Basic Meal Planning

In preparation for our first “official” Menu Planning Monday, here are some ideas and forms to help you get started with your own Meal / Menu Planning.

For someone who has never planned a menu, let alone a week or month’s worth of meals, the idea of meal planning can be intimidating.

Take a deep breath.

Meal Planning is a useful tool in your planning arsenal that can help you not only save time, but also money (and probably your sanity!)

If you are the primary cook in your household, you probably already have an idea of what you and your family enjoy eating.   Simply start there.

Make a List

Make a list of your family’s favorite meals.  What do you make most often that leave little leftovers or earn rave reviews?  Make sure those things are on your list!

Do you have anything new you have been wanting to try?  Now is a great time to add these potential family favorites, and expand your creativity.  Don’t feel that you have to try all 12 of the recipes you’ve recently cut out of a magazine because they looked yummy.  Just pick one or two for now and file the rest away (a file folder or pocket folder is a great way to store recipes you’d like to try!)

Even if you are a strictly-from-the-box cook, taking the time to set a “plan” for your meals can save you a lot of time and energy after a long, hectic, or stressful day.

Find Your Planner

By “planner” I just mean a simple form where you can record your meal plans. This can be as easy as using a printed monthly calendar if all you need to plan are evening meals.  Or, if you are detail oriented and want to plan all meals and snacks throughout each day, you can find a ton of forms online that will help you keep track of your planning needs.

Take some time to find what works for you.  I used several different forms and formats before I found the one that I LOVE – and I use it now all the time.  Whether you want to plan ahead for a solid month, or just one week at a time, you’ll find a wide variety of options available (check the links below for several options or try a Google search).

From simple to cute, from detail structured to free-flowing – you can find a form that works for you.  And remember, Meal Planning is a TOOL to help alleviate stress and pressure, so don’t feel the need to be perfect.  You don’t have to be Martha Stewart!  You’ll find your way with a little bit of time and patience.

Put It Together

So take your list of meals – and whether you just want to plan for a week or for a whole month, start plugging in your meals.  Think about your schedule.  Do you tend to eat out more on weekends?  Go ahead and plan something easy or quick for the busy weekend schedules, and save a more complete meal for another time.

This is where Meal Planning can be your best friend.  Design it for YOU and YOUR family.  Nobody else is going to look at this.  There is no test or grading for this.  If you write something down and don’t feel like making it that day, you can check your menu plan and make a “trade” with another night.  You can do this because you’ve got a Plan!

I discovered after several days that for me, planning one week at a time works best.  We are very flexible with our meals and because of my hubby’s work schedule, some nights we eat much later than others.  I make a menu plan for about 10 days at a time.   Rather than filling in a grid with a meal for every night – I keep the list handy (in my “Life Notebook”) and review it in the morning to decide what I feel like making that day.

If it’s super hot outside, and you’ve got an option for a great salad – that may be the one to make.  If it’s cloudy and overcast, this might be the perfect night for those chicken pot pies.  By checking your Meal Planner in the  morning, you have time to thaw frozen ingredients, and make sure you have everything needed to prepare the meal.

Grocery Shopping can benefit goes hand in hand with having a meal plan – again, saving time and money – so look for a post about that soon!

Resources

These are plenty of websites with downloadable – printable Meal / Menu Planners.  These helped me get a handle on meal planning for my family.

Donna Young – there’s a wealth of all KINDS of (free) management forms in a variety of sizes at this site.  Very useful.

Better Budgeting – meal planning, grocery shopping and more… (free)

Organized Home – meal planning, shopping, and more.  Quite a few (free) printables here.

If you feel like you need a little more guidance or detailed instruction, check out Menu Planning Central or Free Dinner Planning & Grocery Shopping Sheets.  For help with planning kids meals visit:Kid Approved Meals, Weekly Breakfast and Lunch Menus Moms and Kids Love!

Photo credit: photo credit: yoppy