E-Mealz will simplify your life, save time & money! - LLNOE Sponsor

[Roy Randolph]

EDITED TO SAY: They Advertise on the Dave Ramsey Show as well.

E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families (http://www.e-mealz.com/amember/go.php?r=9988&i=l0)

why e-mealz (http://www.e-mealz.com/amember/go.php?r=9988&i=b0)?...

E-Mealz (http://www.e-mealz.com/amember/go.php?r=9988&i=b0) has been created to provide a kid-friendly and family-uniting meal planning resource for busy Moms and frugal family cooks. Each meal plan is based on the current sales at the grocery stores, with plan options categorized according to store and/or weight management strategy. The recipes are delicious, simple and easy to follow. Each plan is new every week and has a corresponding aisle-by-aisle grocery list. Almost every week includes a crock-pot recipe and easy dinner ideas. There are meal plans for two people, for a low fat diet, a low carb diet, and for those who are following a point system, as well!

http://www.llnoe.com/media/webcast/e-mealz-webcast-012108.mp3http://www.llnoe.com/media/webcast/emealz-webcast.jpg (http://www.llnoe.com/media/webcast/e-mealz-webcast-012108.mp3)


<small>http://www.e-mealz.com/banners/e-mealz-banner-animate-gree.gif (http://www.e-mealz.com/amember/go.php?r=9988&i=b0)


</small>

[JenB]

This looks very interesting!!!

[YBNRML]

Each plan is new every week and has a corresponding aisle-by-aisle grocery list.

:cool:

[meca98682]

Interesting site! I would consider it but I'm already using another site to plan my meals and can't afford another. The site I use does not have the grocery store features though.

[bzkdz]

I use emealz and I really like having it all planned out for me. The only complaint I have is that the plan I use (any store, no Super Walmart or anything around here) is not really all that frugal.

I find I am buying a lot of meat and if I follow what the plan suggests, it doesn't seem to make use of the cheapest way to do things or plan to use leftovers. For instance, I was supposed to buy 6 ground-chuck patties for hamburgers. Ok, a package of 4 was over $5. Instead, I bought 4.5 pounds of ground beef and made 16 of my own patties for $8.

There is also a lot of premade rolls/canned biscuits/etc. listed, which is certainly simple and easy, but not the least expensive way to go.

Beth

[Gretchen]

Hmmmmm this sounds like something I gotta try! I'm always TRYING to be better about cooking at home - but I never make a good enough plan. So maybe this will help!

[Roy Randolph]

Hmmmmm this sounds like something I gotta try! I'm always TRYING to be better about cooking at home - but I never make a good enough plan. So maybe this will help!

DW and I just signed up, and we have tried a few of the meals, and all I can say is:sillygreeting: mmmmm GOOD! Haven't found one I disliked yet.

[GAPeach]

GA Peach, sorry told you wrong...with the Meal Mixer you CAN designate that you don't like certain foods like beef and pork!

Hmmmm.... Thanks for the update.

[Roy Randolph]

I just posted in the #1 post the link to the Webcast we did today (1/21/08). Its in MP3 format (6.8MB) so feel free to download or listen online!

[2tejas]

Roy, I decided to give E-mealz a whirl. Thanks for the webcast! We got home Saturday from a weeklong trip where we stayed in a condo that had a washer and dryer. I only had one load of dirty laundry when we got home (awesome for 6 people) and then wished that someone would do my menu planning and grocery list for me. Ta-da! :ohyeah:

Susan :txflag:

[DeannP]

I may have to try this. Are there any discounts for LLNOE members?

[dianemarie]

The only part I don't like is the automatic billing of the credit card...I wish there was another way to pay...

[kelmickra]

The only part I don't like is the automatic billing of the credit card...I wish there was another way to pay...
Instead of a cc, I'd use my debit card. Or is it you don't like the automatic billing of it?

[dianemarie]

yes, it's the automatic billing thing...I'd rather just subscribe for a year or 6 months, and then reorder Myself if wanted...kwim?

[Roy Randolph]

yes, it's the automatic billing thing...I'd rather just subscribe for a year or 6 months, and then reorder Myself if wanted...kwim?

