Monday, August 8, 2011

Simplifying Meals: Master Menu Plan

I've become pretty lax this summer with menu planning, cooking and grocery shopping. As I look to the fall and the demands on our time, I want to make the most of my time in the kitchen and at the grocery store. So, I need a plan that will be a guide with lots of room for flexibility.

We'll see how it goes, but here's what I'm thinking. There will always be a fruit and/or vegetable offered with each meal, and sometimes bread.

Master Menu Plan (I have it in an easier to read chart, but unfortunately it does not transfer with good results.)
Monday
breakfast - oatmeal & fruit
lunch - sandwiches
dinner - cook's choice
prep - make yogurt

Tuesday
breakfast - waffles
lunch - salad
dinner - chicken

Wednesday
breakfast - toast & eggs
lunch - mac & cheese
dinner - pasta or Mexican
prep - baking

Thursday
breakfast - cereal or granola
lunch - snack lunch
dinner - beans & rice, potato bar or leftovers
prep - clean the kitchen

Friday
breakfast - free for all
lunch - quesadillas
dinner - pizza & salad

Saturday
breakfast - muffins & smoothies
lunch - sandwiches or leftovers
dinner - grilling

Sunday
breakfast - scrambled eggs or omelets
lunch - freezer or crockpot meal or dining out
dinner - soup
prep - make bread

2 comments:

Stephanie said...

Planning your prep time is such a good idea! Then you just know you will do it, and don't have to figure out when.

How do you make yogurt? I think I need to eat more, but I don't always want to buy it...

Michelle@ Simplifiy, Live, Love said...

I think this is a great idea. A while back I made the same thing for each meal for about 3 weeks. It certainly simplified life, that's for sure! But mine did not allow for much creativity and it got boring. You can still have a lot of variety with your plan!