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Good Cheap Eats

eat well on a budget with easy recipes from Jessica Fisher

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Meal Planning

Why You Should Know How to Meal Plan

Jessica Fisher · August 17, 2013 · 3 Comments

A close up of a cutting board with sliced sandwich fixingsA close up of a cutting board with sliced sandwich fixings

Meal planning is not rocket science, but it’s super helpful in the running of any household. Even as a sophomore in college, I practiced some kind of meal planning how-to. Back then it meant making a list of the kinds of meals I’d like to eat during the week and picking up the ingredients to […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

6 More Easy Meals to Make When There’s “Nothing” to Eat

Jessica Fisher · August 10, 2013 · 17 Comments

A plate of red burritos with guacamoleA plate of red burritos with guacamole

Here are 6 ideas to get you cooking when there’s “nothing” to eat. They call for simple pantry ingredients that are easy on the budget. Last year, I shared my list of stand-by meals to turn to when Plan A fails. Oh, Plan A fails a lot around here. I get distracted. I forget to […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Plan Every Meal of the Week

Jessica Fisher · July 27, 2013 · 16 Comments

weekly meal plan on the fridgeweekly meal plan on the fridge

To plan every meal of the week, snacks included, can be a great way to help you make ends meet, save money, and most importantly, eat well. You already know that a meal plan can help you out. You already jot down meals that you can make during the week so that you’re better organized […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

Meal Planning for a Special Diet

Jessica Fisher · February 23, 2013 · 17 Comments

holding lettuce wrapholding lettuce wrap

A special diet in the family can make meal planning a challenge. Here are some techniques to help you simplify. Chances are you know someone (or are someone) with a special diet. It may be a peanut allergy or a desire to curb calories or something altogether different, but special diets are becoming more and […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: whole 30

How to Meal Plan for a Whole Month

Jessica Fisher · November 3, 2012 · 35 Comments

monthly meal planning calendar with pens and cookbooksmonthly meal planning calendar with pens and cookbooks

Make your month a little easier by planning all your meals at one time. You can easily meal plan for a whole month and save time and money in the process. Burning Love Mashed Potatoes I know what you’re thinking…. Meal plan for a whole month? What, are you crazy? I can’t plan two days, […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Meal Planning 101: Make a Two-Week Rotation

Jessica Fisher · October 13, 2012 · 10 Comments

roast chicken on a white platterroast chicken on a white platter

Make a two week meal plan and rotate it to make meal planning easier. One of the things that I’m learning about myself and cooking is that there are several factors that keep my interest in the cooking and meal planning that comes with every day life. Those would include: My children actually eating what […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Meal Planning 101: Create a formula for the week’s meal plan

Jessica Fisher · September 29, 2012 · 36 Comments

Meal Planning 101 logoMeal Planning 101 logo

Create a formula for the week’s meal plan to make meal planning simple and easy. You’ll have a template to fill in each week for a quick menu plan. Meal planning is a proven means to help you improve your nutrition, increase quality family time, and save money. If you’ve got a meal on the […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Meal Planning 101: Ask the Eaters

Jessica Fisher · September 2, 2012 · 9 Comments

mixed vegetables on cutting boardmixed vegetables on cutting board

Including your family in the meal planning is a great way to ensure better dining for everyone and less waste. Meal Planning 101 is an ongoing series to help you find ways to make mealtimes easier, tastier, and more economical. As much I love takeout and letting someone else do the cooking and cleaning up, […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Quick Meals for Busy Nights

Jessica Fisher · August 27, 2012 · 14 Comments

A bowl of nacho toppings on plate of chips

With a little creative planning and a handy list of go-to meals, you can make quick meals for busy nights. You’ll avoid fast food, eat well, and spend less! It seems that summer disappeared in a flash. The days went by so quickly. And here we are on the verge of September! We’ve signed up […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: easy meals

Meal Planning 101: Take Inventory

Jessica Fisher · August 26, 2012 · 21 Comments

chicken and vegetables on grillchicken and vegetables on grill

Take an inventory of the ingredients you already have to help you make a meal plan that makes good uses of your resources. There are many ways to approach meal planning. When I was a young newlywed, I just wrote a list of things that sounded good to me. When I shopped, I added to […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Meal Planning 101: Know Your Eating Habits

