Menu Planning...we all know how that goes. We all have such good intentions and then some nights we scrap the menu and result to having cocoa pebbles because you want to throw in the towel after a busy day at work or wrestling all day with your kids at home. I get it!
Menu Planning is essential and effective in the Boyd home! I'm here to share with you my 5 tips to become a successful menu planner. Menu planning doesn't have to be as stressful as it seems!
- Spend Time Looking for Recipes: If you don't look for recipes, then that's your #1 problem! Start browsing Pinterest, blogs, cook books, Instagram foodies, etc, and make sure you have at least 7-10 meals you and your family would be interested in. Store them in a cute recipe box or a recipe binder (like pictured above) to keep safe and handy. As you and your family start trying these meals, you will pick and choose your favorites and have your "Staple Meals" always on hand! We have a "Staple Meals" list and over time, your list will become longer.
- Pick a Shopping Day and Check for Sales: A lot of the times, what we have for dinner during the week honestly depends on what's on sale that week. Here in AZ, my favorite grocery stores to shop are Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Fry's. I will price match other essentials I need at Walmart! I love that about Walmart. Pretty much the only thing I like about Walmart. I try to avoid the inevitable need of going to Walmart every couple days. Pick 1 shopping day to try to get it done in one day! That's still a challenge for me. Most of the time I bring both the kids on my big shopping trip for the week but sometimes I need (okay want) to go shopping alone without the kids (sue me) and wait for Josh to come home. So sometimes I have 2 shopping days.
- Keep Your Menus Simple: Keep it simple simple simple! Make whatever works for you and would be easy for YOU. You don't have to become a Master Chef over night. Pick and buy simple ingredients that are versatile for many meals. I talked about this very subject in a previous post here. I usually try to have a fish dish, a soup dish, a salad dish, and a couple chicken dishes through out the week. You can even make it fun for you family and have Theme Nights! We like to have Taco Tuesdays or Stirfry Saturdays to keep it consistent, and easy for me.
- Keep a Well Stocked Pantry and Fridge: I always try to have my staple items on hand in my pantry! These are items aside from what are in season or on sale. When I shop, I'll buy 2 or 3 of the same items I need because I know I'll need it in another dish in the future. Some of the staple items I like to keep in the pantry are cartons of chicken stock (the Costco Kirkland brand), cans of tomatoes, diced green chilies, nuts, coconut milk, tomato soup, brown rice, beans, old fashioned oats, etc. In the fridge, I always have minced garlic (the huge jar from Costco), lemons, eggs, almond milk, carrots, tomatoes, hot sauce (we like Chalula and Sriracha), balsamic vinegar, cilantro, green onions, hummus, etc.
- Pick a Menu Plan Sheet That You Like: I recently discovered this super cute and effective menu planner printable from Little Coconutty and I love it! I've searched high and low for the perfect menu planning sheet and when I saw this, it was perfect for my needs! I love it because it has a spot to write your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks-not JUST dinner. Also a spot for just Costco-how genius! Take time for yourself to sit down and PLAN. Usually for me, that's Sunday evening when the kids go to bed. I need peace and quiet when I plan!
Once you have your outlined menu planned for the week, it makes your week run a little more smoothly. I think we all need that as wives and mothers right, am I right?? Even if the rest of your house is in shambles and your kids are running around in their underwear, at least you can feel like a super mom and know you have an awesome menu planned for the week! (insert flexing biceps emoji here)
Happy Menu Planning!
