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I just finished up week 4 on the Regular Menu Mailer and wanted to let you know how wonderful this is working for me. I've tried another similar email menu plan and had trouble getting the emails, the shopping lists were longer and the recipes were more complicated, and the quality of the resulting meals was not nearly as good as the ones from SavingDinner.com. I enjoy going to the grocery store with your list, because I know exactly what I need and everything is grouped neatly into categories, making it quicker to get through the store.

I also like the fact that there's one day that includes fish, and one meatless meal and one crock pot meal each week, and that many of the recipes incorporate healthier ingredients like low-fat cheeses and whole wheat flour, etc. I try to eat according to the South Beach Diet guidelines and found that most of the recipes in the regular menu-mailer fit into this type of eating plan, with a few modifications, usually just to the side dish suggestions. This week, I decided to switch menus and try SavingDinner's low-carb menu-mailer. I'm looking forward to eventually trying all of your menus! Oh, and your prices are very reasonable, too. Thanks for providing such a great, simple service.

I resisted signing up for the Menu Mailer for a LONG time...after all, I am a pretty good cook. So what if we ate very few vegetables, too much sugar, and were in a meal rut? And my husband is as picky as they come--he doesn't even like mashed potatoes.

But I finally tried it, and I'm so glad I did. Here are my reasons:
1) I know what's for dinner! So we don't eat out.
2) I can try new meals from someone I trust
3) My family likes the meals (toddlers, too)
4) We're eating vegetables and loving it
5) My scale finally started moving in the right direction
6) I'm getting to know my meat, produce, and spice departments better
7) My husband comes home to the odor of delectable cooking

~Beth in Florida

Where do I begin? Menu Mailer has transformed me.

I used to wander the aisles of the grocery store with a cursory list of essentials, but also picking up stuff that might be used to make something for dinner. My grocery bills ranged from $100 to $250 – how can one make a budget with no guidelines? Half the produce I bought would go unused, anyway. Around 5:00 every evening, I’d get a sinking feeling: what shall I make for dinner? I didn’t defrost meat, another recipe takes too long, I don’t have an essential ingredient. My husband would call to say he’s on his way home and ask (with trepidation) what’s for dinner? I’d have no answer. Dinner time was lackluster, at best. We lived on about 5 entrees, rice, and green beans or peas. Cleaning up after was a chore, because I didn’t like making dinner in the first place. My husband ate out for lunch - $$$.

Now, I am in and out of the store in 45 minutes, with EXACTLY what I need for a week of dinners. I know the produce people now! My bill is consistently between $120 and $140. I am in the store once a week for a regular shop, and only have to stop in again for milk. In the morning, I know what’s for dinner and can plan my afternoon accordingly. My husband and even my kids now ask with happy anticipation “So, what’s for dinner tonight?” We talk about the food during dinner, and enjoy rating it with smileys. Cleanup is fun because I cleaned as I went, had an organized time cooking, and am in a good mood! My family enjoys eating more variety, even the youngsters. There’s even an occasional curry for my husband. (I would never plan it if left to my own devices.) My husband brings extra helpings to work for lunch. When my husband wants to make dinner, he has everything he needs (he’s a more creative cook than I am, so he modifies the recipes.) My husband can go grocery shopping, and know that everything on the list will get used. I have learned so much about spices, and how to prepare food!

As I write this, there’s a prediction for 6 more inches of snow. I’m not worried about being snowed in, I have at least 4 days of dinner supplies in my house already.

The best thing about Menu Mailer is, it makes life more FUN! Its fun to shop, fun to cook, fun to dine, even fun (well, almost) to clean up. Menu Mailer makes me HAPPY, and “if Mama’s happy, everybody’s happy!”

Thank you all!
Barb in Northern Illinois

I have recently subscribed to the Menu Mailer for a trial three months.  We love it!  I am a home schooling mom with three kids, this saves me so much time!!  I was already doing my own menu planning but dreaded it as it took me so long to prepare the meal and shopping lists. It usually took me an hour or more! This was mostly because I wanted to incorporate new recipes all the time, I love to cook!

This gives me the ability to try new recipes without all going through all my cooking magazines and doing all the research!  I LOVE just printing my shopping list off the computer and heading out the door!

Sometimes it's been a challenge getting the kids (6, 4, & 2) to try new things but usually if they do they like it.  My six year old son's favorite so far was the Caribbean Turkey (I used chicken), he said over and over, "this is delicious mom, I love the flavor".  He's even requested it several times!  My husband and I loved the Greek Pasta with Tomatoes!  Definitely a rave!

Keep up the good work!  We love it!
Sandi E. - Cedarburg, WI

Thank you so much for adding Kosher options to the Menu Mailer.  I learned about you from FlyLady, and I always thought the Menu Mailer was a great idea, but I did not subscribe because so many of your recipes could not be used by my family.

I'll be signing up soon, and if it works out well for me, I'm thinking about getting gift subscriptions for my daughter and daughter-in-law.

I just wanted to let you know that this thoughtful addition is very much appreciated.  Thanks also to the local Flybaby who told me about the change in your service.

Linda Z. in London, Ontario

Just thank you so much for the Kosher options on the Menu Mailers.  We have just recently, in the past few months, stopped eating pork and shell fish in an effort to start eating a more Kosher diet.  Kosher has so many rules to learn I was getting more and more bogged down in details.  I just reviewed the Kosher options on today's menu and realized it isn't all that hard, I just need some guidelines.  WHAT A RELIEF!!  Menu Mailer and Flylady have made my life so much easier, and now you have seemed to anticipate yet another wrinkle and just ironed it right out.  GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.  YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB!!  ºÜº     

Kelly E.