Stone Soup for Five: Menu Planning--tips for survival

Menu Planning--tips for survival





I've menu planned for years, but it's still hard to follow through.  We're still eating out too much and I probably will always have nights that I don't want to cook.  So this month I thought I'd try something new.

First, I'm planning for the entire month.

Second, I'm gathering all recipes and paper clipping them together for each week so they'll be handy.

I'm only shopping for one week at a time (instead of two) in the hopes of staying within my budget better).

And, down the left side of my planner, I listed a category to check each week as I make my list.  Right now my categories are to check:
Week 1: Cleaning supplies
Week 2: Spices
Week 3: Pantry Staples (flour, sugar, oats, canned goods, oil)
Week 4: Freezer Staples (veggies, bread, cheese, etc)

This week's menu:

Breakfasts:
French Toast Casserole (with some old bread I got for free that was REALLY hard and dry)
Whole Grain Crockpot Breakfast (with steel cut oats and wheat berries...hope it works!)
Cinnamon Pull Aparts
Cheese Sausage biscuits
cereal
pancakes (frozen)
McMom's Sausage McMuffins
Amish Baked Oatmeal (a family favorite)

Lunches:
BBQ Shredded Chicken  for sandwiches or salads
Sandwiches
Mac n dogs
left overs
French Dips
Crockpot Taco Soup

Dinners:
Rubber Chicken and broccoli bake with salad
Tuna Noodle Casserole and beans
Rubber Chicken Day 2 chicken burritos
Italian crockpot Chicken, salad, noodles
Pizza
Beef and Broccoli LoMein
DIY

Goals:
1. No eating out this week, ANYWHERE.  McDonalds, do you HEAR ME???? (WHY am I so WEAK?)
2.  Stay well within my budgeted $95 this week.
3.  Bake snacks for the boys (banana bread, pumpkin bread, muffins, etc)

3 comments:

  1. impressive. you go, girl! :) i'm all for trying new systems to find what works for me. it is so hard because i am so dang scattered!!

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  2. Love your ideas! And there is something about that picture of the calendar with the paperclipped recipes that makes me feel really peaceful. I want one.

    You and me are in the same boat on the menu planning... I do it, but not very well and we still eat out WAY too much.

    I love Leanne Eely too! I have one of her original cookbooks called "Healthy Foods" and it's still one of my favs. It has that rubber chicken recipe in it. thanks for the reminder and for inspiring me.

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  3. Go Kari! I love menu planning too!

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