• Login
  • SHOP
  • Blog
  • FREEBIES!
  • Buy the recipe lists!

Meal Planning Blueprints

Simplify dinnertime with a Capsule Pantry

  • SHOP
  • Blog
  • FREEBIES!
  • Buy the recipe lists!

Meal Planning, Save Money · February 24, 2019

What is Backwards Meal Planning?

  • Share on Facebook!
Backwards meal planning save money on groceries overlay food cutting board

Meal planning is the art (or chore, for some, ha!) of simply planning your meals ahead. Typical meal planning would occur before you go grocery shopping. Backwards meal planning is a technique that helps you keep costs down and I’m going to show you the best way to do it.

There are so many different methods and frequencies of meal planning. You can meal plan for the week ahead, for the month ahead, or you can even plan for an entire quarter with the Capsule Pantry method.

If you’re backwards meal planning, however, you’d be weekly meal planning. This isn’t always the simplest way to meal plan (you know how much I love simple!) but it can be very cost-effective.

What is backwards meal planning?

Also known as reverse meal planning, it’s basically when you shop first then plan your meals. The process goes like this:

  1. Take a quick inventory of what you already have
  2. Look at your grocery flyers
  3. Make a grocery list
  4. Find meals to make with those ingredients

This is a simple and cheap way to meal plan for sure – especially if you tend to make the same things or use Theme Nights for your meal planning routine.

You need to stay flexible and have basic cooking skills to maybe swap out chicken breasts for pork chops in a recipe, or rice for pasta.

Tips for Meal Planning on a Budget

Make a Grocery Budget

How much should you spend on groceries? You need to know what your grocery budget is before you can save. If you’re not sure, walk through my Grocery Budget Worksheet and calculate your number.

FREE Grocery budget worksheet meal planning

Shop your pantry and freezer

Take a quick inventory of what you already have and come up with some dinner ideas for those ingredients. If you keep a detailed inventory updated, this will be even easier. You can print out the Kitchen Inventory sheet from the Freebie Library and laminate it (or put it in a sheet protector) to easily keep your items organized.

Shop the front page of the sales flyer

The sales on the front page are often sales that don’t make the store any money. They’re there to pull you in so you’ll buy other things. If you shop the specials on the front page of flyer, you’re most likely getting an awesome deal.

Utilize your freezer like a tool

Keep your freezer organized and use it to stock up on those meat or seafood specials from the front page. Then you’ll always have your main protein on hand (that you got at the best price!) and can meal plan from there.

PRO-TIP: Keep your freezer stocked with some crockpot freezer meals for those meal planning emergencies

Keep a Price Book

If you’re keeping track of what items cost, you’ll be able to spot an especially good deal. For example, I can usually find chicken breasts on sale for 1.99/lb but when I see them for 1.69/lb I know that’s a stock up price. And alternately, if a flyer has them for $2.19/lb I know to ignore it even though it’s on the front page.

Stay out of the store

Take advantage of all the shop online retailers, like Thrive Market, or grocery pick-up services like Walmart Grocery Pickup. Yes, there may be a small fee, but you’ll save that by staying out of the store!

Find recipes for ingredients you have

This may be the tricky part, yes? I highly suggest using Theme Nights to keep your meal planning super simple. But still, fresh ideas may not be springing up constantly and Pinterest is a deep pit of recipes that you can get lost in. I have a few different Ultimate Theme Night lists that are perfect for finding recipes when you already have the ingredients. Pick your favorite now.

So, what do you think of Backwards Meal planning? Is this something you already do – or maybe a combination of backwards and typical meal planning? Either way, meal planning is an awesome way to lower your grocery costs!

FREE Grocery budget worksheet meal planning

Backwards meal planning save money on groceries overlay food cutting board

In: Meal Planning, Save Money

You’ll Also Love

Simple Coupon Organization for Beginners (or experts!)
Are you spending too much on Groceries? (free Grocery Budget Worksheet!)
Super Simple Grocery List for Two Weeks (free template)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

20 Vegetarian Taco Recipes so Good your Meat Eaters will Love Them

trending now

  • Feast of the Seven Fishes Menu: the Italian Christmas Eve
  • 10 Disney Movie Night Dinner Match-ups (make Family Movie Night fun!)
  • Super Simple Grocery List for Two Weeks (free template)
  • 10 Meatless Monday Menu Ideas

