Sometimes it seems silly to me that people ask me repeatedly how I only go to the grocery store once a week, plan our meals and keep everyone happily fed. I guess I think it’s silly because I just do it, like brushing my teeth, I don’t really think about it. I have some people in my life who are good at being a gentle reminder that, not everyone enjoys cooking from scratch, or knows how. I appreciate that kind of honesty and so here is my break down, I hope you find it simple and easy – and if nothing else I hope it inspires you a little, allows you the opportunity to be creative and get the whole family to join in. As a side note, not everyone here is always happy with the choices that are presented to them, but there are 6 of us so it’s not so easy sometimes.
If you are reading this and haven’t yet gotten your FREE Meal & Grocery printable – click on HERE to download! This is a simple black-n-white standard 8 1/2 x11 sheet, because I’m a no fuss kinda gal and because it’s easy, and I can print it from home. I can put it in a binder and pull up a week’s plan that I’ve used in the past and head right to the store! I can put it on the fridge and write what we are out of on it as the week goes by…or if I have a meal idea for the following week I can jot it down before my overly crowded simple mind forgets. 🙂
I don’t always plan what we will have on what days, I do if I know it is going to be a super crazy day on Thursday, then I will make sure that a make ahead meal is done that day or something super easy that takes like 15 min to prepare. Otherwise I just kind of make a list of the meals we will have then decided as the week goes by what we will have that day. I know some people are super planners so I gave you a days of the week section you can fill out, otherwise just make a list of the meals in that space.
From the list of meals I compile my shopping list. I check to see what ingredients I already have on hand for those meals then go from there. As I have shared before I shop once a week and usually only at one store, and that includes toiletries, paper products etc. I will go to a local farmers market for meat when I have the time to fit that in, because it is sooooo much better than anything from the store. I also always ask for any special requests from the kiddos and hubby which almost always ends in responses like, “You know what I like.” So it’s basically up to me to keep everyone fed, which with three teenagers and a husband that eats like one too can be a bit of a challenge!
I buy what I would say to be between 80-90% store brand. I don’t do a lot of coupons, however, I have found a money saving app I like called ibotta. If you sign up use the referral code kirksjd when you redeem your first rebate you will receive some free $$$ YAY! It’s fun to use, scan the bar code of the product listed and your receipt and it puts money in your little bank! It is available in the app store! (no worries, they aren’t paying me to say that, it’s just what I have found helpful. I do get referral credit if you use that code – thanks for supporting this momma!)
I have several staples in my pantry and freezer – they are must haves for me:
-chicken stock
-organic canned beans
-garlic
-onions
-some kind of potato
-rice
-quinoa
-frozen spinach, kale or swisschard (I have this thing about having something green in almost everything)
-frozen berries
-whole wheat and all purpose flour
From those items alone I can make several dishes 🙂
I also have a specific grocery day, mine is Thursday, because that’s the day hubby’s paycheck hits the bank account. I also shop with cash, yes, like the green paper kind. We are a cash only family, and I take out the weekly budget for groceries, gas, and our weekly allowances each week. I very rarely go back to the store in-between, if we run out of something, then we run out – no one has not survived yet because we went a day or two without milk. All those little trips eat up too much precious time and I truly believe you spend way more money by popping in a few times a week.
I hope you find this helpful, I always love hearing from you, so leave your feedback and questions below! Happy planning and shopping! If you have subscribed to our web-site or for the weekly meal and grocery planner, you will receive weekly recipes! These recipes are to inspire you! You may use them exactly as they are or use them to spark a new idea, the choice is yours! Happy planning!
Hi there! Its Becky from EAT what we EAT. I’d love to review your meal plan guide for this month’s recipe swap (sorry I’m so late!) I know its not a recipe, but I have been wanting to get organised and try meal planning and think my audience would appreciate information on this too, so can send them your way. Your link doesn’t work though. How can I get a copy?
Just click on the orange dot circle badge at the top left of the page, thanks for letting us know this link isn’t working, we will fix it ASAP! Thanks for checking out our guide. 🙂
Hi its me again! Sorry I was able to get it from the top left of this page! You might want to still check your link for the blog post. I might do one of your recipes and also mention this planner. Simple idea. Can’t actually believe I don’t meal plan!
It’s something that kind of evolved here lol! Don’t stress about it, we hang that sheet on the fridge and add to it daily, it’s not a 3 hour sit down and figure it out all at once here 🙂