There’s no better time to get into the habit of planning meals than during the holidays. If holiday shopping has you running short on time, or you’re planning the holiday meal, put some of the following suggestions into action. See what works for you, and what doesn’t, and hopefully by the New Year you’ll be on your way to saving time and money.

Master Grocery List
I’ve been revamping my master grocery list. I spend a couple of minutes here and there thinking about the food I buy on regular basis and add it to the list. I also think about the layout of my local supermarket. First of all, there’s the produce section, so fruits and vegetables go into that category. Next it’s the deli section, etc. then the bread, salad dressings, etc. I visualize walking around the store and think about what food’s located in what aisle. If you have a tough time remembering, next time you shop you can take a sheet of paper with you and make some notes Some stores have one already made out for you, especially if they’ve recently been remodeled. Another plus to having the master grocery list on hand is you can print out a copy whenever you need it, stick it on the fridge and have other family members use it. They can jot down what they want, or remind them when they use the last of something, say like mayonnaise, to put a check by it on the list. All you need to do is grab it and head to the store.

Involve Others
And speaking of getting the rest of the family to help you. It’s a great time to start getting your children involved get meals on the table. They learn about organizing things, nutrition, and how much food actually costs. You might ask them to sort coupons with you, or help you plan a meal. Lots of teenagers also like helping in the kitchen. If you have a budding chef in the family, they might also like to plan and cook a meal one day a week.

Create Your Own Cookbook
I have recipes that I fall back on time and again. Meals that I can still put together even if I don’t have the recipe in front of me. Also, meals made from ingredients I have sitting in the freezer or pantry. Unexpected things happen all the time and even if you do follow a meal schedule, you always need to have a back-up plan. Jot down at least two meals you can substitute for the one you originally planned to serve.

Let the Internet Help You
I sometimes wonder what we’d all do without computers and the Internet. Two things that have become quicker and easier are grocery shopping and cooking, so it pays to take full advantage of all the new technology.
You can check your supermarket’s Web site for coupons; see what’s on sale, and get ideas for meals. You can also compare prices. Some sites even have recipes you can print out on 3 X 5 cards, and others go one step further provide you with a grocery list for you for all the recipes. More about these types of sites in the New Year on Budget Smart Girl.