Here's where you can get more info on her planners.  Tell Tammy that

Cate sent you!

 

The Google calendar is a nifty, free feature that Chris and I use to keep our family calendar on track.  We are the only ones who can make changes.  We overlaid US holidays, and set up dates like birthdays to recur on an annual basis.  Whenever we add a calendar item, it's instantly updated--so I immediately see anything Chris adds.  Even better, whenever we add a new item, we can opt for e-mail notices, pop-up notices, or both--and we can control when we get those notices.  I have a daily agenda emailed each morning at 4 a.m.  Finally, I always transfer each week to our paper calendar as a backup.  Nifty!

 

2)  Make busy days and nights homemade. You can still eat reasonably

healthy and save money by planning meals for busy days.  I've talked

before about using that crock pot, right?  Well, with kids' activities now

covering all five weeknights, I've made up a monthly menu that uses

crock pot meals at least 2-3 times a week.  Get a couple good cookbooks

that have crock pot meals you'll actually enjoy, and bookmark a couple

good recipe sites that feature crock pot meals.  We have a rotation of 5-6

recipes we really like.  That's plenty of variety for us at this point.

 

For meals outside the house, just plan ahead and keep it simple.  Crunchy

baby carrots and apples make great side dishes and desserts.  Reusable

water bottles are a lot cheaper than vending machines or fountain drinks.  Even the occasional healthier frozen dinner is a convenient choice, if you have a microwave handy.  Nitrite-free deli meat for sandwiches, kettle chips, soups, cheese, reduced-sugar yogurts...all are good choices for on-the-go and filling eats.  Just make sure you LIKE what you bring along!  You want to look forward to your meal, and enjoy eating it...or else you'll binge later.

 

Your goal is to grab-and-go...and with just a bit of planning ahead, you can make it possible.  Cheaper, healthier and even more of a time-saver than fast food.

 

3)   Make use of menus!  Menus are one of the best things I've ever

incorporated into my family's routine.

 

Once a month I take a couple hours and sit down to plan my family's meals

for the next four weeks.  I just photocopy a calendar or draw gridlines on a small sheet of paper.  I take a quick look at my paper calendar and asterik busy nights where I know we need to eat early and fast.  I also make note of nights where I need to have meals planned for hubby and kids because I'll be out of the house.

 

From there, I quickly inventory the contents of both freezers (one in the

kitchen, one in the garage).  I make note of meats and other items

available to create meals.   I also check what's on the shelf in the pantry and in the fridge.  (Usually, there isn't much, because I only buy what I need to make planned meals.)  I then take meal items I already have on hand, list out any additional ingredients or side dishes needed to complete the meals, and add them to the menu on specific nights. 

 

Once I've accounted for all the food that's already in the house, I take those empty nights on the menu calendar and come up with meals that will work best, using sale items from that week's grocery flyer, or my favorite

Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.  I also keep it easy by having certain meals

each week or every other week, such as spaghetti sauce and meatballs. 

Make it one week, serve frozen leftovers the next, and so on.  

 

Then I hit the local super Wal-Mart and shop for loss-leaders at the other

grocery stores.  In about 3-4 hours I've done the majority of my shopping

for the next month.  I supplement weekly with milk, egg and veggie runs.

 

Doing this is SO worth the couple hours I spend planning! Each morning

I check the menu to see what's on tap for that evening.  I don't have to think about what's for dinner.  I even make notes on my menu like "take out drumsticks", so I'm reminded to take certain meats out of the freezer with plenty of time for defrosting.  I save money because I can buy meats on sale, and use them for the following month's menu.  I don't stockpile food that goes to waste.  We eat healthier, and we eat together more often.  

 

Menus are AWESOME!