I’m trying, I really am. But I still find myself going to the grocery store more than I should.

I L.O.V.E. to cook, but I’m starting to think that it’s not the cooking I love as much as the food shopping. Going to the grocery store is one of my favorite things to do.

So, I’m asking for help. How can I make meal planning fun/interesting/something that I want to keep doing? Do you have any tips? I was thinking about making a fun menu board like this one from While He Was Napping:

Or maybe I’m just avoiding meal planning by crafting in its place?

HELP!

9 Responses

  1. Megan

    Definilty make a Menu Board. Then it’s up there and you know you have to cook it. I normally decide what Im going to make for the week and make a very organized list and then go to the store and get everything. You can make it fun by maybe putting a bunch of your favorite meals in a bowl and you and your husband pick one out for each day and then you have your menu. Then its not alwys like, Monday is Spaghetti Night and Tuesday is Taco Night and so on. AND itsthen you don’t have to decided on all the meals. Thats how it goes in my house, I always have to figure out what to make and then its more like a Job then a Joy. :) Good Luck :)

    Reply
  2. Tanya

    Hey there….Well, I have two little boys and it is sometimes so hard to stick to a menu. So, recently I’ve been trying to plan on only 3 days a week to have a set dinner menu. For those days, I find things that are on sale or something special that I know my little guys will love. The other 4 days of the week, I try to be creative with what I have in the fridge and cupboard and I allow for one night of pizza or going out. We also keep essential things on hand, like pasta, white rice, veggies, and always chicken! We usually buy these in bulk that way we have some go to meals. I find it fun to know that at least 3 days a week we’ll be having something different that we usually don’t make.

    Reply
  3. Karla

    So I tried on my own to plan meals for awhile and whatnot, but it got pretty boring. Now i pay for E-mealz ($5/month) and get a meal plan EVERY week with all the groceries needed. It works out great and saves money. I try to cook 45 days of the week and then we have leftovers maybe 2x and go out once. It helps you get variety in and the meals are pretty simple. Or i have some people have good luck with theme nights like a pasta, pizza, chicken, tacos, crock pot.. etc. you’ll just have to try stuff out, but the key is to plan it, buy the stuff and make it!

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  4. amanda

    ok, so this is probably soooo not helpful, but i say MAKE THE BOARD!! forget menu planning!!! i love the crafting/organization of things like menu planning but not the actual planning itself!! lol! (however, to actually BE HELPFUL, i have done it a few times and it does save me money and time!!!!good luck!)

    Reply
    • Lovely Crafty Home

      Hahaha Amanda, so true! I think I will make the board even if I don’t use it :)

      Reply
  5. Laurie

    I agree with Amanda, make the board just because it’s so darn cute. I only do major shopping every 2 weeks so I print off a monthly calendar using Publisher, then sit down with with my favorite cookbooks and plan out my meals. I always take inventory of what I have left in the freezer and pantry and try to utilize those items first thus saving money. I usually do crock pot meals 1-2 times per week, which always gives us at least 2 meals from each crock pot meal. It may take a couple of hours to do my list but I find it’s worth it in the long run. If you want to save more money send your husband to the grocery store. Mine will only pick up what’s on the list, nothing else! On the other hand if I see a good deal on something we use all the time I will pick it up, not him! Good luck with your menu planning!

    Reply
    • Lovely Crafty Home

      Thanks for the encouragement Laurie-that’s a great idea to send my husband lol, he probably would hate me though!!

      Reply
  6. Tanya

    I love that board. I make a weekly menu in Excel and print it out. It helps me stay on a budget, eat healthy and stay organized. Love it.

    <3, New Follower

    Reply

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