How Can You Plan and Budget for Two Weeks of Meals?

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Discussion Overview

The thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and strategies for planning and budgeting meals for two weeks. Various meal ideas and shopping techniques are discussed, along with personal anecdotes related to cooking and family meals.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shared their successful grocery shopping experience, managing to buy food for two weeks for $88.56.
  • Another participant expressed admiration for the low grocery bill and inquired about the shopping strategies used.
  • Several users mentioned using coupons and rewards programs to reduce grocery costs.
  • One participant described their family's meal plan, including a variety of dinners and a special birthday dinner request.
  • Another participant shared a humorous take on combining meals, introducing terms like "brinner" and "lupper."
  • Some participants discussed specific meals they prepared, including stir fry, BBQ chicken, and creative uses for leftovers.
  • One participant noted their experience with a recipe that didn't go over well at dinner, highlighting the unpredictability of meal success.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the effectiveness of various budgeting strategies and meal planning techniques, with no clear consensus emerging on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants shared personal experiences and meal ideas, reflecting a range of family sizes and preferences. The conversation highlights the challenges of meal planning in the context of rising grocery prices.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and community members interested in meal planning and budgeting strategies may find the shared experiences and ideas helpful.

rennea
rennea
Gold Member
Messages
3,662
Well I went shopping today:thumbup:

I purchased food for 2 weeks:

14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners plus snacks and things for dessert

Total bill: $88.56 I ROCK!!!!!:p

Tonight we are having Sole with white beans. :D
 
::HIJACK::

WOW you do rock! I am pretty good about keep my grocery bill down, but I must admit...your total is awesome! How do you do it?

I use coupons and shop on base.....
 
rennea said:
Well I went shopping today:thumbup:

I purchased food for 2 weeks:

14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners plus snacks and things for dessert

Total bill: $88.56 I ROCK!!!!!:p

Tonight we are having Sole with white beans. :D
Click to expand...

Can I ask how the heck you did that?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #4
I use coupons plus my credit card has a points system with every $ you send you earn 100 points. Every 20000 points = $20.00 in food. You can earn bonus points etc. Anyways I use the card to pay for everything and pay it off right away.

So today I got $40.00 off alone with my card plus I had coupons.
Pretty good cause on the bill was also dog/cat treats, 2 magazines and flowers!!!
 
Good job!!!! EXCELLENT shopping!Last night we had burgers for DH and DD, hot dogs for DS and I had a Salmon Patty. :) Had to wake up DD for dinner, we took a long bike ride when we all got home and she walked in the door and crashed!Tonight...well, I have a steak marinating for the last 24 hours. (We bought 1/2 a cow last fall so once in awhile get a treat...)
 
I didn't get to make dinner last night- so tongith will be the ham and cheese omlete roll thingy with cheesy hashbrowns. It's rainy, dreary and cloudy today, so breakfast for supper is perfect! Or as Janet calls it brinner- I like brupper! :) LOL
 
Kitchen Diva said:
I didn't get to make dinner last night- so tongith will be the ham and cheese omlete roll thingy with cheesy hashbrowns. It's rainy, dreary and cloudy today, so breakfast for supper is perfect! Or as Janet calls it brinner- I like brupper! :) LOL
Click to expand...

OBVIOUSLY you've never seen Scrubs...there is a whole episode on Brinner...

Brupper kind of sounds like you're going to burb it back up...
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
Kitchen Diva said:
I didn't get to make dinner last night- so tongith will be the ham and cheese omlete roll thingy with cheesy hashbrowns. It's rainy, dreary and cloudy today, so breakfast for supper is perfect! Or as Janet calls it brinner- I like brupper! :) LOL
Click to expand...


Sounds yummy to me:chef:
 
janetupnorth said:
OBVIOUSLY you've never seen Scrubs...there is a whole episode on Brinner...

Brupper kind of sounds like you're going to burb it back up...
Click to expand...


But on the weekends, when we often combine lunch and dinner, we call it Lupper.


Tonight, we are having BLT's and Broccoli Salad....and I made a treat for the boys - jello made with ice cream instead of cold water or ice. Mmmmmmm!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
ChefBeckyD said:
But on the weekends, when we often combine lunch and dinner, we call it Lupper.


Tonight, we are having BLT's and Broccoli Salad....and I made a treat for the boys - jello made with ice cream instead of cold water or ice. Mmmmmmm!
Click to expand...


I have never heard of this Becky:confused: This might seems like a stupid question but is the icecream melted?
 
rennea said:
I have never heard of this Becky:confused: This might seems like a stupid question but is the icecream melted?
Click to expand...
You start the jello with the boiling water like normal, and then, instead of adding cold water or ice cubes to help set it, you add an equal measure of vanilla ice cream, and stir it until it all melts into the jello - and then put it in the fridge and let it set up.My grandma used to make this when I was little...it's sort of like comfort food for me, but I hardly ever make jello because of the artificial ingredients...but it's a yummy occasional treat - and my guys behaved themselves last night during my show - so I am giving them a treat!:D
 
rennea said:
Well I went shopping today:thumbup:

I purchased food for 2 weeks:

14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners plus snacks and things for dessert

Total bill: $88.56 I ROCK!!!!!:p

Tonight we are having Sole with white beans. :D
Click to expand...


