Foods 1 - Obj. 6.01 Meal Planning

name brands

Products of this type are the most expensive because of advertising expenses, brand loyalty and demand for the product

plan the entree

this method requires you to plan the entree for the meals you will be preparing and then buying a variety of produce (fresh, canned, frozen) and other items you make like; this method is very flexible with some organization to your meals; you would select from what you have to prepare the meals so it is very flexible; taking inventory of what you have and noting what you need is key

lunch

this should account for about 1/3 of the day's calories

dinner or supper

this should account for about 1/3 of the day's calories; it is usually a main course of meat, fish, or poultry. 2 vegetables OR 1 vegetable and a salad, a carbohydrate- bread, rice, pasta, etc.

breakfast

this should account for about ¼ of the day's calories; it usually consists of a carbohydrate, fruit, and beverage

mix and match

with this method you would buy a variety of foods without anything in particular in mind for the week's meals; when it is time to plan what you are making, you would look to see what you have and put together the meal accordingly; the key is to be sure you have plenty of foods to select from all food groups

generics

brands that are the least expensive and may be sold at more than one store such as IGA Brand and Valu Time.

meal planning first step

choose an entree or main dish and then pair it with sides.

Meal appeal factors

color (use a variety of colors that brighten the meal); shape and size; flavor and aroma; texture; temperature

meal-by-meal

complete a chart that counts for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for each day of the week; as you complete the chart you can make your grocery list so you have all of the items you will need; this method is very efficient but it is very time consuming and is not very flexible

store brands

products specific to the store where one is shopping such as Great Value at Wal-Mart and Cha-Ching at Food Lion

factors for meal planning

nutrition; how the meals fits in the day's eating pattern, people who will be eating; resources available

impulse buy

picking up and purchasing items that are not on your shopping list was you move through a store; it increases your grocery spending and may blow your budget

resources for meal planning

Money; equipment; time and energy; food choices and availability (seasonal foods; gourmet foods); knowledge and/or skills

budget shopping strategies

Never go grocery shopping while hungry; always make a list; carefully consider use or need for of a product that is not on your list to limit impulse buys

best meal planning strategy

Task best done weekly to save money on the budget and time spent shopping

milk bread

__________ and __________ are often on opposite sides of the store because that is what most families run out of during the week, and as you go past other items, you may purchase other things.

loss leaders

an item that is sold at cost or even below what it costs the grocery store to buy it. These staple products are designed to get people in the store where impulse buying and other shopping make up for the loss. Iceberg lettuce, bread and some meat department items my be put on sale this way.

personal factors in meal planning

individual nutrition needs; personal likes and dislikes; food to be avoided for medical, personal, or religious reasons; age

resources for reducing food expenses

look for supermarket advertisements/specials; choose economical main dishes; reduce food waste; plan for leftovers/portion control; prepare more simple meals at home; allow for flexibility in meal planning; compare prices: stores, brands, sizes