So....have you tried contacting them to change it for you? By asking a lot of wonderful things could happen.

[jsslotter]

Sounds interesting.

[Aethian]

I got it and ordered it for the family of four. Mom and I went into my local super walmart and were out in a half hour, spending 81 dollars. The list said 76 but I got some poptarts to eat for breakfast. From that 81 dollars we got 14 dinners and 14 meals or 7/7 for each of us.

I don't think thats very bad for two people to only spend 40.50 for a week and not needing to buy lunches while we're at work.


Also with the reacurring charge, you can e-mail them and ask to not have it recharge you. And I believe they are putting it so you can choose between automatic and manual.

But two thumbs up for me and two from Mom.

[meca98682]

I decided to try it at least for a little while in conjunction with my usual method of menu planning. The recipes sound really good but won't start actually using for a few days since I've already done my shopping for my current planned menus. I really like that she plans it around store sales (at least I think she does from the site)...I have not yet listened to the interview.

[finallyonboard]

We just took a week-long trip (empty fridge) and had pretty much eaten down a lot of our stockpile (from couponing) without really re-stocking that much in the last couple of months and also decided to get back on Weight Watchers since DH and I have both crept up from goal weight over the last year or so. SO...it was a great time to give e-mealz a try.

Here's my review so far:
(if you don't feel like reading my blabbering - I give it a thumbs-up!)
I joined on Tuesday and took my first shopping trip. We got the points-based any store plan with 6 servings per meal. We're a family of 3 but DH and I bring our lunches to work, so it seems perfect - lunch for the next day is already taken care of!

Seeing the list I thought it would be way more than the $75 a week estimate, but my food envelope was filled with 2 weeks of budgeted $$$ (we budget $80 a week for food/HBA/cleaning) so I decided to just go with the list and see where I ended up (and jotted down prices and kept a department-by-department subtotal as I went). I did buy only 6 of the 7 meals worth of food and I also had a few things on hand that were on the list (chicken breasts, a box of noodles, a can of peaches, and onions) but I also bought organic celery, extra bananas, orange juice, honey, and popcorn kernels that were not on the list - and I ended up at $66! I was pleased! I bought generic when possible, so that helped.

As a couponer for the past few years it practically killed me to pay shelf prices, but really the end result is pretty much the same and we'll be eating a lot more fresh veggies and meats.

So last night was our first meal - and it was very good, and complete! I love that they include side dishes. And, as anticipated, we had plenty leftover for our lunches today (and even some to freeze! It was tortilla soup).

So far it gets a thumbs up from me!

[Pom&MinPinParents]

I joined in November & LOVE it! Simplifies the 'whats for dinner?' issues here! I'm a picky eater & was concerned about repeating menu items too often, but they worked that out by providing a surprisingly wide variety. I don't think we have had a repeat since November (unless DH makes a request).

We eat basically lo-carb and there is a menu selection for that as an option, with specific shopping lists for Kroger, Walmart, etc. they even list reference pricing of each item to honor your budget.

I find the recipes very easy to make and taste great!

After the quick weekly PDF download, I keep my weekly menus and shopping lists in a ring binder to make it easier for me. I can quickly 'shop' for a dinner menu based on what I have on hand (even if I didn't use the shopping list that week, like the months I order from Angelfood Ministries).

I totally recommend e-mealz!!!:wtg3:

[MagnaSky]

There is a coupon out there that would allow you to save 20%, but I am not sure that I am allowed to post it here.

[debtbgone]

If you type the word DAVE you get a $2.50 discount for the first 3 months

[JenB]

I am torn on whether to do the Wal*Mart plan or the 'any store' plan....

The 'any store' plan, in my mind, doesn't see to get me the best grocery deals.... where as when they are matching the sales with the meal planning...

KWIM?

[JenB]

On our second night of E-mealz dinners and OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an easy plan that is truly a life saver!!!!

Last night was pesto chicken (which I have NEVER made) and the family loved it.

Tonight is burrito bake.. I will have to re-heat it after class... since I forgot to lay the hamburger out this morning...

