What's for dinner?

It’s a question most of us know very well. By making a weekly meal plan you can answer that nagging question, save on last minute trips to the dairy and prevent budget blowouts.

‘When you begin to plan your family meals, you will know in advance what you will be spending on your family groceries and will have an easier time sticking to your budget. You may be able to cut food spending by 60 per cent—or even more!’ says Cath Armstrong in her book Eat Well, Save More. Here are some ways to plan ahead:

Freeze and leave: Making one bulk meal, where you can freeze a couple of family-sized portions, is probably the most cost efficient method.

Weekly meals: If you can’t face cooking two kilos of mince at once, though, plan a week ahead—remember breakfasts and lunches too.

Include easy meals: Give yourself a break by including a few easy meal options, like baked beans or pizza—plus kids love them!

Get the family involved: You don’t have to do all the planning yourself. Within your budget and nutrition boundaries, get the kids to choose their lunch and breakfast options, and perhaps one dinner (on their night they’ll feel extra special).

Spend time preparing: This is where you need to spend a bit of time, to save hassles later. Create a list of around 30 meals that your family love, with ingredients for each meal. Consult the list when planning your grocery shop.

Work the specials: Each shopping week, base your meal choices around the meat specials. Try to have a couple of non-meat meals a week—you can use eggs or beans as easy protein options.

Stock up smarter: Before your next shopping trip, give your cupboards a good clean out. You may be surprised by how many meals you can already create with the food you have!