Meal Planning... Why? How?

I posted a few pictures on Instagram about my Meal Plan tactics!  I have had an overwhelming response to the pictures, questions... comments... ideas... so I thought I would write a post that both explains how I do it, and provides the tools for you to do it!  I actually sell these tools as a laminated set in my Etsy Shop, but I thought I would give my interested readers the opportunity to have them for free!!  This will be temporary.  I will pull the download links in the next 2 weeks.

The reason I meal plan is simple... it saves me money!  There are 2 rules I have created for myself when it comes to buying groceries.

1)  Never go to the grocery store hungry.
This is vital!  Eat before you shop, or you will purchase things that "sound good"!

2)  Never go to the grocery store without a list.
I don't care if my list has 4 things on it, and it is pouring down rain.  I will go back to the car and get the list!  If I do not, 2 things happen, I forget 1 item that was important enough for me to make the trip, and 2 I start "browsing"!  "Oh that is new, I should try that.  I bet Abbie would love this."

PROBLEM!

So, being that a list is vital, what do I put on the list?  AH HA... this is where meal planning is essential!  My system for meal planning seems a LOT more complicated than it actually is!  First I begin by filling out our family calendar for the month.  I need to know what day's Derik is home in the evening.  If he isn't home, I can fend for myself, and grab a can of soup!

This is my "Mommy Central"... it is where I keep all planning tools together!  They are in frames so that I can write on the glass with markers, and erase each week!  The top is a calendar, which needs to be replaced with 2012, but that hasn't been my top priority!  The left is our weekly event list, the right is our Eat Sheet where we list out the meal plan, and the bottom is our family calendar.  

The green stickers represent Derik's schedule.  When there is no sticker, he is off.  When there is a sticker with no numbers on it... he is early out.  I can glance at this calendar and know quickly when Derik is home! There are some other items on the calendar that effect dinner plans as well.  So, I take this down and bring it to the table with me while I plan...

I created a blank calendar in Microsoft Word, which you can download here.

I printed out 12 blank calendars and filled out the one for January.

I use a green marker to highlight pay days, and a blue marker to highlight shop days.

 This is my "Shop Folder".  I take this to the grocery store with me.  

Inside of it are all of my goodies, and I use the black clip to attach my grocery list.

These are all of the basic tools that I use to plan out my meals each month!

I shop twice a month, so for those who shop once monthly... you may need a larger grocery list.

I use a Pantry Inventory, which can be downloaded here.

A Grocery list, which can be downloaded here.

A Weekly meal list which can be downloaded here.

And a store map of my grocery store.  Most grocery stores have them.  Check with the Customer Service desk, and they should give you one for free!

With all of my handy planners, I begin work.  After I get the meals for the month chosen and wrtten onto my calendar, I begin working on the grocery list.  If you have your pantry inventory list written out, it makes life easier!  I go meal to meal, and I write on the grocery list what I need to make the meal.  If the inventory is filled out, I can remove what I already have before writing the grocery list.  If it isnt... I go to my pantry when I am finished, and I mark off what I have already.  

Once I am finished making my list, if I have the time... I rewrite it!  That's right!  On the back of my REUSABLE grocery list (I laminated my lists) I use my aisle guide to write my list out aisle by aisle.  

This allows for FAST grocery shopping!

I cut coupons when I have them.  Sometimes I print offline, but not often.

A list like this makes couponing easy!  I am not sorting through coupons in the store... I pull coupons when I make my list, and set them aside.  They are all ready to go when I get to the register.

I also use cloth grocery bags.  I have 6 cloth totes, a cooler tote, 6 produce bags, and a tote that I use specifically for the produce to all go into!  I also keep a cooler in my trunk.  The cooler is one that folds flat and it takes up almost no room!  But, when I get to the car... I can use it for anything cold!  I actually take the cooler into Costco.  Put it in the cart, and filler up!

I have also taken interest in Freezer Cooking.  I purchased several meals worth of ingredients with the intention of prepping meals that will be stored in the freezer until ready!

I hope this helps, and I hope that you will meal plan too!  It is such a wonderful thing to do!

 - Jessica