7 Tips for Budgeting, Meal Prepping, and Reducing Food Waste for a Busy Stay-at-Home Mom of 3

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Being a stay-at-home mom of three is no easy task. Between managing the household, running the girls to ballet, and keeping up with school activities, finding time to budget, meal prep, and reduce food waste can seem like the last thing that you want to do. However, I’ve learned that with a little planning and organization, it is possible to make these tasks more manageable and even enjoyable.

Here are my tips to help you budget, meal prep, and reduce food waste:

1. Create a weekly or bi-weekly meal plan: Every 2 weeks my husband & I will sit down and plan out our meals when we do our 2 week budget. Doing this helps us stay organized and makes sure that we’re not running to the grocery store to get forgotten items.

2. Make a shopping list: Once you have your meal plan, make a list of the ingredients you need. Now this part can be hard, STICK TO THE LIST! I know it can be easy to drift from your list when you see all the options in front of you. If resisting is hard then grocery pickup may be a better option, plus you can see how much you’re spending right then so it’s easier to stick to budget.

3. Shop in bulk: Buying in bulk can save you money in the long run. We like to do this for paper products, toothpaste, and snacks.

4. Use leftovers creatively: Instead of letting leftovers go to waste, my husband will take some for lunch or we will work them into one of the meals we have planned.

5. Store food properly: Storing food properly can really extend the shelf life of your food. I like to use ziplocs to freeze my meat since I buy them in bulk I separate them before freezing. Also, purchasing good containers can make it easier to remember to put leftovers away for lunches the next day. Food Containers

6. Teach your kids about food waste: This is something that we’re trying to teach our little ones. Our girls are notorious for leaving things to sit out or suddenly not like a certain fruit or snack we get them. They end up going bad and we have to throw it out, not fun at all.

7. Track your expenses: Keep track of how much you spend on groceries each trip. Identify what is being eaten and what isn’t, this will help make sure everything is being eaten and used so you’re not continuing to spend money on food that’ll go to waste.

Being a stay-at-home mom of three is a full-time job, but with these tips, I’ve made budgeting, meal prepping, and reducing food waste a little easier. Remember that it will take some trial and error but with these tips and persistence you’ll get your family on track!