What’s for Dinner: Our Weekly Menu Plan

I am starting to get into a new rhythm for the month of September now that school is going full swing.  It has been been a couple weeks of  adjusting to new schedules and activities, but thankfully everyone seems to be doing really well.  As I was looking over the schedule and trying to come up with ways to make it more efficient I realized that it was necessary to make my dinner menu official.  I have always had a general patterned I followed and backup meals prepared just in case it was “one of those days” but recently I caught myself standing in front of my open pantry at 5:34 PM trying to decide what to make for dinner.  As I reviewed my week I decided in order to make the  evening go smoothly for the entire family I must plan our dinner ahead of time.

Our Weekly Menu Plan

• Monday (Beef Entree):  Lasagna, Salad (Lettuce from Garden & using Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Kit for toppings), Garlic Bread
• Tuesday (Seafood or Pork Entree):  Garlic Butter Grouper Fillets, Steamed Cauliflower, Broccoli & Rice Au Gratin
• Wednesday (Chicken Entree):  Italian Herb Chicken, Roasted Parmesan Potatoes, Broccoli Coleslaw
• Thursday (Pasta or Vegetarian Entree):  Garden Vegetable Pasta, Fruit Salad
• Friday, Saturday, & Sunday:  Leftovers, Work Party, and Hosting

I have a general pattern I intend to follow for my weekly Menu Plan (for example Monday we have a beef entree, Tuesday a seafood or pork entree and so forth).  When I have guidelines in place it makes it much easier to follow and get the tasks done.  It is my goal at least, at 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.

I look forward to seeing how the set 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 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