for those who menu plan

browneyedgoil · August 2012

do you use a whiteboard or anything like that? i seriously need to start menu planning b/c i have become a lazy stay at home & hubby ain't having it LOL. i haven't cooked in weeks! help!!!

Greenbaby3114 · August 2012

Actually Pinterest is what got me on track. I plan my shopping list according to my pins. Lol. I've thought about getting a cute chalk board to write the menu down in the kitchen that way I can actually remember what I planned and get things that can be prepped ready the night before. I also use my crock pot A LOT. It's the working moms saving grace! Crockin' girls is a great website!

iluvmylab · August 2012

No, we just plan usually on Friday and go to the store on the weekend. We just write down on a sheet of paper what we are having that week and keep it on the fridge. That way I have it handy to see what I need to thaw out for the next day or so.

TiffJ21 · August 2012

I agree with PP, Pinterest is awesome for meal planning. I have found so many new great recipes and have recently just been trying those. We just did Cilantro Lime Shimp last night and it was delicious.

We menu plan on Sunday when we get the store ads, then we go shopping. I just have a Word Document that I plan the meals on. Each night I look at my meal plan and see what I need to do for tomorrow's dinner such as thawing meat or running to the store for something last minute. I do love the idea of a cute chalkboard in the kitchen though!

LadyGolfer523 · August 2012

I print out a blank calendar and we write in what we will be eating for 2 weeks. We cross off days as we go in case we bounce around.

KeyLime81 · August 2012

I love PepperPlate.com

browneyedgoil · August 2012

i'm addicted to pinterest. i have all these recipes but i find i never use them! that's why i want to start the menu planning so i actually stick to it. i will start w/ a word doc for now but i found a magnetic menu board on pinterest that looks cool too.

Happily Overwhelmed · August 2012

I too print off a blank calendar and mark them off as we have that meal. It doesn't matter if they stay on the same day. I have it pinned to my new "House Keeping" bulletin board that I keep in my basement by the laundry so people don't think I'm a crazy planner.(On the same bulletin board I keep Pinterst project ideas in hopes of getting some of those done too! )

I plan for 14 days of meals and go shopping twice. The first time I get everything I need as far as things that will last and half of the produce/dairy. Then we make a small trip for just dairy and produce the next week.

To make my grocery list I have a binder. It's a 1-inch binder that is filled with recipes. If I ever see something I want to try on Pinterest I copy and paste the recipe to word, print it, and three ring punch it. Then I pick out 14 of these recipes and go through their ingredients and make my grocery list. I write these 14 on the calendar to make off. Then I can put them back in the binder and not forget what I'm planning to make. (I also have recipes for homemade cleaners/detergents, more to-do projects, Christmas/Gift Ideas and lists, household budget, etc). This whole system is my current work in progress but so far it's making things so much easier and more organized.

Teach1982 · August 2012

Happily Overwhelmed:
I too print off a blank calendar and mark them off as we have that meal. It doesn't matter if they stay on the same day. I have it pinned to my new "House Keeping" bulletin board that I keep in my basement by the laundry so people don't think I'm a crazy planner.(On the same bulletin board I keep Pinterst project ideas in hopes of getting some of those done too! )
I plan for 14 days of meals and go shopping twice. The first time I get everything I need as far as things that will last and half of the produce/dairy. Then we make a small trip for just dairy and produce the next week.
To make my grocery list I have a binder. It's a 1-inch binder that is filled with recipes. If I ever see something I want to try on Pinterest I copy and paste the recipe to word, print it, and three ring punch it. Then I pick out 14 of these recipes and go through their ingredients and make my grocery list. I write these 14 on the calendar to make off. Then I can put them back in the binder and not forget what I'm planning to make. (I also have recipes for homemade cleaners/detergents, more to-do projects, Christmas/Gift Ideas and lists, household budget, etc). This whole system is my current work in progress but so far it's making things so much easier and more organized.

I do almost exactly this...except I do one week at a time...and I keep my menu calendar in the binder so no one will see it and think I'm crazy. I'm glad to see other people have menu calendars too though

bendylim · August 2012

I try to plan for 2 weeks at a time- including breakfast and lunches. I like to plan my meals on things I have in the house so I have to buy minimal things and then use leftovers for a second meal (Roast Chicken one night, then chicken tacos the next).I also freeze individual servings of leftovers for DH to take to work for lunch (he has no fridge to store lunch in at work and this keeps the food from getting warm).

This has helped me a lot with not overbuying, with using food before it goes bad and makes me feel less stressed since I 'know' what I am cooking most days when I wake up.

I also agree with PP about using the crockpot a lot. I highly recommend the crockpot liners they make now- you just pull it out and throw away and you don't have to clean the crockpot- it's awesome.

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