Monday, July 16, 2012

Organising your Weekly Shopping

One of the many things that becomes a frustrating choir is the shopping. Do you find yourself shopping daily rather than weekly? Do you run out of ingredients or go to the pantry to find you don't have what you need to make that nights meal?
Ok help is at hand here are few key tips to help you get through the weekly shopping and organise your menu regardless of whether you end up eating out or not.

1. Always keep a list of what you run out of and replace it in your next shop.
2. If you use something on a regular basis such as tinned tomatoes, pasta, milk etc make sure you keep a little more of that item than what is needed. 
3. Buy in bulk for things that won't perish such as toilet paper, tissues, deodorant etc.
4. Plan the weeks meals... it is also a great way of coming together as a family and getting the kids to put in their ideas of what they like to eat... even if they do suggest things like pizza it can be made healthy and you could get them to make the pizza dough and get them involved in that nights meal. 
5. When planning the menu make sure you try and use things in the next nights menu that won't allow for wastage eg. If you are making a stir fry on Monday night and you know that you are going to have vegetables left over make sure you are using those veges into Tuesdays menu item so you could do a vegetarian pasta. I am sure you will get the idea.
6. Don't impulsive buy... only get what is on the list so that you don't end up with wasted food at the end of the week.
7. Get the weekly junk mail and compare prices of meat, veges etc before you do your menu that way if Lamb is on special you can create your menu round a roast lamb on one night.  Also take in consideration the weather and the season. If it is winter don't make salad wraps... use hearty meals that will fill up the family that will also stop them from snacking.
8. If an unexpected night out comes up still shop for that nights meal or if you have all ready shopped for that nights meal you have a spare up your sleeve that can be made and frozen for a quick solution.
9. Preparation: If you have a menu that can be cooked ahead of time or you can prepare the ingredients in advance have one night of cooking and preparation so that each night you can throw together the meal in minutes rather than spending time chipping and cooking everynight.
10.Frozen meals: I am not big fan of frozen meals or anything that is pre-prepared for that matter. Usually theses meals are high in numbers/preservatives. Make your own by cooking up things such a s Lasagne and cutting up ready to eat portions that can quickly be reheated in the microwave.

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