As I've become a better steward of our money and my time managing our home, I've learned that a well-balanced menu can make a world of difference in my sanity (because I know what we'll be eating when and that we have enough food) and in Will's demeanor because he knows that I care about feeding him well. About a year ago, I started writing out a menu weekly. It was great, except that it sometimes took a couple of hours of browsing my coupons and sales fliers and cookbooks to come up with a menu. Not a good use of time. Recently a close friend of mine revealed an idea that excited me - an 8-week rotating menu! That way, you just grab that week's grocery list and go!
I've got 2 weeks done - which, right now, suits our family well (I've got two picky eaters, and eating the same thing every 2 weeks helps acclimate them to the new tastes. As needed, I'll come up with more weeks and add them into rotation. Here are my menus! Feel free to ask for recipes - some are from excellent cookbooks, and some are favorite recipes from when I was growing up!
Week 1:
Monday:
L: Orzo & diced veggies, juice
D: Porkchops, mashed potatoes & veggies, milk
Tuesday:
L: Baked potatoes with egg & ham topping, veggies, juice
D: Tacos, tortilla chips, milk
Wednesday:
L: Quinoa pilaf, fruit, juice
L: Quinoa pilaf, fruit, juice
D: Spaghetti & sauce, veggies, milk
Thursday:
L: Hot dogs & Annie's mac n cheese, veggies, milk
D: Multi-colored rice & beans, fruit, milk
Friday:
L: Soup & grilled cheese, veggies, juice
D: Upside-down pizza casserole, veggies, milk
Saturday:
L: Meatball subs, veggies, milk
L: Meatball subs, veggies, milk
D: Farmer's casserole, salad, juice
Sunday:
L: Yogurt & sandwiches, veggies, juice
D: Lemon-honey chicken, rice, salad, milk
Week 2:
Monday:
L: Chicken nuggets, salad, milk
L: Chicken nuggets, salad, milk
D: Braised beef, rolls, salad, milk
Tuesday:
L: Cheesy pasta stars, veggies, juice
D: Country-style porkchops, salad, milk
Wednesday:
L: Honey-chicken sandwiches, fruit, juice
D: Meatloaf, salad, fruit, milk
Thursday:
L: Sandwiches, veggies, fruit, juice
D: Shepherd's pie, salad, milk
Friday:
L: Cheeseburgers, fries, salad, juice
L: Cheeseburgers, fries, salad, juice
D: Mexican lasagna, fruit, milk
Saturday:
L: Pizza, tater tots, veggies, juice
D: Quick chicken couscous, fruit, milk
Sunday:
L: Yogurt and sandwiches, veggies, juice
D: Teriyaki chicken, rice, veggies, milk
[Note: breakfast is pretty much either cereal, fruit & milk or eggs, fruit & juice. The simpler breakfast is, the smoother our mornings tend to go. Snack is almost always yogurt, either a fruit or veggie, and water! Again, simplicity saves sanity!]
[Other note: whenever you see "fruit" - it's usually sliced apples, a banana, an orange, or a handful of dried fruit. Sometimes it's more exotic depending on the season. "Veggies" are usually sliced cucumbers, baby carrots, celery sticks, raw spinach (which my girls love!), or pepper strips.]
Some of the recipes can be prepared ahead of time so that there's no need to try to cook dinner while 3 little ones are vying/screaming for my attention. Some of them are wonderful for letting the little ones help out. Some of them are easy to prepare. And there are some that take time and effort. I tried to balance it out; so far it seems to work well.
By His grace!
Lisha :)
