Dinner has me in a funk again. I know. how is this possible?
As am having regular nightmares thinking about school starting, I’m busy trying to come up with ways to make this school year run smoothly and peacefully. Impossible? I’m gonna try!
The thing with homeschool? You’re at home! So many of the things that go into homemaking and running the household intermingle with the homeschool life. It’s just a natural homeschool hazard. So, as I try to get ready, I’m forced to think beyond the books, and really try to come up with ways to make the whole house more efficient.
Sigh…
Meal planning is something I’m terrible at. Dinner has always haunted me and although I’m doing better than I was, I still need improvement. I get in ruts and everything I worked hard to accomplish just flies right out the window.
We are eating together more, and I am thrilled about that! But I need to plan meals and shopping trips better. The planning is something I’m struggling with. I want to make the most of family meals, and the less I have to worry about when it comes time to cook, the better!
I’m the mom who throws something together (or not) if I happen to have the ingredients (which is never!).
So here’s what I came up with. I turned an old scrapbook into a menu planner.
I took an old scrapbook I had that was originally for saving memories of cooking with the kids. It already had the whole kitchen feel to it. Perfect! But I think this idea would be really cute with any small 8X8 scrapbook.
Then I replaced the cover photo with some cardstock. I pieced together some recipes cards, index cards, and embellishments I had on hand, and created a menu for the front cover. The cool part is that the menus can be saved and rotated!
On the inside of the scrapbook I am simply using the page protectors as pockets for the recipes, shopping lists, and coupons that go along with the menus I have pre-planned. I have also created blank menu cards in advance to add to the planner as I go along.
The menu is a 3X5 index card with the top cut off (below the red line), glued to a recipe card, then glue that to the card stock you are using to replace the cover photo. Add some stickers and wallah!
A cute way to motivate me to cook display your menu.
The menu cards are easy to switch out every week through the back on the inside cover.
I may even have the kids come up with a menu of their own.
Do you struggle with meals and planning like I do?
Share your tips!
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This is a great idea.
I struggle with meal planning in the summer, mostly because we pack our days and I never know if we’ll be at home for dinner.
Come Fall, I’m ready ~ I think.
I created a Spreadsheet and plan meals weekly. It’s on my site.
Twitter: AlisonSWLee
says:
Well, that’s very clever!
Alison recently posted..Confessions
Um, wow, can we say SUPER cute?! LOVE this. Great idea
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Urgh…. Menu planning is my worst! But when it works it’s wonderful. That’s where SITS comes in handy with their Get Up With The Sparrows thing…. What? Hello Mornings… close enough.
I have to say when I was being dilligent (thank you Jesus for the breaks in between) I would do my meal plan on a Sunday loosely based on what I had in the pantry and freezer, and a Monday shop to cover the balance. Since we all work and are at school all day I only have to focus on dinners and making sandwiches interesting. It’s cereal all the way in the mornings for the kids, and smoothies for the adults – I haven’t got my children to drink spinach yet… wonder why?!
Popped in from somewhere… and I think I follow you already… but if not… I’m your newest.
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Twitter: themommymess
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Haha! Glad you stopped by!
Starting in the pantry is a great idea. I forget to look there first!