If you are thinking about this, you won't be disappointed. :cool:

[bdbull]

Let me start by saying I am not intending to start a discussion of Walmart vs. other stores.

Can anyone offer any advice for us? We're thinking about trying this out soon. Our dilemma is that we shop for fresh fruits/veggies/meats from Kroger, but get everything else at Super Walmart. We used to buy everything at Super Walmart until last week when my wife was checking out and the cashier asked if she had smelled the chicken she had on the conveyor. My wife smelled the chicken and it smelled awful. The cashier then said, "I work here, and I wouldn't buy meat from here." Given that, we decided to start getting the fresh stuff from Kroger and everything else from Super Walmart.

On to our dilemma, do we sign up for the Walmart list and just get the fresh stuff from Kroger or do we sign up for the Kroger list and get the "everything else" form Walmart.

[meca98682]

I'm starting the meals tomorrow. I wish I could choose what foods we like/don't like though...on my menus was turkey (for TWO) meals and we don't care for it..once a year on Thanksgiving...that's about it for us. I'm substituting chicken and changing the recipes a little. Otherwise I like it....just wondering how often this will be a problem. I really like grocery list and they way they put the recipe numbers on it so if you don't want to cook a certain recipe you know what to cross off. Wish I had a printer in the RV...will be easier when I get home and can print them out.

[meca98682]

If you type the word DAVE you get a $2.50 discount for the first 3 months

Wish I'd know about the discounts! But I'm not a member of Daves site.

[Pom&MinPinParents]

On to our dilemma, do we sign up for the Walmart list and just get the fresh stuff from Kroger or do we sign up for the Kroger list and get the "everything else" form Walmart.

We are very much the same in my neighborhood, (both a Kroger & Super WM with varying meat quality also). I shop at both about 50/50. I elected to go with the WM plan & like it just fine & apply the shopping lists at either store.

That said, I use a PDA for my shopping lists (and every other kind of list you can think of!) so I manage my lists a bit differently by default & can track pricing & save it historically; for me, the store may not matter as much because of this.

You do have the option of changing plans (on an infrequent basis) even during the subscription term, so if you start with one & decide to switch, just email them.:wtg2:

Hoping that helps!

[bdbull]

I went ahead and signed up for the Kroger plan. We're going on our first shopping trip tomorrow so I'll post back to let you know how it went.

I must really be into saving money and getting out of debt 'cause it hurt to spend the $12.50 to sign up for this. :dollareyes:

[bdbull]

We split our shopping between Kroger and Walmart, but I think we're just gonna do Kroger next time. The amount of money that we might save at Walmart is actually offset by having to go to two places and the amount of time it takes to get anything done in Walmart. There was one item that the plan had listed on sale for one price that actually wasn't on sale at our Kroger. So, we simply substituted something that was on sale. I probably won't really realize the financial aspect of the plan for a while, but I can say so far the meals are excellent. I'm a very picky eater (which is why we have a hard time getting meals together) and I've absolutely loved everything so far. Plus, we had enough left over last night to make lunch for today and have again for dinner tonight.

[laughin]

How does this work with Weight Watchers?

For parents of little ones (in our case, almost 4 years and a 7 month old), does this seem to work well too?

[bdbull]

I didn't choose that plan, but I believe there is a "points plan" that is for weight watchers.

As for the little ones, I have a 2.5 year old and we've had no problems so far. I feel I must mention that he'll eat absolutely anything (and I do mean anything), but so far he's loved everything we've had as well. We chose the regular meal plan and so far we've been able to feed the 3 of us and have leftovers for lunch the next day.

[finallyonboard]

How does this work with Weight Watchers?

For parents of little ones (in our case, almost 4 years and a 7 month old), does this seem to work well too?

The menu lists the points per serving of each item, and the meals are averaging around 7-8 points per entire meal (at least so far - we're 3 weeks into it now).

