Buy the ingredients for at least one extra meal, just in case. When you create your meal plan for two weeks and write your grocery list, make sure you have back-ups of these types of items: toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap, dryer sheets, tissues, bar soap, hand soap, etc. You don’t want to run out of toilet paper and have to make a second trip to the grocery store. When my husband and I create our meal plan for two weeks, we plan to use browning bananas in muffins and pancakes, freeze fresh fruit for smoothies, and take advantage of already-preserved fruits, like dried fruits and applesauce. Most fresh fruits will spoil after one week so you will have to find creative ways to include fruit in your family’s diet during Week Two. (In a previous blog post, I shared my best freezer meal tips for beginners.) The GREAT thing about having frozen meals on-hand for Week Two is that you won’t have to cook!! 3. Most of my freezer-friendly recipes can be prepped and frozen in 15 minutes or less. This does not need to take a lot of time or be a burden.
Allocate time during Week One to freeze some food for Week Two.Įven if you buy food with a long shelf life, you will probably still need to freeze some of the food that you want to eat during Week Two. I have the most luck with chicken breasts, carrots, potatoes, apples, and frozen vegetables (obviously). If you’re going to meal plan for two weeks, you need to make sure that some of the food you buy will still be good during Week Two. Buy meats, vegetables, and fruits that have a long shelf life. How to Meal Plan for Two Weeks and only Grocery Shop Once 1. To help making the learning curve easier for you, I’ve compiled the lessons that I learned about how to meal plan for two weeks and only grocery shop once. I will admit that there were a couple of bumps in the road when we started out. Have I convinced you to meal plan for two weeks yet?!?
Here’s how we did it…Īt first, my sole reason for learning how to meal plan for two weeks at a time was the idea of a second weekend when I wouldn’t have to plan and shop.Īfter I actually tested out planning and shopping for two weeks at a time, I discovered two more amazing benefits: Two months ago, the thought, “We should meal plan for TWO weeks at once” entered my mind. My husband and I have been planning a week’s worth of meals for quite a while now.