I have been writing out a weekly meal plan for some time now.
I find it really does cut down on your shopping bills to know what you need to buy for the week ahead. Or to not decide one day that you will make X for dinner, only to find you need a certain ingredient for it, pop out to the shops for said ingredient and then buy a whole pile of other stuff too.
It doesn't mean I won't buy anything that is not on my list but on offer.
It doesn't mean I won't buy anything that is not on my list but on offer.
When I am doing the food shopping, if I see a meat or something else that is freezable on a good special offer, but that isn't on my meal plan for that week, I will probably buy it and pop it in the freezer, then include it in a following week's meal plan.
I have been known to succumb to the odd chocolate offer too :0)
I have been known to succumb to the odd chocolate offer too :0)
I was quite excited to see that Sainsbury's (my store of choice!) have this last week launched a 'Feed a family of four for £50' meal plan.
The meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for 7 days, with the recipes and shopping list. It doesn't include any snacks or puddings but I don't think that is too big a deal. I bought extra fruit for some of the snacks, the rest will be home baking anyway, as will any puddings.
We will have to modify things a bit, with all the food allergies I need to cater for, but on the whole I'm planning to stick to the menu, which we started last night.
The dinner menu is:
Monday - Meatballs & Spaghetti
(two lots of pasta, one normal, one wheat free)
Tuesday - Vegetable Stir Fry
(I'm planning to add the left over beef from Sunday's roast. The suggested protein was peanuts, which are a BIG danger in this house!)
Wednesday - Sausage & Bean Hotpot
Thursday - Cottage Pie
(an almost weekly choice in our house anyway)
Friday - Salmon Pasta Bake
(again, two lots of pasta needed)
Saturday - Toad in the hole
(I just can't get wheat & dairy free yorkshires to work, so as well as this I'll cook wheat-free sausages for Calum & Alasdair and they can have them with the mash.
Sunday - Roast Chicken
It's really nice to have the menu's made up in advance, and I think Sainsbury's are planning a month's worth, so I'm looking forward to what next week has in store - thanks Sainsbury's!
Thanks for popping by my site earlier. Following you too now. I have been eyeing up this plan by Sainsburys and think it is a fab idea. Only problem is I am veggie and the rest of the family are not. They do have veggie suggestions too though so I might do it! Will watch how you get on.
ReplyDeleteI should really look into doing something like this - such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteAh...seems like such a good idea..I'm beginning to be better at the planning thing, and you are right...it definately helps one stick to a budget!
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