Preparing food ahead

My word for this year is "PREPARE". I want to be more prepared in every aspect of life.  After having my groceries delivered (I shop online and they are delivered for free-  amazing!) I spent one hour preparing food so that I am more prepared for every meal this week.  Rather than just putting the food away I did a few simple things to prepare it.  I chopped vegetables, boiled eggs for quick breakfasts, baked potatoes to have on hand for lunch, cooked turkey sausage for breakfast, cooked ground beef for a recipe later in the week, put chicken vegetable soup in the crockpot, cooked pasta and added frozen meatballs, and put some whole wheat bread in the pan to rise (thank you Rhodes for the dough). I am happy to be running ahead and not running behind! 😉 #prepare

Grocery Shopping Do's and Don'ts

Facts about Feeding our Family

Fact #1:  Feeding a lot of people is a big, never ending job!! (Our kids eat a lot!) 
Fact #2:  Eating healthy is important to me.  

Here is a list of my do's and don'ts:

I don't:

Clip Coupons:  I have many friends that have a lot of success with coupons.  It doesn't work for me.  If I do find great coupons I usually leave them in the car or forget to give them to the cashier because I am trying to keep kids from crying :) If it works for you great, you could save a lot of money.  

Price Match:  A few of my friends shop at Walmart because they will match the prices that are advertised at other stores.  Again, I am usually shopping with too many young children to remember to tell the cashier that I need to price match certain items:)

I do:

Always write a menu before I go shopping.

Always write a shopping list and try to stick to it!  

Cook from scratch.  Over the years I have learned to cook from scratch and buy less prepared and processed foods.  (make my own rolls. . . and they taste so much better!)

Incorporate food storage items.  I have learned how to cook dry beans in the crock pot, I used a wheat grinder and use wheat flour almost all the time.

Less snacks.  I don't buy endless packs of fruit snacks or chocolate granola bars.  We try not to eat too many snacks so that the kids will eat their meals, but we do love to eat popcorn, fruit, cheese and wheat thins, nuts, dried fruit for snacks. 

Schedule shopping.  I go shopping at Sam's Club the first Wednesday of the month.  I stock up on frozen chicken breast, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, cereal, meat. . .  the other Wednesdays during the month I shop at the local grocery store.  I would say that our "staple" items are fruit, milk, eggs, cheese, carrotts, and bread.  When I end up making a quick run to the grocery store for 1 or 2 items I always end up spending more than I think I will, so I try to only go once each week.  I do throw in a Walmart trip at some point durning the month to stock up on deodorant, toothpaste, or hairspray.  

Think ahead.  We don't just go out to eat when I don't feel like cooking.  I recognize that some nights will be busy and so I try to plan ahead for nights that we need dinner in a hurry.  When I make brown rice I always cook enough for 3 meals and freeze the extra in freezer bags.  If I am making a casserole I will try to make one for the freezer.  When we have homemade pizza I 4x my recipe and keep extra pizza dough in the freezer.  If all else fails we eat canned Campbell's soup!  

Hope this helps.  What are you thoughts or ideas?