Trying to find meals that make enough food to feed your large family can be quite difficult! Most recipes are set up to feed a family of four, possibly even six…but what happens if your family happens to be larger than that? What will the other 6-8 people eat for their dinner?
Rest easy knowing that there are plenty of recipes and options for meal planning for large families. In fact, with the use of the internet and being able to connect with other large families out there, it’s never been easier to plan ahead!
The Basics of Large Family Meal Planning
Understand Likes and Dislikes
Before anything, it’s important to understand what your family likes and wants to eat. While your home and kitchen aren’t a restaurant, you also don’t want to spend your entire day meal planning out a menu for the week that nobody in your family is going to want to eat.
Make a list of the items that your family doesn’t like, or has allergies to, and then start your meal planning around that. The more quickly that you eliminate the can’t-have or don’t-want food items, the easier it is to zone in on meals and meal planning options that your family will truly enjoy.
Smart Shopping
Plan ahead and buy on sale. Let’s be real for just a moment. Food is expensive…then add that to the large family atmosphere and trying to feed all those mouths, and food becomes even more expensive.
The good news? There are ways to save money at the grocery store. In fact, due to my meal planning in our household, I’m able to feed my family of 8 for less than $200 each week! It’s possible to do, and I’m proof of that!
A few helpful tips? Meal plan for the week based on the sale ads that come out. Buy whatever items are on sale and then look up and find recipes to create. You’ll be amazed at just how many ways you can cook chicken to make it taste completely different each and every time.
Slow Cooker to the Rescue
Slow cooker meal planning is the way to go! Not only is crock pot food delicious, but it’s also super easy to add, walk away from, and return several hours later with a delicious meal waiting for you and your family.
If you’ve never dabbled in the world of crock pots, you are truly missing out. There are literally thousands of amazing crock pot recipes out there that are so simple that you literally just let your crock pot take over.
Imagine being able to serve your large family dinner, straight from the crock pot with everything cooked to perfection. It doesn’t have to be a dream because, in our house, it’s a reality. If you are looking for some simple crock pot recipes and ideas to get you started, read all about it here.
Stock Up
Stock your freezer when items are at rock bottom prices. Sometimes, items may go on sale at the grocery store but they don’t fit into the weekly meal plan that you’ve already created. When this happens, buy and freeze for later.
Don’t pass up on a super good deal just because you may not plan on using it that week. Your deep freezer can become your best friend if you know how to look for deals. It’s totally possible to have your freezer full of food so that you can go for several weeks without even having to go to the grocery store! When you come across meat that is discounted that you know your family will love, buy and freeze for later use!
Meal planning for your large family doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, by just following a few of the tips outlined above, you’ll notice that you are saving money while making some pretty delicious meals at the same time.
Who knew that there were so many ways to stretch the dollar when it comes to meal planning? If you use your freezer and your crock pot effectively, you can rest easy knowing that you can absolutely feed your large family while staying well within your set food budget. And if you feel like you have to go over because something amazing is on sale, just know that you’ll make up the difference later when you have a stocked freezer and the need for running to the store is no more!
Meal planning is a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen too!
