All Menus: Saving & Printing Google Documents Grocery Lists, Recipe Cards & Instructions
Starting with the May 1, 2011 menus, ALL OAMM menus are moving to a new recipe card, grocery list and instructions format. The new recipe cards will no longer use the format of HALF/FULL menus that you will find in the TRADITIONAL menus prior to May 1, 2011. There are several reasons we have chosen to do so:
- Single Serving & Large Family Options – we know that MANY of you are not “families”. Therefore we wanted to offer a menu format that would allow you to adjust the needed servings to your family situation, whether that be 1 or 14.
- Group Options – We also know that MANY of you work in freezer cooking groups. And sometimes you need to adjust your recipe cards for large portions, say 100. You can now do all of that adjusting using the new format. No more math for you!
- Differing Dietary Needs – Not everyone in your family may be using a specific menu. For example, perhaps only one person in your family needs the Gluten Free/Dairy Free menu so you are only cooking for that person.
- Tried and True - We have tested this format out for the last 3 months with the Diet menu and have found it to be very effective for users.
A Glimpse at the NEW recipe cards
Therefore, I thought it best we outline some different instructions to assist you in adapting the recipe cards and grocery list to your needs. Here are some steps that you will need to take to use Google Docs for these menus.
Adjusting Serving Amounts in Google Docs
- Click on the Google Spreadsheet Link to open.
- Once open, Log-in to Google Documents (it’s easy and free to register as a new user!)
- Choose File => Make A Copy
- Rename the new file.
Once you have made a copy for yourself, you can now change the amount of servings that you are interested in cooking. Simply type in the number of servings you will be wanting in the YELLOW box. The amounts on the spreadsheet will change accordingly.
**There is also a step-by-step video screen capture on how to do this if you are more of a visual learner.
Saving Google Docs
Here are steps to save the SPREADSHEET files (Grocery Lists, Recipe Cards) to your computer or personal Google Docs page:
Instructions for if you own Excel on your computer (Grocery Lists, Recipe Cards):
1. Click on Google Docs Links to open each in a new window
2. File => Download As => EXCEL
3. Save in your personal folder on your computer
The file will now be accessible in Excel on your home system (just remember where you saved it).
**If when you do this you see things like ## it means that you need to make that cell larger as the changed formatting isn’t allowing you to see the completed information.
***Exporting to Excel can change the way the docs are set-up and is not the recommended means of using these documents. We suggest using Google Docs itself as the best method.
Here are steps to save the DOCUMENTS files to your computer or personal Google Docs page (for Instructions):
1. Click on Google Docs Links to open each in a new window.
2. File => Download File As => Word (or Text)
2. Save in your personal folder on your computer.
**Please note that sometimes when you export a document out of Google Docs and into another spreadsheet software, the cells might be altered. Typically if you run into a spreadsheet that contains this in the cells: ####. This usually means that the cell is not large enough to display the number. Simply make the cell larger and it should display the amount.
If you do not have Excel (like me) and want to utilize Google Docs to create/edit files, still follow the steps above and then:
Printing Google Docs
Monthly Menus:
1. In your file you want to print, select File => Print => A Print Option Window Opens
2. In the Print Option Window, choose: All Sheets/Actual Size/Landscape => Print
A Step-By-Step Video How-To on Printing Menu Recipe Cards:
Grocery List:
1. In your file you want to print, select File => Print => A Print Option Window Opens
2. In the Print Option Window, choose: Current Sheet/Actual Size/Portrait => Print
A Step-By-Step Video How-To on Printing Grocery Lists:
Instructions:
1. In your file you want to print, select File => Print
I hope these help! If you have questions about Google Docs, just drop them here. If you have a question about a specific file that I publish, please leave it in that post so others can see our dialogue as they may have a similar question!
[...] These are the step-by-step instructions you will need to quickly and efficiently approach your once a month (OAMC) BIG DAY by yourself! The ingredient quantities can now be found on the GLUTEN FREE/DAIRY FREE May 2011 Recipe Cards. If you need assistance understanding this document, please see this post. [...]
[...] Having trouble using the Recipe Cards? See this post! [...]
Question on the Gluten Free Recipe Cards, specifically the chopping amounts. I entered in 4 people for the size of my family and it’s telling me I need 4 cups of bacon (64 slices) and 4.69 cups of sliced strawberries. I’m thinking this is not correct, but I’ve been wrong before. Before I start chopping tonight can you tell me if the chopping amounts are correct? THANK YOU!
