I’ve spoken about menu planning before, offering various ways to menu plan but just lately I opted not to do it. I’ve menu planned off and on over the years and, up until now, always preferred to think about what I was eating the night before or on the day. But, for the last 14 months I’ve had so much on my mind. I’m finding it best if I can empty my mind of thoughts by writing them down and not worrying about them until I need to. Menu planning has now become one of them.
Years and years ago, I took part in a “Secret Santa” and my partner made this gorgeous menu planning kit for me. A clipboard covered in this delightful Michael Miller fabric and filled with heaps of blank menu planning pages and laminated pantry and freezer inventory pages.
Before I get into in ‘full swing’ I really need to get rid of what I already have on hand. So, instead of going through recipe books to organise my weekly menu plan, I did a quick inventory of my pantry, freezer and fridge (just a really 5 minute quick one) using the my newly created ‘inventory’ sheets and planned my menu from that. As I used up an ingredient, I wiped it clean from the inventory. This will be used to add ingredients as I buy them and assist with planning my menu this coming weekend.
You’ll always find these ingredients in my pantry so that will never change. I had the freezer stocked with cooked rice and pasta so that also dictated what I would be eating this week. I just thought of the protein, the vegetables and/or carb. I added in breakfasts and lunch too. Most of the recipes are in my Recipes list above. Oh, and the shopping I did yesterday included some butter, cheese, milk, fruit for lunches and 1 capsicum is all I needed for my weekly shop. I’m hoping doing this will free up some space in this old brain of mine.
I must admit Anne I have got well off track with menu planning. I will have to get back to it especially before bub comes because there will even less brain power and energy for thinking about meals.
I would love to menu plan, except I'm not the one who does the cooking – my husband does! And he prefers to make up his mind on the night according to what's in stock. But with my son starting preschool and thus my making 5 lunches a week, I look forward to menu planning for this! I already do to an extent, with a few staple lunches I make for the kid, but Japanese preschool requires more imagination 😉
I save so much when I meal plan and write a list, but I've been so bad at getting that done lately. Thanks for the inspiration.
x Marnie
The first menu plan I wrote, I listed all the meals we ate over the past fortnight & added a couple I wanted to try, along with exactly what I needed for each meal so I didn't over or under buy. The best thing about it was when we had no idea what we felt like for dinner, we looked at the plan & there was always something yummy we had forgotten about!
I have the Love Food Hate Waste menu planner. Not nearly as nice as yours.