We have a 4 year old and it is working well, but we've also always been one of these families that all eats the same thing. I've never been into making somehting "kid-friendly" for DS and something else for us. Of course, if he tries something and honestly doesn't like it I will give him an alternative, but he has to at least try the actual meal in front of him first, which usually works. And I'm starting to involve him in the kitchen, which he loves...and eating the product of his own work is always exciting for him :)

[Naomi]

I just signed up for this last night and hit Kroger with my two person points plan. The problem I had was that the meat is not packaged for such a small meal. I ended up spending a lot for the week due to the meat situation. Hopefully I can use it up soon with other recipes.

[bdbull]

I've never done this, but when I was little I think I remember my mother actually going to the meat department and telling them that she needed X amount of whatever she wanted and that there wasn't a prepackaged one out there. I'm from a really small town so it may just be a small town thing, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try.

[Roy Randolph]

I just signed up for this last night and hit Kroger with my two person points plan. The problem I had was that the meat is not packaged for such a small meal. I ended up spending a lot for the week due to the meat situation. Hopefully I can use it up soon with other recipes.

Of course you could also buy enough to get a discount on the price per pound and then freeze the rest and use it in upcoming recipes. That would go a long ways in helping to lower the food bill as well.

[DeannP]

I just signed up for this last night and hit Kroger with my two person points plan. The problem I had was that the meat is not packaged for such a small meal. I ended up spending a lot for the week due to the meat situation. Hopefully I can use it up soon with other recipes.

So your one week plan would last you two weeks. See, in the case of a two person family I'd just buy the meal plan for four and have everything twice in a two week period.

[Pom&MinPinParents]

Of course you could also buy enough to get a discount on the price per pound and then freeze the rest and use it in upcoming recipes. That would go a long ways in helping to lower the food bill as well.

Thats what I do in addition to having lunches at the ready with the leftovers.

I stretch the budget by cooking more than we need for as many meals as I can to purposefully have leftovers.

It's neat to have a meal pre-cooked/frozen on days when I just don't have it in me to cook; just a short spin in the microwave & real home-cooked dinner is ready! :cool:

I also have no shame in stopping at Wendy's for side salads to complete such a meal in under 10 minutes!:laugh1:

[docster28]

Does anyone do the lo-carb option? I'm pretty strict low-carb (but have 2 kids as well)

[Pom&MinPinParents]

Yes, low-carbers here! (low carb) menus are set up nicely for it!

[sahmamma]

is anyone doing the low fat meal option? I am clicking the menu sample and it isn't working.

[DeannP]

is anyone doing the low fat meal option? I am clicking the menu sample and it isn't working.

I do the WM Lowfat option.

Here's the link to the sample:

http://www.e-mealz.com/samples/sample-walmart-lowfat.pdf

[sahmamma]

I do the WM Lowfat option.

Here's the link to the sample:

http://www.e-mealz.com/samples/sample-walmart-lowfat.pdf


ty for the link, it worked!

have you found alot of repeat meals? the one worry I have is that with lowfat meals there tends to be alot of repeats or similar ingredients.

how often can I change plans if I am not happy with the lowfat option?

[DeannP]

Well, I'm on Week 3 and no repeats.

I'm not sure how often you can switch. I think you have to email them to switch so I would think not all the time or anything.

[tamralynn]

In their FAQ they mention that they don't repeat meals for 3 months (I think that was the timeframe). When they do repeat it's only for the meals that are requested alot.

I did week one with e-Mealz last week and was very happy with the meals. The grocery shopping was SOOOO easy. No meal planning on making a list, everything was done for me.
We had Creamy Italian Chicken in the crockpot and my family LOVED it!!! Next time I'll make a double batch so we have more leftovers for lunch on that one. We all argued over the one serving of leftovers - I won. :)
All of the other meals were very good. There was one meal though that we didn't try because I didn't like most of the ingredients. Now that I have one week of meals available to me all the time, when there is something I don't like, I'll substitute it with a meal from past weeks that I do like.
The grocery lists have numbers next to the items showing you what meal number it's for. So if you don't like meal #4 you can scratch off all the items that are for meal #4. Very easy! Plus I'm doing Weight Watchers and I choose the plan that had the WW Points so I knew all of the recipes were healthy for me and the points were already calculated. One of the things that keeps me on plan with WW is meal planning and this helps alot! Plus meal planning helps keep us on budget!

