How to Make a Menu Plan

Menu planning can be overwhelming to some, but if you start out simple it won't be.  Here are some tips I have learned along the way.

1.  Look through your pantry and freezer and see what you already have on hand.  I freezer cook with a group of friends, so I usually have a stash of ready made meals in my freezer.  I also double recipes and stick one in the freezer for later a lot.

2.  Ask your family what "sounds good" and what they would like for dinner.  Sometimes I get the same responses all the time, but other times I get "we haven't had .... for a long time".  Since it is fall, we eat a lot more stews, soups and crock pot meals.  In the summer we grill out more, so marinated meats are better.

3.  Try something new.  I try to attempt a new recipe once or twice a month.  If I have planned for it then I know I will have the ingredients on hand.

4.  Checkout the grocery ads.  See what is in season or on sale.  I stock up on things and put them in the freezer too. 

5.  I also try to balance meats.  A couple beef, a couple chicken, a pork, a meatless etc. 

I have found that having a menu helps me so much in a few different ways. 
      I go to the grocery less, because I have the meals planned out. 
      I am less stressed about dinner in the evening.
      The kids complain less, because they are helping in the planning, and they know they will get their "favorite" soon, if it isn't today.
      It reminds me of how grateful I am that I can feed my family and buy food for a week or more at a time.  A lot of moms around the world can't say that. 

Don't be a slave to your menu. Mine is just a guideline. We don't always eat what it says on a certain day. A lot depends on our schedule. I was at the grocery last night and found a cut of meat on clearance for the crock pot, so it needed to be used up soon. So that is what we are having tonight instead of spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs are in the freezer, so it can wait.

I also like to have a list of available meals on the side of my fridge, so I don't forget and let something go to waste.  Luckily I have a big freezer and can store a lot of extras.