Monthly Meal Planning

newlywed

I do different types of meat etc on specific days. Monday is mince, tuesday chicken, weds is often prawns, Thurs salmon, Fridays sausages and then the weekends whatever I plan, or is on offer, or already in the freezer.

So my twice a month shopping is very similar but I vary the actual meal depending on what I want to cook or what we haven’t had in a while.

kacie

katkin said:

I buy a "big shop" online once a month and top up fresh items once a week in store - this is a quick pop in as I really don't like supermarkets! The big shop includes all the basic blocks that are storable (freezer, cupboard, shelf stable etc) to build the month's meals on, so mainly the protein and most carbs.
 

This is my plan, one big online shop to avoid all the temptations of going into the store, having a small cash top up budget for fresh foods during the month. 

I've got out a note book, and have started on the plan for September. 

My plan is to get 2 meats, one I'll do in the oven and the other in the slow cooker, I may have smaller meats as well like ham or bacon, but have 2 main ones. 

joedenise

@kacie - rather than buying ham just buy a gammon joint and cook it either by boiling in a pan or in the slow cooker.  Once cooked it is ham!  It's far nicer and much cheaper than buying the little packets.

If you want to you can bake in the oven after it's cooked, with or without a honey and mustard coating, although I don't usually bother.  I buy a joint for a couple of pounds and once sliced I freeze it in packs of 4  or 6 slices (for 2 of us depending on whether it's for a meal or for sandwiches).

You could do the same with a beef joint if you can get one cheaply (YS'd!).

kacie

Yes I've cooked gammon before, but trying to keep the budget down, so only 2 meats per month which is plenty for me, and a small pack of ham for a variety in lunches. Another month I could have gammon as a main meat, for September I've decided on a chicken and a pork joint. Chicken roasted in oven, and pork as pulled pork, which I'll use in multiple dishes in the slow cooker. 

I've gone through the cupboard and have plenty of rice, so curry and risotto with the chicken alongside a roast. The curry will probably go straight into the freezer so I don't have chicken everyday for over a week! 
Pulled pork will do a bbq style meal, will have on jacket potatoes and in rolls/sandwiches/wraps, again will freeze some so not having every day. 
Then in between meals will be what I need to figure out, once I've finished going through what's in the freezer. 

Tuesdays  have to be either leftovers or quick meals as I go out in the evening, Fridays are veggie or possibly fish. Still a work in progress, but certainly getting there. 

kacie

I've spent £67 so far on September food, delivery is on Sunday, just hope it all arrives, and then I have an extra bit for top up fresh items, hoping to keep it under £80. I'm spending a bit more this month, also spent £40 on the cat bulk buying litter and dried food, but he's now sorted for the rest of the year for those, but next month should be cheaper. 

I've done a Tesco order, which not as cheap as Aldi does deliver so I've bought heavy items that I don't often get much of as I normally walk to Aldi and it's up hill on the way back and up two flights of stairs!