Two Thumbs up for this company.

[JimFPU]

We signed up for a 3 month trial (not an actual option, but if we don't like it or it's not really saving us anything...) and one thing I noticed is that this plan is ONLY for dinner. What about breakfast & lunch? Our food budget is about $700/month. These meals are touted to be at about $300/month (based on $70-$80/week) only covering dinners.

Is this really going to save us money?

We'll let you know.

[sahmamma]

We signed up for a 3 month trial (not an actual option, but if we don't like it or it's not really saving us anything...) and one thing I noticed is that this plan is ONLY for dinner. What about breakfast & lunch? Our food budget is about $700/month. These meals are touted to be at about $300/month (based on $70-$80/week) only covering dinners.

Is this really going to save us money?

We'll let you know.

this is exactly what I was wondering also. I signed up for 3 mo to see what happens.

[Gretchen]

We had Creamy Italian Chicken in the crockpot and my family LOVED it!!! Next time I'll make a double batch so we have more leftovers for lunch on that one. We all argued over the one serving of leftovers - I won. :)

Welcome! And Mmmmmm that sounds good!

I'm a member - but I'm really bad about forgetting to download each week. Can you share that recipe for Creamy Italian Chicken? I just looked and it's not on the past two weeks sheets.

[JenB]

We signed up for a 3 month trial (not an actual option, but if we don't like it or it's not really saving us anything...) and one thing I noticed is that this plan is ONLY for dinner. What about breakfast & lunch? Our food budget is about $700/month. These meals are touted to be at about $300/month (based on $70-$80/week) only covering dinners.

Is this really going to save us money?

We'll let you know.

this is exactly what I was wondering also. I signed up for 3 mo to see what happens.

I don't save money on the grpcery part since I had that pretty well under control... however I can tell you that I save money (and lowered the envelope $) in the eating out category. The system also helps me out because I can hand him the shopping list and send him on his merry way.

Check back and let us know how it works out.. :crazy2:

[bdbull]

We signed up for a 3 month trial (not an actual option, but if we don't like it or it's not really saving us anything...) and one thing I noticed is that this plan is ONLY for dinner. What about breakfast & lunch? Our food budget is about $700/month. These meals are touted to be at about $300/month (based on $70-$80/week) only covering dinners.

Is this really going to save us money?

We'll let you know.

It's been great for us so far. But, we don't eat breakfast and aren't home for lunch. However, most of the meals have been large enough to be able to pack a lunch from the leftovers for both of us. We're just a family of 3 (2.5 year old boy that eats like a horse), but it's worked great for us. We probably haven't gone out to eat in over a month and we used to be 1 or 2 times a week. In my opinion, the main advantage of this is the meal decisions and shopping lists have already been done for you. We spend about 5 minutes going through the menu deciding which ones we want to make and checking the pantry to see what we already have. It has also cut our grocery shopping time down considerably, but I think that's due to shopping at Kroger now and not Walmart anymore.

I just recommended this to a friend of mine yesterday. I, too, was very skeptical at first, but we love it now.

[Timedess]

I've been wondering about trying this, but was also concerned that I am not feeding a family of four one meal a day, but a family of eleven (well, ok, let's make it 9, since the younger ones probably equal three all put together) three times per day (plus snacks).

If we truly do end up liking the recipes and the menu planning/shopping works for me, it'd be worth it just in the TIME savings right now- I am so far behind, I have to turn around to see myself in the mirror!

I think I will sign up for it, and see what happens.

[*kristen*]

Thanks for this link. I am trying it for 3 mo. to see how it does for us. I am a classic buy it and never use it person, so my idea is if I use it 3 of the 4 weeks each month, it's worth the investment, otherwise I will not continue.

[ghma]

We signed up for a 3 month trial (not an actual option, but if we don't like it or it's not really saving us anything...) and one thing I noticed is that this plan is ONLY for dinner. What about breakfast & lunch? Our food budget is about $700/month. These meals are touted to be at about $300/month (based on $70-$80/week) only covering dinners.

