How to Plan a Weekly Menu in Four Easy Steps

There are many reasons for planning weekly menus. Saving time, money, and of course, not running out of food, are just a few. Planning a weekly menu is easy once you know a few basic steps.

The first step is to know your budget. How much money do you have to spend on food this week? This amount of money will determine whether you have a miserly menu or a lavish menu. Once your budget is determined, it's time for the next step.

The second step in menu planning is to consider your family's lifestyle and dietary needs. Are there dietary restrictions in your household? If so, keep these in mind when choosing meals for the menu. Lifestyle is another factor to consider. Do you travel from sports practices to recitals a lot? Do you not return home until late in the evening? If this sounds like your family, your menu should include lots of healthy snacks. 'Fill your menus with meals that take forty-five minutes or less to prepare. On the other hand, if you are a stay-at-home mom, you may find that you can choose a menu with less convenience foods. This can save you money in the long run.

The next step in weekly menu planning is to look through the kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer. Take stock of the items you have on hand. Think about your family's favorite dishes. Do you have any of the ingredients for these meals? For which dishes do you have the makings?

Now, take two pieces of paper and start to plan your weekly menu. Think about the ingredients you have. Plan for meals you normally eat at home. If you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home, then a menu is needed that reflects three meals a day. When only one meal is eaten at home, then only plan for one meal. You get the idea

Divide the first piece of paper into seven sections. Each section represents one day. Label each section with the day of the week. This step requires a bit of thinking and creative flair. Now , think about each day. On busy days, plan to prepare quick meals or have leftovers. Start plugging in meals on the days they are to be made. As you write down each meal, jot down items you need to buy on the second piece of paper.

Another way to plan the weekly menu is by taking advantage of local sales flyers. Plan your menu using ingredients on sale. All other menu planning steps are the same. More information about cutting your grocery budget using sales can be found in the article," Cutting Your Grocery Budget in 8 Simple Steps."

It's a wonderful feeling to wake in the mornings and know you don't have to wrack your brain trying to figure out what's for dinner. All the ingredients have been purchased. The side dishes have been matched with the entrees. All you have to do is assemble the ingredients and prepare the meal.