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Kalyn Brooke

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Shop Your Stock: Meal Planning from the Pantry {Includes Worksheet}

August 28 // 13 Comments // 4 Minute Read

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meal planning from the pantry

Last month, Joseph and I committed to the No Eating Out challenge, and totally schooled our restaurant budget. Now, it's time to reign in that grocery portion. Ever since we made the out-of-state move, I just haven't been able to find my groove again.

I've stepped up my game a little bit with coupons, even though I still don't go crazy over them, and have worked on making more of my food from scratch, rather than buying convenience products.

Meal planning has helped, but this week, I'm trying to avoid huge grocery store purchases.

That means, instead of choosing which meals I want to eat, and buying the ingredients, I'm letting the pantry, fridge, and freezer do the talking!

Combine your food inventory with a meal planning worksheet

If you search for printables online, you will find worksheets that help you meal plan, and worksheets that are exclusively used for a pantry/freezer inventory list.

Neither did exactly what I wanted them to do.

I really needed to have a place where I could write down almost everything I owned that was food-related, and still be able to meal plan from exactly the same list. So I ended up creating my own printable, and named it the Shop Your Stock Inventory Worksheet:

stockpile inventory printable

Listing each and every item seems like a lot of work, and it can be, especially if you have a large stockpile. I don't think you have to do that to get the benefits from this worksheet.

I only listed key ingredients from my pantry, and placed multiple items together. Ex. pasta, breakfast items, and baking supplies.

You can also type out your food inventory list, and print multiple copies for future reference. You'll have a quick list that's ready to go, and you can cross off ingredients you don't currently have, and replace them with ones you do. It will save you a bunch of time.

Keep your shopping list handy

While I was taking note of my inventory, I realized I was running low on certain items. Having my grocery list right next to me while I was using the Worksheet, made it really easy to jot down those ingredients for my next trip to the store.

Shop Your Stock Inventory Worksheet

Although this isn't a deep cleaning session, you are going to find a few (or a lot!) of things that are expired and need to be thrown out. I know I did!

Write down these items so you can replenish your stock, but only if you think you'll actually use them this time. {grin}

List meal plan ideas as you go

With some ingredient pairings, you are going to know right away whether or not you can make a meal out of it. As I was rummaging through the freezer, I found a frozen Lasagna that I had made a month ago. Instant meal!

Even if you only come up with two or three meal ideas during your inventory check, grab your favorite recipe book, and start brainstorming some more. Having that ingredient list makes this super easy!

mealideascs

I thought I would need to reference a few recipes, but I actually didn't. By looking at my pantry, fridge, and freezer list, I knew exactly what I could make.

  1. Ground beef + BBQ sauce + ketchup + hamburger buns = BBQ Joes
  2. Lettuce + cheese + dressing + croutons = Salads
  3. Canned soup + bread + cheese = Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup
  4. Chicken + cream of chicken soup + cheese + broccoli + bread crumbs = Chicken Divan Casserole
  5. Chicken + cornflakes + buttermilk powder = Crispy Chicken
  6. Pasta + cheese = Mac n' Cheese
  7. Frozen Lasagna Casserole

With only 20-30 minutes worth of work, I now have a week or more of meals (including leftovers), and I don't have to go to the grocery story for any of them!

download the meal planning worksheetRepeat as needed

Any time I'm feeling the tight squeeze of the grocery budget, or need an extra way to save, I'm definitely implementing this Shop Your Stock method again.

I would encourage you to try it too.

You could integrate this into your regular meal planning sessions, or do it once every couple months to give your grocery budget a boost.

Meal planning from the pantry will really give you a much needed break from a huge cart full of groceries, and a large bill!

Do you have a favorite pantry inspired meal?

 

Linking up here: Menu Plan Monday, Homemade Mondays, Thrifty Thursday

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer at Momsgotmail says

    July 8 at 10:16 pm

    I used to coupon a lot more than I do know. I will still look for a coupon if I am buying something like cereal…but for the most part I save more by cooking from scratch (plus it is usually healthier). We are feeling the pinch this week, and I basically did the same thing…looked around and said..huh, I have most of the ingredients for 5 meals, but I am missing this, this and this. Another bonus? Less of your stockpile to have to throw out when it is outdated.
    Found through Linking up Through Frugal by Choice

    Reply
    • KalynBrooke says

      July 9 at 2:02 pm

      That’s true – rotating through your stockpile means your always thinking about uses for each item.

