How to Plan a Menu For The Week

Allow your children to help with menu planning.

Planning out a menu for the week is an excellent way to save time and money. Not only will you know exactly what you're looking for at the grocery store, you'll reduce spending costs, since you're only getting the items written on your list, not just grabbing various items from the shelves. Menu planning gives you more time to spend with family and get more work done around the house. Before your next visit to the grocery store, plan out a menu.

Instructions

1. Plan a menu based upon the nutritional preferences and needs of your family. For example, if you have a child that prefers vegetarian food, cater to his needs with meals such as vegetarian lasagna for dinner or blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Or, if your husband is diabetic, plan your menu with low or no-sugar meals such as chicken Caesar salads and artificially sweetened chocolate pudding for dessert.

2. Prep some meals ahead of time. If you know you're cooking barbecue chicken on the grill Tuesday night, place the thawed chicken in a bag Monday night with barbecue sauce so it marinates. If you've got a soccer game to go to Friday night, plan to make a frozen pizza for dinner instead of a meal that requires more prep and cook time. Measure out and label non-perishable ingredients and store them in plastic bags or containers until you need them. Not only will your menu be planned out for the week, your food will already be prepped and ready to go for when you need it.

3. Take advantage of your slow cooker. Cooking with your slow cooker is a time-saver and it provides an easy meal clean-up. If you're pressed for time during the week, put some potatoes and your choice of meat in your slow cooker in the morning before leaving for work. By the time you get home, dinner will be ready. (Always abide by the safety precautions of your slow cooker.)

4. Utilize food ads from local grocery stores to help you decide what meals to plan out for the week. You'll also save money purchasing foods that are listed on sale in the ad.

5. Use a calendar in your home to write down all of your planned out meals each week. This cuts back on worrying about what to make for lunch tomorrow -- and it stops family members from asking you what's for dinner every day.

References

• Organized Home; Menu Planning - Save Time in the Kitchen; Cynthia Ewer; 2011
• Simple Mom; A Basic Guide to Menu Planning; July 2008