Less Waste Through Menu Planning

Since we recently did our taxes, I looked over the year end statement of our credit card. Luckily I noticed that we were missing a credit and I had that remedied. But, what I also noticed was a shocking year end amount total of our grocery bills. Granted, I cook dinner practically every night, and we eat breakfast at home every morning, but we also waste way too much. What do most people spend on groceries? Is $10 per day per person about right for two meals and days and snacks? If so, we still exceed that rule of thumb.

I have recently designed a meal planning program, and I am now using it myself. Some clients need the structure of a meal planning system in order to get into the habit of preparing meals on a regular basis for themselves and their family. I need this system so I am not buying groceries that will end up going to waste. A meal planning system helps you organize meals and also save a lot of money. I already see a big improvement in wastefulness, and there's just no excuse for wasting food when so many people are hungry around the world. (I don't mean to get on the soapbox, I just am pointing out that there are moral issues as well to food waste besides economic).

I am planning on posting a teleclass to my website this summer that outlines the complete meal planning system, and also will include my worksheets that my graphic designer just completed. I am currently using them to work out any bugs and make sure that I haven't left anything out on the worksheets.

Well, it's Sunday so I'm off to fill out our weekly meal planner. I find that it's true what they say about failing to plan is planning to fail. I plan to see a much lower grocery year end total. With the money we save on wasted groceries we can buy some groceries in a tropical location in the New Year!