Howdy! It’s a laid-back day here at Parker Academy. Hee Hee. We’ve just put up our feet.
Strict Discipline breeds fine Habits!!!
Actually, I hope we finish our study of walnut trees and ginko today. But that’s not what this post is about….just want to keep you “posted” on the school stuff, Hee Hee.
This post is about planning food for my family. This like so many things is a battle for me, and it seems God tends to answer my prayers by making me desperate. If I did not plan our meals then we would go broke, get fatter than we already are, be more chaotic than we already are….and so I do it to keep sanity. For a few years there, it was an ideal, a dreamy proposal that never got lived out. Now it must be done or I am failing in many things, many ways.
What I start with is this little alliterative device…
- Mexican Monday
- Tomatoey Tuesday
- Wild-Card Wednesday
- Thrifty Thankful Thursday
- Fancy Friday
- Soup & Sandwich Saturday
- Simple Sunday
This helps with my “writers block” and gives me a direction, but not a straightjacket.
Mexican Monday is anything from tacos, burritos, tostatas, salsa chicken, nachos, etc. Many new recipes fit here, like white chili. (which could also go on soupy saturday!)
Tomatoey Tuesday is anything italian/tomato based. Chili, stew, lasagne, spagetti and meatballs, etc.
WildCard Wednesday is usually newer recipes I’m trying out like quinoa salad; leftovers, or whatever doesn’t have another category
Thrifty Thankful Thursday is anything that is inexpensive and I’m positive everyone will enjoy. 🙂 You can’t always count on that here.
Fancy Friday is just like it sounds. Steak, Salmon, expensive in time, cost, or both. I also use this night for training in table manners/nicer placemats, etc.
Soup & Sandwich Saturday (or sometimes Salad)is so I can spend time doing other things, and is usually something that goes in the crockpot, a fancy sandwich (cilantro salad, anyone?), or both.
Simple Sunday is usually burgers in the summer, but often we eat out on Sunday noon; we just find what there is to eat in the evening before or after the church service 🙂
Once I have planned the meals, then I make a list of ingredients needed that I know I don’t have; often I choose a meal based on what I know I do have; and then I purchase the food and am set for a week, in theory. Unfortunately I don’t live in theory, I live in Wheaton. As I said, this is often what happens but sometimes it doesn’t. Also I said before, the categories are just to get my recipe idea juices flowing, not hard and fast at all. I have a few tools that have helped over the years, and the newest is the Cozi Family Calendar. I can add Supper as a repeating event every day, and then instead of “where” I type “spagetti” or whatever is for dinner that night. Then when I print the weekly calendar everyone, including me, knows what to expect. Another helpful site, though not free like Cozi, is Meal Mixer. I like this one a lot too, and it also computes calories and nutrient info for the meals you plan, as well as prints the list for you! I will try to figure out a way to display the cozi calendar for our family for a week, as well as the meal mixer list, but until then, if you are desiring to be more scheduled/routinized than I am, you can check out Courtney for some really great stuff for all areas of life. She was so kind to tag me at the bottom of her post, but she has much more to offer than just scheduling meals, so I suggest you visit her for some soul food ideas too. Click on the wreath below for ideas specific to fall.
Blessings!