      Reply
  2. Betty819 says

    May 29 at 5:53 am

    This list of what’s in the fridge, pantry, freezer would help you not to overbuy when shopping. You’ll have the list of what is in each area, saving money. I saved it/printed it out and hopefully try it sometime. I like to go shopping alone but most time it is with DH and he’s in a motorized shopping cart and he cost me more money because he’ll go along and see items he knows we need and ask me if we need this or that. Drives me crazy. Of course, he’s like a child, sneaking in at least 3 items of sweets that he shouldn’t have because of his diabetes. If I refuse to buy it or tell him to put it back, he pitches a fit. I can think better when I don’t have to watch him. Sometimes I haven’t thought that we were out of a specific item and he remembers. Sometimes he’s right. I think he has a fear of going hungry. Same way about getting lost. That’s another story!

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    October 12 at 12:02 am

    Soup made w navy or any white bean (canned), chicken broth, leftover spinach from salads (when it gets to the bottom and is kind of wilted) and throw in bacon or ham or sausage (whatever you have). I’ve also used leftover kale, mustard greens, Swiss chard etc. mushrooms too, if you have them. Throw it together, simmer and serve w bread or crackers. Even my picky eater likes this soup.

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      October 13 at 12:29 pm

      I’m going to try this!

      Reply
  4. Ashley says

    October 22 at 2:15 pm

    You’re a genius! I printed out one of the shop your stock worksheets and as I was doing it I came up with more than a few meal ideas! I’m so excited to explore this site further!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      October 23 at 8:39 pm

      Awesome, Ashley! So glad you were able to squeeze some extra meals out of your pantry. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kim says

    March 29 at 2:08 am

    I used this printable a while a few years ago. I loved it! Thank you for sharing it 😀 I used it in a clear sheet protector and dry erase marker in order to reuse it. I imagine this would work with a china pencil too. Anyways, I wanted to thank you for sharing this, I don’t use this printable anymore but I have always remembered the principle of taking stock of what food we have on hand to come up with yummy meals thanks to your post 🙂

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      April 1 at 12:46 pm

      You are most welcome! I absolutely love your idea for putting the printable in a sheet protector {that would be so handy so you don’t have to print and reprint all the time}. And YES, the principle is the most important thing. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kal says

    August 9 at 9:03 pm

    Love this – trying to stop wasting so much food and I like the look of this list. Good sales are one thing but having more than you can use in time makes it more expensive 🙁

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      August 10 at 11:20 am

      Very true! Good sales are not that good if you end up wasting the food, yet they are so hard to pass by!

      Reply
  7. Lindsey says

    April 15 at 12:04 pm

    This has been great! This printable in combination with the spice inventory has made it so much easier to know what I have on hand! Just the other week I bought A SECOND sesame oil bottle because we didn’t know we already had one. Nobody uses that much sesame oil.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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Even though we won't be spending Christmas in the RV, I just had to put up a few decorations to enjoy before we leave! 🎄⁣
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The next three weeks will be our first time traveling without our home-on-wheels and I'm feeling all sorts of anxiety over choosing what items to pack. We've always had everything we need with us, which means I'll probably forget something. 😬 RV living tends to spoil you in that way!⁣
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Q: Are you staying home for the holidays or going out of town?

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Earlier this fall I hosted a Facebook challenge where I invited you to define what self-care looks like for your life while making an intentional effort to incorporate it into your week. 📆⁣
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This event was even more popular than I expected, and I am so pleased with the positive results many of you shared!⁣
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What I didn't expect? 👀⁣
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The haters.⁣
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Some readers morally disagreed with my Facebook self-care event and let me know by messaging me and calling self-care "misguided," "unbiblical," and even an "idol." ⁣
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Let me be clear: I do agree that we should be careful about our priorities and not neglect our responsibilities completely for the sake of a little me-time.⁣
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👨‍👩‍👦 Your family still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your church still needs you.⁣
👨‍👩‍👦 Your community still needs you.⁣
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What they don't need is someone who is a frazzled, stressed-out mess who serves out of obligation rather than joy. Because when we demonize rest, we inadvertently swing the pendulum the other way and create an idol out of working, serving, and hustling. ⚖⁣
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God didn't intend for us to wear ourselves out for His glory. Rather, I think He created us with needs (food, water, shelter, rest, etc.) to remind us that we ultimately *need* Him.⁣
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So when you take time to address those needs and care for yourself, remember that it's not selfish. It's just wise.

