Thrifty Meal Planning

Thrifty Meal Planning

Below is a list of the items I try to always have stocked in my pantry,

and it is around these food stuffs that I plan all of my meals; breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks!

(Note: See menu suggestions at the bottom of this list.)

Items purchased in bulk:

Oatmeal (Instant, old fashioned, oat groats for running through my flaker, and steel cut oats)

Dry beans (An assortment, your family's favorites, our like kidney, pinto, lima and navy beans)

Brown Rice (Brown Jasmine cooks up in 45 minutes, light and fluffy)

Cornmeal

Flour (Cake, unbleached all purpose, and whole wheat)

Dough Enhancer (for baking homemade breads and rolls)

Pasta

Wheat berries (soft white wheat, and hard red wheat)

Pearl Barley

Salt and Pepper, and other seasonings and spices

Meat, Poultry and Fish:

Salt pork or bacon ends and pieces for seasoning soups and vegetable dishes

Chicken leg quarters, whole chickens, or frozen turkey-- whatever is on sale

Whatever is on sale that you can use to plan healthy meals for the near future

(My list is short because we usually have Venison, Elk, Chicken and Rabbit and home-grown pork in our

freezer, so adjust your list accordingly)

Dairy & Eggs:

1/2 & 1/2 (for coffee)

Butter

Cheese

Plain low-fat yogurt

Sour Cream

Cottage cheese

Eggs (lots of eggs!)

Milk (this will be used for baking with for the most part, so if your family likes to drink milk too,

you might want to try mixing it half and half with powdered milk to help make it stretch further)

Frozen Foods:

Frozen Apple Juice concentrate (For making granola and sweetening things naturally)

Frozen veggies (To add to soups or casseroles, like peas and carrots, or broccoli; or to fix as a side dish for supper.)

Frozen fruit and berries

Canned Foods:

Tomato sauce or paste (Whichever is cheaper)

Cans of tuna

Canned Chicken broth or chicken soup base

# 10 can of sliced peaches, pears or applesauce

(This will last our family of 6 a week, eating it for at least 2 dinners and 1 lunch)

Fresh Produce:

Onions

Celery

Potatoes

Bananas

Green Leaf lettuce

A fresh lemon or lime or two, for garnishing ice water

(Any other fruit or vegetable that is on sale if budget allows)

Pantry Items:

Shortening (Spectrum brand purchased through Azure)

Olive oil

Vegetable oil

Peanut butter

Jam or jelly

Mayonnaise

Pickle relish

Vinegar

Mustard

Soy sauce

Salad dressing or make your own oil and vinegar dressing

Spices & Seasonings:

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Salt

Pepper

Dried Parsley flakes

Chili powder

Italian herb blend

Baking Items:

Baking powder

Baking soda

Yeast

Sugar (brown & white)

Cinnamon

Vanilla extract

Baking powder

Chopped dates

Beverages:

Coffee

Tea

Ovaltine

Baked Goods:

Whole wheat bread if you don’t bake your own

One huge bag of potato chips if on sale (for lunch meals only)

Whole grain crackers

Breakfast Ideas:

Oatmeal with cinnamon and frozen blueberries on top, toast; coffee

Yogurt and granola; bananas; tea

Muffins & scrambled eggs with chopped bacon; coffee

Pancakes or French toast with fresh fruit syrup; tea

Crustless Quiche, home-made toast with jam; Ovaltine

Granola; scrambled eggs with bacon; tea or coffee

Scrambled eggs with assorted chopped and sautéed vegetables, toast; tea or coffee

Lunch Ideas:

Tuna salad sandwiches & potato or raw vegetable chips; pickles; iced tea

Chicken salad sandwiches & soup; iced tea

Grilled Cheese sandwiches & Tomato soup; ice water

Soup & savory muffins; iced tea

Tuna casserole; salad; herb tea

Peanut butter & jam sandwiches; chips; Ovaltine

Dinner Ideas:

Chicken and noodles; cottage cheese with pears & grated cheddar cheese on top for a side dish, fresh home-made bread and butter

Turkey gravy & Rice with fresh or frozen veggies; dinner rolls with butter

Mexican Casserole: Sautéed, chopped peppers and onions with browned ground meat & cooked brown rice; "Mexicana" frozen vegetables; shredded cheese melted

on top of the casserole; corn bread; fruit

Roasted Sticky Chicken; chicken flavored brown rice pilaf; veggies

Venison roast with mashed potatoes and gravy; dinner rolls with butter; fruit

Oriental chicken legs; fried rice; veggies

Meat-loaf; mashed potatoes; gravy; green beans with fried bacon or ham seasoning

Pot Roast; roasted potatoes; gravy; roasted carrots and pearl onions

Snacks:

Brownies

Muffins

Popcorn