Menu Planning

I had gotten into the habit of making out a weekly menu including lunches and dinners and their ensuing grocery lists.  This worked out great, and as I got into the habit of it I found I didn't necessarily need to write it down each week.  Well, then and there began the downward spiral into chaos!  Its' been a few months now since I've used my handy "menu planner template", and boy do I feel it.  I've gotten so low that I've actually had to *gasp* ask my husband what he would like for dinner!  We all know the answer to that question.... yep, it wasn't pretty.

So I printed out a few sheets of this menu planner and since it's Friday, it's THE day for menu planning. Why?  Because we do our grocery getting over the weekend.  Costco, grocery, and halal meats.  Three stops.  It pays to be organized.  This morning I sat my kids down in front of me at the kitchen table and had them go through my stack of 'authorized family dinner meals' to pick what sounded good for the week.  We made the lists, and off we went to the grocery store and to the halal meat store!  All that's left now is Costco which is usually saved for my dear husband because he just loves going there (for real).

What is an 'authorized family dinner meal' you also wonder?  Well, some time last year I got this idea from the blog Litte Nanny Goat to make our 30 meal plan.  I now keep those 30 cards in the front of my recipe card box (yes, I'm old fashioned and have a card box), and when it's time to meal plan I can grab that stash and browse the meals I know are winners.  In theory, this is fabulous, however, as the kids change, so does their taste in food. Hmmph.

Without further ado, here is next week's plan. (I've skipped breakfast b/c in our house it is either cold cereal,  hot oatmeal, or eggs.  Also, everyone can get their own breakfast, so I don't really need to plan that out!)

Monday: Lunch: Tacos; Dinner: Chicken Paprika
Tuesday: Lunch: Pimiento cheese sandwiches and pasta for kids; Dinner: Chili w/ fixings
Wednesday: Lunch: Mexican Chicken Skillet; Dinner: Leftovers
Thursday: Lunch: Mujaddara (rice and lentils w/ caramelized onions); Dinner: Chicken Stew
Friday: Lunch: leftovers; Dinner: Memaw's Casserole

Menu Planner Template can be found here along with dozens of other goodies.