What day is it?

I often have to ask myself that very question. As a stay at home mom you can often find yourself floating from one day to the next without knowing the sun has gone down and rose again. I have so many routine intertactions in my life as we NEED routine and structure in our home to make it manageable especially with the many disabilities we have in our family. I decided to pick making a menu, which is something "list" people will understand.

1. Start on Wednesday the new grocery ads are released, this will help you to plan a menu on a budget.
2. Gather materials needed, notebook, pens, grocery ads, calendar, cook books, etc.
3. Go through your freezers and make a list of any meats you may already have.
4. Browse the grocery ads for the meats on sale that week.
5. I make a menu with four meals based on the meat on sale, one fish and two meats from my freezer.
6. In the notebook write down each day of the week starting with the day you will do your grocery shopping.
7. Browse cookbooks, magazines, online recipes, recipe cards, or any family favorite that can incorporate the meats you have chosen.
8. Write down a dinner for each day of the week.
9. Fill in lunch menu by using as many items you know will produce leftovers.
10. Write in breakfast and remaining lunch meals
11. On a separate piece of paper make the following columns in order: Meat
Cheese, Canned goods, Frozen, Dairy, Produce, Bread, Misc.
12. Starting with the first day write down every ingredient need for each meal in the appropriate section. Continue through to the last day.
13. Go through your cupboards and pantry so you can cross off each ingredient you already have available
14. Look for regular staples you may need to replace that are not already on your list; milk, bread, eggs, toilet paper, etc.
15. Add those items on your list
16. Ask your family if they need any personal items replenished and add those items to your list.
17. Rewrite your list in the same order so that it is neat again
18. Write your menu on your calendar, I have a menu board that I write on so the kids can see it and I dont have to answer what is for dinner each night 11x.
19.On Saturday we order Bountiful Baskets, after I pick them up I cross off any fruit or vegetables I received that were on my list. I often am able to swap items on the menu so that I do not have to purchase it.
20. You are now ready to venture to the grocery store, make sure to shop in the order of your list.

Word Count: 467