Cooking on a budget - Menu Planning

From shopping lists to less waste, menu planning has a major impact on your wallet. If you are cooking on a budget and still want tasty meals, here's how. 

If you want to save money on food but not at the expense of flavor or nutrition, so menu planning can be your route to cheap, healthy meals. 

Menu Planning Reduces Waste 

One of the most effective ways to save money on food by reducing waste. A 2004 study conducted by the University of Arizona has proposed an average household in the U.S. throw away almost 14% of the food they buy, equivalent to several hundred dollars a year. Plan wisely and you can dramatically reduce food and money, you can throw every year.

Cooking on a budget Starts with Planning 

Improving your menu planning starts with checking your store cupboard, before you head to the stores. Make sure you only buy what you need. Make sure there are no forgotten items lurking at the back of the closet, quickly approaching its use-by date. Also check your freezer for any remaining you've been clever enough to save. 

Once you have established what you already have, make a list of what else you need before you go shopping. This helps you avoid expensive impulse buys, something that can eat away at your food budget. 

If you lead a busy life, menu planning a week or even a month in advance can save you both time and money. If this seems daunting, start with one week at a time and see how quickly you discover the benefits. When you have spent time to plan a week's menu and shopping list, keep a copy. You will build a timesaving collection of ready-to-use weekly plans. 

If you tend to buy processed food and ready meals, consider creating several homemade dishes. You will know exactly what goes into your food, producing it at a fraction of the cost of commercially prepared meals. If you are in a short time, why not double the quantities, tucking away homemade convenience 'meals in the freezer for another time. 

Shop wisely Cheap Meals 

Planning your menu can also help you shop wisely, save money on food:

    * Once you know what you need, it is much easier to look for deals, collect coupons or buying in bulk, further reducing your costs. 

    * Remember to be flexible with your recipes. If you plan to buy a product, and there is an offer on a suitable alternative, try switching to the cheaper ingredient. Not only does this save money on food, it adds variety to your meals. 

    * Consider replacing cheaper proteins in some meals. Beans and lentils is low in fat, add protein and can be used to replace or bulk up meat in casseroles and pasta dishes. 

    * If there is fresh produce on offer you use regularly, buy in bulk and divide into appropriate size portions and freeze for later use. 

    * Consider test and switch to own brand products. 

    * Do not be tempted to buy products you do not use just because they are on special. They may seem a bargain, but you are simply creating more wasted food and money. 

Cheap healthy meals with Menu Planning

Make changes to established shopping and eating patterns is not easy. Demands on our time are often as large as demands on our wallets. But a little time to review your shopping habits and some planning now will pay the dividend. With just a little practice, can cook on a budget done so much easier by using the menu management. You can eat good food at a great price.