For busy people wanting to watch what they spend, the menu plan is an essential household management strategy.
Shopping is quicker and easier because you know exactly what you need. Budgeting for meals is simple, and the daily dithering in front of the open pantry while you to cobble together a meal is no longer.
The Menu plan is a stress buster on so many levels, it helps reign in the grocery spend by reducing over-stocking and the time wasted doing expensive emergency dashes to the supermarket.
The plan can accommodate specials and seasonal variations and the age and stage of the household.
It’s also easier to cook double batches, squeeze in some baking or get a head start on tomorrow’s meal when today’s is under control.
So if you want to spend less, then get smart and plan your meals before you need them. Here’s how.
Getting set up:
11 recipes. That’s about how many we can manage to stock ingredients for, remember how to make, and coerce the family to eat.
What does your repertoire of 11 consist of and how much do those dishes cost to make?
List the dishes that you most frequently eat, include breakfasts, lunches and snacks in the list and roughly work out which are your most expensive dishes.
Plan for your busiest days, and avoid expensive quick fix meals from the supermarket or takeaway.
Plan dishes that are quick to make such as risotto and fresh veg or spicy meat balls in pita bread with salad or stir fry and rice on those days.
Alternatively make a double batch of something the night before and use the following day.
Or break out the slow cooker and dinner will be waiting when you tumble in the door.
Review the menu, are there small changes you can make that will save you money?
Can you substitute one family favourite with another that is less expensive to make?
A glance at the menu plan also gives you a quick overview of the household nutritional profile.
How many red meat or fish meals are we eating?
Are we eating any pulses?
How frequently is pudding on the menu?
Do our meals include sufficient serves of fruit and veg and are we intending to eat one thing but actually buying takeaways?
Gradual changes to your household food culture are easy to introduce if you plan ahead, swap beef burgers for bean burgers or bean nachos instead of mince…you’ll need to have a recipe handy and the ingredients in stock to make healthy choices actually happen. The menu plan makes it easy
Reduce your reliance on ready made kid’s meals. If you are feeding babies and toddlers, choose recipes that can be served pureed for baby or chopped for toddlers as well as appealing to adults. Left over’s can then be frozen as future kid’s meals for when you are having something unsuitable for them.
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