#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER HOW TO#
#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER PDF#
#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER FREE#

Spices (especially those that are used very sparingly in recipes) can often bump up your grocery bill, so if a recipe is loaded with them, stay away from it.Įach time I write out my weekly meal plan or a boot camp, I write out my grocery list and quickly (using the Walmart grocery site) jot down each ingredient's cost to make sure my overall bill is right around $100 for 10 meals. I also tend to shy away from more expensive (and often unnecessary) ingredients. Just browse the site (by searching 'meat') before picking your recipes! The discounted ones will have a price crossed out with the sale price next to it in red. I use Walmart grocery pick-up and, especially with meats, I'll often find sales and discounts on more expensive cuts. Look for recipes that line up with sales that might be happening at your local grocery stores every week.

But, with budget meal planning, a huge factor is picking recipes that stretch your budget. I don't need to tell you how many recipes are available out there - you imagine it, it's there. Start by picking the right recipes.Īny good meal planner will tell you that, after assessing what ingredients you already have on hand, the most essential step in meal planning is picking your recipes. You have to find a balance between cost-effective, healthy, and tasty. I've never really focused on ingredient cost with my other meal plans, so I've definitely learned a few surefire tips and tricks that optimize my budget.Īt the same time, I don't want to just fill the recipes with junk. Making the budget meal plans was one of the biggest challenges of my Freezer Meal Boot Camps. Even if your family hates it - you never know until you try. I'm a big believer in exposing kids to new and different flavors, and that starts at home. Put at least one thing on your family's menu that is different or unique from what you normally cook. If you still need any meals, think outside of the box. Tie some of those in to give yourself a breather here and there! Step 4: Try something new. Those are easy because a) you already know the recipe and b) the ingredients are the kind that you either already have or can easily obtain. Every family has a few tried-and-true recipes they love: spaghetti, tacos, roast chicken, soups, etc. Step 3: Think of favorites.Īfter thinking of a recipe or two that uses up ingredients we have, I tie in a family favorite or two. I always try to integrate those into my meals to use them, concentrating on things that will spoil quickly (like produce or meats).

Step 2: Inventory what ingredients you have.īefore I think of any recipes, I like to look in my pantry and refrigerator to see what ingredients we already have.

#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER FREE#

You can grab a budget meal planner and a weekly meal plan template.they're both free downloads! Organize your grocery shopping and have a planned menu that family members can easily reference. Today, I've got the perfect printables for organizing your weekly meal plan in style. With just a little bit of time once a week, you can build a weekly menu planner that the whole family loves. Going into the week without a solid meal plan is setting yourself up for failure. One of the most important things about meal planning and meal prep is being prepared.

#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER HOW TO#

Making these meal plans has been a challenge, but I've learned so much about how to organize the process and save money on your overall grocery budget! I'm currently sitting at 26 different freezer meal boot camps (and that's not counting the ones that I've published before on the blog). In the past few years, I've acquired some experience in the meal prep department.

Step-by-Step: How to Use Printable Weekly Meal Planner.

More Printables: Monthly Meal Planner, Meal Brainstorming, Favorite Meals List, etc.

#FREE PRINTABLE MEAL PLANNER BINDER PDF#

Download: Printable Grocery List Template PDF.Download: Printable Weekly Meal Planner PDFs.How to Print the Meal Planners & Grocery List.

Free printable meal planner binder