That much meal planning might save money — and sacrifice fun

ABC News has the story of a family in Friendswood, Texas, that has mapped out its meals for a complete year — cutting their grocery bill in half and turning their house into a school lunch calendar. 

I understand that planning meals is one way to cut back

on grocery expenses and avoid making impulse purchases. It saves money

and time, and reduces food waste.

I also recognize that once you start a family, the joy of tackling The Joy of Cooking wears off when you’re getting home at 6 p.m. only to face hungry kids.