When Making the Weekly Menu – don’t forget lunch!

Many times when I talk about menu planning, dinner seems to be the only meal that comes up. But you eat much more than that! Those snacks you just throw in the cart, the crackers, bread and other items you think as a side note adds up!

Plan for your lunch. If I make enough of something I jot down on the menu that I’ll have that for lunch. I work at home, so it’s easy for me to avoid the running out for some fast food. My husband works outside and is on the road going from job to job. If he doesn’t pack a lunch, he’s going through the drive through. Not only is this an unhealthy option, but those daily purchases cut into the grocery budget.

If you have kids at home, this is also essential. Peanut butter and jellies can only go so far. Make sure to plan for the little guys. I’m working on some fun kid lunch ideas for another post, but for ideas you can always google fun kid lunches.

You can buy a loaf of bread, some lunch meat, box of crackers and some fresh fruit all for around $10 a week. This makes enough lunches for my hubby to take with him. Fresh, healthy and for a weeks worth of food, costs what one lunch out would.

If you have some great frugal lunch ideas I’d love to hear them. Please post a comment. I’ll be adding another post soon of cheap healthy (and tasty!!) lunch ideas!