Menu Planning

Here is a useful tool for making a weekly menu and grocery list at the same time. Just click on it: List Template

The list is in pdf format, so unless you have Adobe Acrobat, you won’t be able to save anything you type into it. However, you can type and print to take with you. Or, you can print the blank and go sit on the front porch with your coffee while you fill it out by hand. When short of time or ambition, past menus can be used over again, with just the need to redo the grocery and errand portion of the list.

If you need a little motivation:

1) Grocery shopping and errand planning helps me save the Earth and money by reducing the number of car trips I need to make. It also lets me plan when I can use my bicycle or walk instead of taking the car out of the garage.

2) Filling in the list helps me avoid stress because when I get up on a workday, I already know what will be for supper without needing to think about it. It also means that items I need to prepare the meal are already on hand, so I won’t have to stop at the grocery store during rush hour.

3) Having the list in my purse means that when plans change, I can look ahead to see which meals can be switched around without needing to pick up extra food.

4) Thinking through the menus ahead of time means the meals are well balanced and we don’t end up eating spaghetti every Wednesday. Additionally, meals can be planned with evening activities in mind so that I know which nights need extra simple and which nights can be leisurely.

5) Planning my grocery list according to the menu plan reduces impulse purchases and avoids the cruising down every aisle in the store, so I get out of there faster. Again, money saved.

6) Doing menu planning when family members are present helps to assure that others have a voice in what is for dinner. Kids are more likely to eat what they have helped plan and prepare. It also creates teachable moments for educating about nutrition and culinary arts.

Enough? Let me know how you do with it and any modifications you think would be helpful.

~ Janet