Menu Plan

Dinner planning can feel very overwhelming and difficult, but I have found a way to simplify it.  I hope you can apply some of my discoveries to make your meal planning easier, more efficient and very budget friendly.

I first make a list of my staples, ingredients that I always use and need on hand.  This can alter and change at times, but usually you have a core of ingredients that are constant.   In my kitchen, my pantry list is:

• olive and vegetable oil
• peanut butter
• tea, coffee
• tahini (sesame seed paste)
• rice, jasmine and calrose (short grain)
• Bulgar, small and large size (#1, #3)
• syrup
• different shapes and size pasta
• sugar (white and brown)
• flour
• sea salt
• baking ingredients, (choc chips, raison etc)
• oatmeal, large and small
• Crisco (for pie crusts and biscuits)
• cereal
• yellow onion, fresh garlic
• tomato paste
• spices (only keep what you use, they can become old and stale).

I also inventory ingredients in my fridge such as

• milk
• cheese
• eggs
• yogurt
• fruit such as apples
• lemons

Freezer

• whole wheat toast and pita bread
• whole and cut chicken
• ground beef, stew beef
• beef bones for soups
• baked good (I usually have something homemade for last-minute guests)

Dry goods such as napkins, paper towels, dish soap, hand soap, laundry soap, and any other items for the rest of the house hold  items such as toothpaste etc.

Once you become familiar with your inventory, the next step would then be to check the weekly grocery ads for sales.  A few of you may think that this process would be too long and drawn-out and not worth the effort.  But trust me, I have relied on this “system” and it has not failed me.  With my busy days of running our restaurant while raising my kids, I needed something to simplify my job. 

Initially, like anything else, it might take extra effort and time, but soon enough you will experience the ease and especially the savings, both in money and time.  In actuality, in the long run, this method does save time because you have what you need, you don’t have to waste last-minute time running to the store and spending more than you should.

Each person, each family will of course have their own inventory.  Once your list is in front of you, look at the ads and point out which of your inventory items are on sale.  For example, if your family likes a certain cereal only buy it when it’s on sale.  (I have not yet found an item that I use that hasn’t gone on sale).  I realize that space can be an issue, but if your cupboards are organized you usually can find room for at least one back-up item.  You might have to get creative and find  space in other closets if necessary.  We have space under in our basement under the stair case.  We built (with very inexpensive) very simple shelves that allow me to house extra items. 

I look at this process as a game between my pocket-book and the grocery store.  This challenge makes it interesting and keeps me motivated.  If I buy an item on sale, I feel that I have won.  I invested in myself and not in the store.

In my next blog, I will begin to compare the store ads and my inventory to price out the differences.