#FAMILY MEAL PLANNING REAL LIFE UPDATE#

When I get to the freezer, I look for leftovers that need to be eaten or bulky items that are taking up space. (I obviously can use other items in the fridge as well, but I make sure to notate what needs to be used up for the week.) I'll write down what I have that's either about to expire or is in a partial container that's taking up too much space. I like to grab a notebook and my favorite erasable pens, then go to town. The fridge is the first place you should look and include in your meals for the week because it's the food that will go bad the quickest.

#FAMILY MEAL PLANNING REAL LIFE UPDATE#

It can take a while to do the initial inventory of all your food, but it goes much smoother once that's done - as long as you update it every week! Keep in mind, you don't have to inventory your kitchen staples, since those are items you probably always have on hand. The first step when I'm meal planning is to inventory my fridge, freezer, and pantry and see what absolutely needs to be used up before it goes bad. It's really quite simple to meal plan and keep a low grocery budget! Follow these easy steps and you'll be on your way in no time! INVENTORY YOUR FOOD You can find more info on that in THIS post. Quick disclaimer: Having a budget of $25/week isn't the “norm” over here, just something that we do during Shelftember! I usually recommend $100/person/month, starting at $300.

Follow how I meal plan for my family of 10 and you'll be a pro in no time!

See, that wasn't so bad! Meal planning and eating on a budget sounds like a daunting task, but it's really not so terrible once you get in the habit of doing it weekly.

Family meal planning real life