Low cost menu planning

A friend of mine asked me this morning if I could help her to make a menu. Actually I get asked this ALL THE TIME! But honestly I don’t mind at all. When you have been feeding a small army for this long on a small budget well its kind of second nature. SO I thought I would share here!

Using what you have

Take inventory of what you have on hand. Take into consideration what veggies are in season either on your homestead or locally. They will taste the best, be the best quality and most likely be the cheapest. Heading to your back yard or your local farm is always a treat!

Theme

Ok this is kinda funny but I started years ago kind of theming my days of the week. this can look so different for so many people. Some people like meatless Mondays, some pizza Fridays. I theme it around what is cheap for me and around things we can grow or produce.

Days of the Week

• Monday- meatballs
• Tuesday- tacos
• Wednesday- whatever meat I have alot of
• Thursday – goulash or pasta dish
• Friday- Bean based dish
• Saturday – soups
• Sunday- Snacky

Now that we have a basis for ideas we can make this look like something.

The Days in Detail

So Monday for instance is meatballs. For me this would be anything like this. Meatloaf and mashed or baked potatoes. Meatballs with spaghetti sauce made into subs or served over spaghetti. Sweet and sour meatballs and rice or pasta or quinoa.

Tuesday could be beef tacos, burritos, chicken fajitas, quesadillas, well just about anything thrown in a wrap. However you could also do nachos, or loaded taco baked potatoes.

Wednesday is basically any meal your family enjoys these for us are usually freezer meals. Cranberry chicken, maple mustard pork all the yumminess.

Thursday our family can always eat goulash but this could also be a pasta salad. We like pesto noodles once basil come on strong.

Friday we do fish for Fridays but its because it is cheap but a good alternative if a bean dish. Baked beans, rice and beans, jag oh the list goes on and on for bean dishes.

Soup for Saturday I love soups because you can make a big pot to use for a few meals. I also love them because they can be based on what is growing. A cream of broccoli can be cream of anything for asparagus to corn and potatoes. A minestrone can have almost any veg in it. Any stock can have meat and veggies added for a great meal.

Sunday for us is a day of fellowship no matter what church we are at this time of year it is a quick and easy meal. In the winter I usually fill the roaster. We might have lunch meat of stuff to throw on the grill , chips and veggies. Or in many cases leftovers are a go to.

The plan

Now lets pull it all together! Our family is ok to eat the same thing 2 times in one month. A plan for our family might look like this.

Week 1

• M- sweet and sour meatballs in the instapot, rice in instapot and side veggie
• T- Beef tacos large side salad
• W- Cranberry Chicken, rice, veggie
• Th- Goulash side salad
• F- Rice and Beans applesauce
• S- Chicken noodle soup
• Sun- Leftovers

Week 2

• M-Spaghetti and meatballs side salad
• T-chicken fajita’s side salad
• W-Maple Mustard pork
• Th-Pizza noodle casserole
• F- baked beans and sausage
• S-Butternut squash soup
• Sun-leftovers

Week 3

• M-Sweet and sour Meatball, rice and veggie
• T- bean burritos
• W- Cranberry Chicken, rice, broccoli
• th- goulash and salad
• F-Jag applesauce
• Sat- beef and veggie soup
• Sun- Leftovers

Week 4

• M-meatball subs veggie tray
• T- Beef Nachos
• W- Maple mustard pork, rice and veg
• Th- Pizza noodle casserole
• F- Rice and Beans and applesauce
• Sat- cream of broccoli soup
• Sun-leftover

Breakfast

It is almost June here so our breakfast take on that feel. Which around the homestead might include things like eggs and sauteed kale with garlic. Scrambled eggs and fried potatoes. Maybe some eggs and sausage in a sandwich or served over greens.

Another common occurence around here is still oatmeal. Our milk cow has yet to calve so we will continue with oatmeal until she calves and then we will move over to yogurt.

A quick and easy breakfast is to make a month worth of quick breads and freeze. Bannana, pumpkin, applesauce or zuchinni tend to hit the list this time of year. We usually are using our canned pumpkin and applesauce quite a bit this is a perfect way to use it!

The Best Gluten Free Banana Muffins – Momma Bear 2 Many

When we have quick bread we usually have either a fruit or a smoothie. A simple smoothie with 1 c greens, 1 c berries, 1 bannana and water or milk is packed with nutrition!

Lunch ideas

This time of year we start to get greens so I like to use them. Any greens will do beet, lettuce, kale, spinach the list and nutrition go on and on. Top your greens with chicken, tuna or egg salad. Maybe avacado, tomato, onion and bacon bits. Or maybe other fresh or dehydrated fruit and veggies.

This may sound silly but one of our favorites is leftovers or recreated leftovers into a soup or casserole.

In conclusion

This is definitely not and all inclusive list of meals, foods we eat ect. Just a touch on where to start if you are beginning meal planning. Or maybe alittle inspiration to get you moving in the kitchen. What are your favorite tips and tricks?