It’s time to share my monthly meal plan.
But first…
Happy New Year!
Have you written your goals for the year?
I haven’t gotten very detailed with my goals this year like I usually do. I think it’s because instead of lots of separate goals, this year I have one goal. I’m determined to do much better about managing our budget. I’m embarrassed to admit that even though I write about meal planning and freezer cooking as my number one way to save money, I still don’t do it faithfully. Unfortunately, even one unplanned meal out can throw your budget into a tailspin! I think this is a perfect time for me to renew my commitment to sticking to the budget by having a solid meal plan and a stocked freezer.
Last year I started a new meal planning strategy that I really like and I’m working on tweaking and perfecting it. Basically, I use the same menu three months in a row. Then I start with a new one when the season changes. Each menu has no repeats (um… well… except pizza; we have that twice a month). So we only have each meal a few times a year. Before each new season I cook and freeze anything on the menu that freezes well. It’s amazing how much easier it is to make dinner even when just one part of it is already in the freezer.
So… I’ve been cooking up a storm these last few days. My freezer is getting pretty full and we’ve already eaten some yummy soup.
Wanna see my Winter Meal Plan?
OK, you talked me into it.
Here is my Winter meal plan, broken into 4 weeks. (Only six meals per week because there’s always a night of leftovers, a new recipe we’re trying, or planned eating out.)
Anything written in that funky orange color is a link to a recipe. I apologize that not all of the recipes have pictures just yet. I just wanted to get them posted for you as soon as possible. I’ve got some pictures coming soon so keep coming back!
Let’s save money together this year by sticking to a food budget. One meal plan at a time!
Week One Meal Plan
Roast Beef, Potatoes, Carrots
Vegetable Beef Soup, Grilled Cheese
Sweet & Sour Mini Meatloaves, Loaded Potato Bake, Lima Beans w/ Bacon
Week Two Meal Plan
BBQ Beef, White Beans, Apple-Cranberry Cole Slaw
Pizza burgers, French Fries
Salmon Patties, Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli & Cheese
Week Three Meal Plan
Pepper Steak, Baked Potatoes
Easy Southwest Chicken Soup, Cornbread Muffins
Chicken& Peppers, Rice
Clam Chowder, Corn Chowder, Crackers
Week Four Meal Plan
Kielbasa & Potatoes, Green Beans, Cooked Apples
Bean & Pasta Soup, Corn Muffins
BBQ Baked Chicken, Baked Beans, Dinner Rolls
What about dessert?
I typically make one dessert a week, just to make sure we’re not getting too much sugar. This month I know I’m making Freezer-Friendly Blueberry Crisp.
And my daughter is making these Sweetheart Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies for a friend’s birthday, so we’ll make a double batch and have some ourselves. YUM!
I might give these recipes a try too:
What’s on your menu this month?
linking up with:
orgjunkie.com
This is awesome! I’m new to your site and am excited to try some of your ideas. My biggest problem with money is spending too much on food!
Tara, I’m so glad you stopped by! I hope you get a lot of use from the meal plan. My hope is that within this year I’ll get these seasonal plans all perfected and turned into a step-by-step guide for doing the freezer part. I think you and I are not alone in that food is our biggest budget buster!
If you haven’t already, be sure and get your free e-book by signing up for my mailing list. It has some more ideas on saving money on your food budget.
Blessings!
I did get the free e-book! I’m about to take some time to go through it. Thanks!!
I would like to order e book on emergency meals but not sure how to get it in my kindle. It is much easier to read than on my phone. Trying to eat at home more.
Kim,
So far I only have that book published as a PDF. But I think there’s a tool that will allow you to convert your own into Kindle format. Let me do some checking and get back to you.
love the sweet potato idea- we will try that asap 🙂 also, i agree, that your homemade pizza looks hard to beat. YUM! love your recipes, keeping on budget and healthy is super important to me too! i will go check out that free ebook now….. 😉
Hope you enjoy the e-books… and the sweet potatoes! 🙂
Looks like a great menu for the first month of the year! I’m currently doing a pantry challenge and so far, so good … granted, only 5 days in but nothing is giving me anxiety yet … I need to really do a thorough inventory of the freezers but feel a little free-spirited just grabbing 3 proteins out on Sunday and making a menu with those 3 things (like I said, not really a challenge just yet!!) …
Wow Jan, You’re brave! I don’t like how I feel when I don’t have a plan. But I will say, if my pantry and freezer are stocked then it is a bit of an advanture. As long as I remember to open them in the morning and see what’s in there that might need to be thawed in time for dinner!
Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your challenge!
Printed out some recipes and trying the plan – a little late, but hey, it’s still January, right? Looking forward to these! They seem healthy, frugal, and family-friendly. Thanks, Beth!
Hey Amy!
Well, technically I’m a whole month late because my Winter Menu was supposed to begin in December. But I’m satisfied that I’m to this point in the game. Last night I just took some soup out of the freezer and put it in a pot to finish cooking. That’s how I like to do dinner!
Thanks for coming by, it means a lot when I see my “in real life” friends on my site! 🙂
I need to get better about having some meals ready to go in our freezer. May need to give your blueberry dessert a try as I do have frozen blueberries on hand.
I finally have time to sit and go through your website. I’m so excited to start trying some, if not all, of your recipes and tips for organization. I’m thankful for people like you that can do this for others:)
Hey Lisa! Are you guys snowed in today? We’ve been iced in and now I think we’re getting some snow.
Let me know which recipes you decide to try!