• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Creative Cajun Mama

Creating More Life with Less

  • Home
    • Cajun Glossary
  • Free Resource Library
  • Blog
    • Faith, Family & Personal
    • Better With Money
    • Better with Time
    • Health & How To’s
    • Life with Roux
    • Homeschool Adventures
    • Products I Love
  • My Kitchen
    • Latest Recipes
      • Gluten-free
      • Low-Carb
      • Sweets & Treats
      • Breakfast
      • Main Dishes
      • sides
      • Drinks
      • R E C I P E – I N D E X
    • Healthier Ingredients Guide – FREE Printable
    • Bayou Grocery Sales Ads
  • Meet the Mama
    • Contact
  • ESTY Shop
  • Home
    • Cajun Glossary
  • Free Resource Library
  • Blog
    • Faith, Family & Personal
    • Better With Money
    • Better with Time
    • Health & How To’s
    • Life with Roux
    • Homeschool Adventures
    • Products I Love
  • My Kitchen
    • Latest Recipes
      • Gluten-free
      • Low-Carb
      • Sweets & Treats
      • Breakfast
      • Main Dishes
      • sides
      • Drinks
      • R E C I P E – I N D E X
    • Healthier Ingredients Guide – FREE Printable
    • Bayou Grocery Sales Ads
  • Meet the Mama
    • Contact
  • ESTY Shop

Weekly Meal Planner + Shopping List | Free Printable

August 2, 2017 //  by Jenn//  Leave a Comment

Share the Love!
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • email
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Recently, I found myself trying to figure out what I’m going to be feeding everyone for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Even though I already planned my meals, I noticed that I was still going to the store more often than I wanted, and ultimately spending more than I intended. With school right around the corner, it was time to get back on track!

I made this wonderful weekly meal planner printable with a shopping list area to plan out the week’s meals so that I’m not wasting time and money. It’s also a great visual to keep me on task! *Below is an updated version*

Pin This | Creative Cajun Mama
Weekly Meal Calendar Printable | Creative Cajun Mama

The shopping list area is there because I was running into a problem when I would plan my meals. I would plan everything out, only to find that when I would start cooking, I ran out of something I needed and had to run to the little country store down the street from me. Simple things were missing, like baking soda or chili powder – things I don’t always think about having on hand because I usually have those things. But, we do run out! Duhh!

As I plan out the meals, I look to see what I already have in my pantry, and jot down ideas for the following week. Whatever I do not have that I need (checking ALL ingredients), I jot that down on the shopping list area. And voila! There’s your shopping list with everything you need to make all of your meals! Cut off the shopping list and leave the remaining calendar on your fridge. This little meal planner is saving my life!

Weekly Meal Calendar Printable | Creative Cajun Mama

How can a weekly meal plan save your life?

Saves Money
Instead of running to the store several times per week without a list and randomly buying whatever comes to mind, you will be sticking to your weekly plan. That equals less trips to the store and more money saved. Some of you, like myself, also tend to buy more than what is on your list. Therefore, sometimes avoiding going into the store altogether will save you more money. Less trips = less overspending.

Without knowing ahead of time what’s for dinner, you are more likely to swing by a restaurant on your way home or call in a pizza delivery. That may not be so good for our wallet or our health. Generally speaking, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with eating out, but too much of anything can really add up!

Meal planning allows you to browse your grocery stash more frequently to see what you already have. Try to use what you already have on hand first, then only buy the additional items you’ll need for your planned meals. By doing this, you will already have everything you need for the week, and there will be no need to make several trips to the store. A good rule of thumb would be to check your local grocery store sales first, and plan your meals based upon what’s on sale.

helpful post:  5 Ways to use Extreme-Couponing Methods When You’re Too Busy.

This summer, my kids’ favorite words have been, “I’m hungry.” If I don’t have meals/snacks planned out ahead of time, they will tend to eat everything in sight! But, if I already have it planned ahead of time, there’s no wondering or guessing what I’m going to throw together or what they can grab.




Saves Time
Who doesn’t want more time? Again, going to the store less gives you more time to do more of other important things – spending more time with family, exercising, organizing and cleaning, etc. Have you ever realized that it was 2:00 in the afternoon and you have NO IDEA what’s going to be for dinner? Heart palpitations, anxiety, ahhhh!!!

