I’m going to try something new for awhile. It’s called “Works For Me Wednesday”. It where people post things that “works for them” on Wednesday’s to share with other people things or tips they have learned along the way.
For years I’ve struggled with making a menu and sticking with it. I have no problem sitting down and making one up. It’s the sticking with it that’s the problem. And, since I never seem to want to eat what has been written for that day, our grocery bill was always larger then it should be (along with all those “must needs” that you see in Wal-Mart that you never knew you needed…but that’s another story).
My husband and I came up with the idea that I make a list of all the dishes I/we make (there’s about 30 of them) and the major ingredients that go into the meals. For example: Hamburger Soup: ground beef, carrots, potatoes, canned beans, frozen veggies (water and soup base is not needed to be written down). My husband laminated it at his work and it is now up on the fridge. Every week, I highlight 7 meals that sound good to me to make and I make a shopping list according to the meals that are highlighted.
But the meals are not designated for any particular day of the week. I choose what I’m going to make that day from the meals that are highlighted. And since we only buy the food needed for the chosen meals, we don’t have a lot of “extra” food hanging around. That, in turn, has kept our grocery bill under budget.
And that is what “work for me”. Go to Rocks In My Dryer for more ideas.