Do you struggle with planning meals for your family? Everyone is tightening their belts these days due to rising costs of food, gas and everything in between. Meal planning truly does help with not going overboard at the grocery store. I don't mind cooking, but I have trouble coming up with ideas (and the weekend is hardest of all with 3 meals to plan), and when I think of something I'm usually missing an ingredient or two. Here is a menu planning chart that works for a 2 week spread.

The best way to fill out this chart is to sit down with your weekly grocery ads and see what is on sale (especially the loss leaders) and plan your meals around those and what you have in your pantry/cupboards. Extra bonus for items that are loss leaders and you have a coupon!

Directions:
1. Create or download a Meal Planning chart from the internet. (Tip: If you laminate the sheet you can reuse it over and over. Saves time and trees *smile*)
2. Write a list of dinner ideas under "Meal Ideas" and a list of side dishes (optional) under "Other Ideas". Select dinners for the next two weeks and write them under the appropriate day. Some days can be for left overs, so just write those in too. It's a great way to use up all the food and not throw stuff away. Waste not, want not! 3, When your chart is ready, add any special ingredients on your shopping list that you will need to buy.
4. After you've gone to the store your meal planning is done!

Another way to do meal planning and not be as rigid is to select days for certain meals. For example: Monday: beef, Tuesday: chicken, Wednesday: casserole, etc.

Meal planning not only assists in finances and the cooks sanity but it lets your family know what they will be eating! You can schedule easier to makes meals or left over nights for when you have evening activities that keep you away from the house.