Sunday, January 22, 2012

meal planning

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i know a lot of people do weekly meal planning,
but while i've tried numerous times i've found that it's just not my style.

but here is what i do:

once a month i pack up Micah, my stack of reusable shopping bags (including my huge blue one from Ikea) and a quarter (for the cart) and we head across town to Aldi.

I usually spent at least 3/4 of my month's food budget (which to be honest, compared to most i've talked to, isn't a lot) but you cannot beat the prices there (and we've found that the quality of almost everything has been excellent)

While there i buy almost everything i need for meals for the month (i do make more frequent dairy/produce trips at Trader Joes/Giant Eagle/Target throughout the month) but the majority is purchased at Aldi.

When i get home i unload my loot and then sit down with a pen and piece of paper and list out all the meals i could make with what i just bought, then, as the month goes on, i can just glance at that list and decide on a day-to-day basis what i feel like making that day (usually starting with the most perishable items first)

while i have my go to staples in my pantry at all times - like black beans, canned corn, chick peas, salsa,   etc...there are times that i do make a special trip for a specific product (udon noodles for example, which aren't typically found at Aldi)

it works for me, but i'm curious...


how do you mean plan? grocery shop? cook for your family?





*easy thai peanut-y noodles:

udon noodles (cooked according to package)
cooked chicken (shredded rotisserie chicken, boiled or grilled)
variety of raw veggies (shredded cabbage, carrot, pea pods, bean sprouts, cucumber)
target's thai peanut sauce (i've also made it homemade before with peanut butter, sesame oil, chili paste, soy sauce, ect)
splash of soy
optional garnish: lime wedges and chopped cilantro



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