This month I wanted to talk about meal prep, planning and the benefits. We are starting a new year, it's a little over a month after Christmas and everyone is trying to
get back on budget. Being gluten free, trying to eat a healthy diet, and feed a family of four adults can be costly but there are some ways to save and prevent waste.
First off is my chalk wall in my kitchen where I list the menu for the coming week for dinner. This was a game changer for me, because I not only stopped having to run to the grocery store several times a week but I was planning our dinners based around what’s on sale. I usually do this on a Sunday and ask the family to contribute ideas and also check on schedules to see who is home for dinner. I am the main cook in the house as I am the first one home because I make my own hours for work. It's awesome knowing when I get in the door that everything I need is there to start dinner. This also prevents us from ordering food out which is rarely budget friendly or healthy.
Following this has really helped remove a lot of stress for me, and to be honest I didn’t realize how much stress this caused.
Another big money saver is not purchasing pre packaged gluten free baked goods, such as muffins, cookies and loaves. These items are not only expensive but usually filled with extra sugars and ingredients you don’t need. It’s so easy to whip up a bunch of homemade treats and freeze them yourself. And let's be honest they taste so much better.
As well as planning dinners for the week, I always check in with the family to see who wants what in the house for lunches, then my girls meal prep their lunches for the week. I usually make a little extra at dinner so my husband has leftovers for lunch the next day which saves at least $10 or more a day on lunch cost.
I use an app on my phone called Flipp - it’s awesome for keeping my grocery list but to also see what's on sale and price matching! This way when I get to the store I stay on track with what I need to purchase. This also eliminates driving to multiple stores to get what’s on sale. (Less driving = better for the environment!)
Another helpful thing is stocking up your pantry and freezer when things are on sale. We typically stock up on our favourite pastas, canned tomatoes, crackers, protein powders, nuts, beans, tuna, gluten free flours and organic meats, to name a few. This way, you don’t need to buy these things every week.
Do you have some meal planning tips that I missed? Send them off in the comments!
Here’s to an organized year ahead!
~ Wendy
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