Meal Planning
Here is a free, printable menu planner and shopping list to help you organize your life. I have really grown to love and appreciate meal planning. With a large family to feed and a lot of responsibilities in and around my home, having some order in the kitchen can be a life saver!
I’ll admit, when I use a menu planner I like to switch things up a bit. Some nights I will cross out certain meals and replace them with something that better suits our situation that day. However, just knowing what in the world I have in the pantry and having some meal options at hand, can be a huge help at the end of the day.
Some people are intimidated by the idea of meal planning, I understand. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated. It can really save you both time and money. How many times have you not been able to decide what to have for dinner, or found out you were missing ingredients for something? How many times have you gotten take out instead?
Though it takes a little time and forethought, having a meal plan can give you peace of mind and the ability to focus fully on other things. Of course, you’re ultimately in charge, so go ahead and switch some days around when life happens.
Of course you don’t have to plan just for dinner, you can use the planner below to jot down meal ideas for every time of day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
*Psst.. scroll to bottom of page to download the free Back to Homemade meal planner and shopping list !
Shopping Lists
Of course, once you get an idea of what you want to make, you’ll need to head to the store. When you’re raising a family, it can sometimes seem like you live at the store.
Personally, I’ve been doing online grocery shopping for about 5 years now, give or take. I still have to go inside for items I prefer picking out, but it greatly cuts down on my time I have to spend outside the home searching for groceries
Something about trekking through narrow isles with lots of kids in tow, under fluorescent lighting with the sound of bad music playing makes me not so happy.
Of course, there is that rare instance when they play a really great song. Somehow that makes me more distracted, and I can’t quite remember what I’m doing because I’m too busy jamming to the tune. Maybe, that’s just me?
I do enjoy frequenting new stores out of my area when I get a chance. My husband gets a kick out of my level of excitement when we go to new grocery stores when we travel. I love seeing large, fresh, organic produce sections and exploring different allergy friendly items that I may not have access to back home.
Before you head off to the store (or online if you prefer), you need a list. I’m a huge list maker. I love lists! Nerd alert, I know, but it’s just how I operate. There’s something about writing something down that gets it out of my head and makes room for other things. Lists just make me feel good.
You may hate list making, and in that case this post is especially for you. Using printables can get you in the mood to organize and help make a mundane task easier. You might even grab a couple new pens, a folder or a binder and just go crazy.
Now, it’s time to get organized! Simply enter your email below and we will send you your FREE Back to Homemade Menu Planner downloads!
