Menu Planning, not as scary as it sounds.

When I had one child I used to find myself shopping daily for dinner, she was a patient shopper and it was easy enough to fit it in around naps and carry my few bits along with the buggy. Even when the Happy One arrived and I was on Maternity Leave it was possible as The Princess was still in childcare in the mornings, but when I returned to work, this had to stop.

 The whole afternoon was taken up with an excursion to the shops. I was tired of shopping, the "daily dinner decision" and the childrens patience was also rapidly wearing thin. It also was expensive, how expensive, I didn't realise, until I gave it up. 

Doing a "big shop" did not solve the problem as I conscientiously went through the cupboards adding missing items to my list coming home with lots of ingredients but no complete dinner.

I had read about menu planning but really thought I couldn't be that organised, I was sooo wrong.

Initially I restricted shopping to Monday, hastily scribbling a plan for approximately 4 dinners in the corner of the list. Things improved, but the list would often disappear leaving me standing in front of the fridge 2 days later wondering what the inspiration behind bacon and celeriac was? (I still can't remember.)

In January the effects of paycuts before Christmas really kicked in and the disappearing menu plan became unfuriating.

So a new regime began, in Microsoft Publisher I made a menu plan, laminated it, bought a dry wipe marker and stuck it to the front of a press with blu-tak. Save time and print this one... 

Download Weekly dinner planner

Each Monday after lunch while the Princess relaxes in front of CBeebies and the Happy One naps I write 4 dinners on the list. A quick cupboard check and I add the required ingredients too my shopping list, and off we go. For health and wealth reasons we do a fish day, a vegetarian day and two meat days.

The best thing about this has been the introduction of new recipes, as I am making "the dinner decision" sitting at home rather than flustered at the butcher's counter, I have been able to look at my books check what I have and list any new ingredients. I am getting better at this and can now adjust the list if the bargain of the week at the butcher's appeals.

Four days is about as far ahead as I can plan. Weekends are more flexible so I need to plan for them specifically closer to the time so we usually do a small shop on a Friday depending on our weekend requirements.

Spontanaiety is still possible if I use the meat early in the week and an unexpected invitation or lazy takeaway evening crops up I can simply move the other meals on a day, or jiggle them around. 

As time moves on and we have more afternoon activities I imagine there'll be specific days that require really quick dinners, so that will have to be included in the plan. 

The reduction in my grocery spending has been significant as everything I buy is intended for use that week, there's less waste and more taste!

Comments

[Orla Kerbey]

Loving the idea of having a menu planner. we have started to try to use what we have in the freezer, fridge and cupboard before we just go to the shops and spend money on random ingredients! We have started to become more conscious of what we are spending and eating. Will definately be printing the menu planner! thanks

[Cleansheets]

Good Luck with it Orla. It's amazing what can be produced from apparently nothing if you put off going to the shops for a few days. I put this up as feature post for January as I think everyone is on a frugal drive this month.

[Ann Eggleston]

I 've akways had trouble planning menus.S ome help would be gratefully appreciated. Its a brilliant idea

[Cleansheets]

Good Luck Ann, it's really worth the effort. You'll know what day suits you best for shopping and how many days you can realistically plan ahead, but I would start with 4. If there's a day that dinner needs to be instant then fill in a quick dinner and take it from there. Check the cupbiards, write your list and enjoy dinner!

[Annemarie]

This is a nifty idea. We are pretty bad at menu planning and tend to buy on a daily basis as we live beside a Tesco. Still, I feel that we probably spend more. So your menu plan is setting a new example for me, thanks.