It's the beginning of spring and time to change my menu. Gone is the desire to eat heavy soups and stews, now I want salads, food from the grill and sandwiches. I started menu planning about 5 years ago and it has been very beneficial. It helps me know what I need to buy at the store, instead of wandering the aisles trying to anticipate every food I might need. Thus it cuts down on our grocery bill as well. Also, by planning ahead what I will make for dinner I am able to use my time wisely and start prepping in the morning or the night ahead . Menu planning takes the pressure off because when 5:00 hits I am not sitting there in a panic wondering how I'm going to get a meal prepared when I haven't thawed anything. Oh, there is one more financial benefit...we don't grab something out at the last minute because I haven't prepared dinner.
Here is how I menu plan:
1. I make a list of all of our favorite meals:
spaghetti
tacos
chef salad
salad pizza
stuffed baked potatoes
BLT pizza
pasta salad
grilled shrimp
grilled chicken teriyaki
egg rolls
grilled hamburgers
pecan crusted tilapia
shrimp linguine
garlic shrimp
fajitas
chicken or beef enchiladas
taco salad
meatball subs
BBQ chicken salad
Italian Bread Salad
broccoli macaroni and cheese
homemade chicken nuggets
That is a list of 22 meals.
2. Then I take a blank calendar (our realtor sends us one every year that sticks on the side of our fridge) and I fill in the days of the month with this list. I take into account what days we have commitments near dinner time and I'll plan an easy to prepare meal or leftovers for that night. I look at any days where we might be going somewhere else for dinner and if there aren't any then I build in a few "take out nights" or frozen pizza nights or breakfast for dinner nights. I make sure to not eat any one food type several days in a row. I also try to space out the foods that my kids don't love.
Now I have a month of meals planned! It takes me an hour to write it all in and then write my first week's grocery list and I'm saving myself money, time and discouragement! YAY!
What are some of your family's favorite meals?
About Me
- Pam
- I am a Christian, homeschooling mom of 3, married to an amazing man who is a blessing from God. I love Jesus and try every day in every way to grow closer to Him and live like He would have me live. I want to follow His path and glorify Him with my thoughts, actions and speech. Some days are good...most days I fail miserably. But...I keep praying and receiving God's unending grace! This blog is about our daily life of homeschooling and parenting and just trying each day to walk in His will.
Wish I could something like that but a... Kerry is rarely home for dinner and b....the kids don't like most of what I would make. So I watch sales and discounts when I am at the store and only buy chicken on sale and freeze it, or roast. Then pull out something on the nights Kerry is home. I like your planning, in the future as the kids decide to eat more than their regular favorites I will try it!
ReplyDelete