day 6 - small: meal planning

31 Days Index

Meal planning is my new favorite thing. The hubs predicts my excitement will soon wear off (and he's probably right), but for now, I'm loving it! I told him that the thrill will last longer than he thinks...because, to me, meal planning also means strategically saving money. Finding deals. And that is always fun for this girl!!

I added this topic to the series about being intentional because I find that I am, in fact, very intentional about what I feed our little family. I'm kind of into the organic/no GMO thing. When the hubs explained to me that a lot of the stuff we have here is not allowed to be sold back in England...well, that kind of tipped me over the edge. And scared me. And grossed me out completely. 

So how do I get around that (and still be cost conscious) with our groceries? Drumroll...our favorite grocery store...Trader Joe's! 

Source

Though TJ's does not guarantee the meat to be GMO free since they do not regulate what the animals are fed (read more on that here), you can buy organic to avoid that. I just tend to stray away from meat-for-every-meal in general...we might have it twice a week. (Or 3 times if you include when Mark gets a beef burrito on our Moe Monday date nights! ;)) Eating less meat is a money saver too. I just have to be more creative with the menu. Did you see my butternut squash and kale quesadillas?! Even a hit with my meat-lovin' hub.

Now, I still meander on over to Harris Teeter for some things here and there. I mean, you can walk to The Teets from our house. But that place is expensive! I make sure to plan ahead and align my shopping list with the weekly specials. With that bit of intentionality added in there, I only buy things that are buy-one-get-one-free or on a baller status VIC special. Yesterday I stoked up on whole grain bread (the hubs eats 4-6 slices per day) that was 50% off. $2.15 a loaf! Woopwoop! Yep, that was me. I'm that girl now. The one who gets excited about cheap-but-healthy bread. Ha!!

Here is a sample Houston family menu. Can you tell that I love that polka dotted burlap?! ;)

Are y'all intentional about meal planning with your families? Or food in general?! Spill the beans! I'm trying to absorb any/all advice I can get about this subject!!