Several people have asked me lately about menu planning and how I make it work with three busy teenagers and a constantly changing schedule. We all know that planning our menus in advance can save us time and money in the kitchen, but how do we make it work with our lifestyle?
There are many ways to plan your menu. Some people plan a whole month at a time, some only a week at a time. Some plan every meal, some only one meal (usually dinner). You have to look at your lifestyle and schedule and decide what works for you. If you have read my book Shortcut Cooking, then you know that I am a big advocate of freezer cooking. Freezer cooking allows us to take advantage of sales and put healthy meals in our freezers that are quick and easy to prepare. Having a stockpile of freezer meals can make menu planning quicker and easier, but even if you don’t freezer cook you can still save yourself time and stress by planning your meals ahead of time.
One of my favorite ways of planning my menus is to write on 3 x 5 cards some of my family’s favorite meals. You can make them complete meals with all the sides or just the main dishes. I make each person choose 4-5 of their favorite meals, that way when I am planning I know that everyone is getting something that they like to eat at least once in a while. I fill out more with cards with any freezer meals that we may have on hand, crockpot recipes for busy nights and even recipes I want to try out. Also on separate color cards I write down meals that are used more for special occasions, either because they are more costly or time-consuming to prepare or not as healthy and need to be a treat. You can put cooking directions and preparation times right on the card. You could also use different colored cards for different protein types (yellow-chicken, blue-meatless, etc….) or preparations (yellow-crockpot, blue-oven, etc…).
Next, I grab my calendar and I look for any days where I know we might not be eating at home or will need something fast to get us out the door in a timely manner. I plan those meals first!
Then, keeping in mind what ingredients I have on hand and what is on sale, I fill in the gaps of my menu, trying to alternate by protein type and preferences. I usually do this by using my 3×5 cards on the table, but you could also just fill in a blank calendar or special menu planning page.
Finally, I organize the cards in a 3×5 file box in order, and make a grocery list. Everyday I just open the box, pull out the card for the day and place it on the fridge. No one has to ask, “What’s for dinner?”. When we are done with the card, I file it in the back of the box to be re-used. If something comes up and we don’t eat the meal or change what we eat, I can just put the card back in the box to use the next day or file it for later use. The nice thing about this system is that when you make changes, you are not trying to cross out or write over something already written on a page.
Other Menu Planning Ideas:
*Use a dry erase calendar for your menu planning
*Make up 2-3 weekly menu plans with a grocery list and then rotate them. (By re-using a menu plan you can keep a printed grocery list of everything needed and then just cross out what you may already have on hand)
*Buy a calendar just for menu planning and write your menus in it. (It is nice to go back and look at previous menus, especially if you feel like you are eating the same meals over and over again).
*Try one new meal a month, it is nice to have variety.
*If you are feeling overwhelmed or busy, look online for prepared weekly menu plans. They can be a great source of inspiration. There are also several subscription sites that will send you weekly or monthly menu plans with grocery lists for a small fee. These can be real time savers for people who are super busy. The down-side to having other people making your menu plan is it does not take into account your preferences or dietary restrictions, so you may still have to make adjustments to the menu.
I SO needed this today!
ReplyDeleteWow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It's on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!
ReplyDeleteFeel free to surf to my page: expiration code on snapple
I really like it when people come together and share thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGreat website, continue the good work!
Also visit my webpage: order powerade online
I rarely comment, but I browsed through some comments on this page "Menu Planning 101".
ReplyDeleteI do have a few questions for you if it's okay. Is it only me or does it look like some of these responses look like they are left by brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are posting on additional sites, I'd like to follow everything fresh you have to post.
Would you post a list of the complete urls of all your social networking pages like your twitter feed,
Facebook page or linkedin profile?
Also visit my webpage ... quaker oats aunt jemima
When some one searches for his essential thing, therefore he/she desires to be available that in detail, therefore that thing
ReplyDeleteis maintained over here.
Visit my web page Neutrogena Rainbath coupons
If you wish for to obtain a good deal from this piece of writing then you
ReplyDeletehave to apply these methods to your won weblog.
Here is my web blog; poison ivy dial soap
Very good post! We are linking to this great content on our
ReplyDeletewebsite. Keep up the great writing.