instagram

Follow @mealplanningblueprints

I could tell you so many things about this girl... I could tell you so many things about this girl... 
...my BFF Cara @apurposedrivenmom 
...but I want to focus on how she KILLS it at going after her goals. And loves teaching other busy mamas to do the same. 
She helped me map out an action plan for my goals on Saturday and wow, guys. Just wow. 
So I asked her if she would help my audience with their goal setting for the new year...
...and she agreed! 
Join both of us this Thursday (LIVE!) for “How to Take MASSIVE ACTION on your Goals (without burnout or overwhelm)”.
Sound like something you want to chat about with us?!? Link is in my bio (just click this picture of Cara and I!).
Who else hates throwing away lots of un-eaten prod Who else hates throwing away lots of un-eaten produce at the end of the week as much as I do? 
Focus on an ingredient-based meal plan instead of the other way around. That's what the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar does. Here's this week's meal plan...
🍕🌮 🍔 
‣‣‣Monday: Dinner Blueprint # 51 (A4+B1+C3)
Homemade Pizza Dough & Pizza Sauce (two recipes)
‣‣‣Tuesday: Dinner Blueprint # 33 (A3+B1+C1)
Blackened Tilapia Tacos
‣‣‣Wednesday: Dinner Blueprint # 10 (A1+B3+C2)
Crispy Lemon Chicken & Veggies
‣‣‣Thursday: Dinner Blueprint # 5 (A1+B2+C1)
Santa Fe Double Chicken
‣‣‣Friday: Dinner Blueprint # 40 (A3+B2+C4)
Baked Fish Sticks (+ leftover veggies or salad)
‣‣‣Saturday: Dinner Blueprint # 13 (A1+B4+C1)
Santa Fe Double Chicken Soup (just add a carton of chicken broth to leftovers to make soup)
‣‣‣Sunday: Dinner Blueprint # 3 (A1+B1+C3)
Chicken Parmesan w/Pasta
🍕 
If you're following along on the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar, these are the same Dinner Blueprint #’s for each day. You can use the blueprint to come up with your own dinner idea, or use the linked example recipe.
🌮 
If you don’t own the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar, you can purchase it by clicking my link in bio or if you're seeing this on Facebook, click here:
https://mpb.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1065589/?action=signup
🍉🥬Tell me... what fruit or veggie do you always end up throwing away? (watermelon and fresh spinach here!)
I don't know about you, but I can waste time like I don't know about you, but I can waste time like a CHAMP. Like re-drying the same load of laundry 3 times or scrolling IG like a zombie in bed.
Anyone else?
But I don't like it. 
And I definitely try to be more intentional on the things that give me more time back than what I spent on it. 
Meal planning is one of those things. Spend ONE hour a month meal planning, and you'll gain so many more hours each day (and *bonus* - it's during that dreaded pre-dinner time when the kids are maniacs!)