Is this really going to save us money?

We'll let you know.

I was wondering about breakfast and lunch too. And is there a 7 day menu for two people? I only see the 5 day menu..

[tamralynn]

I have been using this for four weeks now and I must say that I really LOVE it! My kids and myself mainly eat cereal or bagels for breakfast so we don't have to worry about a breakfast menu. Then they eat lunch at school and I bring leftovers or just make a salad or sandwich for lunch so we don't really need a menu for lunches either.
Having someone else set up a menu for me saves alot of time. Plus I love the shopping list already completed for me. We have tried recipes that I may not have tried before this - even ingredients like Eggplant. Two of my kids loved it - one of them, my youngest, didn't really care for eating something purple. We are using the Weight Watchers plan, even though I'm not currently following the weight watchers plan, it's nice knowing that my meals are low fat.

If you type the word DAVE you get a $2.50 discount for the first 3 months

[sahmamma]

wow, they have a vegetarian meal plan now. *drooling*

[finallyonboard]

wow, they have a vegetarian meal plan now. *drooling*

I just noticed that! We're not vegetarian, but we're not big meat eaters. Once or maybe twice a week would be plenty for us. We're doing the WW points one and we've felt like it has been a bit heavy on the meat for us, and have done a few of their recipes without the meat. Hmmm... I wonder if they allow you to flip-flop if you already subscribe. I'll need to take a look.

[Scuttlebutt95]

I signed up last week and I decided to try it out today. My cupboard is pretty bare (didn't grocery shop at all last week), but my budget is $100 a week, so I think I'm pretty good because the shopping list totals around $75. I go to the bank, get out the $100 cash and head to Wally World.

Halfway through my shopping I realize that NONE of the staple items are included in the total cost! Is this normal? I understand not having to budget a whole bag of flour when you only need a little, but I'd prefer to have SOME indication of how much the staples are. Like maybe a total with staples and one without? That way I make sure I have enough cash before I walk into the store?

How has everyone else dealt with this?

[JenB]

How has everyone else dealt with this?

For me, I usually have the staples on hand... There was one week that the staples were a bit high only because I didn't have creole seasoning or sea salt....

[Aethian]

With regards to the staples they believe they are just that, stapels. And sometimes we don't have those items that people use all the time. Something I'm starting to not believe now. :P

But when I print out the list and notice a staple on their that I don't have I make sure to highlight it and take an extra five dollars for each staple I need. Usually they don't cost five dollars and only really about 1 to 3. Excess money is put back into the envelope for next week where the cost will usually be down to where they say it should be.


However I have noticed that the cost is actually more geared to where the company was started. I sent a e-mail once about how my costs are usually one to two dollars higher where if I shop right I can get the meat for less (and better quality) if they could have a distinction to different parts of the country. No response yet but I'm still hoping.


As for the couple one only having five days instead of seven...IT SUCKS! What do they think couples don't need to eat the other two days or are they constantly dating or eating out?!

[Scuttlebutt95]

Well, I panicked over nothing. After really paying attention to the staples - I didn't have that much extra to buy, and so all in all, I still had $8 left over. It just means more work on my part to figure in the cost of the staples.

The plan is still not 100% what I would like it to be - but what the heck is? I can tell you right now that I will be buying milk every week - sometimes two gallons, so that will be at least an additional $3.50 each week.

I'll quit my whining and keep trying it out. :winer:

[JenB]

Well, I panicked over nothing. After really paying attention to the staples - I didn't have that much extra to buy, and so all in all, I still had $8 left over. It just means more work on my part to figure in the cost of the staples.

The plan is still not 100% what I would like it to be - but what the heck is? I can tell you right now that I will be buying milk every week - sometimes two gallons, so that will be at least an additional $3.50 each week.

I'll quit my whining and keep trying it out. :winer:

I bought 6 gallons of milk this week at the grocery... They were 2 for $5 and I threw five of them in the freezer. It took some creative organizing to get them in there. ;-)

[airedalian]

I can tell you right now that I will be buying milk every week - sometimes two gallons
We go through 4, sometimes 5. At $4/pop. I swear milk needs a line-item of its own in the budget.

