I used to be SO efficient with meal planning, especially before I had Edie. Each week I’d print out a meal planner and pin it up in the kitchen so that I could see exactly what I had planned to cook… then I slowly stopped doing that.
Meal planning properly can really help to cut back the weekly spend and food wastage so I am trying really hard to get back to it. I don’t think it’s especially tough during summer so I thought I’d share with you our meal plan for the next week.
Monday – Shredded chicken fajitas – 2 chicken breasts slow cooked in mexican spices and shredded.
Tuesday – Flan (I made this summer flan a few weeks ago and it went down a storm!) & salad
Wednesday – Slow cooker spaghetti Bolognese (my mother’s recipe)
Thursday – Tomousska (I first made this when I wanted to make Moussaka and I didn’t have any aubergine, here is the recipe)
Friday – Homemade pizza using my favourite pizza dough recipe
Saturday – Adult’s have a take out but the boys will be having fish parcels
Sunday – Dare I attempt a Sunday Dinner? I haven’t had one for ages so I think the answer is yes!! Our’s usually has roasted chicken (or sometimes beef), mashed potatoes, mashed carrot and swede, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, yorkshire puddings (hello, we’re in yorkshire – plain rude not to) and red cabbage.
So working out my meal cost for the week (I do the bulk of my shopping at Aldi and then grab extras/luxuries from Asda) I will spend roughly £32.50 on meals (including using things like the ham for flan for sandwiches/lunch boxes and adding in breakfast cereal etc), £30-35 on luxuries/snacks (chocolate/crisps/wine..) and £25 on a takeout. That makes our (max) spend for the week £90 for a family of 6 for food… how does that compare to you, do you think that’s reasonable?
What is on your meal planner next week or do you wing it?
H x
P.s – I’m not including the cleaning or laundry products in this and we are by no means thrifty on those or food, but I do think that by planning we can save quite a bit.
Fab meal plan H! I love the sound of slow cooking the chicken in fajita spices rather than just whacking it in the frying pan. I bet it makes it extra tasty – I will give it a try! Thanks for sharing with us on #fortheloveofBLOG
Thanks Fi – it is SO much nicer than any other way, it’s deeeeelish! H x
I think that’s so reasonable. I have to start meal planning as we waste so food. Love the idea of a sinner flan. I always shop in Aldi now x
We waste a lot too when I don’t make a plan!
This looks super helpful but I can imagine it’s hard to feed a family, especially without a meal plan. I struggle to do a meal plan for me as it is, and I’m just one person! x
I dont meal plan myself but i understand the benefits. Whenever i see others plans I always want to start trying it myself!
Thats absolutely brilliant, great value meal plan in my opinion. We spend that on our groceries for the house and theres just the two of us. I love the idea of the tomatosakka! xxx
I started meal planning a few weeks ago and it’s been great as I don’t over buy. Plus I don’t get to 4pm and think what am I going to do for dinner anymore X
hat a fab meal plan Harriet.. it really shows that you can eat good food on a budget
ooo i do like the sound of this! and £90 is good for a family of 6! i think my parents spends more than that and were a family of 6 too. big appetites i guess haha
Never heard of Tomousska before so am checking your recipe out! It’s great you have such a varied meal plan each week. I’m a fail of a cook so it’s just pasta pasta pasta for me at the moment!
I need to start meal planning I think I would save a fortune too. I spend over £100 for a week and we are only a family of four. I think you are doing really well to keep to £90 for a family of 6:)
Thanks Lisa – we don’t do it all the time but this is a prime example of how much planning can really help!
I’m not a huge fan of Aubergines so I’m loving the sound of the Tomousska!
Super tasty, give it a go!
Great meals and sure the family will love it. I’ll go for the Shredded chicken fajitas; sounds very yummy.
This sounds like a good meal plan. I need to try making a flan this year. They’re not so common here!
Mmm mmm! Delish!
I really enjoy meal planning. I usually start on Fridays and plan for meals for the week ahead. I don’t put days against the recipes as usually like to choose what I want to cook from the menu the day before. Sunday roast is a must on Sunday’s :-). Chicken is my favourite.
I wish I was that organised… I used to be!
I wing it but when I move hopefully I will be spending less money on food because it is not a good habit of mine.
Thanks Ana! Good luck 🙂
Our go to weekly meals are not too dissimilar to yours but in addition is definitely chilli con carne, chicken stroganoff, if I have time I love to do lasagne but I find it’s quite a big job as I am a from scratch kind of lasagne maker haha!!! We have painted one of our kitchen walls with chalkboard paint to do our meal plan on the wall every week ? #fortheloveofBLOG xx
We love all of them!
wow! this is great! I am the worst shopper ever – I daily shop which is the worst thing I could do, I spend about £60 a day, which is ridiculous! I’m going to try this next week. #fortheblogofBLOG
Thanks lovely!
Hands up I don’t meal plan it is probably something I should do, but I never seem to remember to actually do it. Good luck with sticking to your budget.
Thanks lovely!
I plan my meals for one person. I love chicken fajitas and spaghetti bolognaise – they are on this week’s meal plan 🙂
I love fajitas too!
I really need to start meal planning, I usually just wing it. I usually decide what to have for dinner at about 7pm!
Haha I’m like that!
Can I come round on friday? ha ha! I need to start meal planning x
The door is open Hannah 🙂
I wing it most weeks but I really should start planning meals. Need to look into that.
Give it a go – I don’t do it all the time but it is useful when I do!
It looks like you have some delicious meals planned. Fajitas are always a favourite in our house!
They are so good aren’t they?!
The summer flan sounds just absolutely divine, definitely one to try for me x
It is so scrummy!
I love reading meal plans and getting some inspiration from them. The summer flan sounds awesome.
Thanks lovely – they are perfect for inspo!
I don’t meal plan but it’s something I really need to do now as we’ve just lost our working tax credits, argggg.
Oh no!! Start planning lovely!
That sounds like a really low amount for the amount of people, well done if you stick to this. Some yummy meals this week x
Thanks Rhian! It works well!
That is excellent budgeting, making meal plans really help to stop those impulse buys.
It so does, I feel like if I stick to it I really cut costs 🙂
Your meals sounds lovely, I can not meal plan to save my life. I have no idea how much I spend a week, as I tend to buy extra some weeks and some meals I freeze half down for another day, so some weeks I just buy the basics.
Haha don’t work it out!
I have meant to go weekly meal plans since January! And still haven’t – I have to say I wing it, and end up spending too much. Good luck – your meal plan looks great. Kaz x
I do usually wing it… or spend time planning then deviate!
A great plan. I really need to get back into planning meals for the week.
Thanks Beth x
I am hugely keen on a meal plan, and I plan according to what I need for commissions, We tend to have our main meal at lunchtime too, as that is when it is light.
I do shop from Ocado as they are the best supermarket at not giving an substitutions, and we spend about £50 a week for food, toiletries and cleaning products. So I think your £100 is spot on.
Ohhh nice to know!
I have no idea what I spend weekly on food but might try and work it out and see if i can cut it down a little.
Haha it’s scary when you first work it out!
This is great! I like to save money and to buy only what I need… A meal plan makes you organized and have all under control 🙂
Thanks lovely x
I have not done proper meal planning for a while now and since it’s just me I can afford to be lazy now and again
I am lazy too often haha!