It’s week 8 of my quest for organization and so far I have been reading from the Bible, trying to get 8 hours of sleep, dressing for success, exercising and drinking more water,keeping my bathrooms “company ready”, establishing a laundry routine, and trying to keep my kitchen clean.
This week my goal is to not have 5:00 p.m. roll around without knowing what I am fixing for supper. AKA: Menu Planning.
Having a menu plan helps ensure that we eat healthier and that we don’t resort to the drive through or prepackaged meals.
Most of the time my menu plan resides in my head, but it always works better when I write it down.
If the thought of planning a menu is a little overwhelming don’t worry because it really can be easy.
Here are a couple of methods I have used that are easy and work.
Menu Planning Method 1
The first method is to write down all of the main dishes your family enjoys. Then make a list of all of the side dishes, fruits, and vegetables you enjoy as well.
Once you have made a list take inventory of all of the foods you have in the freezer, refrigerator, and pantry. See what corresponds to your list and plan to cook those meals first.
Write down what meals you would like to fix each day of the week based on your schedule. For example, a crockpot meal works well on days you have commitments outside of the home.
Finally, make a grocery list of all of the items you will need to make the meals on your menu and hit the store.
You can plan one week at a time or even a whole months worth of meals this way. You can plan for just supper or all three meals of the day. It’s up to you how detailed you want to be.
My good friend the Queen of Free has a free menu planner (made by yours truly) you can print out, plus she has a whole bunch of menu plans you can view in her archives that are full of helpful menu planning tips.
Menu Planning Method 2
This method is what I call reverse menu planning, and it is quite simple.
Write down everything you cook for a week, two weeks, a month, etc, and use this as the basis for future menu plans.
Now, here is my supper menu plan for the week that I created using method 1.
Sunday: Leftovers
Monday: Crockpot Chili, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Corn Chips, Grapes
Tuesday: Tacos, Refried Beans, Orange Slices
Wednesday: Baked Fish Fillets, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli, Applesauce
Thursday: Hamburgers, Buns/Bread, Chips, Carrot & Celery Sticks, Apples (I will pack this meal to eat on the go.)
Friday: Homemade Pizza, Salad, Applesauce
Saturday: Crockpot Round Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Sliced Apples
Week 8 Checklist
Do you plan your menu or do you fly by the seat of your pants? I would love to hear what works for you.