[pugmom]

gosh I really like this idea, but I am not sure how well it will work with our dietary restrictions :( maybe I will get it and just pick and choose recipies....

[Scuttlebutt95]

I'm having problems getting the sauce to be a sauce. I followed the directions to a T, and I've got one big lump of cheese surrounded by milk and macaroni. Is there any way to salvage? Or am I gonna have to order pizza?

[tamralynn]

I made the Mac and Cheese last week and it turned out awesome. I actually ended up doubling the recipe because my family loves M&C, plus it makes great leftovers.
Are you sure you measured everything exactly? Mine wasn't close to being lumping at all.

[MrsUSMC]

Try baking it in the oven.

I don't see how this would save us money since it's only for 1 meal a day. And I also noticed, as mentioned above, that the meals for 2 are only for 5 days. Do we fast the other 2 :angelnot:

[4cuties4me]

Welcome! And Mmmmmm that sounds good!

I'm a member - but I'm really bad about forgetting to download each week. Can you share that recipe for Creamy Italian Chicken? I just looked and it's not on the past two weeks sheets.

You can find it by googling it! Very yummy!

[flchick]

This looks great! I signed up this morning. :)

[mommy23]

anyone using the kroger plan not in the areas listed? we are in michigan and I am wondering if the sales are the same?

[momseev]

This is all very interesting - just not sure it would work for my picky family. Me - I'll eat anything but dh is awful and most of the dc have followed in his footsteps. Basically I have a list of meals that everyone likes and I rotate them through out the month - but it's getting really boring IMHO!

Do you get a choice of recipes each week that you can choose from? It would save me a lot of time - I'm not much of a coupon shopper at the moment so that isn't really an issue. My other problem would be the store selections. I don't really care to shop at the Super Walmart although I do form time to time. Aldi's is ok, and we have none of the other stores listed in our area. Most of the time I get my groceries at Aldis (but not produce) or Hannafords, then Walmart when we're in the area.

I hate making decisions like this! lol

[Susan in KY]

Do you still use it? Is it worth it? Over the long haul, have you found it a big help?

Also, are the vegetarian meals mostly pastas, or mostly vegetables?

Susan

[mommy23]

I signed up for it and ended up spending WAY more money than I ever do on groceries. I figured it was b/c we normally eat a lot of cheap meals, tacos, spaghetti and things like that. I found myself spending $12 on a pork roast:saywhat:
I now use some of the recipes and supplement with a lot of my own. I just don't feel like it is a great savings. Good recipes so far, and nice for a meal plan, just not a very big savings IMO.

[finallyonboard]

Do you still use it? Is it worth it? Over the long haul, have you found it a big help?

Also, are the vegetarian meals mostly pastas, or mostly vegetables?

Susan

I don't use it anymore either. I loved it for the most part, but provided them a little feedback as I switched around then quit. First, I signed up with the WW points for any store, which we really liked all of the recipes. I was spending slightly more than before but we were eating healthier. The only drawback for us is all of the meat - we're not vegetarians, but we aren't huge meat eaters either - once or twice a week is enough for us. So when the vegetarian one came out I switched...however, it was all basically meat centered recipes using meat substitutes rather than how I like to cook vegetarian with legumes, veggies, etc. They were really fast and helpful when I wanted to switch back...and I did tell them that very thing, so I don't know if they've changed the recipes since then or not. Then summer came, and I expected a shift in the recipes where they'd be lighter fare and a few things on the grill here and there. But the recipes didn't change for the season and I found myself not using half of them for the week. So I decided to let my membership lapse. I also provided that feedback to them, so again, I'm not sure if they've changed it at all or not.

Lately, [REMOVED Inappropriate promotion of a 3rd party service in a Sponsored thread] More work than e-mealz, but so far so good for us :wtg3: I still give e-mealz a thumbs up - it really was very easy and helped us get back into a menu planning mode - which I think is key for saving $$$ and eating at home.