Hello and Welcome to Lesson 7 of
Our Free "Meal Planning 101" eCourse

Hello, and welcome to your seventh lesson!   This week we look at digging in the cupboards and freezer for those "little extras" :).

Lesson Seven;  Using Up What You Already Have.

You're a rare person indeed if you don't have an assortment of items in your pantry/cupboards and freezer that have not been assigned to this week's meal plan - you know what I mean, the "extra stuff" that

• looked so good at the store but you never made because.... 

• was in the Club Pack of 12 chicken breasts (now you have 3 left in the freezer)

• never got prepared because you ended up going out for dinner instead :)

• ... you get the idea...

Let's use up that stuff before it expires or gets too freezer burned.  By the way, this is a good idea to do every month or so.

• Start by taking a quick inventory of what you have on hand.  I focus on the expensive stuff first - usually meat - to be sure that money  doesn't get wasted. 
• Write those items on a piece of paper, each on their own line.
• Now go through your pantry and look for any side dishes or ingredients that can be served along side or mixed with what you've found.
• Note those items beside your expensive or main items.
• On each line note what extra you need to purchase to make a meal.
• Go fill out this week's meal plan and shopping list accordingly.

After all, why buy new ingredients for 7 meals when you have most of the ingredients in your pantry and freezer for 3 meals?

Save some money this week and enjoy the extra freezer space.  Now you have room to stock up on the _____ that is on sale this week ;)

Crystal

******************

Again, all the sheets are in PDF format which means you need to have Adobe Acrobat to see it.  If you don't have Adobe, click here to download it – it's fast and free.

The Blank Shopping list is available online here. 

The Blank Meal Plan comes in two sizes:
 

1. Letter paper size - you'll also find this version online here.
   
    
2. Legal paper size - you'll find this version online here.

 

********************

 

Any questions or comments? 
Please email us