Meal planning is such a must for busy moms and homemakers.
Even as we're spending a year traveling around the world (yes, really- you can read about it here), I'm still realizing the need for it.
Just this afternoon, I drew up a list of the foods I've managed to stock up in our small, temporary pantry and kitchen. I took that list and went straight to my Plan to Eat account.
Last spring, I mentioned that I had been finding my Plan to Eat account more useful than ever, now that so many of my recipes originate from an online source, rather than a cookbook. This time around, I discovered another huge perk of this online service-- even thousands of miles away, in a totally foreign place, all of my recipes and previous menus are still right at my fingertips!
This is the simple meal plan that I made up for this week. The variety of foods available to me here is much more basic than what I can buy back home, and yet going back through my old plans and recipes inspired me with ideas of things that I could still make.
After using Plan to Eat over the past several years, in the midst of trying other meal planning systems, these are some of the reasons I go back to it time and again:
- Ease of use. The drag-and-drop feature just makes it so quick and easy to create your menu.
- Recipe storage. Yes, I use Pinterest and bookmarks for remembering where my favorite online recipes are, but taking the 2 minutes to actually load them into your Plan to Eat account means that they're right there where you need them. I can categorize my recipes, give them tags, search them, use them to create shopping lists and more.
- Recipe sharing. Who doesn't love sharing their recipes with friends? When I'm in a rut or can't find a recipe in my own account that suits my needs, I really appreciate having the ability to search my friend's recipes that they've shared with me (and vice versa- I share mine with them). I can also access all of the excellent recipes from the Plan to Eat blog.
- Recipe queue. Ever think to yourself, "I need to remember to make that recipe soon!"? I do, all the time. And then, I forget to make it. With the Recipe Queue, if you notice a recipe that you want to remember to make, just add it to your queue. Then whenever you make a new meal plan, check your queue to see if there are any good ideas or recipes you'd almost forgotten about.
There are many other features that make this program a winner. I know a lot of women find the shopping list creation a real time-saver. The grocery store mobile app makes your shopping list instantly available to you on your smart phone. I've even written a more detailed list of features I use and love in this post.
Because meal planning really is worth it.
I'm thrilled to offer 2 year-long memberships (worth $39 each) to my readers, because I am such a huge proponent of meal planning! It saves you time, money, sanity, and truly helps you to put nutritious, homemade meals on your table.
If you know that you need to make strides towards regular meal planning and you're looking for a tool to help you do it, I highly recommend that you check out Plan to Eat's tour (so that you can see what it's all about) and then sign up for a free 30-day trial to see how it would work for you!
A a huge bonus, from now through to March 31, Keeper of the Home readers will receive 30% off an annual subscription to Plan to Eat using the coupon code: keepthathome.
Would you like to be entered to win 1 of 2 Year-Long Memberships to Plan to Eat ($39 value each)?
Rather than simply leaving comments, I'm trying out a new method for entering giveaways. Click below to complete one Rafflecopter form, for all of your multiple entries, and then you're done! If you're reading in an email, make sure that you click through to enter from the actual website.
If you're thinking of purchasing a subscription, here's a great opportunity to save some money.Through March 31, Keeper of the Home readers will receive 30% off an annual subscription to Plan to Eat using the coupon code: keepthathome!
Giveaway ends 2/23/2013 at 6:00 pm.
When do we learn who are the happy winners of this raffle?
I'm always glad to find new ways to be organized - thank you.
I've played around with a few recipe planners but haven't found one I like yet. Maybe this one will do the trick?
I do weekly meal plans using a picture frame and white board marker, but sometimes it's hard to be motivated to do it each week...
I try to meal plan, but I am not overly successful at it. My biggest struggle is keeping track of my menu plan and putting together a grocery list.
I love the concept of keeping my meal planning online and especially the recipe queue. When I pin or file a recipe I may not see it again for months, so the queue is a neat feature. :)
This looks like a great way to get started on meal planning... Something I've always wanted to do, but wasn't sure how to proceed!
I've tried meal planning, I love the concept of it but I can never stick with it! I also end up making the same meals over and over.
I haven't successfully planned our meals out yet. I really want to, but I am always so busy.
My biggest struggle with meal planning is that we get busy before I get the chance to cook everything.
i don't meal plan, although i keep thinking i should...=/
This would be great for me! Thanks for the chance.
I am off and one about meal planning. I like to buy what is on sale and then decide what to do with it. If I pick out my recipes and then go to the store. I end up not getting what is on sale and spending more..
yes I meal plan, my biggest struggle is variety! seem to make the same things over and over and over and over....
yes I do and it's hard to plan for just 2 people
I tried one but it was for like one person and I needed it for a family
My biggest struggle in meal planning is making time to do it! And thinking up recipes!
I need this sooo bad.. This is one of the biggest things I have been struggling with while working on a tight budget.
My biggest struggle with meal planning is that I think I should do something different quite often. I don't like to do the same thing every week, but I don't remember the things that I know I am good at making unless it has been recent. I need an easy to see place to keep all my recipes in a visible place!
I haven't meal planned in awhile only because I gave the duty to my hubby who does all the grocery shopping. :) My biggest struggle was finding time to do it.
I meal planned once - forgot the name of the web-based program - but the collective cost of the meals was much higher than advertised. I'm doing it now in my head, jotting down a week's worth at a time, but I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up.
I actually use and LOVE PTE - it's what makes menu planning simple for me! It's only hard when I don't use it! ;)
I have a hard time planning in advance because I do not know what I will feel like cooking or eating on a particular day. I would like to practice more though.
We don't meal plan right now, mostly because I'm a student and work and rarely have time to cook anything beyond the basics
Very exciting! I'd love to give this a whirl!
I can't function without meal planning! I just wish it took less time.
I haven't ever gotten into planning my meals ahead, and too many times supper time is almost upon me and I say "what am I going to make?!" Meal planning seems a little daunting...maybe I just need something like this to help me along. And would I like it? There are so many recipes we like and so many new ones I want to try!
I LOVE Plan to Eat. I became a member last summer. After being sick with a major infection all fall and winter, I am looking forward to finally getting into my meal planning! My biggest struggle is sticking to the plan! I'm really a free spirit when it comes to eating, "what do I "feel" like eating??" So I'm thinking I might meal plan for a week and then use which ever meal sounds good on that night. :)
I love meal planning, but my biggest struggle is that I always want to try new recipes and then end up spending more time making the meals than anticipated.
The biggest struggle is that I'm not consistent. We'll do it for a time and then lose track and before you know it I see my husband making DiGiorno pizza.
I don't meal plan, my struggle is with being unorganized. I can't seem to get my act together long enough to plan.