Tips on How You Can Do Weekly Menu Planning

Everybody is looking for ways to save money and cut expenses these days. One of the easiest places to cut back is on your monthly grocery budget. Weekly menu planning will allow you to budget and stick to a set amount that will be spent at the grocery store. Menu planning will save you lots of time and plenty of money and is not hard to do.

Start out by writing out a list of four or five main courses that your family would like to eat during the coming week. When you first start menu planning it may be best to select family favorites. Once you have listed your main course idea start adding side dishes that compliment the meals. Now is the time to try to make a well-balanced meal by using a good source of protein, a starch and at least one vegetable or fruit in each meal plan.

Now that you have completed four or five dinner menus, write down what you will be eating for breakfast.

If you or any other family members eat lunch at home or pack a lunch, write down what will be eaten for lunch.

By now, you should have five days worth or meals written down. Now look at your list to determine if there will be any leftovers that can be used on the remaining two days of your plan. If so, write them down.

Now you should have a plan for an entire week of meals that can be prepared at home. It is now time to make your grocery list. Go down the list and write down everything that will be needed to prepare each meal.

Now that you have your grocery list completed, take a minute or two to write down the non-food items that you need when you do your shopping. Do you need shampoo or mouthwash? Whatever it is, write it down.

Now you are ready to go to the store. Buy only the things that are on your list. You have gone to a good deal of effort to prepare this list so stick to it. Don’t purchase anything that is not on your list.

Be sure to post the meal plan on the refrigerator so you will not forget what you planned. You will soon enjoy the extra time you have and will notice that mealtime is less stressful than ever before.