A few years ago I was doing my meal plans for the whole month. And I really liked it. I would look at what I already had in my pantry, freezer, fridge and use that as a loose guide each month. Around the beginning of 2020 I started to plan my meals 5 days before the end of the month and realized that worked so good for me.
So, I start my meal planning the last week of the month for the following month. Today, I am planning my November meals. I can then go through ingredients and see what I have and what I need to add. My grocery list tends to have some of the same things each month as well.
At the end of December through January you can usually find a monthly calendar in the Target Dollar Spot. I always pick one up to be my meal plan calendar. It is perfect. I also like doing it by the month because I grocery shop for the month with a weekly trip to the store for milk and fresh produce. I try to make it so that I am not in the store too frequently to save money. The other reason I love doing monthly is because I will have the things needed for meals anytime that month. So let's say I have chicken noodle soup on the menu for today, but it is too warm to have soup I can find something else in the month and make that instead. I still have all the ingredients, and I mark off what dinners we have had so I know what we have left in food to make.
This month we are starting something new... Courtney and Alex are taking a day each week to make dinner. Courtney has Wednesday and Alex will have Saturday. This is beneficial on so many levels. It will be teaching them meal planning, budgeting, cooking and gives me a break a couple times a week.
That meme that says something along the lines of being an adult means deciding what's for dinner every night for the rest of your life is so true. And now I have two less days to worry about. I can't wait to share what I have put together for the kids. It is going to be SO GOOD!
What are your favorite meals to make for your family? Mine are below:
Hawaiian Haystacks (I just found a new recipe that is delicious)
Zuppa Toscana
Pot Roast Sliders
Chicken Noodle Soup
Garlic Ranch Chicken with Carrots & Potatoes
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta with Cream Sauce
Ranch Grilled Chicken
Breakfast
Tacos
Comments