You Can Menu Plan! My System Explained

I have been in the zone with menu planning ever since I began working with Wildtree.  It has been a work in progress, but I think I've finally found my system.  I have in the past tried eMeals.com, PlantoEat.com, and a number of menu planning services, but while they are great, they didn't meet ALL of our needs. Now I still use PlantoEat as an online version of a recipe book, but I have found a physical copy worked best for me.  

A consultant from another direct sales company introduced me to the bullet journaling technique (find more info here: http://www.bulletjournal.com/).  It has been an organization game changer for me.  Instead of having little papers all over my house, office and classroom, they are all in one central notebook.  I have this pretty one and it has 3 tabs for me to easily find what information I need quickly- one for home, one for business and one for school.  

Each month, I list each day of the month and fill in all prior commitments.  This includes eating out with family.

 I then list all of the meals that I would like to make for the month.  Wildtree has helped me here in that I can see what product I have on hand and make a list based off of those.

 I take that list and fill in each meal for the month while skipping the days I know that we will be out.

I then make a grocery list based off of the official list for the month.

Next, I take the list and "shop" my pantry, fridge and freezer.  I cross those items off my list.  I use Door to Door Organics by weekly, so I know that I don't immediately need my lettuce for tacos. I will order it that week.  I then decide what I can get at Sam's Club and leave the rest for Target and Aldi.  At this point, I have a better idea of what I can get where for the cheapest price.  I will look at my coupons to see if I can get them even cheaper.

After having all of this together, I pick a day to create freezer meals for the next month.  Thanks to my Wildtree recipes (MANY are on their websiteor from a freezer meal workshop I have previously done), I can get 10-20 meals within my daughter's naptime of 60 to 90 minutes.  The following picture is from my latest freezer meal prep.  This does not include the ground turkey I crock potted for runzas, spaghetti, shepherd's pie and tacos.  (2 hours but no work for me other than throwing in the turkey and onions).

I take my list and create a calendar of meals for the month for the fridge. I can glance at it the night before and determine what needs to thaw.  Sometimes I don't even thaw it first.  It goes straight in the crock.

I try to shop once a month for the majority of the meals.  I do get the produce through Door to Door Organics delivered to our door.  It keeps me out of the store buying things I don't REALLY need.  It happens A LOT.    I attach the recipes for the meals that aren't regulars in our house. It helps my husband when I might be running late or have forgotten to put something in the crockpot.  It happens.  

Sometimes, we don't get to all of the meals due to impromptu nights out or we aren't that hungry, but the beauty of it all is that it is flexible.  

At the beginning of the week, I bring up the frozen meals for the week and put them in our side by side fridge's freezer.  It used to be stuffed to brim, but now it's only filled with what is coming up!  It's been amazing for our marriage that I don't have the ice bucket filled with random things because I keep stuffing stuff in there.  It's a beautiful thing.  Ok, it's just one of those pet peeve things (nothing marriage shaking), and it's just because I was chasing a two year old while trying to prepare or clean up dinner!  Now dinner takes 15-30 minutes tops to make.  I am less stressed and we are eating healthier.  I've lost weight without much effort!  

You can get my monthly planner for free here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Monthly-Planning-Sheets-242216  

Wildtree Products

http://www.mywildtree.com/ColleenZehr

Happy planning!

Colleen

Time and Money Saver

I cannot tell you how much time and money has been saved with my new meal plans.  This not in the sense of the penny pinching sort of saving of money, but for my family it's a start!  I have a bad habit of getting overwhelmed with my long days that often I want to stop and grab dinner on the way home.  It's a blessing and a curse all in one that we live in a town with little to choose from.

I recently was introduced to Wildtree products and their concept of freezer meals. I never really thought about freezing meat with their spices and marinades, but this simple concept has saved both time and money.  While freezer meal workshops run around 85 dollars for 10 meals worth of seasonings and spices, I think it's worth it in terms of time saved as well. I've been doubling freezer meals and creating 20 meals for the month.  Many times we have leftovers and we use that for lunches.

I plan our full month of dinners. Here are the steps that I take:

1. Fill out the calendar with dates and dates of things going on for the month.

For example, we meet up with our parents about twice a month.  My family usually eats Sunday dinner and my husband's family goes out on Tuesdays.  I do not plan dinners for two Sundays and two Tuesdays.  If we do not meet up with them, we usually will do a "find what you can" night.

2.  I "shop" our freezer and pantry for any meals already on hand.  For example, I already have the makings of chili.  I will put that on my calendar next.

3.  I then select my freezer meal workshops that I would like to do for the month.  I try to select one I already have the seasonings on hand and then I will purchase the other bundle.  It saves me money in that I am using up the leftovers from a previous workshop, but I can also rotate in a new workshop for a change of pace.

4.  I select crock pot meals for the days that I know will be busy at work.  For example, I know that Mondays are my faculty meeting days, so I put the meal in the freezer the night before.  Then, it's crockpot ready by morning.

5. I save grilling for nights I know my husband will be around as he's better at gauging the cook on the grill than I am.

6. I am sure to rotate in family favorites each week like tacos and spaghetti.

7.  I post the recipes and the meal plan on the fridge so that everyone knows what to expect and when.

Notes:

-I recently discovered a local butcher that offers monthly specials.  I recently got a special that was 44 lbs of meat for 160 dollars.  That's a little less than 4 dollars a pound and included ground beef, chicken breasts, pork chops, pork and beef roasts, breakfast sausage, bacon, and a couple of steaks.  I will definitely be back!

-Aldi is a great place for breads and buns.  I buy them and some produce at the beginning of the month and freeze.

-Sam's Club is good for deli meats and cheeses as well as snack foods and soda (if on sale).

- I also use Door to Door Organics for most of our produce.  I like the flexibility and the quality.  I can choose to skip a week, and most months I do a small basket twice a month.  It saves me a trip to the store and the temptation of buying things I don't need.

Eventually, I will start planning breakfasts beyond oatmeal and cereal as well as lunches.