Here is my second guest post from reader Travis. Those of you who actually read the comments on my menu plans may remember that he and I got into a discussion a few weeks back about different menu planning methodology. The result is this post!
The Menu Plan
I started my adventure on Twitter in early December of 2010 looking for other people that are trying to rid themselves of debt or dedicated to living in a more reasonable fashion. I have made some connections, and have found many inspirational websites. One of the bloggers I follow closely is Jenn Fowler here at frugalupstate.com. I really look forward to the weekly posting of her meal plan for her family.
I am the grocery shopper and cook of my household, and I also create a meal plan each week. I was happy to find that I am not the only one that does this sort of thing. However, I have found that I do my planning a little differently than most people.
I don’t plan a meal for a specific day. Instead, I create a dinner “menu” of all the meals that are currently available to be prepared. I place it on the refrigerator door, allowing my family to “order” dinner each night.
I get mixed reactions when our friends come over, and see the menu on the fridge. Some think it is the most ingenious thing they’ve ever seen, others just stare at it quizzically asking, “You actually plan what you’re going to make for meals for the whole week?”
This blows my mind.
Granted, I like to schedule and plan pretty much everything – but how can you function as a family if you don’t do any planning at all? Can you really just come home from a long day of work, open the fridge and cupboards and hope you’ve got the ingredients to make something? I suppose an option would be to go out to eat if you didn’t have anything to prepare at home. This is what we used to do back in our “which credit card still has room on it” days.
Since we joined a debt management plan 19 months ago, and closed all our lines of credit, my wife and I have been learning how to live within our means for the first time in our adult lives.
Going from eating out whenever we felt like it to almost never was quite a shock. So how can you maintain that restaurant atmosphere, while still sticking to your budget?
The answer I came up with is this – options.
When I’m preparing for a grocery shopping trip, I start by writing a list of dinner options on the upper right hand corner of a sheet of paper. Then, on the left side of the paper, I write down the items I need to purchase in order to make those items.
I need to plan for seven dinners, but I normally try to have the ability to create at least ten unique meals by pairing together items that use common ingredients. A good example is sloppy joes, and grilled hamburgers. Both of these use buns, hamburger and French fries. So, I could make either one by purchasing one additional item (sloppy joe mix), but I can put two options on the menu plan. I also try to plan one or two meals that will result in leftovers for either take to work lunches or for another “left over night” menu option.
Once the groceries are purchased and put away, the “menu” is placed on the refrigerator door courtesy of a magnetized clip. When every member of the family is home from work or school, we decide what to make for dinner. My wife, myself, and our two kids take turns picking the evening meal.
Here’s an example of one of my recent meal menus:
Menu choices:
Sloppy Joes / French Fries
Grilled Hamburgers / French Fries
Spaghetti / Garlic Bread
Chicken Alfredo / Garlic Bread
Club Sandwiches / Chips
Take and Bake Pizza
Turkey Chilli
Beef Roast / Mashed Potatoes / Corn
Grilled Fish / Rice / Green Beans
Smoked Chicken drumsticks / Baked potatoes / mixed vegetables
In the above menu, Sloppy Joes and Grilled Hamburgers use almost identical ingredients, as do Spaghetti and Chicken Alfredo. While we would typically only choose one from each pair in a given week, it gives the family more initial options to choose from.
From a leftover perspective, Turkey Chilli, and Beef Roast will have almost guaranteed leftovers that can be used for bring to work lunches the next day. Although not obvious, so will the smoked chicken meal. When I make smoked chicken drumsticks, I ensure I make enough to have leftovers. Pulled smoked chicken sandwiches the next day are an absolutely fantastic lunch.
When it’s time to start the process all over again, the unused menu items from the previous week, go back on the menu for the next week.
By providing options, and by taking turns letting family members “order” dinner, mealtime at my home is a fun, family experience. The kids look forward to their turn to “order,” and rarely complain about what we’re having. Finally, when we do go out to a restaurant to eat it is viewed as special – just the way it should be.
Travis (@DebtChronicles) is a contributing writer for the My Journey Out of Debt blog at www.careonecredit.com. Travis shares his personal journey to pay off his debt and the tips he’s learned along the way. As a father and husband he provides a unique perspective on balancing debt, finances, and family.
Please give Travis some Comment Love!
Karina House says
Excellent idea, Travis. As we make positive changes in our lives, we have to recognize that sometimes they aren’t easy! Finding a creative way to keep fun elements, like ordering your meal, while still changing how you save money, is a great solution. I’m thinking it might also help me with the my-kids-are-picky-eaters-and-I-fight-to-get-them-to-eat-anything problems. If they can order, they will be more likely to eat it! My husband is a pastor, and I serve as a deaconess in charge of many things, so we have evening commitments about 3-6 nights per week. So I don’t see us able to order our meals each night – it would get too complicated too late in the day. I think I’ll adapt it and write out a list of 30+ meals they can order from BEFORE I go grocery shopping, and from which I’ll make my weekly meal plan. That way they get to order, but I get to put the easiest/fastest or make-ahead meals on the days I need them. Thanks for sharing!