Jessica Fisher · August 19, 2012 · 12 Comments

black bean taco salads packed in boxesblack bean taco salads packed in boxes

Knowing your eating habits as well as setting goals for yourself can be a great starting point for successful meal planning. Last week, I introduced a new series here on Good Cheap Eats: Meal Planning 101. Over the next few months, I’ll be talking about different aspects of meal planning and how it can help […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Meal Planning 101

Jessica Fisher · August 12, 2012 · 81 Comments

Meal Planning 101 logoMeal Planning 101 logo

A meal planning series about the basics, the secret tricks, and ideas to tweak meal planning to suit you and the way you live. Last month, I received two emails in the span of five minutes that were on the same topic: Meal Planning. Both readers were writing asking for help in how to improve […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: meal planning 101

Easy Grab and Go Meals to Send You Packing

Jessica Fisher · March 12, 2012 · 5 Comments

A bowl of pasta saladA bowl of pasta salad

Having a repertoire of “grab and go meals” is a great way to save money and eat well on busy days. When I lived in France, I loved grabbing their version of a sandwich: a baguette dressed simply with ham and butter or cheese and some vegetables. It was an easily portable meal that satisfied […]

Filed Under: Lunches, Meal Planning Tagged With: packable

Slow Cooker Recipes to Help You Save Money

Jessica Fisher · September 21, 2011 · 14 Comments

a slow cooker with enchiladasa slow cooker with enchiladas

Do you have a love-hate relationship with the slow cooker? It can be nice to fix it and forget it, but often slow cooker recipes end up tasting the same with a rather homogeneous appearance. As my friend Kay puts it, “Hey look! Brown.” Unfortunate true story. Many recipes do simmer down their ingredients to look […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning, Slow Cooker

Budget-Friendly Potluck Meals

Jessica Fisher · July 19, 2011 · 33 Comments

A plate of chips and nacho toppings

Most of us enjoy getting together with family and friends to share a meal and some good times. My mom excelled at this when I was a kid. It seems we often had a houseful of people for the holidays, and she always served up a sumptuous feast. It wasn’t until I was married and […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

Easy Theme Night Dinners for Summer

Jessica Fisher · May 29, 2011 · 12 Comments

Theme night dinners can revolutionize your meal planning. Not only does it make the act of meal planning quick and easy, but it takes some of the guess work out of it for you and lessens the fear for your picky eaters. Here are some of my favorite meal planning themes to work into summer […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning Tagged With: easy meals

Meals Fit for a King: Meal Planning to Please the Guys

Jessica Fisher · May 23, 2011 · 9 Comments

I live in a house of men. Though I have two young daughters, I also have four sons and one husband. Meal planning with my guys in mind is not difficult, but it’s different than if I were just planning for me and the girls. While most of the FishFam likes a variety of foods, […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

Meal Planning for Toddlers

Jessica Fisher · May 15, 2011 · 6 Comments

If your little people are still little, you might vaguely remember the days of yore when you ate sitting down instead of standing, holding a fussy baby. You might recall those meals that were spontaneous and sophisticated — as opposed to those that need to be regimented in order to avoid a total two-year old […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

Company Dinner Ideas

Jessica Fisher · April 13, 2011 · 22 Comments

My in laws were here last week, ready to act the part of taste testers for The Cookbook. Bless her heart, my mother-in-law said that it felt like a spa weekend since she ate so much. I pointed out that there were no massages or pedicures in sight, but she was satisfied, nonetheless. It can […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

Meal Planning: 5 Meals to Help You Eat Well, Spend Less

Jessica Fisher · April 11, 2011 · 28 Comments

A plate of fish and vegetables

Do you find yourself spinning your wheels as meal time approaches? Do you call hubby to stop at the store again on his way home, for something you forgot to pick up? Do you spend a little too much money on fast food purchases? Effective meal planning can do wonders for your time, your budget, […]

Filed Under: Meal Planning

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