Creating your menu plan is easy.
Just the first step is hard… Making the commitment!
Once you have made the commitment and started the menu plan, you are on your way. Essentially all you need to begin is a sheet of paper. There are many menu planning forms out there, here’s one I came upon recently. I have a small 3 ring binder in the kitchen cupboard that holds my menu plans. Find a place to keep yours handy in your kitchen.
You can plan breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day, but I found that just having a menu plan for dinner was sufficient. It is a great help in simplifying my evening routine. To create a menu, first list the days of the week. Next, decide on an entree and side dishes for each day.
Here is a sample dinner menu plan:
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Chicken AlfredoSalad | Taco SaladChips | Turkey RoastGreen beans
Stuffing Gravy |
Sandwich Night! | SalmonRice
Broccoli |
SpaghettiSalad | HamburgersPotato SaladBeans |
Once you have your menu written out, you can then create a grocery list. Don’t forget to check your pantry for things you already have on hand. If a meal you are preparing requires a recipe, put the cookbook and page number right on your menu plan. Save the menu plans that you create because once you have 6 weeks worth or more, you can re-use them. Again, it simplifies meal planning even further! I have been planning menus for more than a decade and have a nice selection of menu plans to mix and match. No menu planning is a no-brainer!
Got to go! Making chicken quesadillas for dinner!
