2011 Menu Planning Challenge!

**calimomx2** · 12-26-2010, 12:30 AM

I'm in! I've gotten so lazy about this and the grocery budget has been blown sky high lately so it is back to menu planning for me!

**sunshine** · 12-26-2010, 10:37 AM

yep -- I'm in too . .. gotta watch every penny.

**jean08** · 12-26-2010, 08:40 PM

I'm in. We ate out way too much last year.

**alotofgooddeals** · 12-26-2010, 08:59 PM

Do we post what we plan... that seems likeit would take alot of time....or do we just say whether we stuck to it or not....This is not a choice for me...I have to plan my menu because i have around 500 dollars a month for groceries for four humans and 2 dogs and 2 cats and one hamster....I need to only go to the grocery store once a week...because going more than that is not good on the wallet...

**qsaver704** · 12-26-2010, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by alotofgooddeals

Do we post what we plan... that seems likeit would take alot of time....or do we just say whether we stuck to it or not....This is not a choice for me...I have to plan my menu because i have around 500 dollars a month for groceries for four humans and 2 dogs and 2 cats and one hamster....I need to only go to the grocery store once a week...because going more than that is not good on the wallet...

I make a weeks worth of menus on Friday or Saturday. I post Saturday to Friday here. It only takes about 5 minutes. That way I am accountable and we can get ideas from others. I list both lunch and dinner-to keep me on track-but most only list dinner. I usually end up changing my lunches to leftovers anyway, but I like having a plan. Usually lunch is whatever partially used items we have left in the freezer because DH doesn't like eating things like that.

**alemom3** · 12-26-2010, 09:50 PM

I just completed my January menu. I'll wait to post, think I'll post week by week bc that will be easier for me. So excited to have it done, have never planned a full month before!

**alotofgooddeals** · 12-26-2010, 09:51 PM

would love to get ideas from others as dh is very fussy....the kids and i can throw a potato in the microwave and take out a veggie and we are set but dh thinks he needs to have meat with every meal...so this is going to be a challenge...

**dschipman** · 12-26-2010, 09:52 PM

I fell off the wagon last year on this challenge, will try again.

**madhen** · 12-26-2010, 09:56 PM

Well, since I've joined the "waste less food," "try new recipes," and "grocery budget reduction" challenges, so this is probably a good one for me. I'm not very good at meal planning, so I may just lurk a bit until I find my sea legs.

**tervsforme** · 12-26-2010, 10:25 PM

Yep, I'm with Madhen. I joined those other challenges as well, being single I usually don't plan my meals just eat whatever is around. I tend to cook on the weekends and eat that throughout the week, but that hasn't been working. So, I'm going to try to do some planning. It can only get better, right?

**zakity** · 12-26-2010, 11:35 PM

Dec:
homemade pizza
hamburger rice casserole
roast, potatoes, veggie
hashbrown scramble
nachos

January:
roast, potatoes, veggie
sloppy joes, veggie
spaghetti, veggie
chicken noodle casserole
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
homemade mac and cheese, veggie
bacon, fried potatoes, eggs
spaghetti potatoes, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
bacon, fried potatoes, eggs
hamburger rice casserole
backed chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
chicken noodle soup
roast, potatoes, veggie
hamburgers, oven fries, veggie
homemade chili
spaghetti potatoes, veggie
homemade lasagna, veggie

February:
hamburger rice casserole
homemade alfredo sauce, veggie
SOS (hamburger gravy), biscuits, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
stir fry
chicken and dumplings
hamburgers, oven fries, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
biscuits and gravy, veggie
boxed mac and cheese, veggie
beef stew
homemade pizza
roast, potatoes, veggie
boxed mac and cheese, veggie
chicken and dumplings
hamburgers, oven fries, veggie
hashbrown scramble

March:
beef stew
hot dogs, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
homemade pizza
baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
beef noodle casserole
roast, potatoes, veggie
sloppy joes, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
hot dogs, veggies
hamburgers, oven fries, veggies
chili rice casserole, veggie
rice and beans, veggie
homemade pizza
roast, potatoes, veggie
hamburger rice casserole
roast, potatoes, veggie
taco casserole
baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
hamburgers, oven fries, veggie

April:
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
hamburger rice casserole
chili rice casserole
bacon, fried potatoes, eggs
baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
SOS, biscuits, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
sausage casserole (leftover sausage gravy mixed with noodles), veggie
bacon, fried potatoes, eggs
roast, potatoes, veggie
alfredo sauce, veggie
nachos
baked chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
biscuits and gravy, veggie
backed chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
roast, potatoes, veggie
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
bacon, fried potatoes, eggs

May:
hashbrown scramble
steaks, baked potatoes, veggie
chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
steaks, baked potatoes, veggie
herbed parmesan sauce over pasta, veggie
hamburger rice casserole
chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie
steaks, baked potatoes, veggie
sloppy joes, veggie

I only plan dinners on week days and I plan on a "fend for yourself" night about every other week. Weekend dinners are "fend for yourself" or to use up one of the week's dinners that didn't work out for that week. Lunches are always leftovers. None of us are big breakfast eaters.

**zakity** · 12-26-2010, 11:59 PM

Oh yeah... Side dishes... We really won't eat that many potatoes. I am working on finding side dishes that everyone will eat. Potatoes are my "backup plan", so I listed them down.

And, what is planned doesn't mean that is what we will eat...

**nuisance26** · 12-27-2010, 12:19 PM

~What a plan! Thanks for posting that Zakity.

~

**piney** · 12-27-2010, 12:26 PM

I am in i find it is so much easery and save more when i make out a menue and post it on refrigrator ijust eat left overs or sandwich for lunch but need make one out for breakfast since i have to eat on account of taking medicine.I don't follower it completely but sure do help.

**mkkl19** · 12-27-2010, 06:31 PM

I have planned menus and bought the food for the next 3 weeks! I wrote out a list and hung it on the refrigerator, so for the next 3 weeks I don't have the stress of "What's for dinner?" Yeah!!