Family Meal Planning Made Easy

Family Meal Planning

Planning your family’s meals in advance will help you save time and money, as well as making it easier to ensure your family eats healthy and balanced meals. It’s too easy to reach for the phone and order a pizza when everyone’s just come home from soccer practice and your fridge is empty. Family meal planning will make sure that doesn't happen!

There is, of course, another huge bonus to planning your family's meals: the more you do it, the easier it gets! Save each week's menu plans, especially when you feel they have worked well, and you will soon be able to start using previous weeks as reference or even repeating successful weeks in their entirety.

Make yourself a family meal planning file. Keep your previous week's plans in it as well as blank paper for shopping lists, recipes you want to try and any coupons you might have cut out and saved. Establish a certain time and day to plan your meals and it will soon become a breeze.

Tips to Make Family Meal Planning Easy:

First, look through your pantry and cupboards and make a mental note of what you have. The see if there are any foods you can use to plan your family’s meals around. For example if you have pasta or rice then create a couple of meals including those staples.

Then sit down and plan your week’s menu. Write down each dinner and remember to make allowances for days you don’t have a lot of time or get home late. If you know ahead of time that Tuesdays are stressful, then plan something simple to make for that day or even make double on Monday and save the leftovers for Tuesday. You can vary the meal by changing one or two things around.

Once you have your menu write a shopping list while checking your pantry, cupboards and fridge again to make sure you’re not buying something you already have. Then add items you’ll need for breakfast, lunch and snacks. You may not necessarily plan these meals but just make sure you include enough of the foods you usually need on your list.

Although going to the supermarket once a week is a good way to save time and avoid overspending, it may not always be possible for all items. If you buy a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables you may want to include only half a week’s worth of items on your list and make a second quick trip during the week for the rest. Just stick to the produce aisle to avoid temptations!

When planning your list you can make sure that you balance your meals both nutritionally and in terms of cost. If you plan an expensive meal one night, balance it with a pasta dish or perhaps a vegetarian meal the next.

When you’re buying your vegetables plan your meals around them to avoid wasting food. If you need carrots for one meal and plan to buy a big bag, then try to include carrots in several dinners, use them for snacks or make a carrot cake towards the end of the week. If you plan well you will avoid ending up with a fridge full of soggy veggies!

Think ahead and use your freezer. If you’re making something that freezes well like spaghetti sauce, a stew or casserole make double and freeze the second portion for those days where you just don’t have any time to cook.

Finally, don’t forget to stick your menu on your fridge or other prominent place and plan ahead every day. Make a note on your plan if you need to take something out of the freezer, or if you can prepare part of the meal in advance (perhaps preparing enough vegetables for two days at once, saving on time and cleaning up too).

Latest Articles...

Pushing my son out of the nest
A mother listens to her 10-year old son's fears, recalls the terrors of her own childhood, and shares some wisdom..
Pushing My Third Son Out Of The Nest Using Some Of My Best Wisdom

Why books are a great birthday gift for children of all ages - and how to choose the appropriate one!
Books Make The Best Gifts For Kids

Forge A Relationship With Your Children
Whatever we do with our kids when they are young will be absorbed and remembered down the years, and every day you could be making good memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Make an effort to forge a relationship with your children when they are young...

Not a Morning Person? Tips to Make Your Mornings Easier and More Productive
Are mornings the hardest part of your day? Sometimes it's tough to get yourself going no matter how much sleep you've had. And if you need to get your family dressed, fed, and out the door with books, backpacks, and briefcases intact, it can often be a challenging and gruelling morning.

Six Ways To Make Time For You In Your Hectic Life
Do you push yourself to be all that you can be? In the midst of doing it all, do you remember to take time for yourself?

Dealing With Difficult People
If you're human, you're going to be dealing with difficult people from time to time - whatever your age. You'll find them at work, at home, at school, or even while out shopping. While you'll likely to solve a problem with a relative or friend differently than a stranger, there are also some universal ways of communicating effectively with difficult people. Teachers and parents can learn these techniques themselves, and start to teach them to kids, too.

Help Your Child Cope With Moving Away
If you must move a great distance, you can help your child adjust to the idea of moving and how to cope with their new life. Your goal will be to eliminate apprehension and fears and get your children excited about all the new opportunities that await them.

How To Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety
Sometimes children act as if they don't have a care in the world, and other times they may be overwhelmed with anxiety. Although children are not presented with the stresses of adulthood, they do feel anxiety in the same way. Solving these issues is not something to be taken lightly...

Helping Your Child Adjust To Divorce
Children are usually hit hard by divorce and may not be able to fully grasp the subject, blaming themselves. The helpful news is that you can do a lot to get your child through this tough time.

Frugal Family Entertainment - How to Have Low Cost Family Fun
In the first few months of the year, money can be tight for many families as they tighten the purse strings after the holidays. There are some great ideas for family activities which won't break the bank in the article below.