What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan
The upcoming week will be a really busy schedule with work, school, and extra activities. I am not sure if we’ll get it all done, but we are going to try! This week is the girls last full week of elementary school. After only a few more days will be watching them graduate and moving onto Middle School. I know they will love it and adjust well, but this Momma is having a harder time seeing my babies growing up. Going to 6th grade seems like such a big leap especially since they have been at the same school since K4! We have been blessed with a lot of great teachers, awesome administrators, and friends at this school. Wish a good chunk of them could head on up to 6th grade with our girls! It will feel weird the first few weeks going back to school and arriving at a totally differently building.
Looking forward to a great week celebrating with our girls. Also one of the girls won the Science Fair Award and is advancing to the next level of the Science Fair Contest which is this Thursday along with a Field Trip, Bowling, celebrations, and more good stuff. Proud of them, but never a dull moment with these kids! Several evenings I have activities in preparation for their big event on Friday so I am trying to keep the menu simple. Here is our menu plan for the upcoming week:
Our Weekly Menu Plan
- Monday (Beef or Pasta Entree): Mongolian Beef Stir Fry, Fresh Veggies
- Tuesday (Seafood or Soup Entree): Grilled Salmon, Macaroni & Cheese
- Wednesday (Chicken or Vegetarian Entree): Sweet & Sour Chicken, Fried Rice
- Thursday (Pork Entree or Kid‘s Night to Cook): Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork, Beans
- Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: Leftovers, Family Preference, and Hosting
I have a general pattern I try to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef or pasta entree and so forth). It is my goal, at least in the beginning, to have at least the main dish and one side planned. I will put together the remaining side dishes (veggies / fruits) based on the food items that need to be used up first and compliment the main entree.
Setting a weekly menu plan helps me utilize my time better, thus freeing up extra time to spend with my family. On the days that I am working longer hours I can prep the meal in advance so it will be easier to pull together once I am home. As I go through the menu planning process I will try to share some of our favorite family recipes. If there is a specific recipe you would like please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate (some recipes are a toss together meal and I do not use any set measurements).
As a family of four our life can get busy. What’s for Dinner is our weekly menu planning series and one of the ways to help keep us organized, on schedule, and within budget. Our family typically eats 6 to 7 dinner meals at home a week. We do try to go out to eat at least once a month as a special treat. Breakfasts are eaten at home before work and school, lunches are eaten at work, school, or home, so dinner is our main meal together as a family. Dinner is our time to reconnect, share, and enjoy being together after a busy day. Our weekly menu plan covers Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday only because the weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) is our time to spend with family and friends. The weekends tend to be more spontaneous and my husband (who is the better cook) likes pitching in therefore we keep the menu open for variety. We use up the leftovers throughout the week for our lunches and on the nights that we are busy or can’t cook.
Photo by Liz
