So do you plan a menu? Do you just make food with what you have in the house? How often do you go shopping? Do you eat the same thing more than once a week?
This is all part of my food ADD, but I have created a way to plan a one month menu without repeating anything. And some may say this is food OCD, but I'll share it anyway.
One day, when I didn't feel like cleaning, but I wanted to get organized (see my other blog), I wrote down every meal that my family likes on separate note cards. I also wrote down all the ingredients I needed for that meal. Then in the upper right and left-hand corners I wrote down what type of meat and how long it took to make. Then I organized my week into different meal categories: Sun-Crockpot/Fancy meals, Mon-Sandwiches , Tues-Non-meat, Wed-Casseroles, Thurs-Mexican, Fri-Winners, Sat-Soups/Dad. I have my cards separated into those categories now. So when its time to plan I pick out 4 sunday cards, then 4 monday, etc. I arrange them so I can use leftovers of things like beans for our cafe rio salad. I also have a basic grocery list laid out in front of me, too.
It has taken all of the pain out of coming up with something to eat every 2 weeks. I post the menu for everyone to see. Now there's less complaining when they see something they don't want, because they know something they like is coming up soon. Anyway, just thought I'd share.
So what are your secrets?
so I was anti-menu, until I realized the comfort and freedom that it gave me. I am not as organized and I just plan a week at a time and grocery shop at least once a week. I often forget the grocery items for special events coming up. I don't always stick to the plan, but having a plan makes my life easier at dinner time. I am checking the blog today looking for menu ideas, so myrtle when do we get to see your famous menu?
ReplyDeleteEating to me is very much about what I'm in the mood for. I sometimes plan a few meals for a week. But always just have my pantry or freezer stocked with my favorites, so that I always have something to fall back on. But I can't plan too far ahead, because what if I'm not in the mood for what I plan? Then I have to just go get what it is I'm craving. I know, not too good for the pocket book, but great for the taste buds!!
ReplyDeleteI do usually plan about a week in advance. That's the best I can do :)
My sister is a major coupon person!! She's got it down to a science and an art! The other day, she bought close to $250.00 in groceries for just $40.00!! Amazing!! I told her that she really needs to teach me these skills. Groceries are so expensive.
I go shopping about once a week. We have a menu written on the white board in our kitchen, which just lists 3 or 4 main dishes for which I've bought ingredients that week. I usually decide the night before what to eat so that I can thaw the meat out in the fridge during the day.
ReplyDeleteOn my computer I have a blank menu planner (one month long)that I made up years ago. I just fill in the blanks and save the planned menu. If I am really lazy I pull up one from a different month and modify as needed.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your idea! I am going to try it sometime. I find that if I don't plan out meals we eat out WAY too much. I just plan and shop for 14 meals - then when I am ready to fix dinner I decide which meal I feel like cooking/eating that day. I always include slow cooker meals, quick meals and family favorite meals. Another thing that I do is buy several pounds of hamburger and brown it up. Then I freeze it in meal size portions so that if I am in a real hurry I can pull it out and make something real quick like spaghetti, taco's or sloppy joes - I also make a couple of meat loafs and freeze them raw so that they are ready to go in the slow cooker as I am running out the door.
ReplyDelete