It's not something that I have ever done. Not that I didn't want to, but more because it seemed too big, too foreign, too... well, planned.
I love to cook. However, I cook when I "feel" like it or when I
Well, last week I was determined to make a plan. I grabbed a sheet of paper and into the kitchen I went. I sat down at the counter and my mind went blank (no comments dear family of mine). Where to start, what to make, when to make it... ugh!! So I phoned a friend, actually I emailed her and
We met this weekend and she shared what works for her and suddenly it started making sense. She looks at her schedule FIRST and determines what nights the family is home, what days are better for a more involved meal or when is time short and a crock-pot meal is order. "Eureka!" I think I started to get it!
This morning I again, sat at my kitchen counter with a sheet of paper and first wrote what this week's schedule looks like. For me that's some days with piano students all afternoon, right up until supper time. Hubby is working some nights this week, so on those nights, supper needs to be ready before he leaves. One night we have a Bible study group that meets in our home and the boy leaves early for Youth Group. Then other nights, I have more time to prepare a meal. Suddenly, it was easy to plug in a couple of crock-pot meals, a casserole night, a pizza night (homemade of course) and a leftover night! Done!
I cannot believe how that one task has changed my outlook just today! The boy is excited because he can see what we'll be having to eat this week (food is VERY important to him right now... lots and LOTS of food). I'm excited because I feel like it's another way that I'm running my household instead of it running me!!
So I'm curious... do YOU have a meal plan? How do you develop your plan? Do you keep a circulating list of recipes or do you switch up your menu? Do you cook ahead and freeze? What works for you? This Maine Farm Girl wants hear your feed back, so please leave any and all comments below.
12 comments:
Good for you! Meal planning is fun, you just need to do it :) I do the same thing, look at our schedules and see who is where and when and then make my choices. I use my slow cooker lots and take one day of the week that I know I am going to be home to make my baked stuff and maybe some thing new that I have wanted to try out. I also make double batches of things that I can freeze like spaghetti sauce, chili, and such so that we have some quick meals to make up should things change suddenly as they tend to do with four kids in the house :)
Yay for planning! It makes things work more smoothly for the Punkin Patch!
Hi farm girl! I am a home schooling mom of 4 kiddos and live in Maine too.
My husband was wondering if you use that rake in one of your pictures? We have one almost like it! It's slow, but gets the job done, and it's paid for!!
As for meal planning, I do. I look through cookbooks/magazines and make a menu for the week, and shop accordingly!
I used to be quite organized about meals. That was a few years back. Now my problem is the lack of schedule. Things come up all the time at the last minute with the 2 older kids... the toddler is having a bad evening...a friend calls me for last minute get together. But also, we don't buy vegetables at the store. They either grow in our garden or they come from the farmer's market. In short, I don't always know what will be available.
I got together with friends today and we want to cook big quantities together and then freeze them. But I've got to get better organized though, somehow.
Hey Girl! no comment on the blank mind because I have been there myself a time or two. I do meal planning off and on again. I make a template with 7 days and breakfast, lunch and supper then alternate breakfast choices(eggs, pancakes, french toast,cereal breakfast pizza,) my guys are usually the most hungry on their morning to milk :), then move on to lunches, depending on the time of year (farm schedule) I do a lot of meals I can take to the field or now I do my big meal at noon so as not to be eating heavy at night. Suppers are usually lighter like taco salad, soups and sandwich, something like that. Sunday nights always make your own( usually meaning whatever I have left in the house.) When I figure out what meals I want to make then I make my shopping list out and I usually do a 2week menu then I only shop 2x a month! Less shopping is great, I hate to shop!
I make a list of potential meals for the month and put a star by the "quick" ones for crazy days. Then I buy the groceries -though I can't get all the needed veggies because they won't keep that long. Instead, I put a note by the meal "Need green peppers and tomatoes" so I remember to pick them up in time.
But I never assign nights. I just pick'em when they seem right and when I feel like fixin' 'em.
Hello Maine farm girl I seem to gravitate towards lots of soup these days. I can make a very hardy soup with in an hour. I put crushed tomatoes in a pot with garlic, onions, mixed veggies(I froze for this purpose before the winter),and spices, and if I want meat some small meatballs and some kind pasta. Viola It is great with a pumpernickel bread. My husband never knows what kind of soup he will come home to but he loves them. I never really have a plan. As long as I have the basics I can go anywhere with this recipe. Change it to any thing you want.
Hey there Maina! My meal plan is to eat what is put on the table, sometimes I have to forage when the cook is out though.
Love you, Brother Dan
Dear Brother, I like your plan! Pretty sure it wouldn't fly around here though. Thanks for commenting all the way from Ecuador! :) Love ya too!!
Hello sweet friend.
I have to have a plan because I am a space cadet and around supper time the ol' brain just shuts down, I NEED a plan in order to function! :)
I gather my calendar, peek at the freezer/cupboards to see whats on hand and fill in the gaps with whatever is on sale at the supermarket. I plan meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) a month ahead of time.
It helps me to have "themes" for each night of the week. Example: Meatless Monday, Wacky Wednesday (breakfast for supper), etc. I will often cook a double batch of something (soup, casseroles, muffins) so I can pop it in the freezer. It is nice to have on hand if we are having a blah night or if a friend is sick and needs a meal.
If you peek under menu planning on my blog I have some ideas as well as some menus we use in Sargentopia.
Happy planning!
I never have, have always winged it. Not a bad idea though!
I have just got a grip on this area of household running - here's what I do to make it easy to figure out. Each night of the week has a specific 'meat' and I plan around that. That way there's variety, and it's not usually the same ol'.
Mon- ground beef
Tues- chicken
Weds- pasta
Thurs- beef (stew or roast... maybe venison)
Fri- pizza or soup
sometimes we'll have fish. The weekends are for leftovers and cleaning out the fridge. A girl needs a break!
I've started planning a whole month at a time too. Sounds intimidating, but really not that hard. I just need to figure out 4 burger dishes, 4 chicken, etc. and alternate the pizza and soup weeks. :) and flexibility is always necessary. I don't always stick to what is planned.
I love all the feedback! Thanks so much for contributing. This is an area that I felt challenged by and something I'm determined to keep working at. All your suggestions are much appreciated! :)
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