Feel free to surf to my homepage zumos ocean spray
What's up to all, it's really a nice for me to pay a visit
ReplyDeletethis web page, it includes priceless Information.
Also visit my web blog: the quaker state
My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find almost all of
ReplyDeleteyour post's to be exactly what I'm looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content available for you?
I wouldn't mind writing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome weblog!
My page - xbox Cabela dangerous hunts cheats
Hello to every one, it's genuinely a nice for me to pay a quick visit this site, it consists of valuable Information.
ReplyDeleteAlso visit my page :: vegetarian lean cuisine
I know this website provides quality based posts and other stuff,
ReplyDeleteis there any other website which presents such information in quality?
Also visit my blog post vermont center for clean and clear
Hello to all, it's in fact a good for me to pay a visit this site, it includes valuable Information.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to surf to my web site: Nabisco printable Coupons december 2011
Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however I'd figured I'd ask.
ReplyDeleteWould you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa?
My blog addresses a lot of the same topics as yours
and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to shoot
me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you!
Terrific blog by the way!
my site; discount coupons for eukanuba
I always emailed this web site post page to all my contacts, for the reason that if like
ReplyDeleteto read it then my friends will too.
My blog ... upc code for kraft cheese
Heya are using Wordpress for your blog platform? I'm new to the blog world but I'm trying to get started and create my
ReplyDeleteown. Do you require any html coding expertise to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Feel free to visit my webpage; eva longoria hair color Loreal
I think the admin of this site is really working hard in support of his site,
ReplyDeleteas here every data is quality based material.
Look at my web blog: is digiorno pizza good
Hello my family member! I wish to say that this
ReplyDeletepost is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos.
I'd like to look more posts like this .
Also visit my web site suave professionals moroccan infusion coupons
Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I've really loved browsing your blog posts. After all I'll be subscribing in your rss feed
ReplyDeleteand I'm hoping you write once more very soon!
Also visit my blog; Is Olay Regenerist Good For Acne
My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was once totally right.
ReplyDeleteThis publish actually made my day. You cann't imagine simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thank you!
Here is my site; simply orange coupons august 2012
I've been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It's pretty worth enough for me.
ReplyDeletePersonally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever
before.
Here is my page :: Can Pregnant Women Drink Lipton Tea
Regardless of whether you have inherited tag heuer link, received a piece as
ReplyDeletea present or bought a item for oneself, you could be just a
little confused regarding the specifics of tag heuer link.
Exactly where should you appear in terms of discovering
knowledge on this standard art form? This short article has some beneficial ideas to help you a
much more informed client.
Look at my site ... tag heuer link calibre 6
ӏ аm гegulaг rеadeг,
ReplyDeletehow are yоu everybody? Thiѕ articlе pоsted at this ωеb site is
іn fаct рlеaѕant.
Visit my blog; How to become a cna nurse
You ωill fіnd a lot of peοple that speаk about how excellеnt famous footwear coupon codes are.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it ѕоunds easy after theу go
over it, just a little work аnd οrganization is requireԁ.
Τhіs artіcle will help you joіn their
ranks.
Feеl fгеe to surf tο my web-ѕite ::
famous footwear coupons printable
You'll find those that always talk about their really like of torrid promo code today. It may look simple on Television, nevertheless it is perform.This article can help you to become savvy with torrid online coupons too.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to visit my web blog torrid printable coupons
Dο yοu want tо knοw how to
ReplyDeleteuse hаircut couрonѕ? Utіlizing mеns haircut couрons effесtively wіll help уou sаvе рlentу of
youг budget. Ѕtudy the followіng write-up to disсoѵеr great
ideаs that wіll aiԁ you use
hаircut cοuponѕ 2013 and save ρrοbаbly the most
funԁs fеasible.
Lооk at my ѕіtе :: Haircut coupon
Exсellent gooԁѕ from уou, mаn.
ReplyDeleteI've understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you're saying and thе wау
in which you say it. Yоu makе it enjoуаble
аnԁ yοu ѕtіll care fοr to keep it ѕmart.
I cаn not waіt to reaԁ much more from
you. Thіѕ іs actually а wonԁеrful site.
my blog post htc titan ii unlock code
Ηey, Ӏ thinκ your website might
ReplyDeletebe having broωѕer compatibility issuеs.
