Someone asked me recently how much money I spend a week at the grocery store. When I told her I can get food for three of us (not including our weekly trips for formula for the littlest one) for around $60-$70 a week, she was amazed. She was in utter disbelief. You may think I am a coupon queen… well, I’m not. I actually despise couponing. If it is your thing, all the more power to you. I simply cannot get myself motivated enough to keep track of it all!
My true savior is my Meal Planning:
- Each week I have a calendar notification to remind me to plan food for the next week.
- I spend about a 15-20 minutes reviewing my recipe Pinterest board.
- If I do not have something pinned or I want to try something new, I simply search Pinterest for ‘simple, healthy recipes’.
- I only pin recipes that require me to buy 5 items or less from the store (obviously we already have most spices and general items that can be added to other things).
- I start a shopping list in a note on my phone.
- I only plan for 3 meals each week.
I used to plan for everyday, but we were constantly throwing out old, spoiled food. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. There is nothing more irritating to a working mom, who manages to fit in time to meal plan and grocery shop with kids in tow, than throwing out that food!
The serving size for each meal is usually for about 4-6 people. After each dinner, we usually have enough food for lunch leftovers the next day. In addition to meals, I usually grab quick items like Greek yogurt, Goldfish crackers, veggies, and fruit – lots of fruit. As soon as I get home, I make sure to cut up the veggies and fruit and portion it out. It helps to fill those snack cravings and cut down on the cost of buying prepackaged snack size items.
Below are a few of my family’s favorites:
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
I will also save the extra couscous and use it again that week or the next for a few additional recipes.
Orzo Salad with Watermelon & Feta
Baked Ziti
One of my hubby’s favorites!
Are you a Meal Planner? Share some of your favorite tips with us!
