Meal Organization - Planning and Prepping
Organization and Action Steps for Food Prep and Meal Planning
There is nothing more satisfying than saving money on meal prep and planning. One technique is called reverse meal planning. I’ve been doing it for years without knowing it had a name or was actually a money-saving technique. One thing to include in this process is to purchase items when they’re on sale. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck® for tips and tricks about home organization.
Organization
Reverse meal planning is planning your menu based on what you have on hand and what is on sale at the grocery store. This accomplishes two things. One, you are able to purchase at a good price. And, two, you don’t overbuy or purchase the same item that you already have. It also helps you be creative in your recipes.
You can easily save at least $20 a week by shopping this way. Saving $20 a week equals over $1040 a year. If you save $40, then you’ve saved yourself over $2000 a year.
If you need a system to track what you have on hand, look for a good app to use. You can also use a dry erase board and remove items as you use them.
There are other benefits to reverse meal planning. For example, kids learn from an early age not to be as picky. And, as an adult, you avoid getting stuck in a food rut.
Action Steps
Assess what you have before you go to the grocery store. Having an organized pantry helps with this. Group like items together and also be aware of what you can substitute, if necessary, to save on costs. Discard what is old.
Assess what is on sale. Look online at the grocery store sales. The items on the front page are the loss leaders.
Google ingredients you have on hand or will be purchasing to make dinners that use both.
Break the rules. Be creative and eat what is in season and on sale.
Create new recipes by challenging yourself to make substitutions instead of running to the grocery store. This might not be a good idea for some baking recipes, but overall, it is very easy to do.
Keep cheese and ice cream on hand. Ice cream can solve a lot of dessert disasters and cheese can solve a lot of other kitchen recipe mistakes. It also is great when topping and browning a casserole in the oven.