I just know this one’s gonna be a keeper! I’ve tried several meal-planning methods before, and though none of them were bad, I think I may have finally found a way to organize our meals (meaning, dinners) that I like even better. Yay!
Methods I’ve tried:
- Weekly repeating menu, with alternatives to throw in when we get bored. This is a fixed weekly menu, printed on paper. Every day of the week has its own, pre-planned dinner. Does not change from week to week. If we want something different on any given day, we can choose from a list of alternatives (separate printout). Items needed for each meal are listed underneath. A master grocery list for all meals (even alternatives) is printed out and kept in a binder, for easy reference.
- Weekly random menu. White board on the fridge with a space by each day of the week to write what we plan to eat that day. Erasable and easy to change. Great for creating menus “on-the-fly.”
- Just make-what-you-feel-like method. Maybe this one’s not really a method, but I’ve used it most of my adult life. This one involves having a craving for something, searching through the cabinets to see if we have what we need to make it, perhaps finding out we don’t, then starting all over again with a new idea. Actually works alright, since I’m usually familiar with what we have on hand. The drawback is that I have to think about it, whereas having a pre-planned menu means all I have to do is glance at the meal chart and pull out whatever that meal needs — no brain-stress.
New method:
I’ve taken the “weekly repeating menu” idea (listed first, above) to a higher level. This is what my new method involves:
- Each day of the week has its own meat . . .
Monday = Beef
Tuesday = Easy Meat (options could include ham, sausage, lunch meat, Spam, chorizo, fish sticks, etc.) — this is our “busy day,” when I have less time to prepare dinner
Wednesday = Chicken
Thursday = Fish (not a huge fan of fish, but they say it’s good for you . . .)
Friday = Pepperoni (every Friday is “Pizza Night,” by popular vote)
Saturday = Ground Beef
Sunday = Chicken
- Four weeks of meals, pre-planned. When we finish all four, we begin the menu again.
- Shopping list for each week.
- My favorite part — a large chart to put on the fridge, with removable cards. Each card has the meal for that day written on it.
At the end of the week, we take the cards out and replace them with the cards for the next week. Each card has a number on the back indicating which week it belongs to (just in case they get mixed up).
Why do I like this new method so much?
Let’s start with the fridge chart . . .
We already have the four-week meal schedule printed on paper — why is the chart with cards necessary? Well, they’re not “necessary,” but they are useful. Here’s why:
First of all, the chart is nice and large, making it easy for everybody to read.
Second of all, the cards are removeable. What if we don’t want to eat one of the pre-planned meals? Easy! Just take out the card and put in an alternative.
Third, there is space on the chart for desserts. I could have made a four-week menu for desserts, as well, but this didn’t seem convenient since we don’t always have dessert, and it tends to be whatever we may be craving lately.
Now that I’ve told you why I like the fridge chart, let’s look at what I like so much about this new method in general . . .
When we used to have the one-week meal menu, we found that one week of meals was too few. We got bored with that list very quickly. That’s when I printed out lists of alternatives. We used the alternatives so much I decided we needed a better plan.
Enter the four-week meal menu!
We’ve actually just started using this menu (two weeks down, two more to go), but I already love it and think it will continue to be just right for our family!
- Do you have any meal-planning ideas? I’m sure there are lots of other ways to plan meals (specifically, dinners). Could you share in the comments what your favorite method is?
<UPDATE 10/29/22:
It’s been nearly a year since I published this post on November 8, 2021. We used this meal-planning method successfully for several weeks — then I discovered I was pregnant. After my husband began helping with dinners (I was not feeling well), our meals ended up being whatever he felt like making. So, we gave the meal menu a break.
A few weeks after the baby was born (summer 2022), we started using this menu again. It was so easy to pick up where we had left off! Having a new baby made some things at home a little more complicated, but thankfully not the meal planning. We simply had to take a little time (15 mintues?) to look at the chart to see what was on the schedule for the current week, jot down a few items from the master shopping list which we needed to get at the store, and go from there!
Recently, I got a new cookbook by Zsuzsanna Anderson (blogger at All They All Yours?!??), which she had shown on her YouTube channel. We have been going through all the recipes (though we’re not finished yet). So far, they have been delicious! I was surprised to find that her method is very similar to the one I invented for our family. I guess large-family mothers think alike!
The main difference is that her cookbook covers 10 weeks, while my method only covers four. Other differences:
My meal menu:
-All seven days of the week
-Any of the meals on the menu can be replaced with an alternative
-Does not include breakfasts
-Does not include desserts in the main menu, but does include them on separate cards
Zsuzsanna’s meal-menu:
-Five days of the week only
-Any of the meals on the menu can be replaced with an alternative, BUT two days of the week you must come up with your own alternative
-Includes breakfasts
-Includes one dessert per week
If you think you would like to give her cookbook a try, you can find it here on Amazon.
END OF UPDATE>
Postscript: Thank You to this blog’s followers
I want to say once again how Thankful I am to all those who follow this blog, and especially to those who lifted me up with such powerful and beautiful words of encouragement after my last post. I appreciate you all So Much!
~Jessica
Here are a few recent Fall photos:
Hi Jessica!
For my family it’s been the same for a very long time. Its easier for me so that I can have items stocked up to avoid trips to the grocery store that is an hour from home! I only shop every two weeks so I have to make sure I plan it out and stick to it.