How did you do that and how many people do you feed? :)
 
We had a turkey mince curry with pilau rice, and citrus tart for pudding.
 
To quote Homer Simpson: I discovered a meal between breakfast and brunch!<giggle>We ended up going out for Thai food last night (I tried something new, a fried rice dish with basil in it. The soup they served was really spicy, so I couldn't taste the basil last night. But boy could I when I had the leftovers for lunch!). Anyhoo, because we went out last night, I'm making yesterday's planned dinner today: kielbasa and smashed potatoes.
 
Any ideas on what I can do with leftover steak from the Memorial day cookout????
 
chefmeg said:
Any ideas on what I can do with leftover steak from the Memorial day cookout????
Click to expand...

Slice it into thin strips and saute it with some peppers and onions.

Quick and easy fajitas!
 
We are having Slow 'N Easy BBQ Chicken tonight. Great slow cooker dish! Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE my slow cooker??
 
we are having stir fry. Chicken, snow peas, broccoli, green onions, carrots, zucchini, onion, peppers.
 
peichef said:
we are having stir fry. Chicken, snow peas, broccoli, green onions, carrots, zucchini, onion, peppers.
Click to expand...

Mmmmm! That sounds yummy! What time is supper?:D
 
Grilled cilantro lime jerk chicken with black beans and rice.
 
Today is DS4's birthday. He requested spaghetti, salad and french bread for dinner. No problem!!!:D Oh, and ice cream cake for dessert!
 
I'd make steak tacos/nachos. I always have taco makings on hand and I LOVE steak with nachos! :-) Can I have some steak?? lol
 
janetupnorth said:
Good job!!!! EXCELLENT shopping!

Last night we had burgers for DH and DD, hot dogs for DS and I had a Salmon Patty. :) Had to wake up DD for dinner, we took a long bike ride when we all got home and she walked in the door and crashed!

Tonight...well, I have a steak marinating for the last 24 hours. (We bought 1/2 a cow last fall so once in awhile get a treat...)
Click to expand...

Hey Janet!! How did it walk.....;) :rolleyes: ;)
 
A friend is bringing us supper tonight. I know they are grilling pork chops and I think doins squash. I am not sure what else.
 
Ginger428 said:
Hey Janet!! How did it walk.....;) :rolleyes: ;)
Click to expand...

Depends on which "half" they got, HA!:D
 
That was DD that walked in the door and crashed...the cow was a separate thought!
 
Kitchen Diva said:
I didn't get to make dinner last night- so tongith will be the ham and cheese omlete roll thingy with cheesy hashbrowns. It's rainy, dreary and cloudy today, so breakfast for supper is perfect! Or as Janet calls it brinner- I like brupper! :) LOL
Click to expand...

Well, scratch that- I was copying recipes to recipe cards and ran across the cheeseburger stuffed calzone, so I made that instead- It looked good and smelled really good, but sadly it wasn't loved by anyone at the table including my 4 year old niece. Thank heavens for a full pan of Rice Krispy bars! :) I know that rice krispy bars are not supper- but they do cover the 4 main food groups which are #1- grains, #2- marshmallows, #3-butter and #4-portable!

LOL

At least I tried something different...
 
You're GOODDDDDDDDDDD!
 
Do you care to share your menu. I make a menu out before I go grocery shopping. I was staying at around 120-150 for 2 weeks but lately, everything has gotten so expensive, it takes around 200-250 to feed us for two weeks. And I ain't talking steak.


rennea said:
Well I went shopping today:thumbup:

I purchased food for 2 weeks:

14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 14 dinners plus snacks and things for dessert

Total bill: $88.56 I ROCK!!!!!:p

Tonight we are having Sole with white beans. :D
Click to expand...
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the first steps to planning meals for two weeks?

Start by reviewing your pantry and refrigerator to see what ingredients you already have. Then, create a meal plan by selecting recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day. Consider using a theme for each day (like Meatless Monday or Taco Tuesday) to simplify your choices.

How can I create a budget for my two-week meal plan?

To create a budget, first estimate the cost of each meal by researching prices for the ingredients you'll need. Add up the total cost for all meals planned for the two weeks. It's helpful to set a budget limit based on your financial situation and adjust your meal choices accordingly to stay within that limit.

What types of meals should I include in my two-week plan?

Include a variety of meals that are balanced and cater to different tastes. Incorporate proteins, vegetables, and whole grains. Consider including a mix of quick meals for busy days and more elaborate recipes for weekends. Don't forget to add some snacks and easy-to-prepare meals for flexibility.

How can I save time while preparing meals for two weeks?

Batch cooking is an effective way to save time. Prepare larger portions of meals that can be stored in the fridge or freezer for later use. Additionally, consider using kitchen tools like slow cookers or pressure cookers to speed up the cooking process. Pre-chopping vegetables and marinating proteins in advance can also save time during the week.

What should I do if I have leftovers?

Plan for leftovers by intentionally cooking extra portions of meals that can be easily reheated. You can also repurpose leftovers into new dishes, such as turning roasted chicken into chicken salad or using extra vegetables in a stir-fry. Make sure to store leftovers properly in airtight containers to maintain freshness.

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