Introduction
For years, I dreaded meal planning and grocery shopping. The constant decision-making, sticking to a budget and frequent trips to the store were exhausting. But with a few simple steps, I managed to turn it around. Here’s how I did it.
Start with a Blank Calendar
Begin by grabbing a blank calendar. See template attached. Use a device or scrap sheet of paper to write out all the meals you like or would like to try. Make sure you have the recipes for these. Â In our household, we typically have about 8 different lunches and 10 different dinners. For breakfast, I rotate between 2-3 options, while TW sticks to the same meal nearly every day.
Mark Your Calendar
Next, fill in any planned nights out, weekends away, or holidays on your calendar. You won’t need to cook meals for these days. If your budget allows pencil in a few nights for spontaneous fun, like dining out, takeaway, or catching up with friends and family.
Plan Your Meals
Now, start pencilling in your meals. We usually have our favourite two meals at least four nights a month, covering eight nights. The other eight meals are repeated twice per month. For the remaining 4-6 nights, we often have plans outside the house. If not, we simply start the rotation again. You can change your lunch and dinner lists to keep things interesting or to try new recipes.
Create a Shopping List
From your list of meals, use the recipes to write a shopping list. We use an electronic list in the ‘Family Wall’ app that allows us to check and uncheck items as needed. This helps us stay organised and ensures we don’t forget anything.
Do a Big Monthly Shop
Plan on doing one big shop each month. This is when you can buy all your meats and bulky pantry items. Once home, separate the meats into portion sizes and freeze them. Store all other groceries appropriately. During this shop, also buy a week’s worth of perishables like milk, fruit, and vegetables. For the remaining weeks, do smaller shops for perishables at the supermarket or farmer’s market.
Stock Up on Snacks
For snacks, we typically buy nuts, crackers, and dark chocolate. During the bulk shop, I also ensure we have ingredients to make protein balls or other healthy alternatives.
Prepare Meals in Advance
On Sundays, I prepare four lunches for the week ahead and snacks. Since it’s just the two of us, we cook four servings on cooking nights, eat two, and save the other two as leftovers for the next night. This system works well for us, especially on busy work nights. You might need to adjust this pattern based on your family size and needs.
Conclusion
The best plan is always flexible. It’s certainly not foolproof but it’s what works for us. If you’re looking for a way to get a different grip on meal planning and groceries, give it a try and see how it works for you! Would love to hear any thoughts or feedback below.
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