Menu Planning Returns!

Please be sure to check out my post from this morning too. Thanks a bunch! :)

Well take it from me ladies, a menu plan does work and it helps tremendously!  About a week ago, a good friend suggested I do this again. I was doing this for awhile. The summer came and I just plain didn’t do it! I regret that now! I’m back to it!!

Some things I found out while sitting back and looking at the difference between doing and not doing (oh and maybe a few hints too)…

• It helps with the stress of figuring out what to eat each night. I have been stressed about it since I stopped doing the menu plan.
• It also helps with having to run to the grocery store many, many times a week! Believe me, around here you don’t want to go to the store more than you have to. At least at this time of year!
• Another thing I learned is that you don’t have to plan it perfectly. I don’t do a breakfast and lunch menu because I do not struggle with that. I just make sure I get enough each week for those meals. We keep both of those meal times very simple.
• I married a chef. At least that is what he was when we met. He is an amazing cook. I have noticed something after taking a look at why I stopped menu planning. I was trying to cook all the meals on my own, making the decisions on my own. My hubby and I have a pretty good 50/50 on cooking meals. I have found that a big reason I had stopped this is because I was stressed over making the dinners myself and making those decisions. So if your hubby cooks too…get him involved on the meal planning!
• The best advice I give you is to keep in mind that you may not eat exactly what you write each night. As I found out very quickly (especially with my large family) things can change when you least expect it. For example, one night you may have stir fry on the menu but then your 13 year old son has something to be at and it is his favorite meal. You know what I do? I pick another night where we are planning to have something quicker and easier like grilled cheese and soup. Then, I switch them around! It has worked for me this way.

 

Here is my menu for this week:

Monday – hubby’s beef stir fry over noodles (includes red and green peppers and onions) Yummy! With biscuits on the side.

Tuesday – good ol’ spaghetti with garlic bread. I also include veggies in the sauce. Usually carrots! Depends on the mood!

Wednesday – leftovers or sandwiches. This is youth night and my two oldest and I won’t be home. So I try to make it easy!

Thursday – Chicken breasts with fried zucchini and fried squash served with rice.

Friday – Pork Chops on the grill. Veggies*, mashed potatoes and cheese loaf.

Saturday – Easy grilled cheese and soup (FYI, we will be gone most of the day so I added something easy.)

Sunday – Ham and Cheese Rigatoni (recipe compliments of my cousin Danielle) with butter bread and veggie*.

 

*Just FYI, I usually just put veggies because I buy enough for the week and it just depends on the mood that evening which ones we will pick to cook!

All recipes are found in the kitchen of this wild family! :)

I am linking this up with two great sites today…

Menu Plan Monday on the Organizing Junkie the place to link up!

and Simple Mom’s post today about Back to the Basics: Menu Planning . With some real advice and help in planning your menu!