Many years ago, I wrote a series on shopping once a month. In that series, I shared how I had a monthly meal list. My podcast this week is on creating a 30 day meal list, and this post is a supplement to that to help you create your own, no matter if you want to shop once a month or just need a simple way to put together a menu. {You can also listen the PODCAST or watch the VIDEO.}
First, open a Word doc (or Google doc or whatever) and label it “30 Day Meal List”, add some cute clipart (it just makes this process more fun!). Then, make headings for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Miscellaneous/Sides.
Here’s a version of this I put together 5-6 years ago:
Something you might notice are all the page numbers without any other identifying marks. That is because I would always try to use one cookbook to put together the bulk majority of my meal list. That cut down on confusion and also gave me a chance to really enjoy the recipes in one particular cookbook, and hopefully find some new favorites.
For the Breakfast category, I would choose 12-15 meals to repeat once. Same with the Lunch category. Now, on the example above, there are only 12 dinner meals, but I know for a fact when I first started doing this, I did a full 30 days because I don’t like much repetition. However, I’m guessing this list was made during a time in my life when I need to simplify even more, so there are only 12.
By the way, the reason I shopped monthly and made a 30 day list all those years ago was because I had a houseful of littles and cooking and shopping became quite low on my priority list. I needed easy, and this fit the bill.
Notice how there are no days of the week or dates on this list? That because this list is there to give you complete flexibility. YOU choose what you feel like you can handle on any given day. Had a bad day homeschooling? You aren’t confined to what you had on the list to make for that day. Instead, you have the ability to choose an easy meal from your list and take a break! This was perfect for my life at the time because I had a lot of littles and I was the main person doing the bulk majority of the work.
The last section on the 30 Day Meal List is Miscellaneous/Sides. This section was (and still is) super important to our family. First of all, it was the place I put all of the side options I had shopped for that month, plus some new ones to try from my cookbook. It also had desserts or beverages I wanted to try, ideas for potluck meals or meals I could take to a friend, as well as celebration meals for our own family.
If you’d like to learn more about how I shopped and planned for a month of meals, you can read the series HERE. However, this kind of list doesn’t have to be a 30 day list. You could make a 2 week rotation or even make out a 7 day list to pull from each day. It is super flexible and super easy to put together, making it the perfect option for a busy mom who needs to take the stress out of meal planning.
Other resources that might be of interest to you:
My Aldi grocery budget (POST, PODCAST, VIDEO)
Don’t miss the Trim Healthy Table Giveaway!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
Peta says
I’ve been working on a meal plan that goes for a whole school term (I have 2 at school and 3 at home). My goal was to work on it every school holidays so that during the busy school term I have all my meals organised! It seems to be working for us at the moment. Blessings, Peta http://www.2punkshadabunchofkids.com
Karen Brunner says
I’ve been doing this since kids entered the picture. I only have 2 but I do this because it saves me lots of time and effort and stress. I shop every 2 weeks but always need fruit and veggie fill in. I use Pinterest to help me with planning and organization. I have boards for ‘main dishes’, ‘breakfast’, ‘sides’, ‘desserts’, etc. Additionally, I have a ‘next weeks menu’ board. I scroll through my other boards and based on the weeks schedule at home, I select my main dishes, sides, breakfast and desserts. The ‘next weeks menu’ becomes the menu plan for the next 2 weeks. I build my grocery list from there. I’v ealso started using Microsoft OneNote as a paper/electronic grocery list with the list that I can work from. So I guess that would be my ‘master list’, perhaps. Another newly added feature to my arsenal of ‘now to grocery shop’, I’ve started ordering my groceries online from Walmart. LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! This past weekend was my large grocery shop weekend. I have about $400 in items, 18 buckets and it took me 20 minutes to help the dude toss the items in the back of the vehicle. TIME SAVER!!!! I highly recommend incorporating this into any grocery experience if you are the tools available to make this happen. I don’t’ think you will regret it.
Amy says
Hi Karen! We don’t have it here yet, but I hope soon!
Becky Myers says
Great topic! We are a family of 8, with kiddos ranging from 23 down to 10 …. so pretty much feeding 8 adults. We homeschool as well, so I generally try to have extra leftover from suppers for lunches. As you mentioned in your video, we’ve had different seasons of handling meal planning different ways.
Currently we are in a busy season of teens working & volunteering, garden canning & freezing, Seeing Eye puppy raising and homeschooling. My method right now is to keep a well stocked pantry & freezer and meal plan from there. We have a list of family favorite meals by meat category (beef, chicken, pork) that I sit down with on Sunday afternoon / evening and plan out the week. On good days, I plan out 2 weeks at a time, but ALWAYS in pencil! ha ha One other thing I always try to have on hand is something super easy to make, quick to cook and that even one of my youngest kiddos can pull together ~ incase we have one of THOSE days where schedules don’t go as planned. This is usually something like hotdogs or fish patties that we may not normally eat, but that are a lifesaver when needed.
Reggie says
I have used the method above off and on since high school. My way of doing things right now is a special calendar page I made that I can print off per month and keep in my domestic engineering binder (no reason we can’t have a long fancy title, right?) I always write in one main meal per day to make sure all 30-31 days get covered, but then I pick and choose as time allows, crossing a meal off as it is made. We keep breakfast and supper the same Monday through Friday so I only plan for weekday lunches and weekends. It took awhile to streamline, but I can typically plan a month of meals and make the grocery list in under an hour now. It can seem complicated and overwhelming at first, but is totally worth it if you stick to it! Happy planning!
Reggie says
P.S. Am I the only oddball that cringes at the thought of online grocery shopping? I actually get a bit teary eyed to think I may be in the last days of cruising Wally-World with my extra-large-seats-three-and-some-change cart.
Amy says
Nope, not the only one. I do actually enjoy shopping, but I also think I’d save money if I didn’t find other things to buy while I’m there! lol
Reggie says
Ah, yes. I sometimes wish I could be so spontaneous. The only time I stray from my list is when I make the mistake of bringing my man in along with me. Then it becomes the Price Is Right in EVERY aisle and all bets are off.
Amy says
AH! Sounds like my man!
Vickie says
I have a master grocery list that I made many years ago. If I have everything on hand from that list, I can generally prepare about any meal. I am going to try listing recipe ideas. I pin lots of things on pinterest, but don’t always get around to trying them.