly meals on the back of my grocery list.
You are far more organized than I am. While I will mark out what we’re doing for the week on a notepad, the spreadsheet is genius!
Britt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca
I have not given meal planning a go yet, I seem to cook the same old things – partly because the hassle of buying ingredients and also I can not cook to well. But I know my partner is getting bored of the same old so I think I will give this a try! Great post!!
Thanks for the tips, they were really helpful as I’ve been meaning to do this for so long. Always have to throw away food because I haven’t planned meals properly. Will definitely start using a spreadsheet to plan on, never though of this before! I usually write it down, then end up losing the paper!