Meal Planning

Some of you may have already mastered the meal planning mountain or maybe you just fly by the seat of your pants like a lot of us.  Maybe you eat out every night or maybe you just eat whatever's in the pantry.  I feel like we've been through phases of all of those.  So recently I made an attempt to make my meal planning a little bit easier and faster.  I absolutely hate sifting through my recipes trying to find things to make just so I can go to the grocery store.  It always seems to take so long, and I never know what to decide on.  

So I created themes for each night.  Every night has a theme that is repeated weekly or on a rotation.  For example Sundays are my crock pot days, so I just go to my "Fix It and Forget It" cookbook and pick something to make!  It makes things easier for me to just pick a dinner and make my grocery list.  Here is a list of our themes...notice Ed decided to name a few!

• Mama Mia - ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, calzones, tortellini, stuffed shells, chicken parmesan, penne pasta
• Rice Bowl - beans and rice, stir-fry, veggies over couscous, chicken over rice
• Rotisserie Chicken - serve as is with sides like rice or potatoes and salad, or use any recipes calling for cooked chicken:  chicken and cheese quesadilla, chicken tacos, wraps, bbq chicken sandwich, chicken pizza, any chicken casserole
• Build It Yourself - tacos, burritos, baked potatoes, burgers, pizza, salad
• One Pot Wonder - chilis, soups, any other crock pot meal
• Fast or Frozen - leftovers, fast food, mac and cheese, sandwiches, cereal, anything in freezer like chicken nuggets and french fries
• Sandwich - grilled cheese, french dip, subs, pbj, blt, wraps
• Casserole - chicken, mexican, breakfast, italian
• Traditional Meat 'N Potatoes - pork chops, steak, tenderloin, ham, pot roast, turkey

Try planning out your more involved recipes on nights that you are home and don't have to be anywhere later.  And your quicker meals, should be on busy nights.  Fast and Frozen is our Wed night since Ed is usually not home and we are running around trying to get to church, etc.  The important thing is to make it work for your family!