|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:14:41 GMT -5
Please post your suggestions/meal plans/tips/etc. here.
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:15:13 GMT -5
Various suggestions copied from main bb StillJulie: Meal Planning ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have a little grid (something I made up from a spreadsheet program) where I fill in 4 weeks of meals. I just do Monday through Saturday, b/c I figure one night will likely be left-overs. I don't follow real strictly to always fixing things in the order that I've written them out. Sometimes I wake up and just don't "feel like" having what's written for that day, so I switch things around.
We raise beef, so we have an abundance (and then some) of beef in our freezer. Because of that, I usually plan 3 meals centered around beef, 1 chicken, 1 pork, and 1 fish. DH requires meat at every meal.
I keep a 3-ring binder of lists of meals that I make that fall into each of those categories. I also list the ingredients for each.
I've also got a master sheet of most grocery items I purchase. When I make out my meal plan, I usually have my meal lists, my grocery list, and any grocery ads for the week in front of me. I use a highlighter to mark any items I'll need to purchase.
I also have a list of emergency back-ups - meals that can be done real quickly for whatever reason. We very rarely go out to eat, and there are days when I just really don't feel like cooking, so here are a few of my "back-up" plans: frozen pizza, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, mac 'n cheese, soup & grilled cheese, complete meals in a box (several companies make these), complete meals in a bag (freezer type - several companies make these as well).
Anyways, hope this helps a little.
FlyinHigh: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I use the meal planner sheets that you can buy from the H&H planner (merchandise page). On one side you make your meals for the week and on the other side you make your grocery list. Very nice if you want to plan one week at a time or one month at a time. I usually plan week by week now. That way we can have more variety and everymonth is not the same.
On the meal plan sheets you have slots for every meal of the day (breakfast, lunch, dinner). I am experimenting with planning snacks so I don't feel rushed or stressed to come up with something (and healthy too).
Crockpot night is great to have on a night where you dk's are busy in an event such as sports or scouts. Because my schedule changes I vary which night I use. Here is a list of ideas. Also you can get ideas from the book "Sink Reflections". I'll check my other books too.
Crockpot night Mexican Night Poultry Beef Casserole Fish Pork Leftover night (or lunch on Sunday) Soup and Sandwich
For fun: colored food night, Kid's cook night, picnic in the park, picnic in the yard are just some ideas
Veggie night (we sometimes have something like vegetable pockets with corn on the cob etc. instead of always having a meat )
Once in a while you just have to eat out or order pizza
SandKsmama: Okay, here's how I meal plan... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ And this is the only thing in my life that I am actually *organized* about, so don't think I'm completely anal:-)
Breakfast: I do a rotating menu for breakfast, which pretty much stays the same each week until we are sick of something, then I rotate in something new. Monday: Bagel w/ PB or cheese Tuesday: Cereal Wednesday:Eggs w/ Cinnamon toast Thursday: Pancakes Friday: Breakfast burritos Saturday: Waffles/eggs/grits/sausage Sunday: Egg Mcmuffins or Cheese toast(depending on how much time:-) Also, I offer juice and milk every day, as well as some sort of fresh or canned fruit.
Lunch: Same deal as breakfast Monday: Hot dogs Tuesday: PB and J sandwiches Wednesday: Mac n cheese Thursday: leftovers Friday: Chicken nuggets and tater tots Saturday: Pizza or leftovers Sunday: Sub sandwiches or out to lunch:-) Again, some sort of fresh fruit, as well as some kind of chip/cracker usually. We almost always drink water.
Dinner: (I do this 2 weeks at a time) Monday: Italian (Lasagna, salad, bread)(Spinach manicotti, salad, bread) Tuesday: Easy/one dish (Macaroni Goulash) (Chicken and rice, grean beans) Wednesday: Mexican (Taco Salads) (Chicken enchiladas, rice, beans) Thursday: Seafood (Mexican Tilapia, spanish rice, refried beans) (Marinated white fish, mixed veggies, mashed potatoes) Friday: Beef (Roast/potatoes/carrots) (Grilled steak, baked potato, salad, bread) Saturday: Casserole (Chicken Divan, stewed apples, bread) (Shepherd's pie, salad) Sunday: Leftovers or out to eat!
