Meal Planning Form with Help from ISE
This Iowa State University Extension site has some great ideas on meal planning . Meal planning is such an overlooked step as we race from activity to activity and then come home and wonder, “What’s for dinner?” I particularly like the 5-day worksheet. What I usually find out when I plan my meals is that I don’t plan the spot for left-overs. If you’re not eating leftovers for lunches or freezing them in TV-dinner-style containers for later quick servings, then you really need to set a leftover day. I have one about every 3 days depending upon how hungry the family was! It is also nice to have a leftover day right before garbage day — just in case you need to clean out the refrigerator so it won’t be sitting around in the garbage to spoil.
Meal planning not only saves you time, but it saves you money. Create grocery lists so you only buy what you don’t already have on hand, better track leftovers so you’re not throwing away food, food isn’t spoiling because you bought too much to cook.
This site also suggests “Use-up Lists.” List the items in your refrigerator, freezer, cupboard/pantry that you have — then plan your meals from what you have. Make sure you concentrate on the real “use-up” items first. I call this “Reverse Meal Planning!” It really helps me from overbuying at the grocery store — especially if I go when I’m hungry!
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