Truth be told, weekly menu planning often makes the difference between an organized, well-run house and, well, chaos.
Lest you think I exaggerate, let me assure you that I speak from experience, as a (new) homeschooling mom of four kids, married to a man who both works from home and loves good food. We have a busy family life, extracurricular activities, wonderful friends, pet rabbits and backyard chickens, and our days are blessedly full.
When I plan menus, life is good.
When I don’t plan menus, life is stressful.
Okay, okay, weekly menu planning is not the only factor, or even the most important one, but all other things being equal, an organized meal plan for the week makes my life much easier and the dinner prep hour totally stress-free.
Maybe you know exactly what I mean. If you’re reading this blog, it’s safe to assume you are at least interested in the concept of menu planning. It just takes discipline each week — or once a month, or every other week, to sit down and make a list of meals you plan to cook over the coming days.
To get started, you should have a printed meal chart in your hands. There’s this free weekly menu planner, or you might prefer the two-week printable meal planner. Or just use an ordinary piece of paper. Write the days of the week along the left-hand side with enough space left to fill in your meal ideas next to the days.
Look over your family calender and regular activities and jot down anything that will affect meals, on your menu plan. If you’re going to a potluck supper, having dinner guests, packing lunches, or anything else meal-related, note this in the appropriate squares.
Next, fill in the remaining days with meal ideas, combining family favorites with new recipes you’d like to try. Consider ingredients on hand in your pantry and freezer, as well as seasonal foods and grocery store sales, when compiling recipes for the weeks ahead.
At a loss for good meal ideas? Browse your cookbooks, flip through magazines, watch a couple cooking shows for ideas, check out online recipe sites, and peek at restaurant menus online.
If you still get stuck, check out Secret Recipes for Your Favorite Dishes — a two-volume restaurant recipe collection you can print instantly upon purchase.
Another idea is to do some bulk cooking and both plan your menu and cook for it ahead of time. Intrigued? Check out Once a Month Cooking to find out more about saving time in the kitchen.
Do you do weekly menu planning? What’s your strategy for staying organized, and where do you get your recipes?