How to Plan A Menu For The Week

Busy moms know that working full-time, tending to household duties (as well as the kids!), and planning meals can be overwhelming at times. When it comes to dinner, you need not worry. An hour on a Sunday afternoon is all you need to create a menu of simple, yet healthy meals the whole family will enjoy all week long.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Your Fridge
• Your Pantry
• Notebook Paper
• Pencil

1. Make a list of meals your family enjoys or recipes you’ve been dying to try. It will help with planning your week of meals.

2. Go through everything: your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Make note of meats, perishable and non-perishable items on hand. I usually have a list of all frozen meats, starches, and vegetables that I can play around with.

3. Make a chart on notebook paper with 4 columns labeled “Main,” “Side,” “Side,” (for side, keep in mind one starch and one vegetable) and “Dessert.” Going down the chart, label the rows “Monday” through “Sunday.”

4. To fill out the chart, write down what main meal recipe you want to serve each day (such as “Pork Chops” or “Spaghetti”) in the “Main” column, making sure not to schedule the same two meats back-to back (unless your family is perfectly ok with it). Then, decide what one or two sides will complement the main dish. For example, if I’m making Baked Chicken pieces, I will usually make stuffing and a simple side veggie, like green beans.

5. Dessert obviously doesn’t have to be made. But should you decide to bake a cake or just serve ice cream with crushed cookies on top, your family will love you even more for it!

6. Post your week’s menu in a place you and everyone else can see it, either on the fridge or your kitchen memo board. I usually post mine across from the garage door so it’s the first thing my hubby sees when he gets home and pray that if I’m not home yet, he’ll get crackin’ on dinner.

Tips & Warnings

• Planning your meals a week in advance also gives you the opportunity to save time by prepping for the following night’s meal. If it’s a casserole like Shepherd’s Pie, prep it the night before, stick it in the fridge, and all you have to do when you get home from work is pop it in the oven for an early dinner!
• All the vegetables I have on hand are frozen and generally store brand. They taste better than the canned junk and keep better in the freezer than fresh veggies in your fridge. Keep a variety on hand, such as corn, mixed vegetables, and even stir-fry veggies for those days you crave fried rice.
• Purchase meats in bulk. It’s much cheaper in the long run, so if you see prime rib or a pork roast on sale, grab it! It takes about 20 minutes to divide and portion meats by recipe quantity into storage bags, label them, and store in your freezer. When you get up in the morning, look at your menu list and grab a bag of meat from the freezer to let thaw until you get home.

[Jorty]

on 8/5/2009 I need to be this organized!

[ceholmes]

on 7/15/2009 Yes, this a great topic and somethin I need to do more often. By planning weekly meals, you eat healthier as well ! Excellent points 5* and recom!

[EarthMother]

on 6/23/2009 How to Plan A Menu For The Week is a great idea. I like posting the menu part. Smile!

[technicalbuzz]

on 6/13/2009 This is a great way to stay organized and save time! Thanks for the info! 5* and recommended!

[Viol]

on 6/12/2009 Wonderful idea. Thanks