*This is the last post in my Menu-Planning How To Series. I got a lot of great feedback on this and I thank you for it! I hope it has helped in some way. Just in case you have not yet ready the first four posts here they are: part one, part two, part three, part four.*
Today I will share with you an interview with Laura from I’m An Organizing Junkie. She hostesses the very popular Menu Plan Monday meme. If you have not participated in this meme I highly encourage you to do so. Not only will you get great inspiration on how to make your own menu plans you will also be motivated to make your own! Make sure you visit Laura’s website. It is jam-packed with great organizational tips, info, and recipes.
Thank you, Laura, for taking time to do this interview! I owe you one.
Laura is an addict of all things organizing especially containers. She is addicted to the high that comes with living a life of order and simplicity and is always looking for her next “fix”. You can find her blogging regularly and sharing her passion for organizing and menu planning over at I’m an Organizing Junkie.
What prompted you to start meal planning?
I started menu planning four years ago when I became a stay at home mom after the company I worked for closed down and I had my third child. I was having trouble getting dinner on the table each night just flying by the seat of my pants and I knew if I didn’t do something about it soon I’d lose my mind. I started menu planning just a couple of meals a week and it didn’t take long for me to recognize that menu planning was the answer to my prayers. It literally changed my life.
Would you share with us how you menu plan? How long does it take you? Do you do it weekly? Monthly? Bi-Weekly? Do you base it off of coupons/sales/etc?
I sit down every Sunday evening for about a half hour to an hour to menu plan. I start by looking through the sales flyers to determine which meat is on sale. Then I slot in which meat I want to have on which day and I often include a meatless night as well as a leftover day so nothing goes to waste. Once I know which meat I’m cooking I hit the internet scouring blogs for yummy recipes. I actually have a recipes folder set up in my Favorites with sub folders for the various meats, potatoes, veggies, appetizers, desserts, etc. I have quite the selection of recipes there that I’ve bookmarked from all over the web. This speeds up the process considerably. I’m very careful to select recipes that are easy to prepare, don’t require a huge number of ingredients and are relatively healthy. Once my meal plan is created I do up a grocery list so it’s ready and waiting for when I go out to do my weekly Monday morning grocery shop.
What resources do you use to help you meal plan?
My biggest resources is the internet, specifically the Taste of Home recipe website. I also like the sites Tasty Kitchen and Kraft Foods for recipes. Coupons aren’t big in my little Canadian town so they don’t play a big factor in my menu process unfortunately.
What do you feel is the biggest benefit to meal planning?
There are so many! We are eating healthier, I was able to reduce my weekly grocery budget by $75.00 and I no longer have the 4:00 meltdown where I’m staring into the fridge wondering what in the world I’m going to cook for dinner. I also LOVE the flexibility that menu planning provides. I can easily swap days out if I need to and it doesn’t hurt a thing. You can find a list of all my reasons for menu planning here.
What tips do you have for someone who is just starting out planning meals?
If planning a whole week intimidates you, start with a couple of days. Do that for a couple of weeks and move up from there. Check out Menu Plan Monday and see what others are eating each week. You’ll find plenty of inspiration. Don’t be afraid to try out some new recipes to help get you out of a rut and motivate you to continue. I encourage you to give it a try and be blessed by the many benefits. It’s not near as hard as you might think it is, I promise!
Great interview, Kelly and Laura! Have you heard of the “Now You’re Cooking” software? I have had it for a number of years and love it! I use it all the time. One thing I do is to give handmade cookbooks as Bridal Shower gifts. I have selected certain recipes from my NYC files (you can also search the thousands of recipes included with the program) for a “Bridal” file. Then I print them out full page, put them in plastic page protectors, and in a 3-ring notebook, with colorful pocket dividers for each category. I like the option of being able to take the recipe out of the 3-ring binder when making it, or if not, that the book lays flat and that the pages are protected from spills. I decorate a cover page with kitcheny stickers and their name (“Kelly’s Recipes”) and once the initial typing of the recipes is done, it’s an easy and inexpensive gift to make that’s really treasured. I made a larger one for myself, as well, and include a section for menu plans that I have made in the past, (Nice to use one that’s already done:) as well as extra copies of my Master Grocery List. You can get copies of your local grocery store’s layout, too, so you can organize your grocery list by aisle.
Well, I wrote a “post” instead of a comment, but I loved your interview and love talking “organization.” I’ll definitely be checking out your blog, Laura! Thanks, you guys!
Wendy
Wendy,
I have not heard of that software. I think I will need to add it to my resources post. That sounds like such a useful and beneficial thing to have on your computer.
I love your idea on making cookbooks for new brides! Wonderful!
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