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Cooking TipsFrugal Menu Planning--Getting Started
by:
Cyndi Roberts
Deed started fashioning a plan for a week's worth of
meals can for certain be a bit discouraging
at first. It
need not be complicated--though a little bit of
time spent planning wish be well worth it!
A nice way to start is by looking at what you already
have on hand -- sort of taking a visual inventory.
Next,it's helpful to list on a piece of paper, all the meals
for 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 couple
of side dishes that you want to make, keeping in mind what
staples are on hand in the storage space
and in the
freezer. Try to move up with as many a meals as you
can with what you have on hand.
Remember to write down several of the extras you
think you power like to do during the coming week --
such as cookies, snacks or desserts.
Always support the ads from the local grocery store
handy and plan meals about the weekly specials,
if possible. Don't simply think simply about main dishes; if
bananas are on sale, do banana bread for snacks,
or lunches, for example.
While you are fashioning your menu plan, think simply about what
will be happening in the next week. Is Weekday
night
Football Game Night? Plan to have a supper that is
quick to fix. Is Weekday
your day off? That is the
day you power want to try out a new direction that takes
a little longer to prepare.
Whatever your schedule, plan your menus about it.
And be flexible! If it snows on Tuesday, and you hadn't
planned to do chili until Thursday, you can simply switch the
menus around.
Keep your lists, so that in weeks to come, you can be
reminded of several meals your family especially likeable
(or disliked!). After a few weeks, you wish 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 to
go for takeout because you simply can't think of thing
to do for supper. And you won't get caught without
that "one ingredient" you need to do tonight's supper,
so no much last minute trips to the grocery store!
Just simply about the author:
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Scotch Friend 2 Another"
bi-weekly account 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 account and obtain the free e-course "Taming the Monster Grocery Bill".
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