With three kids doing afterschool activities, I have found time and again that our house runs so much smoother when I have dinners for the week planned. I used to try to plan a month at a time, but our schedule can change so much from week to week. Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie hosts Menu Plan Mondays, where everyone who participates can add a link. It is a great way to start your week on an organized note, check out what everyone else is having for dinner, and get some great ideas, too.
- Monday - Beef brisket in the slow cooker, egg noodles and peas (update: this was a HIT! I made up my own recipe and it was yummy. One can of beer, 2 cups of ketchup, 2 TBS of Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, Emeril’s BAM, and some brown sugar mixed together and swimming with the brisket all day)
- Tuesday - Baja Fresh or Qdoba - we are out and about with overlapping activities so this one is a planned eat out night
- Wednesday - Dress Your Own Pizzas
- Thursday - Chicken, Broccoli and Pasta
- Friday - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Vegetable Soup
Another advantage to planning ahead is that when I go grocery shopping, I only buy what I am missing, not a bunch of stuff I think I might need. And if I really want to be efficient, I can probably plan a week’s worth of meals from what is already in my pantry and/or freezer.
Arianne of Neat Living has some great editable/printable master grocery lists at her site that you might want to get. They are really helpful.
Filed under Family, Menu Plan Mondays, Recipes
jen wrote @ January 8th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I agree with you 100% on meal planning…I did this before Laura brought up it up…it works wonders here….by the way I love your blog….
Char wrote @ January 8th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Thanks for stopping in Jen! I love the title of your blog - I’m about ready for cup #2 this morning.
Eliza wrote @ January 8th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Hey there, I love this idea. I did it a few years back and it worked out great, I really need to go back to this. I think I’m going to do one of those whole weekend cooking things in Feb right before the baby is born that way I don’t have to cook much. 
Char wrote @ January 8th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
That sounds like a great idea Eliza. I am not always good about following my plan, but when I do, things are so much better.
Poshmomma wrote @ January 8th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I have done menu plans for a while, I just let it go for a while, especially around the holidays. But I posted my first one today!
Becky wrote @ January 9th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Sounds great. I love the printable grocery list! Thanks for sharing! Have a great week!
Rona wrote @ January 9th, 2007 at 2:16 am
I just informed my son that we are having grilled cheese sandwiches and vegatable soup tomorrow. Thanks for the idea.
V-Grrrl wrote @ January 9th, 2007 at 7:50 am
I’ve never been a menu planner but my friend Michelle is a MASTER at this. She would take the weekly sales circular for her usual grocery store, see what the specials were, and then plan her menus based on what was on sale. She’d also try to make consecutive meals compatible, so that, for example. Wednesdays meal would use leftover shredded pork for Tuesdays or she might chop extra vegetables when she was making soup one day to use in a stir fry the next. She’s the QUEEN, as far as I’m concerned. Me, I’m the Lazy Grrrl.
Char wrote @ January 9th, 2007 at 11:44 am
V - I only started Menu planning within the past year. It totally goes against my normal fly by the seat of my pants lifestyle, but the more I do it, the more I know I have to continue.
Amy W wrote @ January 10th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I am a huge menu planner person. Makes it easy…
Saw your comment on Scribbit about Wilderness, and holy cow, I was born in Fredericksburg and the inlaws and such live in your town! Drop me a line…amy underscore trice at yahoo.com
Char wrote @ January 10th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Amy - thanks for stopping in - my brothers are both VT Hokies. I’ll drop you a note shortly.
Your menu looks great! I’m new to slow cooking and your brisket recipe sounds fantastic!
My Menu Planner has gone pear shaped already, and it’s only Monday!
Rona wrote @ January 16th, 2007 at 1:37 am
Soup and sandwiches. I’ve seen that alot this week.
Char wrote @ January 16th, 2007 at 2:24 am
I can’t believe I linked myself to last week’s menu. I redid the link and hopefully it is better now.
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