Tackle It Tuesday

We spent a good portion of the weekend cleaning,which means I get to have somewhat of a relaxing week- cleaning wise. However, one thing I didn't do that I would normally do on the weekend is menu plan. So tonight, my Tackle It Tuesday was to organize my coupons (especially since it was the end of the month and some had expired at the end of October), menu plan, and write my grocery list. In tonight's post I will go over my planning process.

1. Sort through sale ads taking mental note of the products I use that are on sale.
2. Browse my pantry to see what items I currently have, and if there are things that need to be used up quickly (I REALLY hate throwing away food so this step is key).
3. Go through recipes I have saved on the right side of my food blog (Things I'd Like to Try) to find new recipes (bonus if I have the items or if the necessary ingredients are on sale).
4. Go through stand-by recipes throughout my food blog to decide what else will go on the menu.
5. Finalize the menu- which meals on which days. I typically like to get leftovers from at least one meal so I'm not cooking every night.
6. Go through each recipe and write down the ingredients I need
7. Sort through my coupons- again taking note of things that are on sale (making it a good price in general) and coupons of items that I need for my menu. The coupons I need go in the front pocket of my accordion file folder where my coupons are stored.
8. Grocery shop with list, coupons and sale ad (if necessary) in tow.

Here is my menu for this week:
Monday: Baked Macaroni & Cheese (oh such a comfort food!)
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Sweet & Sour Chicken over Rice
Thursday: Leftovers/Subway
Friday: Classic Beef Chili & Rolls
Saturday: Mediterranean Chicken & Baked Potato
Sunday: Our Godson's Baptism (I'm bringing a crudite platter)

A few important notes:
*I know what things I typically buy. Any time I see a coupon for one of those items, I clip it. If it's on sale, I buy it for sure with the coupon, because I know I will use it soon. Otherwise, I might wait a few weeks to see if it does go on sale.

*I RARELY buy things that aren't on the shopping list. That doesn't mean I don't buy snacks and such, but I try to put even those things on the list. Sticking to the list, I've found, saves money, and helps reduce food waste.

*Don't forget to account for breakfast and lunch when making your list! I typically buy fresh fruit and cereal for breakfast and we eat leftovers or sandwiches for lunch.

*If you are trying to eat healthier- stick to the perimeter of the store. The processed foods are in the inner aisles. You'll be surprised at how little you really NEED down those aisles if you focus on eating fresh, healthy foods.

*I always buy frozen veggies over canned if I can. They are better for you and usually cheaper anyway!

* The best way to organize recipes, I think, is through a blog. If you look through mine, you see I have a place to save links for recipes I want to try as well as my favorite food blogs. Then, obviously, I document each of the recipes I try with my notes and how much we liked it. Even if you don't want to share your blog with anyone, its a VERY helpful tool to use with menu planning. Oh and it's free! :) I also like it because I can access it anywhere I have the Internet, just another bonus!

Are you a menu planner? Link me to your favorite recipe in the comments! I'd love to try it! If you aren't a menu planner, I highly suggest giving it a try. You'll be surprised how much less you will spend at the grocery store. And you won't have that problem of trying to figure out what's for dinner at 6pm. It's been a life saver for me!