There are many ways to go about meal planning for your family. It can depend on your schedule, budget, and the ages of your kids. Here are some suggestions on how to plan your family meals on a budget.
One of the keys is keeping a well stocked pantry. When pantry items are on sale be sure to get some so that you will always have the basics on hand. I keep a well stocked winter pantry and summer pantry. I switch them when the seasons change to be sure to use up the items so things aren't wasted. The winter pantry has items I use for my winter meals like stews, roasts, chili, soup, etc. I keep canned beans, canned tomatoes of all kinds, tomatoe sauce, pasta, oatmeal, broth, stock, bullion, gravy and other seasoning packets, and of course lots of spices. My summer pantry is smaller because we do a lot of salads and grilling. I always keep baked beans, salad dressing, brown rice, olive oil and vinegars, and marinades on hand.
For weekly meal planning I start with the sale circular from my favorite grocery store. I usually buy some proteins that are sale. In fact if a staple protein like chicken breasts, ground beef, or roasts (in the winter) are on sale I may buy a lot of it and freeze in single night portions. Then I go through the nights of the week and vary the meals between chicken, beef, pork, or meatless meals. I always have from my pantry and freezer to pick from. I just have to pick up some fresh produce to complement the meals.
For Example:
Sunday: Pork Roast with roasted potatoes, red cabbage, applesauce, broccoli with cheese
Monday: Beef Stew in the crock pot with noodles
Tuesday: Chicken cutlets with mashed potatoes, peas
Wednesday: Shepherds Pie (made with leftover mashed potatoes and vegetables)
Thursday: Pasta and sauce, garlic bread, salad
Friday: MYO Pizza Night
Saturday: Leftovers
Helpful tips:
Make extra of something like mashed potatoes and turn that into another meal. Roast chickens are great for this too. You can make stock and then use the leftover chicken for pot pie, casseroles, and chicken salad.
Use the crock pot to put together a meal the night before or in the morning and let it cook all day so its ready when you get home (for a day you'll be out all day)
If the next day is busy then make a casserole, meatloaf or shepherds pie the night before so when you get home you just have to put it in the oven.
Keep a list of meals listed by proteins such as chicken breasts, ground beef, chuck roast, etc. This way when you plan on making a meal and you feel stuck you have a go-to list that your family loves.
Make one night a theme night. You can do MYO Pizza every Friday or just rotate through different things such as Mexican, sushi/Chinese, or breakfast for dinner. Whatever it is do it the same night every week and make it a tradition your kids look forward too. Pair it with games or a movie and make a special family time every week.
Make a double batch and freeze the other part for another night. I do this for lasagna, baked ziti, soups, chili, Shepherds pie, and meat sauce for pasta. Then when you need a break you can just pull out a tray to defrost and dinner is done.
Looking for new recipes? Maybe you are just bored with what you are making. Check out recipes at allrecipes.com or the Food Network . If you are more interested in finding out what other moms are making then check out some blogs that post recipes regularly.
What foods does your family love? How do you plan out your meals, weekly or monthly? How do you come up with new ideas? Do you have a theme night your family loves? Do you have a favorite blog with lots of family friendly recipes? What are your tips for meal planning? Let us know what you think about these things and leave a comment.
