Creating your menu plan is easy.

Just the first step is hard… Making a commitment!

Once you have made the commitment and started the menu plan, you are on your way.  Essentially all you need to begin is a sheet of paper.  There are many menu planning forms out there, here’s one I came upon recently. I have a small 3 ring binder in the kitchen cupboard that holds my menu plans.  Find a place to keep yours handy in your kitchen.

You can plan breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day, but I found that just having a menu plan for dinner was sufficient.  It is a great help in simplifying my evening routine.  To create a menu, first list the days of the week. Next, decide on an entree and side dishes for each day.

Here is a sample dinner menu plan:

Once you have your menu written out, you can then create a grocery list.  Don’t forget to check your pantry for things you already have on hand.  If a meal you are preparing requires a recipe, put the cookbook and page number right on your menu plan.  Save the menu plans that you create because once you have 6 weeks worth or more, you can re-use them.  Again, it simplifies meal planning even further!  I have been planning menus for more than a decade and have a nice selection of menu plans to mix and match. No menu planning is a no-brainer!

Got to go!  Making chicken quesadillas for dinner!

You’ve come home from a long day at work and now you have to think about dinner… You don’t know what is in the freezer or the kitchen cabinets. Or you just went shopping yesterday and now you have to put a meal together and you forgot a particular ingredient. If this sounds familiar, then maybe try menu planning. Planning in advance what to have for dinner can actually alleviate some of your daily stress.

Typically, a menu is created for a week or two at a time. But as with many things, just start slow… try planning your dinner menu for just the next five days. As you write down what it is you would like to prepare, also write down the ingredients (groceries) that you are lacking. When you are finished planning, your shopping list is now ready to take to the store. If you plan to use a particular recipe, write down the name of the cookbook and page number or location of the recipe so that it can be easily retrieved when needed.

Don’t feel controlled by your menu plan. If you planned to cook chicken tonight and you’re just too tired then open a can of soup or eat a sandwich. That particular meal can be prepared on another day. Sometimes you may find that you need to switch days on the menu plan. For example, let’s say I planned hot meatballs sandwiches for Tuesday and a crock pot dish for Wednesday. My son has an extra soccer practice (last minute of course!) on Tuesday. So, I switch days and have Wednesday’s meal on Tuesday because I can fix and forget it until after we get home from soccer practice!

After planning your menus for two months, not only is it a habit but you can start rotating the same meals and not have to spend as much time planning! Menu planning has also helped those who are seeking to change their eating habits by planning more low calorie, low fat meals. Menu planning will also have a positive effect on your food budget because you will be making less trips to the grocery store and eating out less! If you would like a sample menu plan sheet, email me at craftynat@prodigy.net.