Okay, maybe not that bad, but seriously… Who likes that? I’ve done that way too many times, so I’ve decided to start planning out every single meal during the week, especially since I homeschool and we’re home almost everyday.

As mentioned above, my kids get hungry every hour if I haven’t planned out the meals and snacks ahead of time, and they’ll want to eat everything in the house two days after we went shopping! They also won’t have to ask you what’s for dinner because it’s already written down. Of course, they’ll still ask, but you can kindly say, “Check the weekly meals sheet on the fridge,” which also gives them a little self-initiative reading practice.

You could also get the family involved by asking, “What would you like for dinner next week?” They may have ideas that you haven’t thought about in a while. Recently, Ernie filled out my kitchen chalkboard dinner menu based on what meats I told him we had in the freezer. I didn’t even have to think too hard that week about meals, besides making my shopping list. It was great!

I’ve created a landscape and portrait version of the weekly meals planner, in case you’d like either of those. They’re combined in one, 2-page PDF document. You’ll also receive my Healthier Ingredients Guide, along with some future guidance on how to shop healthier on a budget, what labels to look for when shopping, and what mistakes to avoid when switching to an all-natural lifestyle.

***UPDATE***
I’ve created a new and improved meal plan and shopping list printable! Signing up below will get you access to both of these, with directions included 🙂

Pin This | Creative Cajun Mama

 

Share the Love!
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • email

Category: Better with Time, Blog

Recent Posts

  • Sloppy Joes

    Sloppy Joes

  • Budget Categories Explained

    Budget Categories Explained

Previous Post: «Homeschooling Myths I Once Believed | Creative Cajun Mama Homeschooling Myths I Once Believed: Until I Actually Did It
Next Post: EASY HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE Easy Homemade Mayonnaise | Creative Cajun Mama»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Primary Sidebar

Creative Cajun Mama | Jenn

Thanks for stopping by! I’m Jenn! I’m a wife and mom of 3 who wants you to know that a simpler, less-chaotic life can exist in this modern world. I like to talk about things like life’s victories & struggles, faith, family, food, and getting better with our money habits.

You too? Great! Let’s be friends.
Click here to read more…

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest




I love connecting with you!
I use my
I N S T A – S T O R I E S
pretty often, so if you want to get to know me better and see what
Creating More Life with Less
looks like #INREALLIFE,
that’s where you’ll find me!

Thanks to @greatamericancookies for executing my Thanks to @greatamericancookies  for executing my creative request!
🎯🎯🎯 So yummy as always❤️

#GreatAmericanCookies

Happy Birthday @down.south.livin ! We expect more ducks next season 😉
“We hit the bullseye when we got you!” 😘😘😘

#birthdayCookieCake #happyBirthday #birthdayCake #cookieCake #blessedwiththebest
I’m asked very often how I do my bun! Here it is I’m asked very often how I do my bun! Here it is! I have really fine/thin hair, so a big messy bun doesn’t work at all — It’s actually impossible. 

I call this the messy-dressy bun, and it saves me on those messy hair days (or on that 3rd day of not washing 😉). It takes about 5-8 minutes (once mastered); it makes it look like I actually have hair; like I took time to fix it; and decent enough for either a nice dinner, an important meeting, or just for working out or jumping on the trampoline at DaSwamp and pulling a muscle😆. Ask me how I know.
It works for everythinggggg. 

*You’ll need a hair tie/rubber band about 6 bobby pins, and hairspray (and maybe some dry shampoo if you’re on that 3rd day too). Enjoy!!

For more from me, or to sign up for my email list, LINK in PROFILE👇
💌(@creativecajunmama)

#messybun #dressybun #finehairstyles #finehair #thinhair #quickhairstyles #gettingdressed #getdressed #updostyles #creativecajun #busymomhair #busymama #bloggermom #bloggersofinstagram #blogger
#nofilter #thisiswhatilooklike
Thanks @jessicasoakes for the hair tip!!! 💕💕 Thanks @jessicasoakes for the hair tip!!! 💕💕 SO CUTE!!!