The strawberries were a little off but the bacon was accurate. I have adjusted the recipe cards and grocery list but it shouldn’t make too much of a difference really. And who doesn’t like extra strawberries to munch on during cooking?
[...] day you will need to go to the “printable (insert current month) menu”, which is a Google Document (if you don’t have an account already you can sign up for one for free, but it is not [...]
[...] Having trouble using the Recipe Cards or the YELLOW BOX? See this post! [...]
[...] trouble using the YELLOW BOX? See this post! Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this [...]
[...] Having trouble using the Recipe Cards or YELLOW BOX? See this post! [...]
[...] Having trouble using the Recipe Cards or YELLOW BOX? See this post! [...]
[...] Having trouble using the Recipe Cards or YELLOW BOX? See this post! [...]
I followed this directions for “**If when you do this you see things like ## it means that you need to make that cell larger as the changed formatting isn’t allowing you to see the completed information.” to remove the ### from the Directions cells on all of the recipe cards and it still wouldn’t show the text.
I found online that if you change the format of the cell to General, it will show the text and not ###. Hope this helps someone else who is having problems!
Thanks BETH!
I’m on a Mac, so all things are different… for the ### problem, switching the format to “general” didn’t work for me, but changing the format to “number” DID work. Yay!!
I then fussed with the column and row sizes to make it work for portrait (easier for me to file in my ring binders), and I was on my way. Thanks so much for offering this!
Pam, most of our writers are on a Mac. When you get that ### it means that there is more in the cell. If you format the cell to “normal” you should be able to see what is written there.
HI :) I’m brand new to this site but I am loving what I’ve been reading even though I haven’t tackled my first cook day yet. Your post was super helpful since I’m trying to print these recipies and kept getting ### as well. I just wanted to add that if enlargening the boxes don’t work, then after you switch the text to general- if it still isn’t working- copy the recipie and paste to Word doc. I’ve been printing everything in landscape and the recipies look identicle printing from Word or Exel. Best luck!
Can you tell us what menu you had trouble with the ## box. I can make changes to the template I think to help with that in future months.
[...] menus and recipe cards have all the container information factored in for your indicated servings, you simply need to look at the printable recipe cards for that month for our specific suggestions. [...]
Do people usually print on regular paper or on actual index cards?
They are designed for you to print on 8.5×11 paper – you will thank yourself for it when you are cooking and can read what you are preparing.
In my Gdocs, it’s not giving me the option to Make a Copy. I saved it as excel, but now I have to go in and print every tab separately. Any tips?
Did you follow the guidelines in this post: http://onceamonthmom.com/all-menus-saving-printing-google-document-grocery-lists-recipe-cards-instructions/ ? And you will have better luck if you just save it to Gdocs instead of Excel.
You can print the whole workbook of Excel, so you don’t have to go to every individual tab and select to print it. When you bring up your Print command, you should be able to select “print selection” “print entire workbook” etc. I don’t remember the exact names and I don’t have Excel on this computer to check, but just thought I’d let you know — it’s a pain to select and print every tab, that is for sure!!!
Hi! When I open the January Whole Foods Menu in Google Docs, and adjust the number of servings to 5, it says I need 73 cups of flour!! Everything else looked ok. Is this right?
I’m pretty sure that I double checked this at one point and that it IS correct. :)
Make sure you sign into Google Docs! I had a hard time getting it to work until I noticed in the top right corner it said “sign in”…once I signed in it worked perfectly, I was able to “save a copy”, print without issue etc.!
we are headed to the store today for our once a month cooking!! will print and take! thanks=0)
You guys have some mad excel skills! This is fabulous!
Is there a way to be able to input my own recipe and do this + a grocery list?
Thanks
Thanks! As for adding your own, that is way more complicated if you want to do it with Excel. You really have to know your stuff. :) We do have a whole series on creating your own menu (http://onceamonthmom.com/category/resources/create-your-own-menu/) or using Ziplist to help you (http://onceamonthmom.com/get-started-creating-a-custom-grocery-list/).
So probably a dumb question but is the grocery shopping list included? I didn’t see it
Where is the google spreadsheet link to open? I am so confused?
They are in the individual menu posts http://onceamonthmom.com/menus/ click on the menu you would like to see and click the link that says “Printable Recipe Cards”
On the grocery shopping list, what exactly does “each” mean. For instance, on the onions, it says quantity needed: 16.5, measure: each. Does that mean I need 16.5 onions, or 16.5 pounds of onions?
Thanks!
It should read medium for onions – so it would be 16.5 onions. Sorry, we usually catch that. Which menu so we know which one to edit?
