Frugal Menu Planning--Getting Started

By Cyndi Roberts


Getting started making a         banana bread for snacks,      
plan for a week's worth of       or lunches, for example.      
meals can surely be a bit                                      
daunting at first. It           While you are making your     
need not be complicated--        menu plan, think about what   
though a little bit of           will be happening in the next 
time spent planning will be      week. Is Friday night        
well worth it!                   Football Game Night? Plan to 
                                 have a supper that is         
A good way to start is by        quick to fix. Is Wednesday   
looking at what you already      your day off? That is the    
have on hand -- sort of          day you might want to try out 
taking a visual inventory.       a new recipe that takes       
                                 a little longer to prepare.   
Next,it's helpful to list on                                   
a piece of paper, all the        Whatever your schedule, plan  
meals                            your menus around it.         
for the coming week.            And be flexible! If it snows 
For example, list all the       on Tuesday, and you hadn't    
days, then Breakfast, Lunch,     planned to make chili until   
Dinner, etc.                    Thursday, you can just switch
                                 the                           
On this list of meals, write    menus around.                 
down a main dish and a                                         
couple                           Keep your lists, so that in   
of side dishes that you want     weeks to come, you can be     
to make, keeping in mind        reminded of some meals your   
what                             family especially liked       
staples are on hand in the        or disliked!. After a few   
cupboard and in the              weeks, you will end up with a 
freezer. Try to come up                                      
with as many meals as you        set of weekly menus that you  
can with what you have on        can use over and over.        
hand.                                                         
                                 With your plan in hand, you   
Remember to write down some     won't be tempted to           
of the extras you                go for takeout because you    
think you might like to make     just can't think of anything  
during the coming week --        to make for supper. And you 
such as cookies, snacks or       won't get caught without      
desserts.                        that one ingredient you       
                                 need to make tonight's        
Always keep the ads from the     supper,                       
local grocery store              so no more last minute trips  
handy and plan meals around      to the grocery store!         
the weekly specials,                                           
if possible. Don't just                                       
think about main dishes; if                                    
bananas are on sale, make        

About the author:

Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name.
Visit http://www.cynroberts.comto find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".


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