Works for Me Wednesday: Planning Ahead
August 8, 2007
Ever since the middle of May, I’ve been participating in The Organizing Junkie’s “Menu Plan Monday.” It has been an absolutely wonderful experience for me on so many fronts! Here are a few:
- I get to make my grocery list out knowing exactly what I will need for the week ahead. No last minute trips to the store, asking neighbors for an egg, or frantically searching for something else to fix.
- No more mediocre last minute meals — things that I fixed not because they were popular or delicious, but rather because they were easy and/or available.
- Whenever Trevor starts bugging me about what’s for dinner, I refer him to the list posted on the refrigerator instead of playing 20 questions and hearing him complain after each response.
- My cooking has improved, as I’ve become more confident about and comfortable with trying new recipes. We are eating a greater variety of food for the first time ever. Hamburger Helper has been virtually banished from our home. (Yippee!)
The minimal investment of time on Sunday is well worth the benefits I reap all week long. If you haven’t tried menu planning before, give it a shot!
Typically I am pretty good about menu planning. But this heat. OH.THE.HEAT. I am falling behind and having no desire to work on anything food-related…thinking,preparing or even eating! I am heading over to this site now to see if she can kick me back into planning. Sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing!!
Glad menu planning works for you! I’d love to hear what you do specifically (sit down with cookbooks, rummage through cabinets, etc.)
i’ve been thinking about joining in there too
Great ideas! I’m trying my best to do the same. It has really improved the quality of our meals.
In the weeks I make a menu ahead of time (usually on Sunday afternoon), life is sooooo much easier! One thing I note on my own menu is when to take things from the freezer. For instance, the pork tenderloin we had last night came out on Sunday, giving it plenty of time to thaw. All I know is, on the days I work, I’m glad I’m not scrambling around trying to figure out what we’re eating. (Tonight, we’re using up what’s in the fridge. The pork tenderloin is turning into a stir fry for me and my daughter. Everyone else is on their own…but there’s plenty of leftovers, LOL!)
I sometimes wonder how I ever managed without menu planning myself. What a lifesaver. So glad you are enjoying MPM!!
Laura
I’ve been trying to do the menu planninng with them as well…it is hard work for me
But it is a great tip, thanks!!!