I have issues with menu planning. It’s kind of like a love-hate relationships. I looooove when I do it, it makes my week go easier. It makes me less stressed at dinner time. But I hate planning it. I hate trying to find the recipes and making the grocery list.
Which is why I have loved doing the once-a-month-cooking from Once a Month Mom. She picks out the meals and the gives you the grocery list. The only problem is that I usually need a partner (and a kid-free day) to do it! So, I usually stand staring into my pantry at 5:00pm wondering if having eggs for the 3rd day in a row is a problem.
At Blissdom I found out about emeals . Maybe you’ve heard of it? Well, Dave Ramsey is a fan. Yeah, like THE Dave Ramsey! It’s a simple idea–you pay $5 a month and pick a menu plan then print it along with complete recipes AND a shopping list. But wait! There’s more! The shopping list is based on the SALES of the store you shop at! You can pick from ALDI, Wal-Mart, Publix, Kroger or Ralphs (or “any store”). And if you are a coupon-er, you can do even better by adding your coupons to the mix!

from last week’s menu: tilapia almandine, salad & bread

from last week’s menu: chicken, diced tomatoes & feta
I am shopping less and less at the grocery store so didn’t know if this would help me too much. I make all my own bread products (yeah, I do), I buy milk, meat and cheese from a farmer and am part of a vegetable share. Well, emealsthought of that, too. They have different menus to choose from–Regular Family Meals, Regular Meals for Two, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Portion Control and Vegetarian! I picked the Portion Control and most of the food comes from the perimeter of the grocery store–not many cans or boxes! {See some sample menus–and look! an Easter menu!}
I’ve used emeals for two weeks and I really like it. I love that the menu and recipes are all on one page…I just printed it and taped it inside my pantry door so I can look at it quickly. I love that the meals are diverse–a soup, a casserole, a chicken dish, seafood, pizza, beef and pork all seem to come up evenly. I love the shopping list is easy to read and is also on one page. You can see the adjustments I had to make on mine above—some food I bought from the farmer and other things I made from scratch. I love that the shopping list has prices on it–perfect for shopping on a budget.
So, this week, my emeals menu is:
Monday: Tandoori Chicken Strips with Corn on the Cob and a Green Salad
Tuesday: Mexican Pasta Skillet (which I’m gonna serve over baked potatoes instead of pasta) and a fruit salad
Wednesday: Grilled Tilapia and Mango Salsa with Grilled Sweet Potatoes {we don’t have a grill, so I’ll have to do this inside}
Thursday: Italian Chicken Wraps with Cranberry Slaw
Friday: Chicken Dijon with Wild Rice and Broccoli and Cheese
Saturday: Black Eyed Pea Soup, Cornbread Muffins and Sliced Strawberries
Sunday: I don’t cook on Sunday! (there was another meal, but I didn’t make it)
Now here’s the best part! Yesterday I cooked ALL OF THESE MEALS and put them in the freezer! All I have to do is pour stuff in the crockpot, throw it in the oven or piece it all together in a pan! I’m so excited! It was easy last week when I just followed the emeals menu plan every day, but now that I coupled it with freezer cooking? I am in LOVE!
Disclosure: I received a subscription to emeals to facilitate my review. I am also an affiliate for emeals. So, if you sign up via my links I will get a small percentage of the sale. And then YOU can be an affiliate, too. As usual, opinions and thoughts are my own.
why this post is awesome: homemaking is hard for me. this helps me be more awesome in that area.
Do 2 week meal plans, but usually have to hunt for a recipes that the family likes and will eat. This would save a lot of time!
I’m terrible at menu planning…and every day it’s the same discussion:
What do you want for dinner?
I dunno…what do YOU want for dinner?
Did we thaw anything?
Maybe we should just grab something easy.
That sums it up! Would love some great ideas.
I tweeted it!
I liked it on facebook, too! 🙂
I struggle. I need this. 🙂
I LOVE menu planning. Do it just about every week. Someone to do it for me and match up the sales at my store…. ya, that would be a win.
Menu planning sounds so easy…but is so hard to commit to and do it consistently. I would love any help I can get!
Meal planning is always an “I shoulda, coulda, woulda” at my house. I have good intentions!
I liked this post on FB!
I liked this on Facebook!
What an AMAZING giveaway! I am a planner, but struggle with my grocery bill and making healthy meals for my family! HELP!!! 🙂
Right now, we have been eating the same thing over & over thanks to a diet we are on. Gladly, it has served us well but it’s time for a change & to get back to planning meals more often. We have cheated a few times as a result of getting tired of this special diet we are on.
I make a list of meals then pick one throughout the week 🙂
I tweeted 🙂
http://twitter.com/#!/lovekatydid/status/61522682205847552
I liked this post on facebook Love katydid
Oh, I would love to try this. I used to be much better about meal planning, but lately I have been seriously struggling. I could really use some help!
Sometimes I’m really good about menu planning. And then other times — nothing. Blah! I would love to try this out!
I just posted it on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Angie76/status/61650374372753408