Hump-Day Helper: Menu Planning

It's Wednesday, a.k.a. Hump Day!  The big hump in the middle of the week that's got us sliding into the weekend at it's end. 

Listen, I'd like you all to know you don't have to resort to those meat "helper" boxes on the grocery store shelves.  Let me share with you my secret for not resorting to packaged food or takeout (too much)...it's a big one...it's....now wait for it................................make a menu plan!

I encourage you to at least think about your menus a week ahead.  You know what nights you have basketball practice and dance class and guitar lessons to run to.  We have 4 to 6 kids in this house at any given time, plus half of the neighborhood kids fairly often;  if I can make plans with all my chaos, anyone can.

I'd recommend checking out this cookbook by Jonni McCoy, Healthy Meals for Less.  It has recipes focused on feeding people for less than $1 per serving.

I like to plan for one easy-peasy meal a week.  This is boxed or canned or something otherwise completely unhealthy.  I'm talking canned ravioli (around here, I make fresh ravioli with homemade sauce that I have simmered for hours, and canned ravioli is still preferred - I gave in).  I'm talking spaghetti or macaroni and cheese or tacos.  Easy.  Ready in 20 minutes.

When desperate, check out http://www.myfridgefood.com/.  In this incredible site, you can click to include what you already have in your kitchen and it will create meals for you!  I have been wishing for just this type of tool for years.  Bookmark it, trust me.

Photo courtesy of John Kasawa; freedigitalphotos.net

Crock pots are sent from heaven.  If you don't have a good slow cooker cookbook, get one or start googling some recipes.  This is the solution you need for practice nights when you are running hither and yonder and back again with no time to cook.  The Fix It and Forget It cookbooks are a favorite go-to for the crock pot.

Saturdays or Sundays are a great day for a nice big family meal.  We sit down at the table, together for the most part, 7 nights a week.  This is not possible in every family, so try to make it happen at least on Sunday.  Roast a chicken (I have to roast 2 for this bunch) or cook a roast beef or ham.  Some steam-in-bag veggies tossed with olive oil and kosher salt and a little couscous and you're ready for a fabulous sit-down with the family.

So now you've got Sunday family dinner, one easy-peasy night, and say...two crock pot nights for those hectic practice nights...you've already got more than half a week planned!  Woohoo!  Make Friday pizza and movie night and you only have to get creative to plan 2 dinners.

Try this planning sheet...it has plenty of room for writing and also a space for the grocery list.  The first page is a to-do list; second page is the menu planner.  I print page 2 every week and  I hang it on a kitchen cabinet so the kids all know what to expect...presto!  No more bugging about what's for dinner!

Crock pot photo credit; John Kasawa; freedigitalphotos.net

Author's note:  Edited to include photo attribution in crock pot caption 2/8/12