I’ve been French braiding my own hair since I was a teenager, but I’ve never attempted the “reverse” French braid. Took a little minute to learn, but I got it! 🙌🏼😍😍
Wow. The date. I now remember what was going on he Wow. The date. I now remember what was going on here.⠀
⠀
We made a decision to sell our manufactured/mobile home and continue to pay off debt the way @daveramsey teaches. But instead of buying again right away, our tough decision was to rent for 1 year, no more than 2 years (Even though we could’ve been approved for another house). ⠀
⠀
We had a mess to clean up first. No we weren’t in big trouble - we were normal folks with normal everyday debt that normal everyday people have. And we realized how dumb debt was! We wanted OUT!!⠀
⠀
We knew we could do it in 1 year while renting, but you know how life is all the time. Well, we did it in one! We also made sure to rent something really small and uncomfortable - Dave’s advice (get too comfy and it’s harder to leave).⠀
⠀
We bought a house the smarter way this time - Making sure we were in a better position to buy a house - the house and land we really wanted - not just some house we could get just to get it. We made sure we waited until we had NO other debt, a clean slate. ⠀
⠀
The hard-road-less-traveled destination is SO worth it!! And so glad we waited for the right house to buy instead of being hasty! We love our little piece of country on the bayou😭🏡🐓🐂🐐🐟🐊⠀
⠀
Read our full story 💕 Link in Profile⠀
(@creativecajunmama)⠀
⠀
#DaveRamsey #debtisdumb #GodisMerciful #fpu #financialPeace #livelikenooneelse #GiveLikeNoOneElse #workhardplayhard #freedomIsntFree #sacrificesAreWorthIt #dontGiveUp #blessedandThankful
BEST HOMEMADE ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER!! I love this st BEST HOMEMADE ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER!! I love this stuff!! Takes less than a minute to make, and I use it for everythinggggg.... kitchen, toilets, dusting, wiping down everything...

Special thanks to Wardee from @tradcookschool for showing me this cleaner! 

🔈Turn up sound 

Link to original blog Post in Profile (@creativecajunmama)

You’ll love it too!

#homemadecleaner #allpurposecleaner #frugaltips #handmadegifts #selfsufficiency #diycleaner #diy #eo #essentialoils
SIMPLE BREAD RECIPE •6 Ingredients• No need SIMPLE BREAD RECIPE 
•6 Ingredients•

No need to be scared to make bread! Get back to the basics of life! It’s not some long, detailed process you need to be terrified of.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the kitchen, but I didn’t give up. You can do it 🤎💛

*Directions and recipe in video, turn up sound 🔈
**FULL RECIPE at creativecajunmama.com/dinnerbread

Link in Profile (@creativecajunmama)

#breadrecipe #freshbread #recipesofinstagram #easybread #whatsfordinner #makeityourself #healthieringredients #creatingmorelifewithless #cajunmama
Something I learned at the Jewelry show one time! Something I learned at the Jewelry show one time! And boy did I buy a bunch of scarves that day 😂

#howToWearAScarf #getDressedFast #scarf #scarfTrick #coverup #creativeoutfit #gettingdressed
They can try all they want. #Yahweh #HeHasAName They can try all they want. 

#Yahweh #HeHasAName #FatherGod #TheresOnlyONE #AllPowerful #AllKnowing #ItWillComeToPass #BeReady #HeCannotBeSilenced
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

How to Cook a JAMBALAYA from scratch

How to Cook a JAMBALAYA from Scratch

March 12, 2020

The Mom That Never Gave Up

May 14, 2017

Our Debt-Free Journey: How We Got Out of Debt for Good

OUR DEBT-FREE JOURNEY: How We Got Out of Debt for Good

September 26, 2015

Search this site:

AFFILIATES DISCLOSURE

Consider purchasing products from the links represented on my site, as a way for me to earn a small commission for my time, research, and offering free, valuable information and recipes. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps to keep this website running! Thank you, and you are very much appreciated!

Jennifer Bourgeois is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

**I only recommend products I love, whether or not I receive compensation for advertisement.

COPYRIGHT

Feel free to share! Keep in mind that all text and images are property of Creative Cajun Mama, and I only ask that you do not remove watermarks, crop, or edit any of my images without first obtaining written permission from me. All free printables and graphics offered are for personal use only. Sharing is always welcome and appreciated! Thank you!

Footer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease.

  • Home
  • Free Resource Library
  • Blog
  • My Kitchen
  • Meet the Mama
  • ESTY Shop

Copyright © 2021 Creative Cajun Mama · All Rights Reserved