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Thanks for your comment, Karina! I too have a daughter that is a picky-eater-fight-to-get-her-to-eat-anything sort of person. I certainly understand that the “order on the spot” thing doesn’t work all the time – I usually “force” my turn to order on days where the meal takes longer to prepare so I can make it up the night before or start it in the AM (example: roast). Everyone needs to find a system that works best for them and their family. I hope by my sharing, and comments such as yours we can all find bits and pieces to take away to make mealtime easier, more fun, and more frugal!
Valerie says
I’ve never seen anyone post about this kind of menu planning, but it’s what I do too! I don’t go to the store with a list of ingredients I need for specific meals, but I stock my pantry and freezer with whatever is on sale each time I go to the store, buying extra items of the really good deals. I also buy produce (usually what’s on sale) and dairy at that time, along with any staples that we use on a regular basis and are running low on. Then I base my menu selections on what I already have at home. I love constantly making knew recipes and have thousands of recipes that I’ve saved in word documents that are organized based on the type of food and type of preparation for me to choose from. Every couple of weeks, I go through and write down 20-30 recipes for which I know we have all of most of the ingredients for. I have my husband select 4-5 at a time and make the ones that I have all of the ingredients for first. If I’m missing the ingredients for something he picks, I just get it the next time I’m at the store and make it next. The key for this type of “planning” is a well-stocked pantry. I also like knowing that if I can’t/don’t want to go to the store for a couple of weeks, I don’t really need to. (I’m a member of a CSA, so I pick up a weekly produce bag at little market, at which I can also buy milk and eggs, so this can potentially be my only stop of the week).
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who cooks/shops this way – my friends are always surpised when we tell them how we (or my husband) selects our meals.
By the way- the fact that my husband selects the meals has nothing to do with my needed to submit to his choices or him being dominant – it’s simply because I hate making recipes decisions – I already know I want to try all of the choices that I put on the list, so I’d rather him pick when we eat which meals.
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Valarie, you comment has definitely given me something to think about, too! Having some “staple”meal items on hand all the time could be a great way to have even more menu options. Thank your for your comment, and for sharing your ideas!
Amyrlin says
Travis,
I like the variation on menu planning, I think this will be great to use at home. I am changing jobs next week and part of the position I will have is budgetting, cooking and meal planning for six people, similar to what my home resposibilities are. I think the variation will be an asset to have in my workplace and may make menu planning more enticing for the inidivuals I will be working with! Great post and ideas Travis!
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Amyrlin, I’m glad that you were able to take something positive away from my post. Variation and options are key in almost everything in my household to keep everyone happy. Thanks for commenting!
Catherine says
Travis,
I have a similar routine! I like to be able to give my boyfriend options when dinner time rolls around if possible, so planning out multiple meals works really well. Those “roll over” meals that don’t get used are especially helpful if the next week is crazy or doesn’t have many good sales. I also have some go-to meals like Valarie that are made entirely of staples. 2 that come to mind are grilled cheese & soup and spaghetti w sauce and green beans. Nothing really fancy, but something that keeps us from running out to the store (look out impulse buys!) or the McDonalds around the corner. Great post!
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Catherine, you don’t know how awesome it is to find out how many other people plan their meals in this similar fashion! Thanks for sharing!
Maggie says
Great job Travis, I have actually moved on to monthly planning of meals. I make a trip to Costoc and pick up my meats (we are dedicated carnivores). My menus are also more suggestions of what we have in the house to make meals from than set in stone. My Husband and boys can cook, the are often paralyzed but the “what shoudl I make” syndrome. My spreadsheet ont he refridgerator is a guide for them. And also for me to pull meat out of the freezer. Also I always have on hand the stuff to make tuna noodle casserole, mac and cheese and breakfast for dinner is always a hit and eay to do at the last minute.
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Monthly meal planning? Spreadsheets? Now that’s organized! I can’t help but admiring such a system and strive to be that efficient some day. Thanks for your comment, Maggie!
Crystal says
I have been making menus for awhile now, it makes my life so much easier. Recently had some remodeling done and the workmen seemed amazed that I do this!
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Hi Crystal, I know exactly what you mean. As I mentioned in the post, I have friends come over and are amazed that we plan what we have for meals to prepare. I know people that go grocery shopping, come home with $200 worth of groceries, and can’t name more than 2 meals that they can make….!!!!
Ali says
Travis,
Great post. I also plan a menu before I go to the grocery store. I don’t post a menu but I give my family options before I start cooking. I don’t know how people do it without planning! I f’ind that if I go to the store without a planned menu, I spend a lot more money.
Travis @DebtChronicles says
I know exactly what you mean! Sometimes we need groceries in a bad way and I try to “shop from the hip.” Never works…I always end up going back, and blowing the budget to boot. Thanks for your comment!
Lorrie says
Great article! It’s always interesting to learn how others do their planning. I sometimes do menu planning and buying specific ingredients (but we often don’t stick to the plan), and other times just do like Valerie and stock up on what’s on sale at the store. I like your idea of writing out the choices and posting them for the family to see, then letting a different person choose each day’s meal. Thanks!
Travis @DebtChronicles says
Hi Lorrie – I’m glad you liked the article! I know what you mean in that it’s hard to stick to a plan. Even with choices as we get to the end of the week sometimes nothing sounds good. Occasionally we go off plan too. 🙂