Mom’s Meal Planning
How do you plan your dinner menus?
My method seems so complicated when I write it out but it’s what’s worked best for me over the years! I usually start to write down dinner ideas a couple of days before payday, which is every two weeks, and I write down enough dinners for two weeks’ worth. I use little notebooks for this and usually refer back to past menus for ideas. I try and make sure I write down the cookbook and the page number if applicable, and more often than not I have to hunt around online for a recipe I know I’ve used before but can’t find in my big folder of loose recipes!
Then I go and pull out the cookbooks and recipes that I need and add what ingredients I don’t have on hand to a list. I usually have a separate piece of paper that I write down things I need to check on when I’m done, usually for stuff I’m not sure how much I have left or if I even have any at all. When I go through the cupboards to check from the list that’s also when I write down things I’m about to run out of, etc.
My biggest issue has always been sides! I’m not good at picking side dishes unless it’s green beans from a can or my new lifesaver – bags of frozen vegetables that you leave in the bag when you pop it in the microwave. Occasionally I’ll think to do biscuits or something with potatoes, but I don’t usually do that until dinner’s almost done anyway and there’s not enough time.
Do you have a method for dinnertime madness?
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I have to say that what you do looks exactly like what I do with the exception that I do it every week. Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes it takes what seems hours. With 3 little picky eaters it is very discouraging to sit down to eat and at least one or more saying “I don’t like that”. I also keep a running list up so that as soon as someone realizes that something is close to running out they write it on the list. I also try to buy ahead so for example ketchup is something that we run out of often so I try to have a bottle waiting in the pantry so that when someone opens a new bottle they write it on the list and I go ahead and buy a new one.
I have a set of 20 menus that I rotate based on what mood I feel. If I know we are needing to save money one week Ill pick a menu based on specials or ingredients I already have in the pantry. This way it is never really a surprise cost wise when I get home. A well stocked pantry is a must and Ill organize my pantry as the weeks go, so there are always staples that can make dinner in 10 minutes if need be.
Hi Kelly! A running list is always something I space on. I think I can remember it and by the time grocery day comes around chances are I’ve forgotten. I need to find a good magnetized notepad or something to put on the fridge!
Hi Ruthie! Having a rotating menu is a GREAT idea! That would save so much time!
This always seems to be such a challenge even in my household… and I’m only feeding right now, my preggo self, my hubby, and my 17 month old son…
We have cookbooks, we have options for endless amounts of recipes online but we end up eating the same things I’ve noticed but I get into the habit of not changing what we eat but a rotating menu is a great idea, its good to try something new.
As for sides we always go with a rice or pasta, a veggie, and sometimes dinner rolls/biscuits.