In the GF DF Menu – google doc recipe cards, i was able to change the number of people for each individual recipe. For example, we decided not to eat the quinoa breakfast bars or cardamon chicken(set the yellow box to 0 on that page) and i adjusted some of the yellow boxes on individual recipes to get a better cooking amount.
Once I made these individual adjustments, the adjustments are not reflected in the chopping amounts tab.
Also, where do i find the shopping lists?
Thank you!
No, the chopping amounts (and the grocery list) will not adjust when you make those changes. The cards are not talking to each other in that way. Going to that level on our end is time consuming and not feasible to do and offer these services for free. If you want work around, here is our suggestion: http://onceamonthmom.com/get-started-creating-a-custom-grocery-list/
Is there any chance that in the future adjusting the servings for an individual recipe would backwards-adjust the chopping/grocery list? thanks.
Yes Heidi that is the goal for the future!
The grocery list is in the main post of the menu you were downloading OR in the menus under Resources > Grocery Lists.
When I print from google docs, everything but the recipe shows up. And it will print five pages of the source (at the bottom and top of every page) even when I select the option to only print the page. What do I do?
Thanks
Mindy, I have no idea. YOu might try accessing Google Docs with another browser? email us at info at onceamonthmom.com if that doesn’t work and you need help troubleshooting.
First, this website is great. I’ve been getting into freezer cooking for about a year now and this is the best resource I’ve found other than the books! My question is, has the “serving” amount been standardized across all recipes? I understand it’s one person after reading this page, which is perfect, but what does that mean? One person for how many servings across how many days? Or just look at each and determine what’s right for you? Thanks for this great resource. I can’t wait to dig into few recipes I’ve found here that look delicious!
I’m not sure I am exactly sure what you are asking. Starting in January 2012 we went to including what a serving amount is for each menu. When you put in a “1″ to the yellow box that means the recipes will yield you 1 serving of each item 2x. The best thing to do is to pick the menu you want to do and read the post in it’s entirety. The documents that are linked will also answer your questions about how much you will make. If you are worried, start off with a mini menu. WELCOME!
I’m going to become a first-time mom in a few months (adopting a baby), so I want to start cooking things ahead of time and learning how to do freezer meals. This looks like a great place to start! My challenge, though, is that I have food allergies/intolerances. So I have to avoid all dairy, eggs, and gluten, and am supposed to limit beef for now. Chicken, fish and turkey are fine. Many of the recipes look like they’ll work great, but others I can’t have. Pulling some recipes from one menu and replacing some in the Gluten Free menu will probably work best, it looks like. Are the menu plans somewhat customizable, like I can type and replace stuff, or do I need to create everything from scratch if I want to do that? I’m nervous because doing it from scratch feels like a big learning curve for a newbie. Any advice on the best way for me to start?
Laci, there are a couple routes. No, things aren’t customizable right now. Here is a work-around (http://onceamonthmom.com/get-started-creating-a-custom-grocery-list/). There is also a make your own menu series (http://onceamonthmom.com/category/resources/create-your-own-menu/). To start though, I would start with the Gluten Free Dairy Free menu (http://onceamonthmom.com/menus/gluten-free-dairy-free/) and substitute meats if there are ones you can’t have. There is also a mini GFDF menu coming soon. And this is our answer to eggs (http://onceamonthmom.com/going-egg-free-how-to-substitute-eggs-in-recipes/).
I was wondering if anyone had done this on the iPad and had any tips?
Thanks
(Kelly) I have not downloaded on the iPad yet, but I’m approving this to see if any other readers have tips for you!
Hello. I am trying to download the menu plan. I signed into my google account. Went to File, didn’t have a make copy option, so I choose save as, saved it. Went to my documents, clicked it to open it, and my computer won’t load the page, it says it poses a security threat and goes to a blank screen. Is there any other way to get the menu plan? This would be my first time trying out oamm. I was very excited, all the recipes sound delicious. I hope there is a way I can still download and print everything. Thanks
I usually get something similar if I am not signed in, although you say you were. That is weird. I would try to use another browser or check your security settings. If these still don’t work, let us know. This is our best way of sharing since there are so many computer and software options people might have.
I think it is probably the security settings at work. I will try at home!
I think it is probably the security settings at work. I will try at home, although I don’t have a printer there!
I’m trying customize the 10-day August mini menu with my number of servings (2). The Quantity cells are not populating or I’m getting a wonky error #VALUE!
It looks like the hidden rows on the recipe workbook at the issue.