My plan looks like this…
**Saturday**
I bake 3 loafs of bread, prepare a chicken with seasoning etc to put in for Sunday & I also make beans in my Crock-Pot. (I make a variety of beans) just two examples of many ways
#Cowboy beans
#Kilbasa and beans
**Sunday**
Chicken dinner with different seasonal fixings
**Monday**
leftover chicken made into soup, hot sandwiches, pot pie or something like that
**Tuesday**
Pasta meal.. I have a variety like baked Mac n cheese or spaghetti/lasange etc
**Wednesday**
Fish (chowder, fish sticks or something with fish…. usually haddock)
**Thursday**
Venison in different ways like subs, stew, fried with potatoes…all different ways
**Friday**
Homemade “fast-food”
Burgers or pizza something fast and easy
We have even done breakfast suppers on Fridays đŸ™‚
Anyways that’s my meal plan which doesn’t sound very appealing but it helps knowing what to buy in advance.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!
Hello, Rosemarie!
Actually, I think everything you mentioned does indeed sound appealing! Yum! It looks like you have a different main food item / style of meal planned for every day, but can make different recipes BASED on that particular main food item, from week to week. Sounds very flexible, while still following a predictable pattern. I like it! Thanks!
~Jessica
This is a FANTASTIC idea Jessica! As a (soon-to-be) mom of 3, I should DEFINITELY adopt this! 1 modification: fish on Friday (religious reasons)
Great, thank you Courtney!
so nice to see another post from you! I have only recently found your blog, but the light that you have brought to my life is insurmountable and all your kind and sensible words are such a blessing to me. It must take a lot of hard work to take the time to carefully put together your content while taking care of your big (hopefully happy!) family. Just thought I would let you know how greatly appreciated your dedication and hard work is. You never know the difference you can make in another persons life! as for the meal plan, it’s a really wonderful idea, and I am going to be trying it out myself, although I do not eat meat due to my perception of the first part of genesis where the creation is discussed. In absolutely no means do I believe it’s a sin, i just believe that God originally intended to give us all the plants in the garden of Eden to eat, and only after eve committed her sin did we did god let us eat animals because at that point we had to. Of course not everyone is as blessed as I am to have access to other quality proteins, and I do not shame anyone for not choosing this type of dietary path for any reason. I’ts just a little something I do. đŸ™‚
Hi, Simona!
Thank you so much for your very kind words! Hopefully, this meal-planning method will work out well for you. You can plan your meals around whatever kind of food you and your family enjoys eating. It’s all up to you! The main idea is to pre-plan, so you don’t have to think too much about it later on. đŸ™‚
~Jessica
of course! Sorry for any typing mistakes I might have made. I was rather busy at the moment while trying to find the right words to jam in. Also, I must say your children are absolutely adorable and precious. I’m confident that Forrest’s pumpkin is only the start of the big things he will achieve, haha. Also, I really like your little sitting area. I have been wanting to make something similar of my own that’s in the garden, but perhaps not so close to the rather smelly compost. And yes, I figured I could replace the meat option with pretty much any other food that is to be the “main focus” of the meal. I’m always looking for ways to make life simpler. I strongly feel that these days we feel we need so many things that we don’t need, and then sometimes we need to buy additional things for the things that we bought that we don’t need! I am constantly dumbfounded at some of the things sold in stores these days. A banana slicer? really? just use a butter knife! even things like space. Statistics show that the average floor space of homes has drastically increased, but family sizes have not. So we aren’t housing more people, but rather more stuff. Simplicity, and removing the things we don’t really need (countless electronics, kitchen gadgets that are more of a pain to clean than they are worth or are otherwise redundant, children’s books that are nonsense or offer no moral, cosmetics/clothes you never wear, ect.) will let the things that should truly make us happy (our families, and spending quality time with them) shine through. I HIGHLY recommend the book Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider to anyone who sees this. It has been a true sanity saver for me. Anyways, it’s always good to hear from you. warms my heart to see some good in the word. The Lord only knows how much we all need it.
Hi, Simona!
Everything you just said gets a hearty Amen from me! Yes to it all! Also, thank you for your very kindhearted remarks about the photos I shared!
I look forward to checking out the book you mentioned, soon! đŸ™‚
~Jessica
Nice article and photo! Happy to see you enjoying fall!
Thank you, Sanae! I hope you and your familyl are enjoying Fall, too!
~Jessica
Jessica, I am amazed by your organization skill and your creativity. I am also impressed by the liveliness and thoughtfulness of ladies who are following your blog. Whenever I visit your blog sphere, I feel an uplifting and constructive spirit. Thank you so much for these beautiful pictures. Forrest has grown rapidly! Have a blessed autumn day.
How very kind of you to say that, Kinuko — thank you so much for your encouraging words!
I hope you have a blessed autumn day, as well!
~Jessica
Lovely pictures, Jessica!! I can’t believe your youngest is so big!! đŸ™‚
Diana
Thanks so much, Diana!
I know — he’s getting so big! I was just thinking of you yesterday, wondering how your family (and littlest one) are doing?
~Jessica
Yikes! How did I miss the photos?! I will blame it on the fact I was reading the post too early in the morning!
Anyways great pictures! The children are so adorable & the picture of you and your husband is such a lovely photo! đŸ’œ Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Rosemarie! Don’t worry about your having missed the photos, at first — that’s okay! Thank you so much for your very sweet remarks!
~Jessica
I bet meal planning for the next few days will be easy: turkey, and more turkey! :). I’m happy to report we will be having our full crowd this year: Brian, me, our kids and our respective parents. We told them grandchild #3 is coming!
Courtney,
Actually, we didn’t have turkey; we had ham! Yes, it was easy, because it was basically the same list of foods that we’ve prepared for the last few years. The more I do this, the better I feel I get at it!
Glad to hear you were able to tell your parents and your husband’s parents about the new baby!
~Jessica
We marked Ruth’s 1st birthday by innagurating your idea. We had a wonderful pot roast with all the fixings. Birthday cake for dessert. (Both babes topped it off with boobie)
Happy birthday to Ruth!!