I have been working on this very subject for quite some time now. Every morning I wake up with BIG plans to cross off EVERYTHING on my to do list for that day. Problem is, by the time dinner time comes, I am so done for the day that if I could crawl into bed by 6:00pm I totally would!
A while back, I decided to find a solution to this madness. Organization is key here! The first step to organizing the chaos is figuring out what you’re going to eat. Breakfast and lunch are pretty straight forward around here. It’s the dinners that kill me. I finally sat down one day and wrote down 30 different meals my family loves. Next to each meal, I wrote where the recipe could be found (cookbook name and page number or recipe card.) I realize you and I won’t likely make 30 meals with nights out, eating leftovers, etc. But the point is to have lots of options when you are writing out your menus and grocery lists.

Next, you need to determine how many times each month you plan on grocery shopping. For me, I go once a week. I try my hardest to go ALONE. It’s a little less overwhelming and I’m more likely to buy things we don’t need if I have others with me! Now it’s time to write your list. First, I write my breakfast ingredients, then lunch, then dinner.

TIP: I will buy AT LEAST 2 different types of fresh vegetables (baby carrots, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, etc.) that I can cut up and put in Tupperware for my kids. I also keep AT LEAST two varieties of fresh fruit. (bananas, apples, grapes, strawberries, etc.) I’m not a short order cook so if they refuse to eat what I make, they can supplement their meal with fresh fruits and vegetables.

I am also a stickler when it comes to my grocery budget. So it’s a must for me to write down the price next to EACH item on my list. If I’m price guessing, I always round up. Once I have added up the price for the 3 basic meals and fresh produce, I then know how much I can spend on other snacks and beverages. It is important to me to spend the bulk of my grocery budget on three healthy meals and fresh produce. This way when money is tight, I know we will never starve and we’ll still be relatively healthy. J

It is now time to go grocery shopping. As you cross off your list, make a mental note of how much you actually save. (If you’ve rounded up, chances are, you’ll have a few dollars (my average is between $5 and $10) left over to spend on stocking up on food storage. It’s a great way to stock up on items that may be on sale. Over a short amount of time, your storage will grow.

So you’ve gone grocery shopping–you think you’re done–but you’re not! Now it’s time to go home and put away the groceries. When I get home, I like to immediately wash off the fruits and vegetables. If they need to be cut up, I do it right away as I have found that they will actually get eaten and not rot at the bottom of the fridge if they are easily accessible.

Okay… Now you’re done! Just a couple more tips:
**Put your menu up in your kitchen. It doesn’t have to be Monday through Sunday type of thing. If you’re like me, you’ll change your mind and decide you don’t want lasagna on Thursday. The point is to have a list of meals in view so you will remember what meals you already have the groceries for.
**If your meal is something that can be heated up, throw it together in the morning (or the night before for working Mom’s) so all you have to do is heat it up in the evening.
**If you forget anything else, fine, but don’t forget this: Remember to pull the meat out of the freezer and into the fridge for tomorrow’s meals every night before you go to bed!!!!

Hope that helps you scramble a little less around dinner time!
Emily Christensen- Organizing Junky
Hi, my name is Emily! I’m a stay at home mommy of 3 little girls, ages 5, 3, and 2. I like my husband A LOT, and have been married to him for seven years! I have a NEED to be organized. I have found that my household runs smoother and my family is much happier when things can be found and things get done around here. I am so excited to share with you all a few creative ways that organization can be PRACTICAL, FUN, and BEAUTIFUL!
Oh, and don’t forget to check out my where you can find exciting, functional, and pretty little things for your home.
YOUR thoughts and ideas are always welcomed by me! Send them my way, .
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