I've never been an organized menu-planner. I used to stroll through the grocery store and pick out things that I think I might want to make, and then decide each afternoon what to make for dinner.
That just doesn't work with a baby in the house. Often times Mr K does the grocery shopping now, so I need to make him a list. In addition, Josef is often getting a little fussy by late afternoon and he just doesn't do well with having to sit while I make supper and then sit through supper too.
I found this great tablet at Half Price Books a few weeks ago and decided to put it to use.
I love this! By planning out the next week I can make a grocery list so that I will have exactly what I need for the next week, eliminating trips to the market for one needed ingredient and reducing waste from things not used. Because I have a plan, I know ahead of time what to take out of the freezer (we buy our meat bulk from a local butcher shop once or twice a year, so this is not included in the grocery list). Since this a tablet and not a part of a weekly planner, I can tear of the page and stick it on the fridge.
I have also been doing as much meal prep as I can in the morning, so we have a quiet and happy baby during dinnertime. Crock pot meals and make ahead-recipes (like the hot dish and manicotti) are great.
How do you manage meal planning?
Oh my gosh, you described me to a T!!! LOL, actually I've gotten better because I'll either use my crockpot, or actually know in advance what I'm fixing. I do need organization in that area, though!
ReplyDeleteI'm a planner too. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI do best with meal planning when I plan ahead as far as I can at that moment (sometimes I get interrupted; sometimes I plan up to the day when we might be overwhelmed by leftovers and then wait til that day to make the next plan) regardless of what day of the week it is. Otherwise I get this, "I didn't do it on Saturday, so now this whole week is shot!" attitude.
ReplyDeleteInvolving my son in the planning helps a lot toward getting him to help cook, which gets him to eat instead of whining for something different!