Frugal Menu Planning--Getting Started

Getting started making a plan for a week's worth ofmeals can surely be a bit daunting at first. Itneed not be complicated--though a little bit oftime spent planning will be well worth it!A good way to start is by looking at what you alreadyhave on hand -- sort of taking a visual inventory.Next,it's helpful to list on a piece of paper, all the mealsfor the coming week. For example, list all the days, then Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, etc. On this list of meals, write down a main dish and a coupleof side dishes that you want to make, keeping in mind whatstaples are on hand in the cupboard and in thefreezer. Try to come up with as many meals as youcan with what you have on hand. Remember to write down some of the extras you think you might like to make during the coming week -- such as cookies, snacks or desserts. Always keep the ads from the local grocery storehandy and plan meals around the weekly specials,if possible. Don't just think about main dishes; ifbananas are on sale, make banana bread for snacks,or lunches, for example.While you are making your menu plan, think about whatwill be happening in the next week. Is Friday nightFootball Game Night? Plan to have a supper that isquick to fix. Is Wednesday your day off? That is theday you might want to try out a new recipe that takesa little longer to prepare. Whatever your schedule, plan your menus around it.And be flexible! If it snows on Tuesday, and you hadn'tplanned to make chili until Thursday, you can just switch themenus around.Keep your lists, so that in weeks to come, you can bereminded of some meals your family especially liked(or disliked!). After a few weeks, you will end up with a set of weekly menus that you can use over and over.With your plan in hand, you won't be tempted togo for takeout because you just can't think of anythingto make for supper. And you won't get caught withoutthat "one ingredient" you need to make tonight's supper,so no more last minute trips to the grocery store!