Free spring meal planner printable
If you have a larger family you will want to take advantage of the money-saving power of buying in bulk. Your family meal plan will guide your shopping trip, how you cook your meals, and how you distribute them. This is what family meal planning is all about, but we often forget how planning ahead can save us time and money. Related: 3 ESSENTIAL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIPS It also makes it simple to do a quick check to see what you have plenty of and what you’re running low on. When our pantry is organized, where everything has a place and we have bins and jars that are labeled, it makes it much easier for anyone in the family to see exactly what we have and understand where it goes. You will want to continuously do this and to keep these items in mind as you create your weekly family meal plan.
As you go through your items, be sure to rotate items that will expire sooner to the front. What does help if you’re like me and want to meal plan but keeping another list just isn’t feasible right now (I mean, we have six people getting into our pantry at any given hour!), ORGANIZATION and labels.Īlong this line, we recommend starting your new family meal planning movement with an evaluation of your pantry. Now, I have to say, keeping up with a list is something that I strive for, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually made it happen. Just be sure to cross items off your list as you use them. You can refer to this list as you create your family meal plan. It can be helpful to keep a running list in your pantry or on your phone of the items you have on hand so you don’t waste money on unneeded things. I know we all wish we were more organized, but sometimes we forget what items we already have in the pantry. Having a better understanding of your meal needs will make you a more conscious shopper. Or pack a picnic dinner for you and the kids to eat at their sports activities. You can send your husband to work with two meals. So, if you want to make a real impact on your food expenditure plan ahead for those meals on the run. With that being said, American families spend nearly half of their food money on eating out. Or if your family is on the run during a particular night with sports activities don’t purchase groceries for that night. If you know your husband works late on Tuesday’s you may make a smaller dinner. This includes knowing how many people will be eating a given meal and how many meals you can get out of your groceries. The first step in family meal planning is to know your family’s schedule. This will reduce the number of trips you need to take to the grocery store and more easily prepare your ingredients.įor me, this was so hard to do because it felt overwhelming… and I like easy. In fact, it’s organizing your ideas for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the entire week and then shopping and prepping for these meals.
“What’s for dinner?” Meal planning takes this inevitable daily question and addresses it once. These items can make a significant improvement in your quality of life.įollowing these family meal planning tips will help you keep more of your money versus throwing it in the garbage. And speaking of big families, like ours, we know the difference saving money can make.įor example, that $1,866 of wasted food could equal a family vacation, dental care for your children, or money down for a new vehicle. Maybe you came for the free printable, but I hope you stay for these easy tips that can save your family big. But family meal planning can help you break the wasteful habits that are hurting your pocketbook. That’s almost a third of a family’s food supply. The average household in America wastes about $1,866 per year. Family meal planning is such a great way to keep meals on track and save money - and we’re sharing our family meal planning tips plus a free printable for your kitchen! When it comes to planning meals for our family my hubby and I try to find ways to create the dishes we crave, while being mindful about our family’s health. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may have affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you).