I am pleased to give a successful Domestic Arts update: Some of you know that I've been pretty inept (some might say lazy) about meal planning. When I did try to do it, planning for a week took me many hours. A month ago, I sat down and in only one hour planned meals for all of January! I planned five dinners per week, to account for leftovers and dining out. I took into account special meals for the liturgical calendar and secular holidays. I did my split meal-planning to account for Chris eating meat and my being a vegetarian. Each Sunday, I would review the upcoming week, see if there were any changes to be made, and write out the grocery list. On Mondays I did the shopping. I went to the store less frequently and spent less money there and at restaurants. The meals were more interesting and I wasn't super stressed each day, standing in front of an open refrigerator at 4:30 p.m., pondering what on earth to cook. Today I finished my February meal plan and hope for increased success in the coming month! (Thanks, Chris, for being so patient for three years!)
Good job! Just so you know (and Chris knows) that it takes some people much longer than 3 years to get the hang of menu planning and it's benefits!!
ReplyDeleteYay!! nice!!!!! Well done.
ReplyDeleteI must confess I have quit planning meals because of our change in diet and now I'm just totally not into the whole cooking thing anymore. All I do is try to remember to defrost some meat. It's quite boring really. Meat and vegetables. Period. You have officially surpassed me!! :-)
Very nice!
ReplyDeleteI was actually doing a pretty decent job with meal planning, but this practically debilitating "morning" sickness has quickly put a stop to that! I'll be happy to get back on track again...we've been doing entirely too much take out lately. UGH!
VERY cute photo of Mary all bundled! :)
wow!!
ReplyDeletenow, what did you do? you plan a whole MONTH at a time? please share....
I have done a week at a time in the past, and am trying to get back on track since Cole arrived 11/8!
Mariah
Sarah: I have not surpassed your skill! You have far more skill than me, you're just not using them right now. :)
ReplyDeleteJaneane: Hey, I understand! I cooked really simple, lame meals for both of my pregnancies, with the daily all-day nausea and vomiting. It's just awful, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteMariah: I've only done it for two months now, but, yes, I planned for a whole month at a time. It's not that much different than one week, but I like it better so far. I got out a calendar, looked at any holidays or liturgical holy days, and wrote those into my Word document. Then I looked at my electronic calendar to note anything like guests coming to town, business trips, whatever, and I wrote those into my Word document. Then I went through my most commonly used recipes (which I keep on index cards in a box) and started populated my meal plan. Certain simple, popular meals I populate more than once: like I put in pizza two or three times in a month. Voila. I try to make sure several meals in a week are easy, but one might be fancier, one might be a new recipe. Right now I plan only five dinners per week, to account for leftovers and restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to do such a thing for a loong time. Your description of standing in front of the refridgerator at 4:30 wondering what to cook sounds exactly like me!
ReplyDelete