I try to sit down twice a month to plan out my dinners and grocery lists.

By doing this it helps you stay organized and not wondering what you’re gonna make for dinner each night especially when your pressed for time.

Keep it in a notebook so that you can also look back for ideas of what to make especially the things you tried that’s new and enjoyed.  Give a rating next to new things, if it didn’t go over well cross it out.  I try to try something new once a week to help broaden my dinner menus plus it also helps you in your cooking skills.

So plan out your weekly menu. Leave a day for leftovers and a day for a night out.  When you have a menu for 2 weeks make up a grocery list of items you need. You will most likely have a fresh produce list that you might have to get each week a long with milk, bread and whatever things you go through quickly, but some produce will last longer than others so plan accordingly for your days and you might not have to go again until second week.

Other than that you can buy everything you need for your menus and won’t end up buying extra stuff that sounds good that you never get around to making or it spoils before you make it. So 2 big shops a month isn’t bad. You will also not spend extra $ when your going shopping hungry and buying all kinds of stuff with good intentions. Also make sure you look through your pantry see what you already have on hand or that’s getting close to expiration and plan meals based on that. Another nice thing about having a menu planned is that if you don’t feel like what is planned for let’s say Monday you can switch days around because you already have the necessities. Another important factor is a well stocked pantry it is a great helper.

Some necessities to always have in your pantry are:

Tomato sauce

Cans Stewed or diced tomatoes

Chicken broth Powder

Beef broth powder

Refried beans

Rice

Pasta of a few kinds

Taco shells

Soy sauce

Large assortment of spices

Coconut milk

Oatmeal

Quinoa

Assortment of beans – can be canned

Worcestershire sauce

 Vinegar, balsamic, red wine, white

bread crumbs

Cornstarch

Cornmeal

Flour

Olive oil

Canola oil

Sesame oil

Salt

Pepper

When I start getting low I just remember to write it on my grocery list then I always have what I need when I need it.

Some of my menus might look like this :

Mon-stuffed flank steak

Teus- fontina chicken with mushroom sauce

Weds-lamb curry

Thurs- left overs

Fri-eat out

Sat-ceviche tostadas

Sun-lasagna

Grocery list

Fontina cheese

Flank steak

Spinach

Mushrooms

Fish

Bell peppers

Avocados

Mozzarella

Cilantro

Romaine

I hope this helps you it has helped me greatly and I have been doing it since I got married.  It has been a valuable time and money saver.