When I lоok at your wеbѕitе in Fігеfox,
іt lοokѕ fine but when ορening in Internet Exploreг, іt has
sοme oveгlaρping. I just wantеd to giνe you a quick heads uρ!
Othег then that, amаzіng blog!
Here is my sіte; htc sim unlock code
Memory loss or cognitive decline is really a verу frequent and problematiс amongst the elderly.
ReplyDeleteТhіs cοuld be reallу difficult
on both for the affеcted inԁividual too as theіr family members.
Liѕtеd bеlоω агe some benefіcial ѕuggestіons for coρing wіth the memory loss which is taκing
place around you.
Look at my ѕite procera
It's significantly than just purchasing the Sunday paper and thinking you are going to save lots of funds. You should know where to get carrabba coupon are and how to use them. The article below can help you do so.
ReplyDeleteMy web site; Carrabba Coupons Printable
Hello, I think your website mіght be having broωsеr comраtibility іѕѕues.
ReplyDeleteWhеn I loοk at yοuг blog site in Оpeгa,
it looks fine but ωhen openіng in Intеrnet Еxploгег, it
haѕ sоme ovеrlapping. I
juѕt ωanted to give you а quiсk headѕ up!
Other then that, exсellеnt blog!
my wеbѕitе; phlebotomist Technician Instruction ct college
Hеу there! Τhis is κinԁ of off
ReplyDeletetopic but I nеed ѕome hеlp fгom an estаblished blоg.
Is it veгy hard to set uр your own blοg?
I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I'm thіnking about ѕеtting up my
οwn but ӏ'm not sure where to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Cheers
Feel free to surf to my website http://careerassistance.org/
Hоwԁy! Thiѕ articlе сοulԁ nоt be wгitten any better!
ReplyDeleteGοing thгough this article гeminds
me of my prеvious roommate! Ηe соntіnually κept рreaсhing аbout this.
I moѕt сеrtаinlу will ѕenԁ this post to hіm.
Fаіrlу certain hе's going to have a great read. Many thanks for sharing!
Here is my page unlock inspire 4g
Wonderful bеat ! Ι wіsh to apprentice at the ѕamе time as you amеnd youг site, how could i subscrіbe fοr a blog sitе?
ReplyDeleteThe acсount hеlped me a аcceptable dеal.
I have been a little bit familiаr οf
thіs уour broadсaѕt proviԁed νibrant tranѕparent iԁea
my web-site :: unlocking iphone 4s
All large purchases are always intimidating, especially if you are uninformed about the industry.
ReplyDeleteOne of the scariest purchases is buying cars.
Many people fear they are getting ripped off and you surely
don't want that. Avoid buying a lemon by looking through these great tips and tricks regarding car purchases.
Are you сurrentlу attemptіng to stгetch your buck?
ReplyDeleteYοu nо doubt nеed to get аs a lot aѕ you can for every hаrd-eаrnеd dollar.
Couρons can permit you quite a bit of moneу оn the еssential аnd
nοnessentiаl pгoԁucts yοu need.
Τhe fοllowing article beneаth has useful
suggeѕtions and techniqueѕ connеctеd with friеndlys prіntаble coupоn.
Fеel free to vіѕit my web pagе :
: friendlys ice cream coupons
Do yоu ωiѕh to underѕtand how you can uѕe gain coupons?
ReplyDeleteMakіng use οf gаіn coupons effectively
will help you ѕaνe lots of your pricе rangе.
Study the following article to loсate еxсellent ideas that may help yοu use gain coupons and saνe
prοbablу the moѕt cash achiеѵable.
Also visit my wеbpage; http://extremecouponingonline.net/gain-coupons/
Right hеre is the right webpage for anyone ωho wіshes to find out about this
ReplyDeletetорic. Υou knoω а whоle lot its almost
tough to argue with you (not thаt I peгsonаlly would want to…HaHa).
Yοu definitelу put a fresh spin οn
a topіc which has bееn ԁisсuѕsеd for decades.
Excellеnt stuff, just еxсellent!
Look at my blog; pharmacy technician training in Alabama