Frequently Asked Meal Planning Questions -Healthy Tips

_{If you need to save money on your groceries, you need a meal plan. Over the years, meal planning has become a lot easier. I cover some of the most frequently asked questions about meal planning.}

Frequently Asked Meal Planning Questions -Healthy Tips

Feeling more organized during meal times encourages me to continue searching out new recipes to cook for my family. Before menu planning, I found dinner time to be aggravating. It was a hassle! I find myself saying: “It is that time again” and digging through the fridge for something that would feed my family. This is not the case anymore.

 I find that menu planning not only will help you to put food on your table, but it will also help keep you sane. Saving money, saving time, eating healthy, and saving my sanity is why I strive to menu plan every week. 

Throughout writing many articles on meal planning, I have been asked an array of questions. Below, I have answered those questions. I thought it would be fitting to go over some frequently asked questions about meal planning.

Read more Meal Planning Tips and Tricks from Inspiring Savings

How do you come up with meal ideas?

I like to do a quick family meeting and ask my husband and kids what meals they would like to have over the next month. I also like to keep past meal planning pages as references.

Sometimes, you forget about some of the good meals. I will keep a few days available to try out new recipes. And the bonus is if we like them, they get added to our list of meals.

Pro Tip: Go through the main food types – Italian, Mexican, all-American, soups, meat & side. Within each of those categories, you will come up with several ideas. For example, for Mexican cuisine, you can make fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, or quesadillas.

How often do you meal plan?

I like to meal plan once a week (typically Monday afternoons. During my free time). I pull out the sales flyers and work on my meal planning and shopping list all at the same time. It works well for our family so that our meal plan matches our schedule. I make sure to include healthy meal options for busy days.

If you are just starting, I would suggest meal planning once a week so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Why a meal plan?

Simply, it saves my sanity, and it saves our family money. Whether you are on a tight budget or looking for ways to reduce your grocery budget, meal planning can help. I also hate that feeling of not knowing what to make for dinner and then not having the right ingredients on hand to make something.

We don’t eat out often based on our budget. Easting out is a treat for us. I do try to schedule it twice a month on our calendar. A little plan can go very far. 

What type of meals do I need?

Monitoring your weekly calendar and assessing what evening challenges and opportunities you have for the week will define what types of meals you need. Some weeks we need quick meals. Some are often no-cook meals.

Then there are days when we can have fun-themed meals that the entire family will love. For example, Nacho Bar Night. While I absolutely love to cook for my family, I don’t always have the opportunity.

And I don’t let that guilt persuade my thoughts. You should not either. You are planning for a reason. 

What if I skip a day?

Like all good plans, we always have to improvise to make them work. Sometimes events happen on the “fly” and I adjust my menu by either bumping everything ahead one day or saving “that meal” for next week.

I also keep a small box in my pantry with quick meal ideas. Such as spaghetti night. In that box, it contains pasta, sauce & shelf-stable parmesan cheese. 

Why don’t you plan a menu weekly?

I find that a once-a-month system works for me

Assuming you shop once a week as well, this type of planning works for those who have the time to head into the store each week. Fresh food only has a small time frame to be used up before it will spoil not saving you money. .

Do you prepare your food in advance?

Yes and No. It depends on what I am cooking. If I need to defrost meat from the freezer, I usually do it the night before. Some types of meats require more defrosting time, so yes, I prep them a few days in advance. However, I do love freezer meals. I will make multiple lasagna and freeze them for later use.

I also do like to plan meals that use the same type of meat. For example, I will cook two pounds of ground beef for tacos one night and store the other one pound of ground beef for lasagna the next night. Why waste your time cleaning a frying pan each night?

I don’t, however, prepare any of my “sides”. I usually have ample time to make our sides. When our family goes to Maine each year, I prepare all our meals in advance, so little to no “fussing” is needed for mealtimes.

We rent a house and I bring what we will need and purchase fresh items at the store when we arrive.

Do you assemble the meal and meal plan by yourself?

I would like to call this a family event. I enjoy giving my “helpers” (my kids) a small task in preparing dinner and meals. It gets them motivated. The biggest plus with their involvement is they will eat dinner better knowing they helped plan it.

My husband, on the other hand, gives me ideas about what he would like to see on the menu for the week. He often comes home with recipes from co-workers or recipes from different resources that he would like to try out.

While he doesn’t often cook, he does bring a bit of randomness to the menu. As always, please feel free to leave a comment about those questions I know you are dying to ask about meal planning.

How often do you go to the grocery store?

For our family and based on our meal plan. We go shopping once a week. There have been a few times when we have run out of an ingredient that wasn’t expected.

I thank my teenage boy for that one. He eats more than I plan for. But the good news, I am starting to get his eating habits and have come up with some creative uses for leftovers.

More help with meal planning

• Menu Planning Apps & Tools
• Meal Planning 101- “Ready to Try Menu Planning” – Plus Free Menu Printables
• Best Tips for Meal Planning – Helping You Save More Money

How do you meal plan? What questions do you still have about meal planning? I love to know. Drop a comment below. 

Other Frugal Living Articles

Save More Money By Eating at Home & Become Healthier Too

How Much Should I Be Spending On Groceries

6 Food Purchases That Kill Your Budget

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