I think it might be an error with whatever program you exported it into? I did it in Google Docs and it did just fine, no funky #value. Can you specify what you exported to? Have you tried just using it in Google Docs?
Any idea why it won’t print from google docs but rather a download window pops up?
I think that depends on the browser you are using.
how do i download this information. I can not find a link?
I’m uncertain what it is that you are trying to find a link to?
I am trying to print the recipe cards and am finding that the directions are all in one cell, so it will not let me print the whole huge line of directions without laborously cutting and pasting to lower cells to make it readable/printable. Help please!
If you click on the cell, go to formatting and change it to “normal” or “text” I think it should display for you. Can you advise which menu?
It is in the September 2012 Traditional menu. I found if I turned off “Wrap Text” and “Merge & Center”, it helped, but I still have to cut and paste to lower cells so that it can print on one page. On another note, just wondering if there is a missing ingredient on the recipe card for the Doritos Cheesy Chicken Casserole as there is an empty space in the list?
Jennifer the card is fixed now.
Hi there! I love the customizable grocery list, since for now it’s just me and my husband. I do have a question (or maybe request) though, is there any way to export this customized list for 2 people to ziplist?
Not at this time Lisette.
Hi am I am new to this and signed up basically for the Paleo plans! We are family of 5 (three little people though, so maybe I should be doing 4 on the computation cells). I added 5 into the google cells for the paleo 2012 10 day paleo meal – am I to understand that this is 10 meals consisting of 2 of each meal for 5 recipes? I am getting confused by the number of bags required. Why would I need 12 gallon bags for the brisket for the sept 2012 paleo plan? On the totals page for the regular paleo 2012 (not sept) I have 5 entered and it says i need 65 bananas, or 120 ziplock bags, or 60 foil trays? This means at 10 nights of food i’m using 12 bags a night? I have entered and reentered 5 or 4 etc to no avail. So I question the other amounts, like 36 eggs.
Jennifer, yes all of our menus are created so you will get two meals out of each recipe card prepared for the amount of servings for your family. You can put 4 or 5 it’s up to you. There was an error with the container formulas, I have corrected them now. The Brisket in the September Mini Menu the formulas were swapped. You do need multiple quart bags, if you read the directions you’re storing the meat in one quart bag, the veggies in another then the sauce in another, then those three bags go into a gallon bag for one meal. As for the bananas I put in 5 in both the cards and the grocery list and did not get 65 bananas. It comes to 25. You do need a lot of bananas for the banana pancakes. But if you can tell me where you are seeing 65 I can check that. The eggs would be correct as well. If you are talking about the menu from May you need (for 5 servings) 35 eggs total. 20 for the Frittata, 5 for the energy bars, and 10 for the pancakes. I’m showing that you only need (for 5 servings) 5 eggs for the September Paleo Mini for the Chorizo Meatloaves. Check the cards out again and let me know if you have troubles. Email me at kelly at onceamonthmom.com
On any of the recipe cards when it says “each” under the measurement does that mean you need that much for each meal? For instance, I am getting ready to do the 10 day mini menu for January 2012 and I put in 4 people. On the recipe card for Green chile chicken enchiladas for flour tortilla shells it says 13.33 “each”. Does this mean, I would use approximately 6-7 tortillas for each pan or 13.33 tortillas for each 8×8 pan?
That means you will need 13.33 tortillas (sorry about the partial, it will work out though. And I am guessing it reads that you need 2 8×8 pans so 13 enchiladas will fit in 2 pans. . .so yes, 6-7 tortillas in each one.
How does this work from an iPad? Have Docs To Go on my iPad but nowhere to pull it up. Doesn’t work on Google Docs…help?
Marsha you can download Google Drive on your iPad. You can save it to your google account and then change the servings in your copy. http://onceamonthmom.com/all-menus-saving-printing-google-document-grocery-lists-recipe-cards-instructions/
This is my first month trying the recipes. I have a family of 7. The Gallon size freezer bags says I need 112. Is this right? It seems impossible.
Hi Sunshine! Actually that could be right. With a serving size of seven people, you will need four freezer bags per every recipe that calls for gallon bags. One meal for your family will take two gallon bags, so each recipe is doubled for you to eat twice, therefore that is four gallon bags per recipe. I would need to know what menu you are entering in to double check but I feel it is right.
Can u tell me what all the measurements are? .08 cups .165 huh?
Jackie we use excel spreadsheets for our recipe cards and excel does not like fractions so we have this handy chart to help you out http://onceamonthmom.com/wake-me-up-coffee-banana-smoothie/us_liquidconversion_blue/