Monthly Menu Plan - October

Since it is the beginning of a new month, I wanted to share with you my Monthly Menu Plan for October to give you some ideas on how to space out your meals.



While this menu plan helps me immensely in creating a complete grocery shopping list and knowing just how much money to budget for the month's grocery expenses, I do not always strictly hold to it. I enjoy changing things up at the last minute, altering recipes, switching meal days, and trying new recipes. The key is to use ingredients that are all ready in your home without robbing ingredients from another meal. Keeping a full stock of beans, rice and spices makes such last minute change-ups possible.

Notice several days call for "Leftovers." I prefer to plan my menu to make larger quantities so I do not have to worry about cooking and freezing 30 different recipes. This also makes things easier on those busier days when I have less meal prep time.

You will also notice that there are very few meat recipes on this month's menu. The reason for this is cost. Meat, though tasty and versatile, is also expensive when compared to vegetarian or vegan recipes. By filling my menu with a variety of beans, whole grains and produce, I am able to cut the cost of the month substantially while still providing my family with healthy and complete meal items that they love. (Seriously, ladies, your husbands will hardly notice the meat is missing as long as the meal is filling and tastes great!) For ideas on healthy bean recipes, please check out my Bean Series.

Have you tried planning out your menu for the week or month? If not, I challenge you to give it a shot for the month of October.

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