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Are you ready for Turkey Day tomorrow? Although I’m not hosting this year, I’m helping my sis-in-law prepare and contributing my Creamy Parmesan Mashed potatoes and a cherry pie (Joseph’s request) ☝ to the menu. ⁣
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When I *did* host Thanksgiving, my family made fun of me for being over-prepared, but they later told me it was the smoothest Thanksgiving they’ve ever had—and they weren’t just talking about the mashed potatoes! 🥔⁣
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I relied on these seven tips to pull things off without a hitch:⁣
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1️⃣ Read over your recipes one more time and confirm you have ALL the ingredients. ⁣
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2️⃣ Create your day-of timeline. Calculate backward from dinner time so you know exactly what needs to be in the oven when.⁣
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3️⃣ Copy/hang recipes on your cabinets  so you can see everything you need to make at a glance rather than being forced to flip through several cookbooks.⁣
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4️⃣ Lay out and label all food dishes (including serving ware) with sticky notes.⁣
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5️⃣ Set the table. (And perhaps bust out some crime scene tape to keep kiddos out of the dining room!) 🤣⁣
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7️⃣ Do a quick clean of your kitchen so it’s fresh and ready for the big day!⁣
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Remember: the point of Thanksgiving is NOT to pull it off perfectly. 🚫⁣
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No one cares if you spill blueberries for the fruit salad all over the floor (true story) or you pull a too-jiggly peanut butter pie out of the fridge because it didn’t set right (also a true story). Those are just extra memories you can add to a table already brimming with abundance...and gratitude. 🍽Q: What is your favorite pie to eat at Thanksgiving?

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Family members are just about as different as the ice cream toppings they choose. 🍨⁣
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Even though we love them unconditionally, it's not easy for family to come together during the holidays and have it be completely drama-free. There's increased social pressure, obligation, tradition, personality differences, and always a comment or two that makes you bristle, whether it was intended that way or not! 😤⁣
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PREPARE. Head into family get-togethers knowing how you’ll respond in a tense situation. 🗣⁣
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Here are three ideas:⁣
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1️⃣ Leave the conversation and start a new one with someone else. 🚶🏻‍♀️⁣
2️⃣ Ignore the frustrating comments, and shift the conversation. 🤐⁣
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Most of all, prioritize being kind over being right. Because if you approach conversations with a different attitude, your button-pusher might too. 😉⁣
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Q: On a lighter note, what is YOUR favorite ice cream topping? I love rainbow sprinkles!

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Introverts, UNITE! Separately. In their own homes. And you better not stop by without calling...er...texting first. ⁣
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Whether you're an introvert yourself or have a best friend who's idea of a wild Friday night is a date with a snuggly blanket and book, then you're going to love these brilliant gift ideas picked out by an introvert (that's me!) FOR introverts! ⁣
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Drop a gift emoji in the comments below, and I'll send you a link to the curated list. Or you can access the post via the link in my profile!

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Although Upstate NY might be where I grew up, Florida will always feel like home. 🌴⁣
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When Joseph and I moved here six years ago, we were officially on our own for the first time. Without family super close by, we had to establish friendships and speed-date churches and navigate new-to-us grocery stores all by ourselves. We finally felt like adults! 😆⁣
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While we don't have roots holding us here anymore (we sold our physical home exactly one year ago!), I'm thrilled to be back...especially since the Sunshine State is one of the only warm spots from December-March for an RV. ☀⁣
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All that to say, if you're looking for me in the next few months, I'd check the beach first! 🏖⁣
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Q: Is there a place that feels like home to you, even if you might not live there anymore?


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