Homestead Haven Beginnings

Groceries!

I went grocery shopping yesterday, a few days early, and there is nothing like having a full fridge and pantry!  I just love it...I go shopping every two weeks, so we get down to the nitty gritty by the end.  I spoke at MOPS the other day about meal planning and thought I would share a few helpful hints with you.  If any of you have any tips, please comment, I love getting new ideas.  This is how I do my meal planning:

1.  I have a master menu with about 60 dinner meals on it, all meals tested and approved by our family.

2.  I divide all those meals into index cards.  7 dinner meals on each index card (a week worth of meals).  They are labled Week #1, Week #2 and so on, and I rotate them every grocery day.   I have about 8-9 weeks worth, so we never eat the same thing within a two month period.  One of the dinner meals is always breakfast.  My hubby isn't home for breakfast, but likes to eat it, so we make a big breakfast for supper one night a week.  On the back of each index card, I list all the ingredients I will use to make all these dinners.  I keep these in my recipe box, and on grocery day, I pull out 2 cards, and there is my menu for the next two weeks along with everything I will need to purchase to make those dinners. 

3.  I have a master grocery list that I made on Microsoft excel.  It lists all my staple items, and all the items we buy on a regular basis, and I have it all listed in the isle that we will find it in.  On grocery day, I print of a copy, take my menu index cards, and after I do a quick inventory of what I already have, I highlight the ingredients I will need to make all my dinners.

All in all, on meal planning day, it takes but minutes to establish 2 weeks worth of menus and a grocery list.  I do like to try new things, so when this happens, I just substitute one of the other dinners. 

Well, I was going to share a few things we do to make food prep. easier, but morning chores are calling, I guess it will have to wait for now!  Hope you all have a fantastic day!

Blessings, Rossie

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{ 10:19, Friday, November 17, 2006 } { Posted by TChannel4 }

Ok at the risk of sounding totally ignorant. What is MOPS? Thanks!

God Bless,
Tammy

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{ 10:57, Friday, November 17, 2006 } { Posted by Kitty }

You are my hero. I have a simular plan of action just not as many meals to work with. I too shop every two weeks according to pay checks. My dh only eats certain things so I have a limited amount of choices to work with. I wish he was a little more open minded. Good job girlfriend.
Have a blessed weekend.
Kitty

great information

{ 01:25, Friday, November 17, 2006 } { Posted by deedee06 }

Rossie, I'm sure the other moms appreciated your meal planning info. Anything to bring order to the life of busy moms is so valuable! This morning, Jonathan rushed outside to watch the street cleaner go by. I think Dru was driving it. I'm probably making you homesick. Sorry!.......Denise (prairiemom)

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{ 07:41, Friday, November 17, 2006 } { Posted by lynjc }

Rossie, I made index cards and I did my menu planning and grocery shopping today and it was so much easier. I always menu plan, but it usually takes awhile as I think up what should be on the menu! Thanks for the great tips. I also tried out WinCo today, wow! Great prices, definately worth the drive!