Menu Planning Tips

Menu planning can go a long way towards keeping your shopping trips short, on budget and environmentally friendly. Here are some easy menu planning tips to improve your shopping habits.

Time is on Your Side
Having a plan saves time and energy when it comes to meal preparation. Tuesday's roast chicken leftovers can be turned into Wednesday's quick-as-a-flash quesadillas. Plus using a weekly menu system cuts out the need for making multiple trips to the store.

Nothing is more annoying than getting ready to prepare a meal and finding out you're out of one key ingredient (quiche simply isn't the same without eggs after all). If you've got kids, this means loading them in the stroller and either forking over cash for over-priced eggs at the corner market or navigating the after-work crowds at the grocery store.

Trimming the Fat
Budget-conscious shoppers carry a list in hand. A list helps reign in impulse buys and with a list, you won't forget to buy avocados and cilantro to make your world-renowned guacamole (think of those wilted greens and slimy vegetables as throwing money in the trash). Menu planning can also help you save big at lunchtime. Brown bagging a homemade sandwich offers huge savings compared to take-out lunches that can run anywhere from $5-$20 a pop.

The Green Effect
All those back and forth trips to the store add up. If you take the bus or drive, each round trip is having an impact on the earth. Plus, food waste diminishes for those that shop with a plan in mind.

How to Plan
Now that you are convinced meal planning is the way of the future. Here's how to execute:

Have a rough idea of how many meals will be eaten at home (count breakfast, lunch and dinner). Many families find Sunday night an ideal time to map out the week. Look at the calendar and determine when you'll be dining at home. Breakfast and lunch can be planned by simply stocking up on staples: fruit, cereal, bread and fillers (don't forget the beverages).

When looking at dinners, whip out that recipe you've been meaning to try.

Carefully scan the kitchen for the ingredients and add what's missing to the list.

Discipline does play a part in menu planning. To make the system work, save the easiest meals for midweek. Tackle trickier meals on weekends when you've got time to chop heaps of vegetables or soak meat in a marinade. Once you've got the meal plan set, think about your bulk items. For example, if you've got kids keep a running tally of how many gallons your family consumes in a week and make sure to replenish accordingly. And don't forget the snacks. If you are watching your waistline, having a house stocked with fruit, nuts and low-fat nibbles can keep you away from the vending machines at work.

By all means, give in to temptation. When the fresh watermelons roll in, add one of those beauties to the cart. Just remember to adjust your allotted dessert to enjoy this seasonal treat. But if you have no earthly idea how to use dandelion greens and know that you won't have the time or energy to look up a recipe, skip it and stick to your original meal plan.