Meal planning is one of those homemaking things I have a love/hate relationship with. I love finding new recipes, I love trying new things, and I love eating. Conversely, I hate taking the time to plan, I hate shopping, and I hate cleaning up the mess I make in the kitchen. Can I get an AMEN?
The thing about having a large family is that someone ALWAYS wants to eat, and meal planning is a fact of life I cannot escape. I have little people – they need to eat – the end. So, I’ve had to learn to revel in the aspects of meal planning I enjoy, and find creative ways to tolerate (and even learn to love!) the aspects I don’t enjoy as much.
This page isn’t a one-size fits all menu plan. It’s a one of these sizes will fit YOU menu plan. There are tons of suggestions, ideas, printables, and tips for feeding your family on this page. The portions, recipes, and printables are geared toward big families, but even small families will find things that work for them too!
Let’s get to planning those meals, shall we?
Meal Planning Basics
There are a few things you need to solidify before you dive into making a menu and shopping list. I’d also highly recommend you check out the following post –
What We Should Learn from How Homemakers Used to Meal Plan
What’s your grocery budget?
You don’t have to have your budget worked out to the nth degree, but you should have a ballpark, and a good understanding of how it divides out between produce, canned goods, meat, and other items. Do you have specialty items you won’t compromise on? What items are you willing to compromise on? Know your bounds, know your passions, and know how to navigate a budget.
READ >> How to Afford to Feed a Large Family
Something I did when prices started going up in 2021 due to supply chain issues and inflation was to create a Price List on Google Sheets. Learn more about I did it and how it saved me money:
What cookbooks or online resources do you need?
Are you on a special diet? Do you like to use Pinterest? What are your favorite cookbooks? Do you like to plan digitally? Maybe you’re more of a pen and paper kind of gal. Gather your resources, and make it as fun as possible! (That’s me giving you permission to go out and buy a super special glitter pen and notepad!)
What’s your menu planning and shopping style?
Do you like shopping every week? Do you like to meal plan from one certain cookbook? Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Learn your style, and stick to it – because you will be more likely to stick to it! And if something you are doing isn’t working, know that you can change it!
Need recipe ideas for your large family?
Check out my Large Family Recipes page!
Now, let’s talk about specific strategies for meal planning and grocery shopping…
Monthly Meal Planning and Shopping
When we had 4 children, I started shopping once a month, and continued that practice for several years. To meal plan and shop once a month takes a bit of patience and self-control. It also takes quite a bit of time up front. However, once you get your meal rotation and master grocery list in place, most of the work is done, and can be recycled and over and over each month.
Follow the posts below to put together your own monthly plan:
Getting Started with Monthly Shopping
Making a Master Meal List
Monthly Shopping strategies
FREE Monthly Master Grocery List!
How to Create a 30 Day Master Meal Plan {PODCAST}
How to Create a 30 Day Master Meal Plan {VIDEO}
Weekly Meal Planning and Shopping
If you live near a grocery store, it can sometimes be easier just to shop weekly for your family’s needs. While some people insist it is more expensive to shop this way, I have not found that to be the case. I try to get as many things at Aldi as I can, and then grab the few extras at Walmart or another local grocery store. Shopping this way allows food to stay fresher, and takes less time for me to prep a menu plan.
Check out my weekly Aldi grocery budget and shopping list (2017 edition)
How much does it cost to feed a large family? (2016 edition)
Follow the posts below to put together your own weekly plan:
Creating a List of Meals Your Family Loves
Weekly Shopping Strategies for the Large Family
FREE Weekly Meal Planning Template!
The Easiest Meal Plan Ever (30 meal master list!)
Making a Menu Plan Your Family Loves {PODCAST}
FREE Weekly Grocery Master List
Buying in Bulk
Our family does choose to buy several items in bulk because it cuts down on cost tremendously. Yes, it is an expense up front, but if you take the time to count the cost, and then save up for what is a better deal in bulk, you will be pleasantly surprised by how it eases the grocery budget.
What I Buy in Bulk {POST}
What a Large Family Buys in Bulk {VIDEO}
How I Buy in Bulk to Stockpile:
Large Family Recipes
Get all of our Large Family Recipes!
Large Family Breakfast Ideas
Western Omelet Roll
Whole Wheat Pancake Mix
Autumn Pancakes
Chocolate Chip Tea Scones
Breakfast Cookies
Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole
Dutch Baby Oven Pancake
Bacon Gravy
Simple Granola Recipe
Large Family Lunch Ideas
Making Lunch Easy – Soup, Salad or Sandwiches Method
Big List of Finger Food Lunches
Lunch {Homeschool Friendly} Pinterest Board
Large Family Snack Ideas
Think simple!
cheeses, crackers, pretzels, hummus, vegetables, fruit, hard boiled eggs, nuts, etc. Keep it easy so they can grab these snacks on their own and with very little preparation from you.
Large Family Dinner Ideas
Our Large Family Go-To Meals
Hearty Oven Stew
Meal Planning Printables
FREE Weekly Meal Planning Template
FREE Weekly Grocery List
FREE Monthly Master Grocery List!