Meal Planning Challenge for 2012

Planning my meals each week throughout the year, saved my family a lot of time, stress and money.  I really enjoy knowing what is for dinner and not scrambling at the last minute to throw something together or giving in to impulse buying of convenience food.  During 2011, I accumulated many new recipes from a wide variety of sources.  However, I struggled to actually use these new recipes in my menu plan.  It was just easier to stick with familiar recipes and meals I knew my family would like.  Well, with a new year upon us, I am challenging myself to change my meal planning routine.  My goal is to try at least one new recipe each month.  I look forward to providing a larger variety of meals for my family and also the opportunity to share more recipes on our blog. 


If you are new to menu planning, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Compile a master list of meal ideas.  Get your family to help you create a list of as many meals you can think of.  This will give you a great list to begin planning your menu, but don't forget to add new recipes too. 
2. Write down your meal plan.  Whether you put it on a calendar, a notebook or print a special form online, writing it down will help you stay organized and see what is on the menu.  You will be able to create shopping lists with ease and have frozen items defrosted as needed.   
3. Plan meals using items you have on hand.  Check your freezer, frig, pantry and stockpile to see what meals you can plan with what you already have.  This will save you from buying items you may not need and help you use food before it goes bad and you need to throw it out.
4. Check sales and use your coupons to find the best deals.  Use these items to plan additional meals for the week, if needed, or get a head start on planning meals for the next week.
5. Be flexible. Use a pencil to write your menu plan and if something comes up that changes your meal plan, simply make the necessary adjustments.  
6. Make extra.  Plan to make extra so you will have leftovers to freeze, send in lunches or even add leftover night to your regular menu plan.  It is always a nice break to have a simple meal in the freezer or leftover night.
  

I encourage you to join me in my challenge to try one new recipe a month and share your favorite new recipes throughout the year. If you are looking for some new recipes to get you started, check out our Savvy Simple Savers Recipes, the Recipe Links  recently added to our blog or some of my favorite recipe resources for 2011:

• Queen Bee Holiday Recipe Collection
• Best of Betty Crocker 2011
• Farmer's Market Collection
• Land O'Lakes 2011 Holiday Recipe Brochure
• Top 10 Favorite Weelicious Recipes of 2011
• Quick and Easy Dinners by Lynns Kitchen Adventures
  (email savvysimplesavers@hotmail.com to request the pdf file)
• The Ultimate Guide to Freezer Friendly Meals inspired by Zaycon Foods
  (email savvysimplesavers@hotmail.com to request the pdf file)