I hth! Also, I do feel free to switch around my menus - if I wake up on Thursday and don't feel like fish, then we have the casserole or whatever. Also, if fish is really expensive, then I just nix it for those 2 weeks and eat more chicken, etc.
Amanda
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:16:25 GMT -5
Burpin's Weekly Breakfast Menu Organizing Breakfast... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My good friend passed this idea on to me and it has been great. On each day of the week I make something different. This way it's not cold cereal every morning. The one thing the kids have had to get used to is that I make them breakfast and that's what we're having...no more short order cooking. You can adjust this list to your own family and what they like. Here is my list
Sunday: Pancakes(Bisquick Mix) and Bacon Monday: Cold Cereal Tuesday: Waffles(Eggo Brand) and Bacon Wednesday: Oatmeal and English Muffins Thursday: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon and Cinnamon Rolls My kids love the Pillsberry Cinnamon Rolls! Friday: Cinnamon Toast and Yogurt Saturday: Muffins and Sausage Links
It has been so nice to wake up in the morning and know that I'm making a really good breakfast before they head off to school.
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:17:05 GMT -5
Mom2jak's Menu List Here is my old list. I need to work on it and begin menu planning again.
What I did and still do to some extent was each night of the week would be a different dish (mon; chicken tue; spicy wed:beef etc) but we never had the same dish in a 30 day period. I know my family would be happy if I would get back on track!!
Spaghetti Lasagna Pizza Stromboli Chili beans Tasty Beans Pinto beans/ fried potatoes/ greens/ corn bread Potato soup-homemade Chicken noodle soup --homemade Chicken and rice Homemade beef stew Honey mustard chicken Chicken Patties/buns Chicken Fajitas Kielbasa w/ peppers/onions served with buttered noodles Fish-coleslaw-hushpuppies-fries Salmon cakes Taco salad Enchilada casserole Cheeseburger bake Beef Roast Barbeque on Bun-chicken/pork/beef Potluck pockets Hamburgers Hot dogs Baked potato/broccoli/cheese Burritos Chicken stir-fry Corn beef and cabbage Chicken broccoli casserole Meatloaf Spiced pork chops Ham Hobo dinners/ ground beef-potatoes-carrots-onions Chicken potpies Chicken dumplings Sub sandwiches Steak Cabbage/ground beef/salsa Bacon beans and wieners Gravy biscuits/ eggs Turkey Zuppa Tuscana
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:17:22 GMT -5
2lplvr's Meal Planning A month of dinners -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think there are 30 different meals here:
Roast Chicken Beef Stew Tilapia Twice Baked Potatoes Spaghetti Ham Steaks Fried Chicken Salisbury Steak Sausage Potato Casserole Vegetable Beef Soup Tacos California rolls Meatballs BBQ Chicken Tortellini Turkey Tenderloin Chili Bulgogi Meatloaf Parmasean Chicken Quesadillas Potato Soup Fried Rice Homemade Pizza Pork chops Chicken Pot Pie Country Style BBQ ribs Stuffed Shells Sausage and Bow Tie Pasta Lentil Soup
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:17:38 GMT -5
Carlislehomemom's Meal Planning okay I only have the ideas..nothing is fully planned yet...becuase I haven't decided how to arrange them yet...
but my basic meals I rotate are: -spaghetti or a pasta bake -ravoli -pizza -lasgana -chicken parmeansana (sp?) -chicken enchiladas -beef enchiladas -fajitas -tacos, southwest shredded chicken or ground beef -nacho night -sweet n sour chicken -garlic basil roasted whole chicken -chicken alfredo -sometype of stir-fry with either pork or beef -garlic lemon pork chops or asian roasted pork tenderloin (depending on meat prices) -mandrin orange chicken -hamburgers -cilantro chicken casear salad -BBQ Chicken
I am sure I have more things I mix in there...but those are my basic meals...
