I probably could have combined last weeks challenge and this weeks seeing as they are linked, however as I didn't complete last weeks one maybe that wouldn't have been such a good idea.
Week 6: Meal Planning & Grocery Shopping
Well where do I start. I have actually been doing this for a while so instead of telling you what to do I will write down what I do and some helpful tips - sound good?
I am the type of person who needs reminders ALL the time - am I still able to call that nappy brain when my kids are 4 & 2?? When I was working I HAD to have entered in my Outlook calendar a pop up reminder to go for lunch!!!! Seriously!
Needless to say now that the Crazys are getting older and have a busier social calendar than myself I need reminders for everything - including housework!
So what do I do? Usually every Sunday afternoon or evening I come up with a fortnight meal plan (just for dinner). I also spread my housework chores over the weekdays - lets be honest who wants to do housework on the weekends?!?!
A few months ago a friend introduced me to a weekly planner pad (purchased from Kikki-K - they have NZ stores which you can phone and email through your credit card details) which I write all my dinner meals and things that I have on. Each page has the days of the week and time slots, a To Do List and a To Buy List. So armed with my pad, a pen, and numerous recipe books I sit and plan.
Its surprising how easy it is. Especially when you have a weekly regular meal/s (lasagne and burritos in our house), throw in there home made takeaway night on a Friday, and a easy Steak/Sausage night there aren't too many more to fill in.
As I write down each meal I then make a list of what ingredients I need for each. Once I have a two weeks worth of ingredients, I then check the cupboards for lunch/snack requirements and cleaning products.
Then the cherry on top, I visit the supermarket at Countdown Online! Oh if you haven't looked into it then do. On days like today (freezing and pouring with rain) it gives me a little heart flutter knowing that someone else has to walk around the supermarket and put it into bags, and then a lovely man delivers it to my door. All the while I am at home with woolly (not for public viewing) socks on, drinking hot coffee. AND my 2 year old is playing SO quietly with his toys and not demanding I buy every second thing on the shelf.
Yes you do have to pay for freight but because I do a fortnight shop I exceed the $250 mark which brings the freight down to $8. Some of you might think eeecckkkk can I justify that, I can. We live 15min drive from the nearest supermarket so when you consider the petrol to get there, the time wandering around, the possibility of a screaming child and the fact you don't have to venture out on a cold winters day, that's money well spent in my book.
The other benefit of shopping online is you don't impulse buy. 99.9% of the time I only buy what is on my list. You remove the temptation to buy 10 bottles of hand soap because it is $1 each (really do you need that much hand soap???)
But if you don't think you can justify paying the freight charge and you enjoy a supermarket trip then still do the above but STICK TO YOUR LIST.
The beauty of having a meal plan is that there isn't a panic at 4pm about what to have for tea and you can have some variety.
If you don't want to have a notepad or book you can get creative and make all sorts of solutions for your meal plan. Just have a look at Pinterest and you will be bombarded with creative ways.
Hope this helps - would love to hear what you decide to do.
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