The benefits of meal planning.

Am I the only one who has a difficult time limiting one trip to the grocery store per week?  It has been a crazy busy month at our house and I feel like my meal planning and grocery shopping has quite frankly, been nonexistent.  When this happens, I know I spend way more money than usual and buy way less food.  How does that happen?!

So, finally after struggling to find a decent meal in my fridge, I decided it was time to make a list, shop for the week and enjoy some good ‘ol homecookin.

Here are the main entrees:

• Home-made pesto pizza
• Chicken fried rice
• Chicken salad and garlic bread
• Giada’s chicken fingers

My grocery listed included:

Meats

• all natural chicken (with coupon)
• deli meat
• pepperoni

Veggies

• organic lettuce (on sale)
• broccoli (on sale)
• organic carrots
• vine ripe tomatoes
• scallions

Fruit

• nectarines
• apples
• peaches

Dairy

• organic yogurt
• mozzarella and parmesan (on sale and with coupon)
• all natural sharp cheddar (on sale)
• all natural buttermilk (for chicken fingers)

Extras

• Wheat thins (on sale and with coupon)
• all natural granola
• all natural pesto
• whole grain bread (buy one get one)
• all natural ranch dressing (buy one get one and coupon)
• Krusteaz Cinnamon Crumb Cake

*As you can tell, I don’t buy everything organic or all natural.  J and I are trying to keep on track with our monthly grocery expenses, so I do have to go without buying organic/all natural products sometimes.

Tonight, we had some personal pizzas.  J had pepperoni, pesto, and cheese.  I had pesto, pepperoni, cheese, peppers, red onion and fresh tomatoes on top after it’s baked. (That’s a trick J’s mom taught me.  Thanks, Pam!)

One of the best benefits of meal planning is having extra time in the morning and evening to relax.  One way we do this is by making muffins on Sunday to grab on the go for breakfast throughout the week.  Our favorite lately has been Krusteaz Cinnamon Crumb Cake Muffins.

I love these!  Takes less than 30 minutes to make.

It feel so good to be back on a meal planning schedule.  I have no intention on fighting the grocery store crowds anytime soon. 🙂

Now tell me, how often do you grocery shop?  Do you make lists?  Do you meal plan?  What’s your go-to dinner?