Plan Your Meals

Are you part of a dual income family where both you and your spouse are working? Are you a stay at home parent that doesn't have time during the day to plan out your meals? One of the ways I manage a busy schedule and still manage to eat a home cooked meal is planning the meals in advance.

In my previous blog, I talked about keeping a list on the refrigerator with items needed at the grocery store. This list is also used to help plan out our meals. My husband and I will usually discuss our upcoming schedule for the week on Saturday. He tends to work late or go to dinners during the week for work. This changes week to week. Its important to note here that I am not the cook in the family. He is!!! If he's not at home to cook, I need to do it or warm up leftovers.

We figure out all the ingredients needed for all meals (Sunday - Friday) and put it on the list hanging on the refrigerator. For days where we both will be working late or if he won't be home for dinner at all, then we plan to do leftovers. I know people can hate leftovers, but it is such a HUGE TIMESAVER. (sidenote: warm your food in the oven instead of the microwave...it tastes so much better).

The other huge timesaver here: YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO MAKE EACH NIGHT! Post the meals on the refrigerator too so everyone in the family knows what to expect for dinner.

This system has also saved me time because I don't have to stop at the grocery store during the week to pick up items for a meal. Everything was purchased on Saturday and I will have everything in my pantry.