It isn’t officially a “not going out in June month”, but I am really trying to cut back on grabbing take-out. I was really lax on the home-cooking in April and still awfully bad in May, now that it is June it is time to get back on track. The best helper that I have to keep on track is my Monthly Menu, and I thought I would share a few tips that help me plan for a month of meals.

• First grab a calendar, and split the days into thirds. I have a spot on my calendar for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
• Make a list of your family’s favorite meals, and ask them if there are any new meals that they would like to try
• Go to your pantry, freezer, and fridge, and make a list of what supplies you already have on hand. You might surprise yourself with what you find, take a little time to plan a few meals around what is already in your kitchen.
• Grab a pencil and start planning your meals. I like to start with dinner first, and plan for leftovers. I write  the dinner leftovers down for quick lunches during the week.
• This is the first month that I am also planning a month of  breakfasts… I’m stocking the freezer with waffles, pancakes, and muffins. I’ll add in Bacon, Sausage, and Eggs to the menu for my hubby throughout the month.
• Plan for a little flexibility in your menu (hence the pencil)… Keep an eye out for fresh produce to add to your meals, and if you have to skip a home-cooked meal, but you have the supplies on hand, scratch out one dinner and replace it with what you already have on hand.
• Have fun planning!

I hope that these tips help a bit, and I hope to stay on track for the month of June.