How to Plan Meals for Your Large Family

When the grocery list is long let older children help.

For a large family, the grocery bill can be one of the biggest household expenses. Planning can go a long way towards reducing the grocery bill and can also cut back on leftovers that often end up going into the trash. Having a plan will keep your mind clear at the grocery store, where temptation is everywhere. Take time to plan your meals at home to improve your bottom line at the grocery store.

Things You'll Need

• Three ring binder
• Index cards
• Blank paper

Instructions

1. Sit down with the index cards and on the front write down a complete meal your family enjoys. On the back of the card, list all the ingredients you need to make the meal. Continue until you have at least two weeks worth of cards for each meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can even include cards for snacks.

2. Start a family menu planner with a three-ring binder. Copy some blank grocery list forms and menu planning forms from one of the many homemaking sites on the internet, or draw up your own. Three-hole punch and add to the binder.

3. Create a master shopping list to stock your pantry. Working from the menu cards, write down every ingredient for each meal or snack from the back of the cards. Keep these ingredients stocked in your pantry. Your master shopping list can also include the toiletries, over-the-counter medicines and cleaning supplies you use regularly.

4. Test your master shopping list. It may take a few trips to perfect the list. When it works for your family, make copies for your binder. Add menu planning sheets and the menu cards to the binder as well.

5. Plan your menus before you shop. When shopping day arrives, fill out a menu planner for the week using your menu cards. Once your menu is set, flip over the index cards to check the ingredients. Highlight the ingredients you need on the master shopping list. “Shop” in your pantry first to see what you already have. Put a mark next to the ingredients you need to buy.

6. Follow your shopping list as closely as possible at the store. Always be willing to compromise, though, if something is on sale that’s on your master list, but not on this week’s menu. Stocking up on sales will go a long way to reducing your bills.

Tips & Warnings

• It can be a plus to bring your older children with you. For a large shopping day, you can give each child a section of the list, and let it go find the items you need.

References

• University of Wisconsin Extension: Stretching Your Food Dollars