P.S. Please stop weekly meal planning. That doesn't actually save you time. (you can watch the ✨free training✨ in my link in bio if you want to know how often I suggest!)
Tell me...what would you do with an extra 30 mins each day?
New Month...new meal plan! Take an hour and make a New Month...new meal plan!
Take an hour and make an easy, monthly meal plan that focuses on the ingredients you eat and love - not one that tells you what to make (and then you have to go grocery shopping to get everything!) 
That's a backwards-based meal plan, friend.
Here's a sneak peek at my method:
Make a quick grid of 3 rows and 4 columns.
3 rows: A, B, C
A - main ingredient
B - side dish
C - flavor profile
4 columns: 1, 2, 3,4
Assign each space an ingredient and then mix and match... 
Here is each "formula of the day" for the rest of the week (since Jan 1st lands mid-week). Straight outta the January meal plan from the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar... 
🍕🌮 🍔 
‣‣‣Friday: Dinner Blueprint # 36 (A3+B1+C4)
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia w/butter pasta
‣‣‣Saturday: Dinner Blueprint # 14 (A1+B4+C2)
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
‣‣‣Sunday: Dinner Blueprint # 23 (A2+B2+C4)
Italian Stuffed Peppers
🍕 
If you're following along on the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar, these are the same Dinner Blueprint #’s for each day. You can use the blueprint to come up with your own dinner idea, or use the linked example recipe.
🌮 
If you don’t own the 2021 Annual Meal Planning Calendar, you can purchase it by clicking my link in bio or if you're seeing this on Facebook, click here:
https://mpb.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1065589/?action=signup
🍔 Tell me... what's on your meal plan this week?
The 9-gazillion chicken recipes on Pinterest overw The 9-gazillion chicken recipes on Pinterest overwhelms me.
You too?
One of the many reasons I love chicken is because it's just so versatile. I mean, it cooks quick and there's sooooo many options out there. Just search "chicken recipes" and you'll come up with tens of thousands. 
(I'm looking at you again, Pinterest...). 
These are way too many options for me, so I created a simple mix and match method to come up with new dinner ideas.
✔️ limited ingredients means I'm not overwhelmed 
✔️ starts with flavors my family already loves to eat
✔️ less options means I can get dinner on the table quicker instead of staring into the fridge hoping dinner will just jump out at me!
Here's a few of these ideas on my meal plan (right outta my Annual Meal Planning calendar...).
What's your family's favorite chicken recipe?
My cup is so full! I just finished working on rele My cup is so full! I just finished working on releasing my new podcast and I’m sooooo excited to share it with you. What I’m even more ecstatic about is for you to learn how to focus on the most important things (for YOUR family!).
The latest episode is jam-packed with the exact steps you can use right away to meal plan only 4 times per year. Click the link in my profile @mealplanningblueprints and click the Podcast button to listen on iTunes. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Hey beautiful new faces! If you were here in pers Hey beautiful new faces!  If you were here in person I'd sit and chat with you at the kitchen counter and offer you a cup of coffee (peppermint mocha or caramel vanilla cream?). 
☕️
But since we can't do that, I thought I'd introduce myself...
I'm a NYer that just moved to NC. I say "ya know" a lot and sometimes get teased for my accent - especially for "dawg" and "cawfee". 🤷🏻‍♀️😂 
3 things I love: 
💛 I love being a mama. Swipe to see my two cuties - one big, one little. I've always done this parenting thing solo, and I believe single parenting can be a blessing and have so many perks! 
💚 I love being minimal-ish but I can't have enough fun colored pens and pretty notebooks. Oh, and books. Wayyyy too many books.
💙 I love finding simple and efficient ways to do things. I need all the time I can possibly get so I'm always looking for ways to make my life easier! (truth: sometimes I spend more time looking for new ways to do something than doing it in the first place 😂).
And that's my approach to meal planning too. 
I sign off my emails with "keepin' meal planning simple" - I believe less is more because I don't have time for complicated meal plans or even sitting down every Sunday to do it (and I know you don't either!).⁣
✨
You might find some unconventional ideas here.⁣
You might find some refreshing honesty or tough love.⁣
But it's all to help you create a simple, minimal, intentional life you love 💚⁣
✨⁣
So, welcome! If we were sharing some coffee in my kitchen, what are 3 things you'd tell me about you?
Throw back to the time I forgot an ingredient for Throw back to the time I forgot an ingredient for dinner and needed to go the store AGAIN and I didn’t realize just how sick he was until that moment he fell asleep in a Walmart shopping cart.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And this picture totally gives me #momguilt for taking my sick baby to the store, and it reminds me of how my weeks used to be...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
​⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 1 - grocery shop. But boy was that tiring, so I gave the kiddo a sandwich for dinner (or ordered pizza 😉).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 2 - go to make Dinner 1 on the meal plan, but I forgot an ingredient. Shoot. Served mac & cheese and an applesauce packet, I snacked on crackers and a cheese stick. Plan on going to the grocery store tomorrow to get missing ingredient so I can make Dinner 1.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 3 - forgot to go to the grocery store, but I defrosted spaghetti sauce and made spaghetti. “It’s okay, I’ll pull it together tomorrow”. *Wrote “stop at the store” on a post-it note.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 4 - Remembered to go to the grocery store (yay!). Made the Dinner 1. Everyone hated it and didn’t eat it so I just about threw a yogurt and a banana across the table and called it “dinner”.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Day 5 - Done with trying to meal plan. Exhausted.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And just like that, I’m frustrated and blame meal planning as the problem. And gave up.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Can you relate?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’d bet my PSL that you identify with some part of that - and whatever “IT” is, it just keeps repeating itself over and over.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe it’s not forgetting an ingredient…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe it’s a crazy busy schedule that changes...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe it’s just being exhausted at the end of the day…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maybe it’s looking a full fridge and pantry and just having NO idea what to make…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve been there too and I know you’re expecting me to say that a solid meal plan is the answer. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But a meal plan is NOT the answer... (cont’d in comments)
Simplicity is the name of the game. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don't extreme coupon.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don't buy every ingredient on the planet.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don't meal plan every week.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I do use coupons intentionally.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I do make sure we try new foods and have variety.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I do utilize a Capsule Pantry.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And most importantly...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I do give myself grace if the plan doesn't work out.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Keep it simple. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#mealplanningmadeeasy #mealplans #mealplanner #menuplanning #menuboard #monthlymealplanning #mealprepsunday #dinnerideas #healthydinnerideas #newmomlife #workingmomlife #dinnerathome #dinnertonight #mealplanningtips #mealplanningblueprints #organizedpantry #capsulepantry #minimalistkitchen #livewithless #konmari #zerowastefood #simpleliving #simpledinner #minimalistlifestyle #slowliving #habitandhome #ohheymama #livesimple #seeksimplicity #honestmotherhood
These two. Who made me a mother. So grateful! Happ These two. Who made me a mother. So grateful!
Happy Mother’s Day!
  • blog
  • Shop
  • Facebook Group
  • Freebies
  • Work With Me
  • Policies + Disclosures

Copyright © 2021 Meal Planning Blueprints · Theme by 17th Avenue