Meal Planning on a Budget for Busy Families

Meal Planning on a Budget

We all have to eat and most of us enjoy a sumptuous meal. However, the tasks of planning meals for a family can become overwhelming. Many busy families face challenges with meal planning and the cost of fine dining outside the home is just not practical . On top of work, school activities and other day to day duties, the daily preparation of meals can become a dreaded chore.

Budget-friendly meal planning can save time, money, and reduce stress. It can make life easier for the entire family and free up time that you can spend together as a family while doing something healthy.

“Imagine spending less time thinking about dinner and more time enjoying it — without breaking the bank.” This is the ideal scenario for every family but it can be your reality with just a few steps.

1. Why Meal Planning Matters for Busy Families

It saves time during the week and is more convenient instead of preparing breakfast, lunch or dinner every day.

It Reduces food waste by setting out a detailed plan for what the family will have over the course of time. You can schedule this as family meal pep time in your schedule. https://asavvyhouse.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=117&action=edit

When you plan your meals, it helps to prevents impulse spending. You are not just going to go out to the store to buy lunch when you have meals already prepared.

This style of meal prep also promotes healthier eating habits. You know what goes into your food but when you purchase fast food there is no telling what the ingredients are.

2. Setting a Realistic Budget

Your weekly/monthly food budget will be determined by several factors. These include but are not limited to: the size of your family, how much you make and how much each family member eats.
Track grocery spending with free apps or spreadsheets. Check in regularly to ensure you are keeping up with your goals.
Include a free printable grocery budget tracker (optional lead magnet)

3. Smart Grocery Shopping Tips for Meal planning

Buy in bulk when it makes sense. This will help to save money and time. you won’t have to be returning to the supermarket for every small item and then be tempted with impulse buying.
Shop with a grocery list. Take time to do an inventory of your pantry and write down your needs. Try as much as possible to stick to your list.
Take advantage of sales and coupons even though they may be small. Every little saving counts towards your overall financial goals.
Use store loyalty cards and rebate apps to redeem points and get cashback rewards.
Stick to the outer aisles of the store. This is where the necessities are located and you won’t be tempted to buy junk.

4. Create a Weekly Meal Plan Template

Use a step-by-step guide to planning meals for the week. A meal planning template is perfect for this. you can use it on a device or print in out and place it on the fridge for easy access.
Focus on 5 core meals and reuse leftovers. This will help to prevent wastage and save money. Leftovers can also be used for breakfast or to create a completely new meal altogether.
Mix and match ingredients across meals. In addition, some pantry items can be used in multiple meals and in different ways.

5. Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas for Families

Examples of cheap and easy meals:
- One-pot meals (e.g., chili, pasta bake, pot roast, chicken pot pie)
- Casseroles (sausage and egg casserole, chicken casserole, Italian pasta bake)
- Stir-fries (stir fried rice, stir-fried vegetables and Chow Mein)
- Slow cooker recipes (beef pot roast, pumpkin chili, slow cooker short ribs)

List of pantry staples to always keep on hand:

Canned Goods (beans, tuna, tomatoes)
Baking Supplies (flour, sugar, baking powder, yeast, baking soda)
Condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayo, soy sauce, vinegar, honey)
Dried Goods (dried fruits, nuts, seeds)
Spices and Herbs (salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, thyme, basil, oregano)
Grains and Starches (pasta, rice, oats, cornmeal)

6. Time-Saving Meal Prep Tips

Meal prep in batches on weekends because this is the time when most family members may be at home then you can plan together for the upcoming week.
Use freezer-friendly recipes like soups and casseroles.
Prep ingredients ahead. Chop veggies, cook grains and you can also pre-cook some items.
Get the whole family involved. Let the kids in the family know what you are doing and let them assist you with some of the prepping.
Get your free 7 day budget meal plan for your family!!!!

Benefits of Having a Family Meal Plan

There are many benefits to meal planning on a budget. Meal planning can promote and improve healthy eating habits and it also helps to save money and time as well as helping to foster better relationships within the family. In addition to these, there are the benefits of being sure of what goes into your food a well as knowing exactly how it was prepared.

Meal planning does not have to be difficult. While it make take some getting used to, i assure you it is well worth it. I encourage you to start small — even planning 2-3 meals makes a difference. Over time you will see the benefits in your health and your budget.

Download your free meal planner or subscribe for weekly family meal tips https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-food-security