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:18:14 GMT -5
Coxmama's Meal Planning meat and potatoe casserole chili stew spaghetti ham and scallop potatoes tuna casserole prime rib pizza soup roast chicken steak pork chops sausages and rice lasagne hamburgers perogies pork roast chicken breasts meatloaf chicken pot pie nachos wings
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:18:25 GMT -5
Use a calendar to plan your meals I plan a month at a time. I can look back at past months to know when we had whatever the last. Plan grocery lists according to what you are cooking and can change a meal quickly if you run out of time to fix what you wanted. Shop sales for meat and then you can know you have in the freezer to plan your meals. I go grocery shopping once a month except for milk. It SAVES us SO much!!! Karen : )
Quote of the week: 3yo DS "Where you going daddy?" "I'm going to work." DS "Where you going mommy?" "Nowhere. Where are you going" DS "I going CRAZY!" : )
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:18:45 GMT -5
Kinsa's BREAKFAST meal plan This is a weekly meal plan, it seldom varies.
SUNDAY: Pancakes or sweet rolls MONDAY: Eggs, bacon or sausage, toast TUESDAY: Waffles WEDNESDAY: Bagels or oatmeal THURSDAY: Quick bread or quick muffins FRIDAY: French toast SATURDAY: Boxed cereal
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:19:16 GMT -5
My meal list for January. (by Becky) 1. Spaghetti with salad and french bread 2. Stuffed shells - recipe on box. 3. Meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn 4. Grilled cheese tomato soup 5. Crockpot Roast beef, potatoes, carrots 6. Chili and cornbread 7. Parmesan Chicken and noodles 8. Turkey Dinner, Stovetop, Dinner Rolls, veggie 9. Green bean casserole 10. Sloppy Joes 11. Turkey and Dumplings 12. Spaghetti with meatballs 13. Homemade Pizza 14. Pancake night with bacon 15. Hamburger Beef Stew and Dinner Rolls 16. Tacos (Need tortillas, tomatoes) 17. Mac-n-cheese and hot dogs 18. Chicken (baked or fried), Rice-a-Roni, veggie 19. Hamburger Helper and veggie 20. Chicken fried rice and Egg Flower Soup 21. Buffalo Wings and Oven Fries 22. Macaroni and Cheese and Corn Dogs 23. Hamburgers (Need buns and tomatoes) 24. Kielbasa Sausage and Pasta 25. Ravioli with Marinara Sauce 26. Oven BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, veggie 27. Chicken potpie 28. Shephard’s pie 29. Goulash and green salad 30. Potato Soup and dinner rolls. 31. Catfish nuggets/oven fries, veggie
I cheat and buy the big bag of Rhoades frozen rolls. I can get 72 for $4.99 and I take out several on the days we are going to need them.
The () are items I need to buy fresh that week. Otherwise the ingredients are in the pantry/fridge/freezer.
In the AM, I look at the list, choose our meal, take out the ingredients if frozen and gather the canned goods on the counter with my recipe. Then I cross that meal off the list.
Adding on shopping day I buy the bulk hamburger and this month I mixed up 55 meatballs and froze them on a cookie sheet. Then after they were frozen I dumped them in a big zippy bag. Just pop them in the oven for baking. My kiddos loved them. I also premade my patties for burgers and froze those in ziplock bags.
|
|
|
Post by kidsandpets on Aug 20, 2015 20:19:33 GMT -5
Thanksgiving tip from the KRAFT bulletin board!!!! SOOOO AWESOME!!!! (by DdofEve) Quote: Here's a great way to make the hectic Thanksgiving > menu Planning/Preparing very easy! > > For several years now I've been preparing EVERYTHING > the day or two ahead ... including the Turkey. Well, > I do wait until TG to make the mashed potatoes as we > prefer them freshly mashed. > > The clue to roasting the turkey the day (or 2!) ahead > is ... Roast it as usual. Let it sit for 30 minutes > before carving. Carve it into the usual slices and > place in a clean roasting pan. Cover the meat with a > chicken stock (I use Swanson's). Cover with foil and > put pan into the refrigerator until TG. Keep covered > while you reheat the turkey ... about one hour at > 350. The house will have that great turkey smell and > the meat is MORE MOIST than most birds we've had when > we roasted and served the same day. > > You have already dealt with the mess and dirty pans > by fixing it ahead of time. > > I also ask each daughter-in-law to bring a side dish > to include them in the meal. BUT, everything but the > mashed potatoes is fixed at least the day before. > > Enjoy! Hope this helps relieve some tension in your home this year! I know it will in MINE!!! FER SHYER!!!!
|
|