Menu Planning

In my married years I have been menu planning on and off for various reasons including saving time, saving money,and saving the 4:30 'Oh No, What's for dinner!?' panic attack. This time it is for all three. I thought everyone planned out their meals before they went shopping but after discussing it with a few of my 'mommy' girlfriends, I found out that this is not a common habit. It makes my heart beat fast just thinking that they are going shopping without a plan!

So let me share my menu planning, and by no means is this rocket science. I must have SOME simple things in my life that I have control over and THIS IS IT! So let's get down to the planning~

added note here: I started this when I still had all five kids at home but now I only have two kids left to feed daily.

Each day of the week is categorized to narrow down selections....like this~

Mondays: Breakfast! (No, not cereal!) Between having seminary age kids and that darn bus coming so early, my kids miss out on one of the greatest meals of the day! So I have moved this meal to Monday nights and go all out.

Tuesdays: Soup and Sandwiches! Sounds simple enough, right? My husband is not a soup fan and your's may not be either BUT since I am now making my soups from scratch he loves them. I don't always have soup AND sandwiches on tuesday.

Wednesdays: Pizza Night! No we don't wait for the pizza delivery guy to ring the bell, unless of course he is coming for dinner. My youngest and I make our own pizza, the way we like it and that makes for some great variety. Wednesdays are busy for my family with cub scouts and youth activities Also my husband goes straight from work to his church meetings. So that leaves two of us at home for dinner and two that will be starving when they make it home later.

Thursdays: International Cuisine! This is where I stick all the tacos and spaghetti. I am also a huge fan of french and danish cooking. I will get to that in another post.

Fridays: Vegetarian! This could also include fish. Anything vegetarian goes here but mostly ends up being a pasta night.

Saturdays: Grilled! The grill is not a fixture or piece of furniture out there. Use it! If it can be cooked on a grill then it fits in our Saturday menu. Due to my husband's lack of enthusiasm with grilling in the cold, we have been taking the same meals and cooking them inside. I might keep grilling for warm months and change it out in the cold ones.

Sundays: Traditional! These are mostly cooked in the crockpot and patiently waiting for us when we get home from church.  Meat and potatoes are commonly found on a Sunday afternoon. I try to make enough to feed us for dinner too.

It's as simple as that. With the menu planned, the shopping list can be made. If you stick to your menu you will not find yourself running back to the store during the week. That will save you lots of money. Then when 4:30 sneaks up on you, you won't be asking yourself "What's for dinner?"